Page 204 of Almost Ours
Shane let out a whoop and punched the air. “That’s what I’m talking about!”
The room erupted in cheers. Nina raised her margarita with a mischievous grin. “Well, this calls for another round of drinks!”
Laughter filled the room as everyone rallied around the news. With the weight of the decision lifted, the energy shifted into something lighter and more celebratory. The rest of the evening flowed effortlessly, with Jeff and Kyle sticking around for dessert. Stories, laughter, and playful teasing took over, as if the weight of the world had lifted off all of us.
At one point, Kyle wheeled over to me while the others were engrossed in a story Shane was telling about a disastrous road trip. He leaned in, his voice low. “Thank you for giving him a chance, Harper. I don’t think he’d have done this without you.”
A twinge of guilt flickered through me for how long I’d made Ryan wait, but I pushed it aside. “I should’ve given him that chance a lot sooner than I did. I was an idiot.”
Kyle smirked, his voice dripping with mock innocence. “We were all thinking it, but I’m glad you finally caught up.”
I laughed, swatting his arm playfully.
Across the room, Ryan caught my eye. He was watching me with that soft, adoring smile that never failed to make my heart race. As I walked over, his smile widened, and before I could say anything, he pulled me onto his lap.
“Congratulations, Coach,” I murmured, wrapping my arms around his neck.
His arms circled my waist, holding me close. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”
Looking around the room–at Kyle and Jeff, at Shane and Nina arguing good-naturedly by the counter, at Liam and Connor laughing on the couch–my heart swelled.
This was it. This chaotic, messy, beautiful group of people was the family I’d chosen for me and Connor.
And I’d never been happier.
The sharp soundof the whistle echoed through the rink as the play unfolded in front of me. I leaned forward on the bench, propping my foot up on the boards, my eyes following the puck as it moved down the ice. One of our players attempted a pass, but it was intercepted, leading to a turnover and a breakaway for the opposing team.
I clenched my fists, looking up at the ceiling, stretching my neck in frustration. I needed to calm down before my players saw it on my face. Taking a deep breath, I dropped my gaze to the ice just as the kid who had made the errant pass came gliding toward the bench, his head hung low.
“Sorry, Coach,” he mumbled, not meeting my eyes.
I crouched down, pulling out my board and a marker. “Hey, don’t worry about it,” I said, my tone calm. “Now you know for next time, right? Let’s look at this.” I drew out the play, pointing out the better passing lane he’d missed. “See that? Next time, keep your head up and watch for this guy cutting through.”
He nodded, his expression lifting slightly. “Got it, Coach.”
“Good. Now go out there and show me what you’ve got.” I patted his shoulder as he headed back onto the ice.
Standing up, I glanced at the jumbotron, which had switched from the game to the intermission dance-off. My jaw dropped as I saw Connor front and center, absolutely crushing the competition with his ridiculous moves. He was shimmying and spinning like his life depended on it, while Harper stood beside him in the stands, trying desperately not to laugh. Her hand covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she watched Connor steal the show.
I couldn’t help it–a deep laugh burst out of me, and the other coaches glanced my way in confusion. I waved them off, pointing at the screen. “That’s my kid,” I said, grinning.
The game ended in a hard-fought victory, the kind that left everyone on edge until the final buzzer. As the team filed into the dressing room, still riding the adrenaline, I spotted Connor in the stands, waving at me like crazy.
I motioned for him to come down, and in seconds, he was sprinting toward me, that infectious grin plastered across his face. Harper trailed behind him, bundled up in her coat, her cheeks pink from the cold.
Connor reached me first, nearly bouncing with excitement. “Can I go in with you?”
I glanced at Harper, who gave me a little shrug and a smile. “As long as you behave yourself,” she said, tousling his hair.
“I’ll be the best Assistant Coach ever,” he promised solemnly, puffing out his chest.
Harper laughed softly, leaning in to kiss my check. “Good luck in there,” she said before stepping back.
Connor and I headed into the locker room together. The guys were all in various stages of taking off their gear, but as soon as they saw Connor, their faces lit up.
“Hey, look! Our favourite coach is here!” one of the players called out, grinning.
Connor beamed, striding into the room like he owned the place. “Good job out there, guys,” he said with the utmost seriousness, nodding as if evaluating their performance. “That last play was awesome, but next time, pass a little quicker, okay?”
