17. Shane
Chapter seventeen
Shane
Talk about motivation.
~ The Next Day ~
Last night was rough. After our sundaes and sitting by the fire, Aubrey and I made love then called it a night. But at three in the morning, her quiet sniffles woke me from my sleep. I found her curled up in a ball with her phone in hand, going over the pictures Emma had sent her of her nephews.
From what I’ve heard, apparently Emma lost it when she found out Greyson forbade Aubrey from seeing them. She told him to go home and not come back until he was ready to act like the man she married.
She then told Aubrey she was welcome to come and see the twins, but Aubrey refused. She said she had already put too much strain on their marriage and didn’t want to make it worse. I know going would have made her feel better, but I also understand what she meant.
I sat up in bed and pulled her into my arms. My heart shattered into a million little pieces as I listened to her weep every last tear from her body until exhaustion took over and she fell back asleep.
This morning, she seemed in a better mood, though, which is a good thing. I don’t know if I would be able to get through my day if she was still in the same state. It’s game day for the team today, which means I won’t be home much and won’t get to see Aubrey until later tonight.
The only good thing about this is that since she changed her schedule and now works during the day, we wake up almost at the same time and get ready every morning that I’m home together. It gives us a little extra time spent together, and I find myself craving those moments when I’m out of town.
I usually get to the rink near half past six and get straight to business with the staff.
We’ve already had our coaching staff meeting and our morning five-on-five meeting with the team.
As well as special teams meeting for the power play while the rest of the players went on to do short energy workouts, special stretches, or treatments.
It’s now morning skate time and I’m finding it incredibly hard to be a good coach at this moment.
Because despite reminding myself to separate my personal life and feelings from my job, I desperately want to punch Greyson in the face.
I’m so angry and riled up at how badly he’s treating Aubrey that it’s taking every ounce of my willpower not to lash out.
Using the whiteboard, I demonstrate the next drill I want them to work on.
When I finish up my speech, I go over all my players who are kneeling in front of me, except for one.
I haven’t made eye contact with him all morning.
I just can’t. Maybe it’s petty of me, and a shitty coaching technique, but pretending he doesn’t exist right now is what’s keeping my head focused.
Jonathan, our assistant coach that works directly with the forwards, has been spending a lot of one-on-one time with Ford.
He’s been trying to help him improve his game by showing him clips of missteps he’s made and ones that were good.
Normally, Greyson is a great player, but lately, I won’t sugarcoat it, he’s been shit.
And if things don’t change, I’ll have to take him off the starting lineup.
If I’m being brutally honest, I don’t think we’ll be making it far this year.
I know I shouldn’t think this way, but our winning record isn’t as great as it was last season.
We only have twenty games left to go in the regular season after tonight, and at this rate, we’re lucky if we make it into the playoffs.
And it’s not just because of Ford’s weak game. My first pair of defensemen are injured and out for the regular season. And now Olchkov, my defenseman who was moved up to the starting line, suffered a scaphoid fracture at our last game and won’t be back for the rest of the season either.
I’m down three defensemen, and one of my star wingers is messing up the chemistry on the ice because he’s letting his anger get in the way of the game.
I’m constantly breaking up fights between my players because any little comment acts as a trigger for him and he lashes out.
It’s in those moments that I think he would make a great defenseman.
Paul has been pressuring me to change up the lines for the game and take Ford to the second one. But Hayes, Burkley, and Ford usually have such great chemistry on the ice, that I’m afraid taking him out of it will only make things worse.
It might be guilt also since I feel responsible for his lack of progress—I’m what caused this whole situation in the first place.
Maybe if I had come forward with my attraction to his sister before I even got involved with her things would have been different and he wouldn’t be reacting this way.
And I’m also worried that if I do make those changes, Aubrey might think I’m punishing him for his behavior with her.
I’m in a tight spot that I have no idea how to get out of.
I get Hayes up, face forward against the board to demonstrate the play. “You get him up but get the knee in there.” I press my knee between his spread legs. “Don’t let him in. You gotta keep him up, one, two, until the third guy comes in, then you move out. Got it?”
