Chapter 28 Dominic #2
“I was a shitty father,” Coach says stiffly, his back ramrod straight and eyes unblinking like a guilty defendant awaiting Briar’s verdict.
She doesn’t absolve him, doesn’t disagree in the slightest because he’s right—he was.
“But in a twisted way, I was protecting you . . . from me. You didn’t need me around.
I was building something all-consuming back then—”
He looks at the locker room around him, but he’s gone, seeing the ghosts of his past. Or maybe his mistakes haunting him?
He shakes his head, his eyes clearing. “Your mom was doing right by you, and gave me what-for when I tried to drop in and out of your life.” For a moment, he sounds salty about that, but then he admits, “She was right, and I didn’t want to mess up the good life she was making for you with my own hockey-focused single-mindedness.
You standing here, telling me what’s gonna happen on the ice, as though you have any right to, is testament to your mother’s influence. ”
He chuckles like he’s remembering something about Briar’s mom, and when he looks at Briar again, he seems shocked.
Vaguely, I wonder if Briar and her mother look alike because the way Coach is peering at her, it’s like he’s truly seeing his daughter for the first time.
He takes a deep breath, and slowly, an affectionate smile starts to stretch his lips, until he finally declares, “You’re a good woman, a great mother, and if you think Dominic is worth all this, then I guess I’ll have to trust your instincts. ”
It’s not an apology, but the acknowledgment of his past sins and Briar’s current awesomeness seems to satisfy her because she covers her mouth with her hands and gasps, “Really?”
Coach nods, his smile growing. “Kinda like that kid you said was good, the one on that trip to Toronto? I was ready to go, but you saw something in him I couldn’t see.
Now, he’s a pro. You see good in people, look for it even.
Lee has good inside him?” He shoots me a warning glare that says I’d better be fucking good to my core if I’m in love with his daughter.
“He’s full of it.”
I joke with a cocky grin, “That’s what my mom says too. Full of shit. Full of good. You know, same-same.”
“Okay then, let’s see if we can salvage this fucking game,” Coach announces, ignoring me but thankfully listening to Briar. “Tomville, pine. Lee, on the ice. Rest of you assholes, start fucking playing.”
“Yes, Coach!” sounds out from around the room.
“Are we all supposed to sing ‘Kumbaya’ now?” Anderson sneers as he slams his helmet against his locker. I think it’s his new one so he really should be more careful with it.
He’s pissed. He made a big move, selling me out to Coach and expecting everyone to turn against me, especially Coach.
It was a good plan, and it almost worked.
Except, the guys and me? We’re brothers .
. . we’re teammates . . . we’re family, and family looks out for each other.
Them having my back and effectively refusing to play without me is something I will never forget.
Anderson’s move backfired spectacularly, and now he’s even further out on a limb alone.
“We can sing a different song if you want?” I offer with a shit-eating grin. Loudly, I start singing “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Several guys instantly chime in.
“Fuck my life,” Anderson spits out. He pushes past me, knocking my shoulder, and luckily for him, not touching Briar or else he’d be a dead man walking as he clumps in his skates into the bathroom.
“He’s gonna have to be a phase two project,” I tell Coach. “One per season and I already did Kipson.” I draw a checkmark in the air. Mission complete.
“Fuck you, Lee,” Kipson growls, but I hear the smile beneath his gruff demeanor.
I’m almost certain I see the corners of his lips turning up a little bit too.
They’re a full two-thirds less glowering than usual this time.
That’s not just mission complete, that for sure deserves an “exceeds expectations” on my performance review. Maybe even a bonus.
“Okay, you guys go play your best and have fun,” Briar tells us, sounding like we’re Harley’s teammates, not pro athletes. “I’m going to go find Penny and see if she’s been arrested.”
“What?” I snap. My sister’s in on this?
“What?” she answers, trying and failing to look innocent. “She helped me get in here, which wasn’t exactly easy.” She lowers her voice and leans in, “She’s fast, right? Like could-outrun-a-security guard fast?”
“I’m gonna kill her,” I groan.
“I’ve got her. Just don’t tell Griffin. I don’t want to get on his bad side,” she says, waving her hands like that’s the worst thing she can think of.
I can think of something way worse than my best friend: me.
I press a quick, hard kiss to Briar’s lips and then move to her ear. “Go find my sister. And you are in trouble, young lady.”
She makes a squeaking sound and when I move back, already smirking at her, she’s blushing a bright pink. Fuck, this woman is going to be the death of me.
No, the life of me.
“Blizzard on three,” I shout as I grab my stick and turn back to the guys. “One, two . . .”
“Blizzard!” a chorus yells with me. I think Briar even says it.
The guys file out in front of me, but I hang back, not wanting to leave her with Coach. He said the right things, but I don’t trust him yet. He’s got a lot of making up to do and even more learning to do. But he approaches her slowly, his mouth set in a hard line. “I’m sorry, Briar. For so much.”
“Me too, Dad. I should’ve said something a long time ago,” she says. And miraculously, she opens her arms. He wraps her up, the hug they share one that she’s needed for a long time. For a lifetime. They stand there for a moment, swaying with each other, healing things in each other’s souls.
And finally, it’s time to kick some Hawk ass. I’ve been waiting for this.