Chapter Sadie
Sadie
A Short & Sweet Goodbye
The last two hours have been a whirlwind—honestly, the last month has been too.
When Max said we needed to get moving, he meant it.
I’ve never seen a sailboat gliding across the sea so fast, and when we tore into the marina…
he didn’t even take the time to clean everything up properly, saying that he’d take care of it later.
My guess is that he doesn’t want to risk arriving after Thomas, and that makes the whole thing funnier. We weren’t doing anything wrong—minus the whole public indecency and hanging out on private property thing. On second thought, maybe it’s good that we got here first.
It’s been years since I stepped foot in the Mage Hollow Iceplex, but not much has changed. The same blue carpet lines the floors, there’s still a snack shack to the left of the door, and the actual rink is separated by a tall glass wall with four doors for entry to the seating area.
Max had coach things to do when we arrived, so he dropped me at one of the small round tables near the fried food and soft drinks. Pulling a gooey cheese stick from my mouth, I’m happy as can be.
Last night was incredible and painful—the juxtaposition of emotions warring inside me like Benny when he plays with his Kong and shakes it side to side without abandon.
On one side, I’m in love… the happiest I’ve ever been, and I’m not even worried about balancing it all because for the first time I know I can.
On the other, I’m waiting for an anvil to drop—hyper aware that the rug could be pulled out from under my feet at any second.
Slurping my soft drink, I stand from my seat and toss the remaining three cheese sticks in the trash nearest the restroom.
The game should be starting soon, though it’s technically a pre-season scrimmage, I don’t want to miss it.
Not only do I get to watch Max in action, but it’s also a good opportunity to scout a new spotlight player for this year’s program.
Heading through the bathroom door, I slink into the stall to relieve the pressure on my bladder before entering the chilly arena.
The door opens and closes while I’m mid-pee, and a faintly familiar perfume drifts into the space.
I don’t spend a lot of time with Alex, but it hits me the way nostalgia usually does.
It’s the same thing that happens when you walk into an old, musty room and are suddenly transported to another memory—mine being a failed attempt on skates at the roller rink.
Finishing up, I exit the stall and move to a long stainless steel basin sink to wash my hands.
Lathering the soap, I take my time looking at the reflection staring back at me.
I wouldn’t say I look all that different—a little sun-kissed, maybe—but there’s a sparkle in my eyes that wasn’t there before.
When I arrived in Mage Hollow, I was hanging on by a thread.
And I had one singular focus—get back to work.
Now, while that’s still very high on my priority list—so high it’s inevitable—I don’t feel consumed by it.
"Sadie?" Alex’s voice rings out from behind me.
Looking past my reflection, our eyes meet, and I feel a little less creepy for thinking the stranger next to me smelled like her.
"Alex? What are you doing here?" I step to the side, grabbing a paper towel from the roll to dry my hands.
She steps up to the sink and begins washing hers. "Coop has a scrimmage." She smiles when she says his name, the look that a good mother gets thinking about their child. "Levi is going to be so happy to see you."
"I somehow doubt that." I throw the soggy paper I’m holding into the trash. "Is everything okay?"
Alex’s gaze focuses on her hands, and my heart races. Something is obviously wrong… but what?
"You should come sit with us. What are you doing here anyway? Scouting kids?" She raises an eyebrow in challenge, and I hold my hands up.
"Not entirely."
"Okay?"
Tucking a chunk of hair behind my ear, I sigh far too dramatically. "There’s a guy… we’re-having-a-summer-fling," I rush out.
"Nooo…" Alex bounces excitedly. "Wow, I like it… is he a single dad? One of the coaches? Tell me everything!"
A laugh bubbles out of me, and I try to conceal it with my hand. "Sadie!" Alex squeals. "I think that’s the first time I've ever heard you laugh. This guy is good for you, and Mage Hollow is so close to GC… it could totally be more than just a fling."
My face must twist at her words, because she covers her mouth with her palm as if she’s trying to stuff them back in.
