Page 24 of Cross-Checked

Walsh is such a genuinely good guy. You’d never know it to watch him play, because he chirps the opposing team non-stop and lands a dirty hit in almost every game. But he’s a leader among the players, a fantastic husband and dad, and one of those people who just seem to exude warmth and energy.

He’s not originally from Boston, but he’s always looking to give back to the community that welcomed him and his family with open arms years ago. If I ever need a player to show up for something, he’s the first to volunteer. If I had asked him to say something at tonight’s press conference, he would have done it happily. He’s a team player, through and through.

He couldn’t be more different from McCabe. Maybe he deserves to wear theCon his jersey, instead of theAhe’s sported for several years now.

“Thank you, on both accounts,” I say. “But you don’t need to talk to him. I’ve already got a meeting scheduled with him tomorrow morning.”

He lets out a low chuckle. “Of course you do. Try to go easy on him, maybe? He’s really struggled this season to balance being a single dad and team captain. I don’t know how I’d be a parent without Marissa”—I swear his eyes do this sappy thing when he looks over at his wife, and it has me imagining cartoon hearts flying out of them—“or without our nanny, Katie. With all the travel...well, I don’t have to tell you how hard it is.”

Not every GM in the league goes to every away game, but my philosophy has always been that I need to be where my players are. If they can do the non-stop travel during the season, so canI. Besides, after playing college hockey, followed by coaching college hockey, then scouting for St. Louis, travel is just a part of my life.

“I appreciate that you’re looking out for him,” I say, and next to me, Lauren’s rumble of laughter slips out like she already knows what I’m going to say. “But he’s a big boy. He can stand up for himself.”

Walsh laughs then, too. “Against you? I’m not so sure he can.”

I can’t tell if he’s teasing me or if he truly believes that a 6’4” professional hockey player, who once beat the shit out of my ex-husband, would have a problem standing up to me. Of course, no one here knows about him assaulting Chet, so there’s that.

“Lauren!” A woman’s voice comes from behind us, and we turn to find Morgan barreling in our direction with Jules and Audrey right on her heels. She’s visibly upset, her face flushed and her eyes full of tears.

“Oh my god, Morgs! What’s going on?” Lauren asks, her expression and tone both full of worry.

Morgan’s gaze shifts to me. “Hi, AJ, Walsh. I’m so sorry, am I interrupting?”

“Of course not,” I tell her.

At the same time, Walsh says, “Nah, it sounds like you ladies have important stuff to talk about. I’ll see you later.” He turns to leave, giving Morgan the privacy she needs to share whatever’s wrong.

“I just...” She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, and as she does, the tears roll down her freckled cheeks. When she opens her eyes again, it’s clear she’s embarrassed to be crying in a bar.

“Hey, there’s a free table over there,” I say, nodding to a booth in the corner at the same time the bartender sets our drinks on the bar. I hand him my card and tell him to keep thetab open and then follow this close-knit group of women over to the table, feeling a bit like an outsider.

When we slide into the booth, I somehow end up sandwiched between Morgan and Lauren, with Jules and Audrey taking the seats on the outside of the rounded booth.

“Alright, what’s going on?” Audrey asks Morgan the second we’re all seated.

“I parked at my place on Newbury Street when I came home from Lauren’s,” Morgan says, “and then I was walking over here when Carter called.”

I have no idea who Carter is, but Lauren, Jules, and Audrey are all nodding.

“And he...” she stutters as a sob wracks her body. “...I think he broke up with me?”

“You think?” Jules asks bluntly, as Audrey and Lauren immediately jump into sympathy mode, giving Morgan supportive squeezes and cooing their disappointment.

“Yeah...I don’t really understand what just happened. He said he thinks I’m more into him than he is into me, and maybe we need to ‘pump the brakes’”—she uses air quotes and an eye roll to emphasize his words—“on this relationship.”

“Wait, this is the same guy who has beenall insince the minute you two started talking a month ago?” Audrey clarifies. “The one who flew you to Miami with him when you’d been together for, like, three days because he couldn’t stand the thought of not seeing you while he was traveling for work? The one who introduced you to his family after dating for a week? Who sent you non-stop gifts and couldn’t go a night without seeing you, even if it meant staying on FaceTime with him all night?” Her voice is rising in anger with each point she recalls about their short relationship.

“What a fucking love-bombing asshole,” Lauren says with a huff.

“God, it’s like you just can’t trust guys today,” Jules adds. “Most of them just want a quick hookup, and here you found one who was all in right from the beginning, and then he pullsthisshit?”

“You guys are so lucky you don’t have to deal with this anymore,” Morgan groans, folding her arms on the table in front of her, and resting her forehead against them with a loud groan of frustration. “I used to think I liked being single. But watching all my best friends get engaged has me rethinking things.” She lifts her head again and glances from Audrey to Lauren to Jules. “I want what you all have.”

Jules’s laugh is low and throaty, her words quiet. “You know my and Colt’s engagement is fake, right?”

“Like hell it is,” Lauren says. “That man is down bad for you, just like you are for him. It might have started out fake, but there’sno wayyou can convince us it’s not real now.”

“Thefeelingsare real,” she confirms.

---