Grant
SIXTY-FIVE
“I’m in so much pain.” I groan and sit in front of my stall. “Hey, Lexi,” I yell. “Is it possible to break your butt?”
“Nope, but I’ll give you some exercises to try at home to work out that stiffness,” she answers.
“First day of training camp is done.” Ethan drops his stick on the floor and yawns. “Proud to say I didn’t puke.”
“Wait until tomorrow.” Riley grins. “You’re not going to like what Coach has planned.”
“It’s not fair you already know the hell he’s going to put us through,” I say. “You’re supposed to be one of us, Mitchy.”
“Tell that to my prosthetic leg. The AHL is fun, but I can’t play more than one game a week. It’s too much stress on my body, and I like hanging around you guys.” He pushes his glasses up his nose. “Seeing Easy E get his ass handed to him is one of my favorite things.”
“I don’t like all this hate being thrown my way. I’m the pillar that holds this team together.” Ethan flips him off and grabs his water bottle. “You all would crumble without me.”
“Glad to know you didn’t learn humility during the offseason,” Hudson says.
“Great first day,” Maverick announces to the locker room, and we quiet down.
“This is step one in our quest for the Cup. It’s going to be a long season, and I don’t want anyone to lose sight of what we’re working toward.
Our vets know how goddamn rewarding it is to lift that trophy at the end of the year.
Victory is sweet, and it makes every early morning, every brutal workout, every sled push and bench press worth it.
If you’re a rookie, I don’t want to catch you slacking.
You have a role on this team, and that means giving all your effort, all the time.
” He stares at our two newcomers. They’re barely twenty, and they look scared shitless.
“We succeed as a team. We fail as a team. Don’t be the one who leaves a game disappointed with a defeat because you didn’t work hard enough. ”
“I love when Mav gets fired up,” Ethan says. “That’s why he’s our fearless captain.”
“About that.” Maverick moves to the center of the room.
“You all are my brothers, and it doesn’t feel right to start the year without being honest with you about something.
” His gaze flicks over to Coach who gives him a nod.
“This is my last season, boys,” he says, and I gasp.
“The final dance. The ending to a career I can’t believe I’ve gotten to share with you all.
” His words turn hoarse. He stares at the floor, and his shoulders start to shake.
“I came into the league a fucking mess. I was a kid who didn’t know what the hell he was doing, only that he wanted to have a good time.
I made mistakes. I fucked up. I missed goals.
I lost games down the stretch. I partied.
But then Coach signed a girl from the ECHL, and my life changed. ”
“What the fuck?” Ethan mumbles.
“Tell us you’re kidding.” Connor wipes his cheek. “This is some dumb prank you’re pulling.”
“This can’t be happening,” I say, and my eyes fill with tears.
“Let him finish,” Hudson says, and he doesn’t sound as surprised as I feel.
“For a long time, I only considered myself a hockey player. With Emmy, I’m so much more.
I’m a partner. A husband. A dad.” Maverick chokes on a sob and looks at us again.
“I love the game, but I love that part of my life more. I’ve been a professional athlete for a long time, and I’m tired.
I want to rest, and I want to do it with my favorite girls.
So.” His laugh is watery and splits down the middle.
“At the end of this year, I’m hanging up my skates.
I’m bowing out of the greatest job I’ve ever had with the greatest friends I’ve ever had.
I’ve watched most of you grow up. I’ve seen the men you’ve turned into, and it’ll be the biggest honor to play alongside you all one more time.
And we better make it a good fucking ride. ”
Liam stands. He sets his mask on his stool and rests his stick against his stall.
He walks toward Maverick, pads and all, and throws his arms around him.
Maverick clutches his shoulders, hugging him tight, and soon we all follow.
We create a circle around them, and my nose burns from how hard I’m crying.
“My butt doesn’t feel broken anymore but my heart sure as fuck does,” I say. “I can’t believe you’re retiring, Mavvy.”
“You’ll be running the show here in a couple of years, Grant. The team is in good hands.”
“Thanks for being a great teacher. I’m going to give it my all this season so you can have the sendoff you deserve.” I pat his chest. “We’re going to make you proud.”
“I don’t have any doubt about that. Go get your exercises from Lexi,” he says. “I can’t have my star winger hurting already.”
“You got it, Cap. Wow.” I laugh. “I’m going to say that every chance I get.”
“Good.” Maverick grins. “I’m still in charge until next June.”
“We wouldn’t want it any other way,” I say.
I make it to Amelia’s apartment before her, and it gives me time to get to work.
I set the sandwiches from Pete’s in the oven to stay warm and tie the balloons I ordered to the back of the chair at the kitchen table.
The cake goes in the fridge, and I head for the bathroom next, setting up the candles and putting the lighter on the vanity so it’ll be close when we’re ready for it.
Satisfied with how everything looks, I go back to the living room and sit on the couch.
“I’m here!” Amelia’s voice rings down the hall. The door shuts, and her footsteps get closer. “I’m sorry I’m late!”
“You’re not late.” I smile when she rounds the corner and sets her purse on the floor. “I’ve only been here a few minutes.”
“I was worried you were waiting too long.” She drops on the couch next to me. “Hi,” she says with a smile. “How was your day?”
“Emotional as hell.” I grab a pillow and bury my face in it so she can’t see me cry. “Maverick told us he’s retiring at the end of the season, and I’m distraught.”
