Grant
SIXTY-TWO
“This get together is tense.” Ethan pops a grape in his mouth. “I thought we were going to play video games and chill.”
“Coach is sleeping with my sister,” I say. “Video games can wait.”
“It’s been two weeks since you found out about their relationship, and you’ve barely said a word.” Hudson pats my shoulder. “Let’s talk about it so we can figure out a way for everyone to win.”
“Is it fair to be mad at someone for falling in love?” Riley leans against the kitchen counter and pushes his glasses up his nose. “When you stop playing hockey—or before that if you get traded—Saunders won’t be your coach. Would you be okay with Hannah dating him then?”
“Coach isn’t breaking any rules,” Maverick adds.
“You all are supposed to be on my side.” I groan. “What happened to bros over coaches?”
“Fuck Coach Saunders,” Ethan declares. “How is that, G?”
“Great,” I say. “Thanks for the support.”
“I already know I’m going to hate every boyfriend or girlfriend Murphy has,” Maverick says. “But at the end of the day, if they treat her right? If they make her happy and she’s smiling? What more could I want for a person I love?”
“Speaking as someone who has lost a loved one, you don’t want to hold on to that anger and resentment, Grant,” Hudson tells me. “You’ll regret it eventually, and what if it’s too late?”
They’re right.
I’m not going to play for the Stars forever, and when I leave the team, I’m not going to be able to live with myself if I cost Hannah her happiness.
The last two weeks have been hell. I feel shitty about the things I said, and I hate how it’s impacted my game play. We lost our first two games in the next round, and a lot of that might be my fault.
My mind is elsewhere. I’m wondering if I’ve damaged my relationship with Hannah for good. I’m afraid it might be too late to apologize, and I don’t know why I’m stubborn to reach out.
Whatever the reason, I’m tired.
I’m done with this rift, and I want to move on.
“Okay,” I say. “I’m going to make this right.”
“Can you believe Coach is going to be your brother-in-law?” Ethan grins. “If you start getting preferential treatment, I’m going to be pissed.”
“Say that again, and I’m throwing the pie Hudson brought in your face,” I warn.
“If you want me to kick Saunders’s ass for you, I will,” Liam says, and I scream.
“What the—when the hell did you get here?” I put a hand over my chest. “And when did you get so quiet? You’re a behemoth of a man, Sully. You’d think I’d know if you were around.”
“I’m not quiet. You’re too loud.”
“Okay, well, thanks for being here, creeper. Would you really kick Coach’s ass for me?”
“No,” he drawls. “You’re an adult. Figure your shit out.”
“Ouch. It feels like my dad is scolding me,” I say.
“Liam might be your dad, but Coach is going to be your daddy,” Ethan teases, and he yelps when I grab a piece of pie and chase him around Maverick’s kitchen.
The next morning, I’m standing in Coach’s office after practice.
I waltzed my ass in here instead of showering, and I’m second guessing everything.
“Everett,” Coach draws out. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Hey. Hi.” I shut the door. “I, ah, wanted to apologize for how I acted the night I found out about you and Hannah. I was out of line, and I’m sorry for the things I said to you. Bringing your daughter into the conversation was a low blow, and I didn’t mean for it to get so ugly.”
His dark eyes skim over my face, assessing me, and I gulp. I should probably leave, but then Coach sighs. He scrubs a hand over his jaw and gestures to the chair across from him. I drop in the seat, my knee bouncing as he continues to stare at me.
“Apology accepted,” he says, and I blink.
“Really? That fast?”
“We’ve spent many years together, Everett, and I know you. You acted the way you did because you love your sister, not because you’re a mean guy. I can’t fault you for caring about an important person in your life, even if it comes at my expense.” He frowns. “Hannah is upset with you.”
“I know she is. I want to apologize to her too. Do you think she’ll listen to me?”
“Only one way to find out.” Coach stands and slips his cell phone in his pocket. “Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Her apartment. But we’re making a stop on the way.”
I follow Coach to his car, sitting in the passenger seat while we head away from the practice arena. We don’t talk, and when he parks outside a corner store, I give him a curious look.
“Are you grocery shopping?” I ask.
“No. Stay here,” he says.
A few minutes later, he returns with a bouquet of roses he shoves in my hold.
“Are these for me?”
“They’re for Hannah,” Coach says.
“You buy Hannah flowers?” I ask.
“I buy Hannah whatever she wants. She could ask me for the sun and I’d find a way to bring it to her.”
“Wow.” I touch the petals. “You really do love her, don’t you?”
