Page 195 of Almost Ours
“Man, I knew you had it bad for her.” He let out a low whistle.
“Shut up,” I muttered, though I couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off my face.
Kyle chuckled, clapping me on the shoulder. “Seriously though, I’m happy for you. You deserve this, Ry. You’ve been through enough shit. It’s about time something good came your way.”
“Thanks, man.”
We headed out to the ice, and the second my skates hit the surface, the familiar energy wrapped around me like a second skin. Practice was smooth–better than smooth. The boys were locked in, pushing themselves harder than I’d ever seen. Every drill, every play, every pass was crisp, and I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pride watching them.
By the end of practice, my buzz still hadn’t worn off. I was gathering pucks when Jeff skated up beside me, his whistle dangling from his neck.
“Hell of a practice today,” he said, leaning on his stick.
“Yeah,” I agreed, dropping another puck into the bucket. “The guys are really stepping it up.”
He nodded, then tilted his head slightly. “Have you given any more thought to the offer?”
I hesitated, gripping the edge of the bucket a little tighter. “Yeah. I’m still thinking about it. There’s… someone back home I need to have a proper conversation with first.”
Jeff’s expression softened. “Harper, right?”
Heat crept up my neck, and I nodded.
It wasn’t surprising that he knew her name. Over the past six weeks, Jeff and I had spent hours together–long practices, bus rides, late-night strategy meetings that bled into conversations about life. Inevitably, Harper’s name came up. I didn’t even realize how often until Jeff started teasing me about it, calling her “your girl back home” with a knowing grin. I’d told him about Connor too, about the way that kid lit up a rink, about how much Harper had been through and how fiercely she fought to build a better life. Maybe I hadn’t meant to spill so much, but Jeff had a way of listening that made it easy.
“Listen,” Jeff began, his voice quiet but deliberate, “this job? It’s incredible. It’s rewarding in ways I can’t even describe. There’s nothing like family, though, Ryan. Nothing. If you’ve got someone back home who supports you, who makes you happy… that’s not something you take lightly.”
I swallowed hard, his words hitting deeper than I expected.
“I’ve seen a lot of coaches come through here,” Jeff continues. “Good ones, great ones. But you? You’ve got something special. The way you connect with the guys, the way you push them while still making them feel supported? That’s rare. You’ve been the best addition this program’s ever had, hands down. Losing you would be a massive blow–not just to the team, but to me, personally.”
I exhaled sharply, my chest tightening. “Thanks, Jeff.”
“I get it,” he added, “Family comes first, and it always should. If this isn’t what’s best for you and them, I won’t stand in your way. I just want you to know how much we value you here.”
I nodded, pressing my lips together. “That means a lot. It really does.”
He studied me for a moment before saying, “You’re lucky to have someone like Harper. I can tell just by the way you talk about her. And from everything you’ve told me? She’s probably just as supportive of you.”
“She is,” I admitted, my voice softening. “She’d never stand in the way of this. She’d probably push me to take it. But…” I ran a hand over my face. “It’s a lot of travel. A lot of time away from her and Connor. I just got them back, Jeff. I need to make sure Harper fully understands what this job entails before I make any decisions.”
Jeff gave me a knowing look. “You’re right. It’s a conversation you need to have. This is big. Life-changing. You’re not just committing to us; you’re committing to a new way of living.”
His words settled heavy in my chest.
Jeff clapped me on the shoulder, his smile genuine. “Take your time, Ryan. We’re lucky to have you, and I mean it when I say you’ve got a home here. Whatever you decide, just make sure it’s what feels right for you. You’ve got the talent, the passion–hell, the whole package. Don’t doubt that.”
This time my voice was steadier. “Thanks, Jeff.”
As he skated off, I stayed behind, staring at the ice. His words played over in my head and an idea began to form–a spark of possibility.If Jeff wanted to keep me this badly… maybe there was room for negotiation.
A slow grin spread across my face, but I kept the thought to myself. I’d figure it out. For Harper. For Connor. For us.
By the time the kids cleared out, the idea had settled into something I couldn’t ignore. My phone was in my hand before I was even in my truck.
Shane picked up on the second ring. “You surviving?" he asked, amusement dripping from his tone.
“Barely,” I said, still grinning. “But listen–I’ve been thinking.”