“Oh, honey.” Amelia pries the pillow away from me and brushes a piece of hair out of my face. “That’s tough news to get on your first day of training camp.”
“It is, but it makes sense. He’s won the Cup multiple times. He’s led the league in points and played at the Olympics. He’s done everything he can, and now he has new priorities.” I sigh. “It’s still hard to process.”
“You’re family, and watching someone leave is heartbreaking.”
“Feels like someone ripped my heart out of my chest.” I wipe my cheeks and smile. “Enough about me. I want to hear about your first day as a head coach.”
“We took practice slow so we could learn everyone’s strengths, and our team meeting was productive. I made it through my media availability and only had one asshole who pissed me off.” Amelia scoffs. “Have you heard of Simon Buttecker?”
“I hate that dude. He said some nasty shit to Emmy when she first joined the Stars, and Maverick exploded on him for being a sexist dick. What did he put you through?”
“The usual misogynistic questions where he asked how I’m going to make sure I’m not a distraction to the team.
I’m sure you were asked the same thing today, right?
” she deadpans, and I scowl. “It’s fine.
I politely told him to fuck off, and he’s given me even more motivation to succeed in this role.
I can’t wait to hoist the Cup above my head and prove him wrong. ”
“Fuck. That’s sexy, baby.” I lean over and kiss her, smiling when the tension leaves her shoulders. “I could listen to you talk about putting men in their place all day.”
“Good, because I think I’m going to be doing that a lot this season.” She leans against me, humming when she touches the small welt on my neck courtesy of Ethan’s elbow during our scrimmage. “Thanks for being here to celebrate with me.”
“Ready for some sandwiches?”
“I’ve been dreaming about this meatball sub all day.”
“There are some other surprises too.” I untangle our limbs and stand, offering her my hand. She slips her palm against mine, fingers locking in place. “Come on.”
We sit at the kitchen table and talk about our schedules for the next two weeks. I get up to grab extra napkins after a meatball escapes Lia’s sandwich and lands in her lap. She laughs, throwing it at my face when I call her messy, then shrieks when I spray her with the faucet.
I bring out the cake after we clear our plates, kissing the top of her head when she grins at the frosting.
“This looks delicious.” She swipes her finger across the top then licks it. I hold her wrist and bring her hand to my mouth, getting my own taste. “And a great way to end a great day.”
“The day isn’t over yet,” I tell her, wiping a crumb from the corner of her mouth after she takes a bite of cake.
Later, I carry her to the bathroom. I light two dozen candles and draw a bath for her, the steam rising from the porcelain when she climbs in the water.
“Are you going to join me?” Amelia smiles and fixes the messy bun on top of her head. “Or just stare at me all night?”
“I’m going to apologize in advance for often I’m going to say it this year, but you’re a head fucking coach, baby.” I strip out of my clothes and climb in behind her, groaning at the warmth that greets my muscles. “I’m so proud of you.”
“It’s going to be hard to stay positive if we find ourselves in the middle of a losing streak.
” She adjusts her position and leans back, her shoulders pressing in to my chest. She rests her head in the crook of my neck and parts her lips with a slow breath.
“But I’m going to remind myself I’m the first woman to hold a position like this, and the backlash is a blessing. ”
“You’re doing the damn thing.” I wrap my arms around her and pull her closer. “Just think of Simon Buttecker’s face when you’re struggling to find motivation. Win for him.”
“I’d also like to kick him in the nose.” Lia traces over the ridge of my knuckles with her pointer finger and a sigh. “We’re going to have to be extra careful this season. More people have access to me, and that means more chances of someone finding out about us.”
“We’ll be more discreet, which means not acknowledging each other when we’re on the ice.
If we’re in the same space for an event, we’ll keep distance between us so we don’t give anyone a reason to suspect us.
What’s the phrase? Absence makes the heart grow fonder?
I’m going to be really fucking fond of you behind closed doors, Lia. ”
“I’m sorry if it’s asking too much. I guess I’m na?ve in thinking I can have both of these things: You and my coaching career. Men do it. Why can’t I?”
“Put that on a goddamn shirt and sell it to the masses. You’d make a killing,” I murmur, resting my hand on her stomach.
“And you’re not na?ve. When I found out about Coach and Hannah’s relationship, the guys made a good point.
They said he’s not going to be my coach forever, so is it really fair to be angry about something that will hold different weight fifteen years down the road?
Same could be said for us. I’m not going to play forever.
You’re not going to coach forever. We’re going to be two regular senior citizens in fifty years, and the outrage won’t mean anything then. ”
“Good point.” She turns her cheek and kisses my bicep, her lips lingering on my damp skin. “Fifty years, huh? Planning on sticking around that long, Everett?”
“I’d sell my soul to the devil if it meant getting just another day with you, baby. I’d do unspeakable things for fifty more years of your attention.”
Amelia spins in the tub. Water sloshes over the edge, but she doesn’t seem to care.
“I dreamed about how this day would go for a long time,” she says. “Even in my wildest fantasies, it didn’t look as perfect as this.”
I pull her in my lap and kiss her. Each press of my mouth is another whisper of praise, another exultation I hope she never gets tired of.
When our fingers turn pruny and I wrap a towel around her, I carry her to her room.
I set her on the bed, and this time, each kiss is a silent admission.
The words I can’t say but desperately want to.
I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you.