"He lives here… but he’s taking a job as equipment manager in Washington."
"Badgers or Titans?"
"Titans." Alex pulls me into a hug, wrapping me up tight. "It’s all going to work out. You know… maybe we cou—"
"No." I grab the door handle and hold it open for Alex. "Mixing work and pleasure never ends well."
She scoffs, bumping her hip into mine as she exits. "For obvious reasons, I’ll pretend you didn’t just say that to me." Alex winks, sashaying through the lobby toward the one and only Levi Montgomery.
Following a few steps behind her, I consider what she said.
It’s true that I could ask Levi to consider Max, but would he even want me to do that?
He loves hockey and wanted to play professionally—settling for a makeshift job we create feels like a step below the position he has.
And what if it doesn’t work out? We’ve said we love each other, but it’s easy to get swept up in things when you’re not working eighty-hour weeks.
"Sadie freaking Wells!" Levi booms as he sees me approaching. "What are you doing here? I was planning to swing by your mom’s with a coffee when we finished up with the scrimmage."
Why would he come to my childhood home?
"Hi, Coach Montgomery." Fiddling with the hem on my sweatshirt, I glance around at the crowd staring at us. "Alex said Coop is playing, how exciting."
"Would it kill you to call me Levi? I’ll settle for Monte even… just ditch the coach," he grumbles, and I laugh.
He turns to Alex, draping an arm over her shoulders. "Is she laughing?"
"That’s what I said! It’s nice, huh?" Alex smiles at me, and it doubles in size when big, brawny arms wrap around my middle.
"Hey, Sade." Max releases his hold on me when he realizes who I’m talking to. Stepping to my side, he extends his hand. "Coach Montgomery, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Max O’Reilly."
Levi shakes his hand, narrowing his eyes at Max. "Why do I know that name?"
Max’s cheeks turn bright red, and he runs a hand through his hair. "Well, it could be the fifty scouting tapes I’m sure my mother sent you over the years, or from Coach Nash."
Levi snaps his fingers, pointing one at Max. "That’s it. Nash said he hired a new EM… a guy who coulda played but took one too many hits up here." He points to his head.
"That’d be me." Max sighs, reaching down to tangle his fingers with mine. "Moving out to Washington next week, but I’ll always be a Flames fan."
Max’s watch buzzes, and he leans toward me, pressing a kiss to my cheek. "I've gotta get out there." He walks away, but stops when he’s close to the glass double doors. "Yo, Monte… is your kid playing today?" he calls out.
"Yep! Name’s Bennett… he’ll give your guys a run for their money."
Max nods and disappears through the door.
"Do you want to go find a seat? Sounds like it’s starting." I wait expectantly.
"Yeah, let’s go."
Cooper has scored twice and is working toward a hat trick.
He’s skating much smoother than most of these kids, but a couple on Max’s team seem to keep up.
Alex has been on the edge of her seat the entire game, yelling loudly and banging on the glass in front of us.
I, on the other hand, haven’t been able to take my eyes off Max.
Even from the other side of the rink, I can tell how much he enjoys coaching. It’s obvious in the way he talks to each player when they come off the ice, in the way he pays such careful attention to how they feel. He was born for this sport, and my heart swells with pride for him.
It’s hard knowing that our time together is ending, but it would be so selfish of me to ask him not to pursue his dreams—or to settle for something that doesn’t have a career path leading to the title coach.
"Sadie, I need you to come back to work," Levi says, under his breath so that only I can hear.
Turning to make sure I heard him correctly, I notice a worried look settled into his brows.
"Okay. When are you thinking?"
"Today."
My eyes widen, and my mouth opens and closes a couple of times.
"What’s wrong?" There has to be a reason, and while I’m happy to know I’m needed, I thought I’d have a little notice. A couple of days at least.
He runs a hand through his hair. "Remember when Alex called you?
