Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“That’s ...” I say, trying to find my words. “I ...” I bend my head and feel Max’s hand on my shoulder.
“I’ll do it,” Max says. “I’m sure every single one of those guys in there will do it also.” He motions with his head.
“I’ll do it, and I’m sure I can even get Cooper and Doug to do it,” he says of his stepfather and father-in-law. “I would love to get the twins on board.” He laughs.
“Isn’t Zara dating Evan?” Olivier asks, and Matthew glares at him.
“No.” He shakes his head. “It’s a rumor.”
“Really? Was it the same rumor that you were dating Karrie, or that Max was with Allison?” Olivier points out and then raises his hands. “I kid.”
“I want to talk to Jack first,” I say, “but I think it would be very cool and an honor for him.”
“Michael will do it,” Max says, and I look at him.
My chest fills, knowing that so much love surrounds my son. I don’t say anything because I’m afraid that I’m going to sob like a baby, so I just nod. Knowing my son is surrounded by support while others have none. Lucky I can give all the resources to my kid while others go without.
“Great, so I’ll wait for your go and then announce it,” Olivier says.
“I want to do it,” I tell him. “If he’s okay with it, I want to tell the team.”
“Will do,” Olivier says, and I nod at him. Max turns and opens the door, and we all walk out. “We leave at two for Boston.”
We all nod and go back to the room and get ready for the morning skate. We have a game tonight, so Coach doesn’t ride us hard at all. When we get ready and load the bus, I see a text from Sarah saying that everything is going smoothly. I also text her that I’ll be back tonight late.
I pull up my text and text Denise.
Hope you’re having a good day.
I press send and put it away when Max sits next to me. “Did you hear that we might just turn around and come home tonight?”
“Really?” I ask and then Olivier comes in and makes the announcement that we are able to come back home tonight. Since we’ll have two days off—tomorrow and the following day—everyone is happy.
We load up, and when we get to Boston, we head straight to the rink, and our equipment is there when we walk into the room. By the time we suit up and hit the ice, I’m bouncing with energy.
The game runs smooth, with us going into the third with a 0-0 tie. “It’s coming, boys,” Matthew says when we get up and walk to the ice for the last period. The puck drops, and I watch Matthew lose the face-off, so I skate backward, watching the puck as it comes over the blue line.
When the puck is passed to my side of the ice, I hold my stick out, tipping it away from the forward as I skate past him. I hustle past him and see Max clear across the ice with no one near him.
I pass it to him, hoping no one intercepts it and that he can accept the pass. It lands right on his blade, and he uses the board to knock it round the defenseman trying to block him. Making his way around him, he winds up for a shot and is lucky when he hits the crossbar and then slides it into the net over the goal line.
I skate to Max, who high-fives me for the pass. “Great fucking pass,” he says, and we skate to the bench to high-five everyone. The game ends with us going for an empty net goal ending in a 2-0 score.
We shower and make it out to the bus when I take my phone. I see that Denise sent me a picture of her and Jack watching the game.
The next is a text message.
Not a goal but you still killed it.
I laugh at her and send back.
Did you have fun?
I don’t expect her to answer me back, but she does.
I did, a lot.
What are you doing up?
Waiting for you to text me. What time are you guys getting to the hotel?
We are flying back now. We just boarded, so I should be back home in maybe an hour.
Really???
Really. Why?
Oh, no reason, just happy you’ll be home.
You and me both.
She doesn’t answer me back. When the wheels finally touch the ground, we all walk off the plane, and I get into my truck. I make my way over to Denise’s, and I don’t even know if it’s a mistake or not. My truck has other ideas. I park in her parking lot and send her a text. I’ll wait five minutes, and if she doesn’t answer, I’ll go home.