They all nod then get into action to practice the play.
The rest of the morning goes by in a blur with more meetings and duties with the media.
By one in the afternoon, we’re all heading out to rest up before the game tonight.
With the short night I had, I should be going home and taking a quick nap, but instead, I make two quick stops and drive to my new favorite bakery.
I park a few buildings down and walk up to the bakery with my surprises in hand, but I don’t head in right away. Instead, I watch through the window as my girl flutters around like a little fairy and laughs with the two employees at the registers.
I’ve always loved watching her when she’s being herself. She doesn’t know this, but I used to come by way before I ever walked in for the first time. I would park across the street and just watch her through the window as she worked her way around the shop with grace.
It wasn’t time for us to be together back then, but I couldn’t help it. I just couldn’t stay away.
I finally make my way inside as her back is to me, wanting to surprise her since she didn’t know I was coming.
I bring the bouquet of light pink roses in front of me and hide the takeout bag behind my back.
If I know my girl well, she hasn’t eaten anything but sweets and is most likely starving.
I also have her special snack in my pocket for her to munch on later.
Octavia—who stands behind the register—along with Jake—who I’ve met a few times now—both smile at me but don’t announce my presence. So when I reach the counter, I clear my throat and speak up, “Excuse me, Mrs. Jefferson?”
Aubrey quickly spins around as she says, “Yes?” Her eyes widen once she faces me, but I think it’s less from shock that I’m here, and more from the fact that she responded to my last name.
And I couldn’t be more pleased. She places the tip of her fingers over her lips as she gasps and turns a dark shade of pink. “I have no idea why I did that.”
“Because you know just as much as I do that it should be your last name.” I wink and walk around the counter as she reaches the opening. “Hi, Angel.” I wrap my arm still holding the flowers around her back and pull her in, capturing her lips with mine.
“Hi.” She sighs with bliss against my lips.
“God, you two are too much,” Octavia says from beside us. “If you don’t marry him, boss, I will.”
“Sorry, Tavie. Even if she chooses never to marry me, I still wouldn’t let her go,” I say, grinning at my girl.
“God, how is he so perfect? And where did you find him? Are there more like him?”
Aubrey giggles and steps out of my hold. “I’m not sure, but if I see one, I’ll send him your way.” She then turns her focus back on me. “What are you doing here, Shane? Shouldn’t you be home resting or preparing for tonight?”
“I’d rather come see my girl.” I hold the flowers up to her. “And I brought you gifts.”
“Aw, you didn’t need to get me flowers, Shane.” She blushes as she takes them from my hand and smells them.
“That’s not all I brought.” I hold up the takeout bag next.
“Oh, thank God! I was about to eat the drywall.” She blushes harder at how eagerly she rips the bag out of my hands.
“And this.” I pull out the bag of Froot Loops from my pocket and dangle it in front of her.
Her eyes widen with hunger the same way a dog would react to seeing his favorite snack. “I love you so much right now, you can’t even begin to understand.”
“I do, because it’s how much I love you all the time.” I pull her close once more, kissing her again. “Do you have time to take a break?”
“For you, I do… and food.” That’s our Little Star talking, and it makes me chuckle.
She walks us to her office and closes the door behind her. Instead of sitting in her chair, she sits in one of the two chairs in front of her desk while I take the other. She lays the flowers down on the desk while I take the takeout bag and begin to remove our food containers.
This morning, she had told me she was in the mood for Chinese and might have it for supper at home. But I hate the thought of her eating alone, so this is the best I can do. I know she’ll still be eating alone tonight, but I’m hoping this will pay up for my absence.
“Aw, Shane,” she says when she sees exactly what we’re about to eat.
As I watch her dig into her container of fried rice, I bring up a subject I’ve been wanting to discuss for a few weeks. “I want you to move in.”
She frowns with question. “I thought we already lived together?”
“I mean move in all your stuff that’s still at the condo and change your mailing address. The only times you go there are to collect your mail or get something you don’t have at home. I just don’t see the point in you keeping it anymore.”