Page 87 of The Rebound Plan

When I don’t reply, Emma pulls out a business card. “You can pass this on to your friend. I’m actually an immigration attorney, but as part of that, I do refer to family lawyers on both sides of the border. Another option is appealing to the American consulate for assistance, and we can help with that, too.”

I’m stunned. “Thank you. I’ll pass that on. That’s…I wasn’t expecting to have so many options…to tell her about.”

The suite door opens and a little blond tyke comes barrelling in.

“Charlie!”

I crouch down and get in front of Becca and Hayden’s son. “Hey, mister.”

He giggles and dodges around me, but I dart my arm out, catching him around the middle.

“Noooo,” he howls, kicking his feet.

His mother swoops in and scoops him up.

“Thanks,” she says breathlessly. “Look, Charlie. There’s food up here, like I promised.” Then she looks at me. “We sat down by the glass but then he got hungry.”

“You came to the right place.” I offer Charlie a carrot.

He looks at it suspiciously. I swipe it in the thick Greek yogurt dip, and he takes it from me more readily. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. There are meatballs and garlic bread, too.”

He gets a big grin on his face at that.

I leave them to it and go back to my seat, thinking about what Emma said.

The second period starts with Kieran at centre instead of Max, and two prospects on either side of him. Then Russ comes out after the first line change, and some kid on Montreal’s team picks a fight with him, which makes no sense because Russ is twice his size and Montreal is leading two to nothing.

Russ grabs a fist full of jersey and holds the kid at arm’s length, letting him pinwheel fists of fury for twenty seconds before Russ takes him down to the ice with a single swinging left hook. As he stares down at the other player, he shakes his head, then skates back to the Hamilton bench, not looking at the refs.

It doesn’t work—both players get a penalty called on them—but the fans think it’s funny to watch on the Jumbotron as Russ pretends not to be aware he’s going to have to go to the box.

Then he grins and nods, and heads to the sin bin for two minutes.

Since both teams have someone in their respective boxes, the teams play four-on-four, a prime opportunity for Hamilton to score as the better skilled team.

We do, Hayden Calhoun posting the first goal for Hamilton tonight, bringing us to within one.

Becca and Charlie cheer like mad, and we all cheer with them.

But when the final buzzer goes after the third period, that’s the only goal we’ve scored.

I’m dreading Max coming home tonight.

And Emma’s card is burning a hole in my pocket.

CHAPTER 32

RUSS

“All right, that wasn’t what we wanted it to be,” Coach barks as he strides into the dressing room. He doesn’t wait for the door to shut behind him, so guaranteed that’s the lead quote in the sports press tomorrow. “But this is what the pre-season is for, working out the kinks. And tonight, there were a fuck ton of kinks. Tiller, I don’t know who you think was going to pass to you while you hid behind their D-core, but that’s not a system we’ve ever practiced. Gusty, Mitchie…if we’re not checking, we’re not winning. Right? Throw your bodies around more.” He glances at his notes. “Hooner, good goal. But you were still a minus one for the night. You can do better, too.”

Calhoun hangs his head. “Yes, sir.”

“If you played less than fifteen minutes tonight, the trainers are going to put you on the bikes. Everyone else, grab some food. Tilman, Calhoun, Hale, and Zondi—press room. And we have a practice in the morning. If you’re not early, you’re late. That’s it.”

Nobody says anything until he’s gone, then the volume rises quickly. I’ve already stripped down to my base layers, so I get up to head to the training room.

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