Chapter 33 Parker #2
I didn’t get a chance to give her an explanation, though, because Coach Foster walked in. “Evening, everyone,” he said, barely looking up from his clipboard. “We’ve got a big game ahead of—” He stopped short as Elliot practically danced up to his side.
“My ankle’s all better, Coach. I’m back and ready to play.” Elliot handed him a piece of paper that I assumed was a note from the doctor, but Foster didn’t so much as glance at it.
“I’m glad to hear you’re on the mend, Ford,” he replied. “But I’m afraid you’ll have to sit today out. You haven’t practiced in weeks.”
I felt my lips twitch into a smile, and when Elliot saw it, he glared at me. But he powered on. “I’m ready to go, Coach. I can play.”
“We can talk about this later, Ford.” Coach Foster’s voice was firm. “Right now, we have a game to prepare for.”
“But you’ll lose without me.” Elliot’s voice rose, and a few of our teammates recoiled in shock. Did he have a death wish? “Especially with her in goal. I know she’s your daughter, but come on.”
Yep, definite death wish. There were a few grumbles of dissent amongst the guys, but I was only interested in hearing Coach Foster’s response.
“Like I said,” Coach replied, somehow remaining calm. “We can discuss your place on the team another time.”
Elliot’s hands bunched at his sides as Coach Foster moved past him. He only got half a step before Elliot thrust his phone into Foster’s hand. “She’s not even here to play hockey! Look!”
My heart sank as Elliot shot me a knowing look. I had a bad feeling Mackenzie and I wouldn’t like what was on that screen.
Foster clenched the phone tightly. When his eyes flashed in Mackenzie’s direction it looked like a storm was building inside them, ready to unleash. But then his expression softened, and I realized he’d noticed the number displayed proudly on the shoulder of his daughter’s jersey.
There was a pained look on his face, but I got the feeling he couldn’t bring himself to look away. Seconds of silence that felt like an eternity passed before his face became unreadable once more. He handed the phone back to Elliot.
“So you can see she doesn’t belong here, right?” Ford demanded.
Even though she was still standing a few feet away, I felt Mackenzie stiffen. I wanted to reassure her but feared it would only make things worse.
“Ford…” Coach’s tone was full of warning, but Elliot continued.
“She’s only playing because she figures it’s a way into our star player’s pants.
And this is proof.” He held his phone for everyone else to see.
There was a hazy picture of Mackenzie and me down by the lake at the team party.
Despite the low light, it was clear we were kissing.
I was surprised Coach Foster hadn’t already killed me.
“Not my best angle,” I said, earning a few sniggers from the guys.
Mackenzie shot me a glare. It wasn’t as piercing as the one from her dad, though.
I did my best to ignore it and stood up.
“Yes, that is Mackenzie and me kissing. But it’s got nothing to do with hockey.
I hate to break it to you, Ford, but hockey is probably the only reason she hasn’t been in my pants. ”
“Not helping, Parker,” Mackenzie muttered.
“What? It’s true. Mackenzie and I kissed that night, but we haven’t since. Because she cares more about this team, and wants to make sure that everyone here respects her for the incredible player and person she is.”
“Cares about the team?” Ford scoffed. “We’ve been losing because of her! This is a boys’ team, and she’s a distraction.”
“I play just fine with her here, and I’m the one who’s in love with her.”
That really shut everyone up. Mackenzie’s eyes widened. I never knew when to stop talking, did I?
“Love?” she mouthed, when I risked a glance her way.
I shrugged. What else could this impossibly warm and all-consuming feeling in my chest be?
I turned back to our coach. “If you’re going to kick her off the team, you’ll have to kick me off, too.”
“Yeah,” Owen added. “Mackenzie is one of us.”
The other guys were nodding.
“She’s better than Ford anyway,” Cullen added, before the other players all joined in.
“Way better.”
“And she’s improving every game.”
“She’s brave too.”
“She might be a girl, but she’s our girl!”
Seeing the guys stand up for Mackenzie meant more than anything.
“Coach, we don’t care if her and Parker like to swap spit,” Seth said. “That doesn’t make her any less of a player or any less of a teammate.”
“Enough!” Coach Foster barked. The room seemed to tremble as everyone fell silent. “This isn’t the kind of behavior I expect on my team.”
I knew I was totally screwed. I couldn’t bring myself to regret speaking up though. Or regret kissing Mackenzie. I’d dealt with the consequences of kissing her once before, and I was willing to do it again. I just wished I hadn’t gotten her in trouble.
Coach Foster went to speak, and I braced myself for him to confirm that Mackenzie was out, and Ford was in.
“I expect everyone to support their teammates,” he began.
“To have their backs at all times.” But then he turned to Elliot.
“I don’t expect them to use blackmail to get their way.
If you think any player in this room will trust you on the ice after this, Ford, you’re mistaken.
I want to see you in my office first thing Monday morning.
We can discuss your reintegration with the team on a… probationary basis.”
Elliot was still panting from the exhilaration of his dramatic reveal, but Coach Foster’s words slowly began to sink in. “What?”