" I nod, thinking about that morning. "Well… the mom"—he tips his chin to the very one that’s blown up my email for months—"she didn’t make veiled threats. She talked to a reporter who’s trying to run with a story about gala profits being mishandled. "
"What!" I say louder than I should, and several heads turn in our direction.
"Sadie… shh." He faces forward, watching Cooper sink the puck in the net at the final buzzer. We stand and clap, but Levi continues through gritted teeth. "I know it’s all bullshit, but you know these numbers better than anyone. I can’t comb through it all fast enough, and I need this shit squashed before the media grabs hold of it. "
My mind races, and a lump forms in my throat. I know there’s nothing to hide, but the idea that someone would question my work, my ethics—it’s infuriating. A string snaps inside of me, and I know I have to go back.
Searching the ice, I spot Max talking to Cooper’s coach. As much as I don’t want it to be this way—it’s time for a short and sweet goodbye.
"I’ll gather my stuff from my mom’s and get on the road." I turn toward Levi. "Should I meet you at the arena?"
His eyes are full of pity as he tips his chin toward Max. "I’m sorry that’s ending this way. But I’m proud of you for living, for taking my advice."
Squeezing his arm, I straighten my spine and bite my cheek so I don’t cry. "Thanks. I’ll call you when I’m close."
Moving out of the bleachers, each step feels harder than the last. Max isn’t expecting this.
We had plans to grab stuff to grill at his house.
We were going to take Benny to the dog park.
As I round the corner, closing in on where I know I’ll find him…
I will myself to make it quick. Not just for his sake—but for mine too.
"Hey, great game, huh?" Max says, wrapping me in his arms. "Wait, what’s wrong?"
"Is there somewhere we can talk?" My lips tremble as the question comes out.
"Uh, yeah." Max pulls my arm toward a hallway I hadn’t noticed, not stopping until we’re stepping inside a utility closet. "What’s going on, Sade?"
Breathing deeply, I recount the entire story for him, from the initial conversation with Alex to the emails that have flooded my box and the story now at risk of causing a big ass untruthful mess.
"—and I’m the only one who knows those numbers backward and forward. This is years worth of work, a program I helped build," I finish, pushing my tongue to the roof of my mouth and begging my body not to cry.
Max runs his hands up and down my arms. "What do you need from me? How can I help?"
My lip quivers as I fight the reaction my heart wants to give. "I need to leave." I wrap my arms around him tightly. "Tonight."
Max hugs me back, infusing the embrace with everything we’re both feeling.
"Okay." He slides his hand between us, tipping my chin up with his thumb and forefinger.
"This month has been the best one of my entire life.
I love you, but we both knew this had a deadline.
" He stares into my eyes, searching my soul. "I would never hold you back from doing what you need to do. If there’s anyone alive who understands chasing something just to have it ripped away—it’s me. Just make me one promise."
This man is so good, he can’t even bring himself to be selfish, or mad, or any of the thousands of other emotions that are raging inside of me. He’s just understanding—supportive even—and the dam inside of me breaks. Tears streak down my face, blurring my vision as my chest heaves.
"What’s the promise?" I choke out.
Max grips my face, one hand on each cheek, as he wipes my tears. "Promise me you won’t lose balance. That you’ll remember you deserve happiness outside of work, and that you need multiple legs on your stool."
He kisses me. It’s chaste and simple, but infused with a thousand things neither of us will voice out loud. It's goodbye. It’s an ‘I love you’. It’s an ‘I’d sacrifice anything for you to reach your dreams’. And I’m not sure I’ll ever recover from it.
"I promise." Stroking a hand down his face, I press a kiss to his cheek. "Give the Titans hell, Max. I’m so proud of you, and thank you… for everything."
With that, I slip past him and beeline through the rink. Heartbroken isn’t a feeling I’m used to, but maybe the work will distract me. Or maybe the bitter cold arena will freeze the cracks inside me, filling them with ice so deep that I’ll be numb forever.