Page 75 of Boards & Betrayal

"You really asking me about personal shit?" I snapped.

"I have a kid too," Walker pointed out.

"Not like my asshole of a son," I retorted. "Your daughter?—"

"Used to date Damien Sinclaire," Walker interrupted.

My mouth dropped open in surprise. "Date?"

"That's what she says," he confirmed.

"Fuck," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

"Yeah," he echoed quietly.

We stood there in a thick silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging between us.

"Look, I'd like to sign you by the end of the month and secure you for another few years," Walker said, his tone businesslike, but laced with sincerity. "But I get if you want to wait for Newport, too."

I clenched my jaw, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on me. "I don't know what the fuck I want," I muttered, more to myself than to him.

"Bullshit," Walker shot back without missing a beat. "We all know what we want. Deep down, we do. It's just a matter of whether we got the balls to go after it… and that's only after we admit it."

His words hit home, and I felt a surge of frustration. Did I really know what I wanted? The anger that had been simmering inside me started to boil over again. I thought about Ally, about Nick, about everything that had been tearing me apart from the inside.

"I can't make decisions based on what ifs," I said, my voice tight. "You think I don't want to coach in the NHL? That I don't want to see how far I can push myself?"

Walker nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. "Then what's stopping you?"

"Everything," I snapped, my voice echoing in the empty locker room. "My knee, my son, this fucking mess with Janet—" I stopped myself. I almost said Ally's name. I was already saying too fucking much.

I looked away, feeling a sharp pang in my chest. Ally was a complication I hadn't anticipated—a wildcard that threw everything into chaos.

Walker stepped closer, his expression softening slightly. "Morgan, life's messy. It's never going to be perfect or easy. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that you can't let fear hold you back."

I met his gaze again, seeing the wisdom in his eyes. He was right; deep down, I knew he was right. But admitting it—taking that leap—felt like standing on the edge of a cliff with no idea what lay below.

"I'll think about it," I said finally, my voice rough with emotion.

Walker nodded again, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "That's all I'm asking for."

He turned and walked toward the exit, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the echoes of our conversation. The weight of decision hung heavy in the air, but for the first time in a long while, it felt like maybe—just maybe—I could see a way through the fog.

As Walker's footsteps faded away, I sat there in silence, contemplating everything that lay ahead.

Chapter 23

Ally

Ipulled up to my mother's house, a quaint two-story nestled in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood. The house had always been a beacon of stability, with its well-kept garden and freshly painted white picket fence. Roses climbed up the trellis, and the lawn was always neatly trimmed, thanks to my mother's meticulous nature. It was something she could control, even through the chaos.

I parked the car and cut the engine, letting out a shaky breath. My eyes stung from crying, and I glanced in the rearview mirror. No amount of wiping could erase the evidence of my tears. My cheeks were blotchy, eyes red-rimmed and puffy. There was no hiding this from her.

I took another deep breath and opened the door, stepping out onto the cobblestone path leading to the front door. Each step felt heavier than the last. I tried to summon some semblance of composure but failed miserably.

As I reached the porch, I hesitated, my hand hovering over the doorbell. This house held so many memories—some comforting, some painful—but it was always a place where Ifound refuge. Today, though, it felt different. Today, it felt like confronting everything I'd been running from.

I pressed the doorbell, hearing its familiar chime echo inside. A few moments later, the door swung open, revealing my mother’s concerned face. Her eyes immediately softened when she saw me.

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