Page 16 of Boards & Betrayal

I captured his walk to the stage through my lens, each step seeming to echo louder than the last. He shook hands with DeVries and accepted the award with a nod of thanks.

My heart pounded in my chest as I snapped picture after picture, unable to tear my eyes away from him. Thomas Morgan—the man who had unknowingly changed everything for me—stood there on that stage, a symbol of triumph and unresolved pain.

And all I could do was capture it from behind my lens, feeling both closer and more distant than ever before.

Chapter 6

Tom

The room buzzed around me, a hive of congratulations and chatter that felt distant, almost surreal. My name echoed through the speakers, but it was like I didn’t hear it. Liam Wolfe’s nudge brought me back to the present, forcing me to my feet.

I moved toward the stage, each step heavy with a strange reluctance. Then I saw her. Ally Reed. She stood near the back, camera in hand, looking as striking as ever. Her auburn hair framed her face, and her blue eyes—intense and full of emotions I couldn’t decipher from this distance—caught mine. For a moment, everything else faded away.

My heart tightened in my chest, a mix of longing and regret crashing over me like a tidal wave. Seeing her again after all these months stirred up emotions I’d tried to bury deep down. The memory of our night together and the unspoken feelings we shared resurfaced, mingling with the fresh ache of loss that she didn’t even know I carried. My legs felt rooted to the spot, unwilling to move forward but unable to turn back.

Devries touched my shoulder lightly and guided me onto the stage, breaking the spell. The applause swelled around me as I took my place behind the podium.

I cleared my throat; the microphone crackling as I adjusted it. My eyes swept over the crowd, trying to find a focal point that wasn’t Ally. But they kept drifting back to her, like a moth to a flame. She was everywhere and nowhere at once.

"Well, well, well," I began, forcing a grin that felt more like a grimace. "Look at all you beautiful people out here tonight."

A few chuckles rippled through the audience. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, feeling like I was on display in a zoo exhibit.

"This season," I continued, "has been one hell of a ride. Blood, sweat, and tears—ain't that right, boys?" A cheer rose from the table where my team sat, their faces beaming with pride.

My gaze darted back to Ally. She was snapping photos, her camera clicking like a metronome keeping time with my heartbeat. The sight of her made my throat dry and my words catch in my mouth.

"We pushed harder than ever before," I said, forcing myself to look away from her and into the sea of faces. "We faced challenges that would make lesser men fold. But we didn’t break; we thrived."

I paused, taking a deep breath. "You know," I said slowly, trying to regain some composure, "people often ask me what makes a great team. It ain't just skill or talent—though we got plenty of that." Another round of applause erupted.

"It's about heart," I continued, feeling the words grow heavier on my tongue. "It's about giving everything you've got and then some."

My eyes flickered back to Ally again. Her face was partially hidden behind her camera, but I could see the intensity in her eyes as she captured every moment.

"And it’s about family," I said, my voice softening despite myself. "Not just blood family, but the family you build on and off the ice."

I swallowed hard, feeling an ache in my chest that had nothing to do with hockey. Ally lowered her camera for just a second, and our eyes locked again. The air felt charged with unspoken words and unresolved feelings.

"This award," I finished awkwardly, struggling to pull myself back together, "isn’t just mine. It's ours—every player who gave his all this season."

I glanced down at my hands gripping the podium so tightly my knuckles turned white.

I cleared my throat again, forcing a smile. "So, thank you to everyone—players, staff, fans. This is for all of us. Let’s keep pushing forward."

The applause swelled, a wave of sound washing over me as I stepped back from the podium. I gave a small nod and descended the stage, each step feeling like it took a lifetime. My eyes kept drifting toward Ally, even though I tried to focus on anything else.

As I made my way through the crowd, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Kara standing there; her smile wide and determined.

"A quick interview," she said brightly. "And a few pictures?"

She gestured toward Ally, who looked just as startled as I felt. My throat tightened again, but I nodded, swallowing hard.

"Right," I managed to say.

"Great!" Kara beamed, motioning toward a small room attached to the main hall. "Right this way."

I followed her through the crowd, my heart pounding louder with each step. As we entered the smaller room, Kara positioned herself beside a backdrop that had been hastily set up for interviews.

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