“You heard me, Ford. Leave. We have a game to win, and right now you’re the one distracting the team.”
Everyone was staring at Elliot, mouths open in shock.
He was just as stunned into silence as everyone else.
He stood for a moment, as though he was trying to think of one final argument to fight back with.
Then he dropped his head and slowly turned for the exit.
The team watched him walk out, but my eyes were only on Mackenzie.
She stood strong and purposeful, her eyes glistening with emotion.
There was a time when I would have loved nothing more than to see her struggling.
But now, her unshed tears felt like they were gutting me.
Coach Foster slowly turned to Mackenzie, and I could see why he had been so hard on her all this time: because he cared about her deeply.
He stepped toward his daughter. “Mackenzie, I’m sorry I stopped you playing hockey.
I wasn’t protecting you; I was protecting myself.
But I’m not going to hold onto the past anymore.
I know your mom didn’t want you to go through what she did, but if she could see you right now, she would be so proud. ”
Coach Foster took in a slow breath before continuing. “You have already proven to me that you deserve your place on this team, and it looks like you’ve proven it to everyone else here as well.”
“But my probation doesn’t end until after today,” she said softly.
“I never should have put you on probation in the first place,” her dad replied. “It’s clear that you are exactly where you belong—you’re a permanent member of this team.”
The room erupted in cheers, and a few of the guys close to Mackenzie patted her on the back.
Her forehead creased, and she opened her mouth as though her instinct was to argue back, but then her shoulders relaxed and she started to smile, her eyes lighting with pride. She’d done it. She’d actually done it. My own smile was so big it felt as though I’d just won the state championship game.
“And that’s not all,” Coach Foster shouted over the sound of our celebrating teammates. “I have another announcement to make.”
Shouts and cheers turned to low whispering as Foster faced me.
“Despite the information recently brought to my attention, I want to acknowledge the efforts over the last few weeks of one individual who helped bring this team together. It has made us stronger during a challenging time, and I’m confident we will only get better if he continues to show such selfless leadership this season.
I’m pleased to introduce your new captain, Parker Darling. ”
The room exploded once again as my teammates mobbed me. Still, it took a moment for Foster’s words to land. Captain? He’d really made me captain of the team? After what he’d just learned about Mackenzie and me? Was he nuts?
Not that I objected. This was everything I’d ever wanted. Then I thought—glancing at Mackenzie and seeing the smile brightening her face—perhaps it wasn’t everything.
When the guys finally released me, I stepped toward Coach Foster and shook his outstretched hand. He gripped it firmly and leaned forward, his low voice still as deep and menacing as ever, despite the subtle smile on his face.
“Congratulations, Parker,” he said. “I know how much you’ve done to help this team. And my daughter. Keep it up.”
I was afraid to ruin the moment by opening my mouth, so I just nodded.
“Now, enough theatrics,” Foster said, turning back to the group. “We’ve got a game to win!”
“Coach is right,” I said, moving to stand at his side.
I’d never been someone who liked to hesitate, and I’d already missed weeks of captaining this team; I wasn’t missing another second.
“The Saints are our biggest rivals. We showed them who was boss at the tournament last year, and we’ll do it again tonight because we’re the better team both on and off the ice.
So, let’s show those snooty, elitist, private school jer—”
Coach cleared his throat.
“Uh, private school guys how to play.” I glanced at Foster to check whether he approved of my adjustment, but he was glowering same as always, so I pressed on. “We are the Ransom Devils, so we’re going to go out there and do what we do best—win!”
The guys cheered as we all charged out the door. I was the last one into the hallway, just behind Coach Foster, when Mackenzie grabbed me and pulled me aside.
“You love me?” She was still gripping my jersey, like she was worried I might escape to avoid the question.
“Oh, that.” I’d kind of been hoping she might have forgotten, given everything else that had just happened. It wasn’t exactly the smoothest way for me to declare my feelings for her. Who wanted to tell a girl they loved them for the first time in front of her angry, terrifying father?
“Yes, that.”
“I mean, are you really surprised? The first time we met, I told you I’d fallen in love at first sight.”
“I’m pretty sure you were joking.”
“Yeah, well, now I’m not. I love you, Mackenzie Foster.”
She slowly started to smile. The way it lit up her face and made her green eyes sparkle was so ridiculously beautiful, if I wasn’t already in love with her, I would be now.
“Then I guess you’ll be needing this.” She opened her hand to show me the friendship bracelet I’d made her.
“I don’t want to be your friend. Because I love you too, Parker Darling. ”
I started to lower my lips toward hers.
“Parker! Mackenzie!” Coach shouted down the corridor at us. “It’s bad enough I had to see that shit once today! Get yourselves on the ice, now!”
Mackenzie laughed as her dad stormed off. “Guess that’s as close as we’re going to get to having my dad’s approval.”
“Actually, I think he’s starting to like me,” I said, with a grin. I leaned in again, but she placed a hand against my lips.
“Maybe don’t push your luck just yet,” she replied. “Come on, captain. We have a game to win.”