Chapter Nine #2
“That is a risk we might have to take.” Frederick’s face went blank.
“You are one of the best players I have ever met, and that is because you learn from your failures. You protect your team, and you take the time to understand how they work to be better prepared with their strengths and weaknesses. Tell me you haven’t done that for Rosemary. ”
Of course he had. Hank and Spencer were right, she would want him to go after her. Even if it was just to negotiate and they never saw each other again. She needed him to put the cards on the table, so she knew what she had to work with.
He looked to his team. Yet again, he was pushing his team aside for his own personal problems. But if he didn’t go, her parents were right. It would seem like hockey meant more to him.
“I really love her, and I don’t want her to leave.”
There he had said it. The universe now knew how he felt.
“Then what are you waiting for?” Ajax shoved him. “Go and get her! We need her to make us look good instead of a bunch of feral men.”
The team snickered. That comment was spot on. They did need her, because she got them positive exposure. New opportunities. Got them involved in the community or helped with training kids. She reminded them of why they played, and it wasn’t always for money and victory.
Meeting his gaze, Frederick said, “I heard her calling her sister. She was heading her way. Do you know where that is?”
“It means I need to leave the country.” Louis winced. “She’s heading to Paris.”
Nodding, Frederick patted his shoulder. “You are a human being with emotions, which means that sometimes you will miss games for more important things. Do what you need to do.”
“You are letting me go?”
That confused him since Frederick hadn’t been willing to let him leave for Emerald. But this was affecting his business.
Frederick met his gaze dead on. “Yes. Because it is the right thing to do. And if I didn’t, it could lead to resentment toward me and the team because you were trapped. I can’t afford to lose you. Now, go.”
Guilt reigned supreme since he hadn’t done this for Emerald.
The problem was, he could have ended up throttling Harold and made it worse for himself.
And her. This definitely affected the team and their image.
It didn’t mean he didn’t love Emerald, he did.
But he vowed he would do better for her.
He had shown Emerald that work was more important, and he couldn’t make that mistake a second time. Right now, he had to focus on Rosie.
Louis didn’t need to be told again. They all cheered as he left as fast as he could.
***
Heading home, he packed and messaged Vince and Emerald to let them know he was leaving the country. He ignored their concerned responses and he tried calling Rosie, but there was naturally no answer.
Thankfully, he had a valid passport. He wasn’t normally so spontaneous.
He liked to plan, like where he was going when he got to Paris and how he was going to do it.
When was also an important factor. He knew her sister’s address at least, because Rosie had told him one day.
She wanted to visit and thought visiting together would be a nice break from hockey. But could he really just turn up?
He would worry about that later. First, he had to get to the airport and to France.
Getting to the airport was easy enough and so was getting a plane ticket and going through security. Just to be safe, he booked a hotel because it would be late when he arrived.
His heart was pounding. Why was he doing this? Was he really at the airport determined to chase after the woman he loved?
Yes, you are! You need to prove she comes first.
She was worth it. Right now, she was hurting and confused.
This may make it worse, but he had to show her he was willing to follow her.
That she was more important to him. But he would not push further than that.
If she wanted him to leave, he would back away from the relationship and see what he could do to help her feel more comfortable at work.
He was one of the last to arrive at the gate. He was still on time, thankfully, since he didn’t want to delay anyone. Going through the final checks and stepping on the plane, he found his seat. Two older women smiled at him.
“Will you be joining us today?” one asked.
“Yep. Aisle seat is me. You need me to move to let you out at any point, you let me know,” Louis said.
The ladies chuckled. “Well, aren’t you lovely.”
Putting his bag up in the overhead storage, another woman bumped into him. She looked stressed as she tried to lift her bag but could not reach. Her arms wouldn’t lift that high and no air steward was nearby as they were busy helping other passengers.
“Allow me,” Louis offered.
Gently taking it, he put it next to his bag. He made sure she was watching so she knew where it was.
“Thank you,” she responded. She truly appeared grateful when she patted his arm.
“Not a problem at all. You need it at any point, you let me know.”
“We are sat next to such a sweetie,” the woman in the seat next to his said. “Maybe we can ask him to put our bags up there, too.”
