Chapter 6 Milo
six
Milo
“So, about Lake and me.” Coach Halbur takes a seat on the plane next to me. Tonight’s our last road game for a few days. It will be nice to get back to Sea and fixing my reputation. At least that’s what I tell myself, not the real reason that I can’t wait to see Sea again.
“You’re both adults, Coach. It’s none of my business what you do. But you might want to avoid doing it in a public place again if you’re trying to keep it a secret.”
“That’s just it. I don’t want to keep it a secret, but I’m too old for her.
I’ve tried to stay away from her, but she’s like a magnet, pulling me back in.
” Coach has never been this open with me or anyone else about his personal life.
“I broke it off with Lake for good this time. I told her she needed to find someone her own age. Someone she could marry and start a family with, not some old has-been hockey player long out of his prime, who was fool enough to think he could keep a woman like Lake in his life.”
Seeing my coach so upset about someone makes me reevaluate my life.
I’m tired of the lonely nights when the roar of the crowd has faded, and the thrill of having my choice of women in my bed has long worn off.
When the thought of sharing my life with one woman makes me realize what I’ve been missing, I can’t let my coach give up on the woman he obviously loves.
“You’re right, you are a fool.”
“Yeah, you don’t have to remind me, Milo. I’m well aware of my shortcomings.” His self-deprecating laugh spurs me on.
“You’re a fool for letting Lake go.” She’s only been my agent for a few months, and I’ve already advanced in my career faster than I ever thought possible, even with the rumors circulating about me.
“She’s a good kid.” The look of longing in his eyes angers me. Can’t he see the love that’s right before his eyes? If Sea looked at me with half as much love in her eyes as Lake looks at Coach when she thinks no one is looking, I’d be a lucky man.
“She’s not a kid—she’s all woman. And your foolish ass just gave her the green light to date and have sex with any man she wants because you're afraid of something you can't control. Something so strong that it scares you.” I’m not sure Sea and I are there yet, but I’m done wasting time worrying about our future.
If anything, I’m going to make sure she’s mine for the rest of our lives.
I just need to convince her that we belong together.
“And what makes you such an expert with women?”
“I’m not,” I say honestly. “All I know is Sea, and I might have started in a fake relationship, and I’ve only known her for a few days, but I know she’s special. I‘m going to fight like hell to keep her. I suggest you do the same with Lake. Who knows, someday we might be brothers-in-law.”
“I don’t know.” He settles into his seat, turns to the file on his lap, and begins reviewing our roster for tonight’s game, effectively ending our conversation.
Knowing I’ve done all I can for him, I go back to planning my attack on Sea. She’ll never see it coming until it’s too late. And by then, I’ll have my ring on her finger.