Chapter 21
Mac
Mac's phone rang while he was staring at his half-written best man speech. Jamie.
"Turn on the hockey channel. Now."
Mac grabbed the remote. Derek Matthews filled the screen; handsome, charismatic, that smile that probably charmed every room.
"...excited to be consulting with several teams in the Vermont region," Matthews was saying. "Small-market hockey has tremendous potential, but it needs proper oversight and professional standards."
The interviewer leaned forward. "There's been controversy around your comments about physical therapists in smaller leagues."
Matthews' smile didn't waver. "Player safety should always come first. I've seen it firsthand; relationships compromising judgment, corners being cut. It's unacceptable."
"You're referring to Cole Hansen's recovery with the Evergreen Cove Eagles?"
"The Eagles are a perfect example. Hansen's recovery was remarkable, but was it proper medical treatment or luck? Without proper oversight, we'll never know."
"That smug son of a bitch," Jamie's voice came through the phone.
"He's coming for us," Mac said. "For Cole. For Ellie."
"Question is: why?"
Mac thought about Rachel's face when he'd mentioned Matthews. The way she'd shut down completely.
"I don't know. But I'm going to find out."
After Jamie hung up, Mac sat staring at his phone. He should call Rachel. Tell her about the interview. Warn her that Matthews was coming to Vermont.
But something stopped him.
She already knew. That's why she'd been distracted, worried. She knew Derek was coming.
And she hadn't told Mac.
He looked down at his half-written speech about love and trust and building a life together.
And wondered if he really knew Rachel at all.