Chapter 75
KAI
There’s a saying I’ve heard: When the storm blows over, the world goes quiet.
Well, it’s bullshit.
“Diana! Did you know about your father’s crimes?”
“Kai! Kai! Did you expose Matthias Valdis to work your way back into the NHL?”
I push the reporters aside. I wrap Diana into my chest as we push through the crowd to head into the hockey club for the last practice of the season.
A photographer snaps a photo of me. I flinch against the flash. Diana smacks the camera away and pulls us towards the doors.
“Diana, can you please—”
“—Kai, why do you think—”
The doors of the hockey club slam shut behind us.
I slump onto the wall as Diana flops her head against my chest.
I blow out a breath. “Is bolting out of town and changing our faces still out of the question?”
Diana huffs. “One thing I know for sure is that we were absolutely delusional for thinking everything would be better after we exposed Matthias and my father.”
“I mean…” I shrug. “Some things did get better.”
Simon has been suspended from the NHL. Matthias is blacklisted. The authorities are investigating Edward Huang, Diana’s mother, and her brothers. The HMG has been shut down.
Any threat lingering over our heads is gone.
All we have to tackle now is the awkward situation of telling my family the backstory behind the intimate tapes of Diana and me that were leaked at the Frozen Four.
“…So, that’s why we’ve been secretly dating for a while.”
Uncle Manu, mama, and papa take in the story with raised brows and dropped jaws.
I don’t blame them. This isn’t exactly what they signed up for when they came by to see me teach at the club.
I’m just glad they never found out about what happened with Matthias and Edward.
The lights went out before they saw me get taken away.
The boys had made sure they got back safely to Kitsilano before they met up at Stella’s.
Still, the awkward tensions from that night rattle the air between us.
“I’m so sorry you had to find out the way you did. I swear we had every intention of telling you eventually,” Diana insists. So much guilt and shame wrack her face, it’s only relieved by Uncle Manu offering her a gentle pat on the shoulder.
“If it makes you feel any better, I always had a feeling,” he admits, “From the first time I met you.”
Mama gasps and smacks his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Kai’s love life is his business,” papa placates. He frowns at me. “No one should’ve exposed your relationship like that.”
Diana relaxes a little. She smiles as our hands wind back together again. “For what it’s worth, I really do love your son.”
My thumb brushes Diana’s knuckles. “And I love her, too.”
Mama tears up. She sniffles and clasps her hands over her heart.
“This is all we’ve ever wanted for you, mon c?ur.” A choked sob catches in her throat as she laughs. Mama wraps Diana into a hug. Her eyes flutter shut when she squeezes Diana tight. “It’s nice to meet you, sweetheart.”
Diana hugs her back.
After years of believing that everything was falling apart, I’m starting to realize that it was all coming together instead.
The last practice wraps up with a scrimmage that leaves the Little Griffins panting and high on adrenaline. They fidget and squirm in nearly every photo their parents force them to stand still for.
“Look here, Henry! Look here!” Mrs. Walton coaxes.
I bend down next to Henry and smile at the camera. The second the flash goes off, the Little Griffin hugs me so tight, his helmet squishes against my cheek.
“I’m gonna miss you, Kai M.”
My heart softens. I squeeze him tight and pat his back. “I’m gonna miss you, too, buddy. Keep playing no matter what, alright?”
“Alright!”
He skates off the ice. I watch him scramble towards Mrs. Walton who’s hugging a familiar-looking man gripping a white document holder.
He grins and kisses her head. “Hey, babe.”
I brace my hand against the plexiglass.
It’s fucking Todd Makas, the general manager of the Vancouver Phoenix.
He nods at me as if we’re two friends passing by on the street. “How are you doing, son?”
Oh, my fuck, he’s talking to me.
“Uh…g-good, sir.” I swallow hard. “I’m good.”
His hand proudly claps down Henry’s shoulder. “You’ve been doing a great job with my boy here.”
My eyes widen. “You’re Henry’s dad?”
“Stepdad, actually. I’ve been trying to switch him to a more competitive club for the last few months, but he wanted to stay here because of you.”
Henry flashes a gap-toothed grin that makes me ease up.
“I’m honored to hear that, sir. Henry has an incredible future ahead of him.”
Todd shrugs. “So do you.”
My brows furrow. I chuckle nervously and cock my head. “Uh…what do you mean?”
Todd laughs. “I didn’t just come here to pick up my son.
I had a few things to get done. Commissioner Anders reinstated me as general manager.
” He waves the document holder in his hand.
“For my first day back in office, I want to offer you a three-year entry-level contract to play with the Vancouver Phoenix.”
My mind blanks.
All I can hear is Diana gasping. Feel Luke and Rowan eagerly jostling my shoulders. See Uncle Manu hugging mama and papa.
I want to offer you a three-year entry-level contract to play with the Vancouver Phoenix.
I blink hard and fast. “A-Are you serious?”
“Benigno is retiring, and he made it clear he didn’t want anyone else taking his place except for you.
The team needs a player like you if we’re going to make the playoffs again.
” Todd’s voice sobers with respect. “I’ve been keeping an eye on you since the fallout in your first year.
You’ve got grit, you’ve got ambition, and you’re the most resilient player I’ve seen on the ice in a long time.
You are everything that a Phoenix needs to be.
” He slightly dips his head, eyes doubtful. “That is…if you’re still interested?”
“Yes.” I laugh and eagerly nod my head. “Yes, I’d be honored to play for the team!”
Cheers erupt all around me.
Diana hugs my face and peppers kisses all over it. “I’m so proud of you, honey!”
Luke whoops and pumps his fist. “You know what this means, bro? We get to play in the NHL together!”
“We still have another year until we’re on the roster with him,” Rowan points out.
“It's the same shit, bro. Now, we just gotta get the Phoenix to snatch up Wallace.” Luke nods at Todd. “Any chance you guys are looking for a new zamboni driver?”
Rowan thwacks the back of Luke’s head.
Todd slides the folder onto a tabletop nearby and places a pen on top of it. “Whenever you’re ready.”
I take the pen. My fingers run along the barrel.
This is happening.
After years of dreaming and working to get signed, it’s finally right in front of me.
Pushing a deep breath out, I flip open the folder. The people I love surround me as I go through the contract. They stand by me up to the very last page where I finally put pen to paper and sign my name on the dotted line.