Page 183 of Puck Me Secretly

“Calder saved your life.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Can you get me out of here, please?”

CHAPTER 60

The next tendays passed in a blur. The police arrested Baxter on multiple charges and they denied him bail. The police interviewed everyone multiple times. Max, Joseph Flanynk, Lolita and the Vancouver Wolves were on the front page for a week straight.

The media frenzy was out of control. I spent every night at Max’s place. By unspoken agreement, we didn’t go on social media and we didn’t read the newspapers. We didn’t want to listen to what the media was saying about us. Other than the times we needed to be at practice or at work, the rest of the time we cocooned together, blocking out all the noise. We watched movies, cooked, joked around and had a copious amount of sex. We didn’t talk about what had happened. We didn’t want to know what others thought. All I cared about was that Max was safe and happy. Everyone else could go fuck themselves.

Dad came home from the hospital. My parents didn’t talk about Max and I didn’t bring him up. They didn’t breathe a word when I left every day to go to his place. It felt like everyone was working overtime to not rock the boat.

With Dad’s guidance, I temporarily promoted one of the assistant coaches to take over as head coach. When Dad was back on his feet, we’d work to hire a new head coach, but so far, based on the number of wins we had to date, he was doing great and would be a candidate for the job.

Despite everything, the Wolves would make it to the playoffs.

The first time Max and the team left to go on the road, they left without me. As acting GM, my place was in Vancouver, but I still cried when he left.

Tonight wasour first home game since the police had arrested Max. Dad and Mom opted to stay home for the game. I sat in the executive box alone. When the players streamed onto the ice for their warmup, I waited and waited, but Max didn’t come onto the ice. My phone buzzed.

Dad: Where is Logan?

Trainer: Can you come to the dressing room?

I ignored Dad’s text and rushed down to the locker room. When I strode into the room, the two trainers stood up and walked out. Max sat, fully dressed in his uniform, in front of his locker. He didn’t lift his head.

Something was wrong.

“Are you okay?” I sat on the bench in front of him, leaning my elbows on my knees, my eyes on his face.

His eyes remained down. “I’m not sure I can do it.”

“Do what, Max?”

“I’m not sure I can go out there.”

“Are you worried about the fans reaction?”

His eyes met mine again. “I haven’t played a home game since they arrested me.”

“Falsely arrested you.”

He glanced around the dressing room. “If you tell me to go out there and play, I will, Rory. I’ll do anything for you.”

I shook my head. “No. I’d never tell you to do something you don’t want to do. If you go out there, you do it on your terms.”

He sighed. “Fuck.”

“Max, do you still love to play hockey?”

“More than anything.”

“Tell me what you are thinking?”

“I don’t need to be loved by this city, but I can’t take the hate anymore.”

“What if they don’t hate you anymore?”

“What if they do?”

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