Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
She must feel me watching her because her eyes move to meet mine. A smile pulls across her lips, and I smile back before beckoning her to me. She comes automatically until she stops, pulling out her phone. I watch as her brows furrow, and she glances up at me as she answers halfway to me, “Hey, Coach. Oh, I guess he doesn’t. Yeah, one second.” She comes to me, holding out her phone. “Where is your phone?”
I shrug. “I don’t know.”
She rolls her eyes before I take her phone, and then she turns toward the Christmas tree. I watch her ass move as I answer. “Hey, Coach. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, bud. How ya doing?”
“All right, we’re in Nashville until tomorrow. Are we still good for lunch?”
“Aye, I wanted to make sure to confirm before I got too drunk on eggnog.” I snort at that. “But also, to check in.”
I know what he’s asking. If I’m okay mentally. Just like Eliza, Coach has been a huge part of my recovery thus far. He has come to see me twice and calls every two days. I don’t know how I got so lucky with this guy, but I’ll always treasure our relationship. I look around, and of course, my wife is watching me. I send her a smile and then wheel myself out into the hallway for a moment of privacy. When I’m alone, I say, “I’m all right. We knew it was going to be hard, and it has been. I hate leaning solely on Eliza like this.”
“Ah, but she’s a tough lass. She’s got you.”
“Oh, I know,” I agree wholeheartedly. “I just wish she didn’t have to.”
“Understandable. How much longer till you’re out of the wheelchair?”
“Five weeks, and then I’ll be moved into a walking cast, which will be a damn good time, I’m sure.”
He grunts. “When I snapped my tibia, the rehab was brutal. But I’ve been through it, so I’ve got you. And Eliza…well, she’s just a breath of fresh air.”
“She is,” I say, leaning back in the chair.
“And pain management?”
I nod. “Good, she has me on a schedule. And it’s good to see it visually, so I’m not just popping pills.”
“Good, good. You sound way better.”
“Thanks, Coach.”
“You know you can make it back. I did it, and you can too. Especially with Eliza and me in your corner.”
“I know,” I say softly.
“But?”
A smile pulls at my lips. He may be my coach, but he knows me like a father. One I wish I’d had growing up. Emotion is thick in my throat as I say, “I don’t know. We discussed us moving to Nashville and opening some shops here. Maybe even me coaching some hockey up here.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, I don’t know yet.”
“How does Eliza feel about that?”
“She said she’ll do whatever I want.”
“Good lass,” he mumbles. “Listen, can I ask a favor?”
“Of course.”
“Give me a year.”
I laugh out loud at that. “A year, huh?”
“Yes, you should be pretty familiar with this proposition.” I scoff at that, and he continues, “But give me a year to get you where you need to be, once you get cleared to skate. I know I can get you back to the NHL, stronger and better than ever.”
I press my lips together and think it over. It’s only been three weeks, and I go back and forth about everything. Fuck, I miss the ice. I just want to go lie on it, but it’s not safe. Not yet, at least. The thought of hanging up my skates hurts, but the stress and pain I’m putting Eliza and myself through right now is a lot. If I stay in the sport, I could get hurt again. I don’t know if I want to go through this another time. I haven’t even gotten to the harder shit yet, and I’m just not sure.
“Let me think about it.”
“Hit me up at the new year with an answer, aye?”
“Yeah, for sure. Thanks, Coach.”
“No thanks needed. Merry Christmas, Katz.”
“Merry Christmas, Coach.”
I hang up and look down at the phone as his request plays over in my head. It’s still too early, though. I need to heal and keep my mind mentally strong. I’ve hired a really awesome hockey mental health coach, and I have time to decide. I could agree now and change my mind later on, and Coach wouldn’t fault me. He’d support me. I tuck Eliza’s phone in my chair beside her gift and wheel myself back into the organized chaos that is Christmas with a bunch of adults.
I don’t see my wife, though, and a moment of panic spikes until she wraps her arms around my shoulders. She kisses my cheek. “Everything okay?”
I nod as I pull her arms off and lead her around my chair before slowly lowering her into my lap, much to her protest. “I don’t want to hurt you.”