Page 90 of If You Love Me

We spend the next half hour lobbing ideas back and forth, making lists, assigning tasks, and getting things organized. Tristan is determined to go all out, as is his way when it comes to birthday celebrations. I let him take the lead, mostly so I don’t draw attention to how much I know about the things Callie loves.

When all the tasks have been allocated, we disband, and I message Lexi. She’s at hockey practice with Callie, so I hop in my SUV.

With Lexi’s permission, I stopped by the arena the day after Callie jumped on that kid and had a conversation with the coaching staff. Then I helped her mediate a discussion between Callie, the coaches, and the kid in question. The kid’s eyes seemed like they were on the verge of falling out of his head the entire time. I’m not above using my hockey fame to make an impression.

I also sat with Lexi while she called Fee’s vice principal. They had a frank discussion about the school’s responsibility to check in with a new student who’s lost both of her parents and support her during the transition. Fee finished the rest of her suspension in school.

I run into Donnie on my way into the arena. He’s toting two hockey bags and a pair of four-year-old boys.

“Coaching tonight?” I ask.

“Yeah, gotta get the experience somewhere, right?” He glances behind me. “What are you doing here?”

“Here to watch a game.”

He nods, maybe waiting for me to elaborate. His son tugs on his sleeve. “Dad, we’re hungry, can we go now?”

“I should get in there. See you tomorrow, Donnie.”

“Yeah, see you later.”

I head inside and find Callie’s rink, scanning until I locate Lexi. I slide into one of the slightly too-small seats beside her.

“Hey.” I skim the back of her hand, just for the contact.

She flips it palm up. “Hey yourself.”

I lace our fingers briefly and squeeze before I reluctantly release her hand and clasp mine together. I glance at the scoreboard. “Looks like the game is going well.” Callie’s team is up by two goals.

“It is. How was your meeting with Waters?”

“He wants Hollis and me to join their coaching staff at the satellite campus in Toronto.”

“Oh wow, that’s—wow. What did you say?”

“That I’m definitely interested.” I rub my bottom lip.

She tracks the movement. “What are your concerns?”

“About the job? None. The Hockey Academy has a great mission, they’re one of the most renowned hockey programs out there, and they’ve produced some of the best players in the league. It’ll be a pay cut, but I’ve had twenty years in the pros, so I’m not concerned about that.”

“You’re concerned about something, though?” she asks.

Might as well feel her out, see what she thinks. “If I want to coach the university program, it starts in May.”

Her eyes flare. “We’ll be in the middle of playoffs.”

“Ryker could handle the playoffs.”

“There has to be another option.”

“The summer high school program starts in July.”

“You’d be able to finish out the season, then.”

“Early retirement would mean we could be together sooner. We could stop fighting the draw.” I wouldn’t have to keep lying to the people I love.

Her conflict is written all over her face. “It’s only a couple more months, Roman. The team needs you.”

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