Chapter 55
FIFTY-FIVE
CONNOR
The arena at the old Southbay ice rink is packed.
I haven’t seen it like this in years. The kids are lining up in the tunnel behind me, and I’m a little worried they’ll shy away from the amount of attention out here, but none of them even falters as they lean closer to the edge to catch a view of the full rows.
“There are a lot of people out there today, but nothing has changed, okay?” I remind them. “Jace, what’s the number one rule?”
“The team comes first,” he answers without hesitation, quiet determination on his face.
“Exactly. No matter what happens, this team comes first.”
“And after this we’re playing on professional ice.” Mads grins. “Do you think we’ll have as big an audience then?”
I chuckle, feeling lit up from the inside at the sheer joy on their faces.
For as much as telling them that the rink was shutting down sucked, it felt a thousand times better breaking the news that they now get to play at a professional arena.
“Let’s get through this game first, then we can start thinking about your professional careers. ”
They all huddle together for our start of game chant, and then they’re off, hitting the ice one by one in a tiny flurry of colors.
If I had thought it was loud in here before, the roof practically crumbles around us when the noise level skyrockets as the home team takes the ice.
Their opponents—a team from Boston—follow, and the atmosphere stays high the entire way through.
Tears sting in my eyes when I watch them all move through the simple warmup stretches and exercises we’ve been practicing, wide eyes watching the audience all around them.
I remember the first time I played for a full audience—it’s overwhelming having all of that attention on you and still having to perform, to try to get your head back in the game when everyone is shouting your name around you.
But the moment the puck drops, they zero in on it like their lives depend on it. Or maybe they’re determined to prove that they deserve this second chance on a pro rink. It’s a grueling game, but the power of a big supporting crowd on home ice can’t be beat.
When the last whistle sounds, I’m tearing onto the ice, heading straight for my team as they huddle in the middle.
It’s practically impossible to hear anything other than the crowd around us, but when I get close enough to the huddle, I realize that this little team of champions are all chanting my name.
“We did it, Coach!”
The crowd stays wild, while the kids do a full victory lap. I watch from the middle of the ice, in my winter boots, with the biggest grin on my lips as they take in the cheers they deserve.
By the time I manage to herd them off, my old coach is waiting for me with a beaming smile where he leans against the boards in the player’s pen.
“You did good, kid,” he tells me after I’ve sent the kids off to the showers. “Your dad would be proud.”
“Thank you, sir.” My voice sounds a little too high for my own liking. I clear my throat and take a deep breath before I launch into the question that’s been on my mind over the last few days. “You know that coaching position you were talking about?”
He quirks a brow. “Yeah? You know someone who might be interested?”
“I think so.”
“Took you long enough.” He grins, before pulling something out of his back pocket and handing it over.
I stare down at the white card, one corner slightly bent from having been stuffed into his jeans.
It’s a fucking business card, with my name printed right over the assistant coach title.
“I was starting to think I wasted two hundred bucks on these bad boys.”
I blink at him. “How did you know I would say yes?”
He shrugs. “You’ve got that spark in you. I figured I would take a chance on it even if you weren’t ready for the leap yet.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s good to have you on the team, permanently.
” He nods. “I better get these animals wrangled before they overdose on sugar and vomit all over this place. Although come to think of it, it might make for a nice little welcome gift to the contractors.” He winks at me, and I can’t help the laugh that tears through me.
The old man is crazy as hell, but there’s no one else I would rather have on my team.
I linger there, leaning against the boards and looking out over the ice, taking in the commotion for one last time while the crowd clears out around me in the arena.
I’m not sure how long I stay, getting lost in old memories, but when I finally come to most of the crowds have gone.
“Congratulations.” I startle at the sound of the soft voice behind me.
I saw her a few days ago, but seeing her standing here in front of me with that small little smile on her lips. I feel it straight in my chest. My hand twitches at my side, eager to reach for her. I stuff it into my pockets instead, not knowing where we stand. Maybe she’s come to say goodbye.
“Thank you.” I clear my throat and push way from the boards. “How’s packing going?”
She scrunches her nose. If I wasn’t aching to hug her, I might find it adorable, but right now it just feels a bit like rubbing salt in a wound.
“Not so well. I got interrupted,” she says, gesturing at the red head lurking nearby. She’s got a head of wild curls, and her hand is on Ollie’s bicep as he flashes her a wide smile and waggles his eyebrows.
I groan. “Do we need to save her?”
Daisy laughs and it sparks something in me. “Willa can handle herself. I think you should be more worried she’ll break his heart.”
I sympathize with that feeling. Maybe it’s a Willow Creek women thing.
“When is your flight?”
She shrugs again. “I don’t know.”
I quirk a brow at her. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Maybe it’s the new me talking.”
“You have a new you?” I ask, not really sure where this conversation is going.
She nods, pulling her lips between her teeth before popping them out again. “Yeah,” she says, turning toward the ice and leaning her elbows on the banister.
My eyes catch sight of the patched letters on her back and my heart does another loop in my chest. She’s wearing my last name on her back.
“I think I like her,” she says, and it takes me a second to catch on to what she’s saying, to even remember our conversation. “She takes what she wants.”
I swallow; my throat is dry. I’m not sure I’m catching it right. Is she saying what I think she is? If not, this is a really fucking cruel game.
If she walks away right now, I’ll be forever haunted by the sight of my last name on her. I’m pretty sure I’ll follow her to the ends of the earth if she does.
“And what do you want, Tulip?”
“You.” My heart seizes in my chest. “I was hoping you might have some ideas on how we can make that happen.”
“I can think of a few.” My lips split on a grin. “Are you sure about this? I come with a lot of strings attached.”
She nods, turning toward me. “I’m sure. You’re the only person I’ve ever had in my life who sees me, who values me not for what I can do for you but for what I bring to the table.
You’re the only one who’s never asked anything of me other than to just love them back.
And I do, with all of me. I’m all in, Connor. ”
“You’re all in? You’re all mine?”
She nod. My heart races as I finally allow myself to reach for her.
“For you, I’m all in. No going back.”
“Thank fuck.”