Page 25 of Worth the Risk
“Butterfly?”
“What? Butterfly?”
“Your tattoo coverup. Butterfly?” I smile.
“Nope. Not even close.”
“I’ll figure it out eventually.” He’s so cocky sometimes, I swear. “How was your night, honeybee?” He’s called me honeybee since we were kids, telling me once that it’s because I’m sweet like honey until I’m cornered but then I sting like a bee.
“It was good. Mare’s asleep inside. We had a wine and trash tv night.” He puts his hands on the black metal fence and leans onto them, closer to me. He’s in a white tee and gray sweatpants with his feet bare. I cross my arms over my chest, remembering I’m in my pajamas.
“What show was it tonight?” he asks, his genuine curiosity is evident. I grin.
“The Bachelor.” He grins back.
“Well go on then. Give me the highlights.” I chuckle.
“Do you really want them? I always felt like it may have driven you crazy to listen to me recap everything.” Rhett hadalways humored me and let me go on about my shows and books.
“If I’m being honest I’ve really missed hearing your recaps, I’ve missed hearing you in general.” My chest warms and my heartbeat picks up. I tuck my hair behind my ear, trying to calm myself.
“Then you’re in for a treat because I just watched three episodes.” He smiles wide.
“I’ve got all night.” Rhett’s always made me feel important, like a priority. He wasn’t always telling me with words, but he was constantly showing me with his actions. I have never doubted that when Rhett was with me, he wanted to be.
We spent hours outside, me recapping not only the last few hours of tv I watched but the years worth of books and shows that I never got a chance to tell him about. He gasped and looked shocked at all the right times, clapped for my monologues, and laughed with me when I remembered something especially ridiculous. When we said goodnight, I found myself wanting to stay with him. So now as I’m climbing into bed, smiling like an idiot, I’m hit again with how easy it would be to let myself fall in love with Rhett Holloway.
I’m meeting my team at the rink today for our first practice and I’m a little nervous but mostly excited. I also have dinner for Winnie’s birthday tonight. I’ve been reliving our moonlight catchup in the backyard on repeat the last few days. I need to have a conversation with her. Whatever we had years ago is still there and I want to try again. Now that we’re older I’m wishing I could take her out alone tonight but we’ll be going with Marigold and my brother, too.
I roll my eyes because I don’t know if Alder’s coming to get a rise out of me or if he and Winnie have gotten close over the years. When I asked him Thursday while we were biking, he wouldn’t give me a straight answer. My brothers really know how to get under my skin.
I walk into the rink and it feels like home. I’m an hour early because I wanted to warm up a little before all the boys got here. My knee still gets really sore and I know it will be tight todayafter not skating for a few months. It was killing me after a couple hours of biking. I drop my bag in my office and grab my skates and stick. Being back on the ice feels like I never left. I do a couple line drills and laps until I’m feeling good. Then I set up some cones and work through a couple drills I want the team to do today. I want to see who stands out and who may need a little help. I’m starting to sweat a little when I hear the side entrance door shut and I look up to see a group forming.
I skate over to them and stop just at the wall.
“Hey guys. Why don’t you all get laced up and meet me back here on the ice?” There’s a lot of head bobbing and a couple ‘Yes, Sir’s’.That’s gonna take some getting used to. I shake my head and smile to myself as I skate back to center ice. I’m warmed up and ready to see what this team has got.
I have them run through a handful of drills and I’m pleasantly surprised with the talent. There’s a few that are head and shoulders above the rest, but for the most part there’s a quality group of boys here. After drills I have them scrimmage to see how they think in a game situation. There’s definitely some work to be done but we may have a shot at a winning season. I’m impressed and I’m genuinely excited about coaching this team.
To be honest I wasn’t sure how I would feel from the sidelines and not being in the action. I show a couple of the boys some techniques to help with handling the puck and a better hold on their stick. My goalies are fairly solid but I have them take turns in the net blocking shots from everyone else for the last 20 minutes we’re here. I blow my whistle and have them all circle up. They take a knee and stare at me. I feel a little pressure now having them look to me for words of encouragement and wisdom.
“You all looked good out there today. I can tell you’ve been putting in the work and our next season is going to show it, too.”
“Woop!” “That’s right!” “Let’s go!” they all yell.
“I’m excited to keep seeing that hard work over these next few weeks. I know the season hasn’t quite started yet but I’ve put together a weekly training and practice schedule along with some community events that I expect to see you all at.” No groaning or complaining at that. They all look ready. I’m feeling pretty lucky that this is my team. Pride swells in my chest.
“Grab your schedule on your way out and everyone stay out of trouble.” I see a couple of them exchange looks and that lets me know who I may have to keep my eye on. I change into my sneakers and by the time I have my duffle and I’m in the parking lot my knee is aching and I’m starting to limp a little. I told dad I would help him at the ranch this afternoon before getting ready to go out for Winnie’s birthday so I pop a couple ibuprofen and drive out there.
He’s out by the barn when I pull up, so I park as close as I can, not wanting to have to push my knee any farther today.
“Hey, son! How’d practice with the team go?”
“Good. Really good actually. They’re a solid group. I’m excited to get to work with them and see how far I can push them. They’ve got talent and most of them seem to have the drive.”
“Ah, a lot like you then?” He smiles and claps my back. “I’m really proud of you Rhett. I had worried you may not settle back in so easy after your injury but you really seem to be doing well.”
“It’s always been part of the dream to be back here, you know that. My injury just fast tracked that part.”
