Page 139 of Lucky Laces
“Right,” I say, tapping the keyboard and pausing the three-minute video—or likely the three-minute long rant about my abilities.“I don’t need to listen to any more of that.”
Eva tilts her head to the side, blond ponytail swinging behind her.
But I don’t miss the approval rippling across her face.
“Pat Franklin is a very talented hockey player, but I don’t think I’m being remiss in saying that he’s problematic in the locker room.We disagree on a lot of things—his work ethic, how he treats his teammates, the way he interacts with the Eagles’ support staff.”
“That’s…quite a list.”
“It is,” I agree.“But here’s the thing—I never give up on my players.If he showed up at the rink tomorrow ready to work hard, ready to be a team player, I would be all over that.He’s talented.He’s the second leading scorer on the roster.”
“But you benched him before the last game.”
“Yes.”I nod and just…go for it.“Because he said some pretty reprehensible things while trying to start a fight in the locker room.I don’t want my players breaking hands when they fight on the ice, but I sure as hell don’t want them cracking bones before they even make it onto the rink.”
“Were those reprehensible things about you?”
I inhale.Then exhale slowly.“Yes,” I say.“This time they were about me.And, I can ignore awful comments about me made by online trolls, but I can’t ignore them—whether they’re directed at me or someone else in my organization—when they come from a player on my roster.That’s not the team I’m trying to build, and it’s not something I’m going to tolerate from this point forward.”
“I think that’s commendable,” she says.
I shrug.“I don’t know about that.”
“I do.”She reaches over and squeezes my head.“Working for the Breakers has given me plenty of insight into how good it feels to be part of team like that.And I think, if anyone can build it here in Oakland, it will be you.”
“Thanks,” I murmur, and I mean it.
Because I can tell by her words thatshemeans it.
She straightens then gets back to business, dropping one final bomb on me when she says, “Last thing before we let you go, would you like to comment on Pat’s admission that he released the initial footage of your ex cheating on you?”
I suck in a breath, my gaze locking with Hudson’s.His expression is furious, and Jean-Michel, who’s standing next to him, is equally as pissed.
I want to lean into that anger.
But I also know that’s not me.
I’m better than that.
I can be smart and thoughtful and…real.
“That…that doesn’t feel great,” I admit, returning my focus to Eva.“Because I know he wasn’t coming from a place of sharing that I’ve found someone better, someone who loves me and will treat me right.”
She snorts.“It’s pretty obvious he was trying to hurt you—either personally or professionally.”
“I think you’re right, but that intent aside, I also know it was probably the kindest thing he could have done for me.”Her brows fly up in surprise.“I was agonizing over Hudson and my relationship coming out,” I explain.“Knowing I would fight for it, same as I would fight for Huddy’s place on the team and for my job, and yet also knowing I would step away from the team if I had to.”
Hudson jerks like he wants to say something.
Jean-Michel actually opens his mouth.
Eva notices both of those and grins.“I’m guessing the team wasn’t willing to let you go so easily.”
“No,” I say, glancing over at them again.“Lucky for me, they weren’t.So really”—I turn toward her again—“Pat saved me weeks or months of angst.The world knows about Hudson and me, we’re in love and have the team’s blessing, and now we can move forward and play some really great fucking hockey.”
“And I think that’s the perfect place to end for today,” Eva says, grinning at me before she gives her signature sign-off and then the live feed ends.“You did great,” she murmurs.“Thank you for trusting me with this.”
“Thank you for?—”