“With everything I have.” His grip loosens on the wheel. A small smile pulls at his mouth. “Besides my daughter, she’s the best thing to ever happen to me.”
The more Coach talks, the more I realize Amelia was right.
Our situations are very similar, and I can’t believe I was going to let my personal opinion outweigh how much these two care about each other. It’s not fair to judge when I only know a fraction of the story, and I clear my throat.
“I’m okay with you two being together,” I murmur, and Coach shoots me a look. “It’s going to take me some time to get used to it, but I’m not going to sabotage you all or anything like that. Treat her right, and I’m fine with it.”
“There’s one more person who needs to hear that,” he says.
We pull into the parking garage under Hannah’s apartment complex, and Coach leads me up the elevator to her floor. I wait outside while Coach heads in first, a quiet conversation happening between the two of them before he holds open the door.
“You look like shit,” Hannah says when she sees me.
“Feel like shit too. Can I come in?” I ask.
“Yeah.” She steps back and gestures me inside. “You can come in.”
I walk to the living room and find a spot in a leather chair. I stare out the large window until a glass of water is set in front of me.
“In case you’re thirsty,” Hannah says, sitting on the couch.
“Thank you.” I take a sip of water and blow out a rough exhale. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what, Grant? Embarrassing me? Saying hurtful, callous things to me and the man I love?”
“All of it. You’re right, Hannah. You’re an adult. You’re the only one who can make decisions about your life, and my opinion shouldn’t have any sway over what you do or don’t do.” I wring my hands together. “But I wish you would have told me what was going on.”
“I’ve been very intentional about what I share with you, Grant.
You’re a professional athlete who constantly has microphones shoved in his face.
Why should you have to answer questions about my personal relationships when they don’t have anything to do with the sport you’re playing?
” She sighs. “Do you want me to be honest?”
“Yes,” I say.
“Brody and I have been seeing each other since the holiday gala. We also slept together the night of Riley’s accident, but we didn’t talk again until he reached out about coaching his daughter.
” Hannah pauses for a breath before continuing.
“It started out as a one-night stand, but then I fell in love with him because he’s great and wonderful and so not the man you all think he is.
I’m going to therapy twice a week to talk about my burnout.
I’m setting new goals for myself, and I think I’m going to announce my official retirement from skating soon because my heart isn’t in it anymore.
And I’m bisexual,” she adds. “I had a girlfriend when I was nineteen, but I also like men. There. That’s me being honest.”
“You’re bisexual?” I whisper. “Why didn’t you say anything? Did you think I would judge you? I would never—”
“I’m not embarrassed of who I am, but I’m protective over it.
Over who gets to see these sides of me, and the only reason I didn’t tell you is because your heart is so damn big, Grant.
You’re a hockey player. That is your priority, and I’m okay with my relationships being left out of the limelight. ”
“Hannah.” Tears prick my eyes. “Relationships, jobs, and sports all come and go, but this is who you are. It’s something I want to know about, even if there’s a damn microphone in front of me.
I want to know everything because I love you.
And when you love someone, you put your personal opinions aside, and you listen.
Which is what I should’ve done originally. I’m so sorry that I didn’t.”
Hannah stands and walks around the coffee table until she’s sitting by my side and resting her head on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry for not telling you. We told Olivia, Brody’s daughter, because she’s the most important person in his life. You’re the most important person in my life, and I should’ve been honest with you from the beginning,” she says.
“I probably wouldn’t have believed you,” I admit. “It’s Coach.”
We talk some more, and then Coach joins us. He smiles at Hannah, looking relaxed and laid-back in a way I’ve never seen before. After another round of apologies and a warning that I’d ruin his life if he ever hurt my sister, I stand. I give Hannah a hug and hold her tight.
“Thank you for coming by,” she says. “I’m glad we could clear this up.”
“Me too,” I tell her. “Thanks for hearing me out.”
“What made you come to your senses?”
“I had some help from outside influences. People who are smarter than me.” I rub the back of my neck. “People I’m really grateful for.”
“Good.” Hannah squeezes my hand. “Want to get dinner soon?”
“Once the postseason starts, I’m yours, sis.” I ruffle her hair, grinning when she swats at my arm. “And hey. Can y’all keep the PDA to a minimum when I’m around, please?”
“No promises.” She laughs when Coach pulls her into a hug and kisses the top of her head. “But we’ll try.”
Out in the hall, I chuckle to myself. I fix my sleeve, inspired.
If Hannah and Coach can make their relationship work, so can Amelia and I.
There’s hope for us, and I call an Uber, desperate to get home so I can tell her all is well.