Page 122 of Bagging the Blueliner
Grateful for the distraction my best friends provided, I prompted eagerly, “Do tell.”
A sly smile crept onto her lips. “Preston rocked my world with my vibrating wand right before I told him I was pregnant. I think we all know how those can pack a punch.” Lucy looked each of us in the eye. I may or may not have been the one responsible for each woman here having one of those under the Christmas tree one year. “Poor man thought for sure we scrambled this little one’s brain, but I am here to tell you, she’s just fine. If that did no harm, whatever Liam’s packing won’t be an issue.”
“Yeah, probably best we don’t tell him that story.” Amy smirked. “But good to know.”
We all shared a good laugh, and by the time the lights dimmed for the starting lineups and anthem, Liam had returned. Sliding his arms around Amy from behind, he buried his head in the crook of her neck. It would seem taking a moment to blow off some steam was exactly what the doctor ordered.
As we waited for the game to begin, the lull in conversation left me alone with my thoughts, which were often painful these days.
Even if the Comets lost tonight, I only had one more away game to coordinate before the end of the season. I was grateful I’d only promised my dad one year at this job. It was too hard to spend that much time with the team, knowing what I’d lost. Cal’s future with the Comets was still uncertain, but I wasn’t willingto stick around and find out. As it was, I couldn’t escape the memories of him everywhere I went in this arena and this city.
I needed a change.
“Three . . . two . . . one!” The home crowd counted down the final seconds before the buzzer sounded, barely audible over the roar of those gathered to witness history.
The Connecticut Comets had won their first-ever League Championship.
On the ice, the players’ gloves and sticks were tossed in the air as they rushed off the bench to celebrate with their teammates behind the net. They were a giant mass of bodies huddled together, and every camera angle showed face-splitting smiles.
They’d worked their whole lives for this moment.
Beside me, Natalie was crying tears of joy and relief. The spouses were just as much a part of this as their counterparts celebrating below. They’d sacrificed so much to get them to this point, and would get their moment with their loved ones as soon as the trophy was handed out.
Amelia, Jameson, Beau, and Charlie watched on as Jaxon was declared the playoff’s MVP. They looked at him like he’d hung the moon, and tonight—as well as the events in the upcoming days—would become such a special memory for them.
My dad had won three championships as a player, but I wasn’t alive to witness any of them. I was glad that tonight we would honor his accomplishments as a coach. He was as much a part of the game as the game was a part of him.
I watched the trophy presentation on the ice. Jaxon accepted it first as their captain, and then each player took a turn hoisting it over their head, skating a lap before passing it off to the next inline. I could only picture them as little boys, imagining one day getting the chance to touch that sacred silver. For many of them, I was sure it was surreal.
Lost in thought, I jumped when Natalie touched my arm gently. Tearing my gaze away from the spectacle on the ice, I looked at her tear-streaked face.
Smiling softly, she asked, “Are you coming down with us to the ice?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Go ahead down. I’m right behind you.”
“Okay. Don’t be too long. I’m sure your dad will want you there by his side.”
My sisters and their families hadn’t bothered to make the trip, so I was the lone Moreau daughter representative in attendance. Even with the games this series practically in her backyard, Chrissy hadn’t attended a single game when we were on the West Coast. They might not love the sport like I did, but it wouldn’t have killed them to show support for our dad.
Waiting until the suite cleared out and I was left alone, I took a calming breath. I’d gone to great lengths to avoid being anywhere near Cal for the past month, and going down to ice level could threaten any progress I’d made in mending my broken heart.
Reminding myself the world didn’t revolve around me and that I needed to be down there for my dad, I forced my feet to move on muscle memory until I reached the ice surface.
Today was a happy day—a bright spot in the darkness.
I needed to hold onto that thought with both hands to get through the next few days.
Chapter 30
Cal
The countless days spentwondering if I was good enough were washed away in an instant as the buzzer sounded and reality sank in. It might have only taken me my entire career, but I’d won a championship. My name would forever be immortalized, stamped in silver on the trophy every player coveted.
Being on the ice when the game ended meant I was at the center of the crush when every teammate rushed off the bench—all of us in disbelief that we’d accomplished a goal so many pursued but failed to attain.
Jaxon pulled me into a bear hug. “We fucking did it!”
“MVP!” I threw back as my arms closed around him.