Louis held out his hand. “I am more than happy to.” They both handed over their bags, surprised but grateful. “And I can see you two will be a pair of troublemakers. This flight will be interesting.”
They both cackled. And that was the first time he had truly smiled since Rosie broke up with him.
Checking around him to make sure no one else needed help, that was when he spotted her. Rosie was sat three rows behind him. So fragile. She was curled up, trying not to cry. His heart cried out to her. All he wanted to do was hold her and make everything okay.
Her eyes went wide at seeing him. Her mouth dropped open. This had not been part of his plan to be on the same plane as her, but he would take the opportunity given to him. If she talked to him.
His companions peered up over the seat. “He is looking at someone. Oh! She is pretty!”
“Is that your girlfriend?”
Rosie was trying so hard not to laugh at the two women clearly finding their entertainment for this flight.
“She was. But something spooked her. I am here to prove she means everything to me.”
Rosie heard that and gasped.
One of the women raised an eyebrow. “That sounds a little bit scary. Maybe she wants to be left alone.”
“Oh hush!” The other one whacked the first one’s arm. “It is romantic.”
“My job is a big roadblock in our relationship,” Louis responded. It wasn’t their business, but it meant Rosie could hear. “I am always busy, and I never reassured her that she is more important. This was the best I could come up with at short notice.”
A child popped up over the seat in front. “It’s Louis Ledger! You’re my favourite hockey player ever.”
And with that, everyone was staring at him.
Wanting to go over to Rosie, he was stopped when the air stewards asked them all to take their seats so they could prepare for take-off. Meaning there was no time to talk to her.
Reluctantly, he took his seat.
“I can see this is going to be a great flight,” the woman beside him commented. “My name is Agnes by the way.”
“Louis.”
The other woman leaned over to shake his hand. “Mauve. And we should have brought popcorn.”
A little hand appeared between the seats. “Louis! Can you sign this, please?”
Louis tried to hold in a laugh as the boy handed him an Ice Hounds shirt that he’d pulled from his bag.
“Colby, leave him alone!” the woman beside the child warned. Then her face appeared in the gap. “I am so sorry!”
“It is no problem at all.”
Taking the shirt, he signed it, and the boy squealed. Thankfully, he had a pen. He always carried one as you never knew when you would find a fan.
“We are sat next to a hockey player!” Agnes grinned.
For a while, it all became a blur as he chatted to Agnes, Mauve, and Colby. The plane took off, and soon they were allowed out of their seats. This was his chance.
Agnes elbowed him. “Go get her!”
Standing up, he almost collided with someone. His mouth dropped open seeing Rosie before him. She was angry, but hopeful.
“What are you doing?” she snapped.
“I am flying to Paris. What a small world, huh?” Louis responded, trying to hide his nervousness behind a joke. He rubbed the back of his head.
“And why would you be flying to Paris, Louis?” Rosie asked.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
Rosie hesitated and stared at the floor. “I needed some time away. I am visiting my sister. Your turn.”
“I was coming to find you,” he answered. “Talk to you. We left it badly, and I didn’t want you to leave without knowing how I felt.”
“I told you to leave me alone,” she reminded him.
“I know,” he responded sadly. “But I can’t let you go. Not without fighting for you first.”
Rolling her eyes, she wanted to walk away. He could tell by the way her feet twisted, but the space was too small. Someone was behind her, grabbing something out of their bag, so she had to awkwardly respond.
“Won’t you be missing a game? You won’t get back until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.”
“Yep.” Louis nodded. “Because playing is important to me, but I was losing something more important. Someone more important.”
Her gaze met his. His words were working because he saw the hope. All she wanted was to feel secure. Important.
“What about your long game?”
“There are many long games,” Louis whispered. “Sometimes it isn’t just about my career, but life. Today proved that I can’t play very well without you. Seeing you smile when I win, or talking to you when I lose, those are the moments I play for.
“Life is the ultimate long game. You need to play it smart, so you find happiness. You need to coax everything to fall in its place. Love is the most important long game to me. Just like life, relationships take work.
“You are the most important long game to me. I want you in my life. I want to be by your side. I want to talk about our days together. I want to grow old with you. Steal your cat. Get you as many cats as you want.”