Page 51 of Offside Secrets
“Sutton’s good people,” he says finally. “Smart, fair, cares about this team more than anyone gives her credit for. I’ve seen how she handles herself in a room full of men who think they know better than her.”
I nod, not sure where he’s going with this.
“I know I don’t have to remind you, of all people, Campbell, what tomorrow is,” he continues.
“No, sir,” I acquiesce, nodding my head. “You certainly don’t. It’s a huge night.”
“Biggest opportunity of your career so far. You ready for that?”
“I was. Now...” I gesture helplessly at the computer screen, resolving myself to the fact that I probably look like a lovesick puppy for doing that. I want to make a joke, something along the lines of “Heavy is the head that wears the crown,” but I make a solid choice to not drop in any humor right now.
Ben studies me for a moment, wagging a finger in the air. “Campbell, I’ve been coaching for a long time. You know what I’ve learned? The players who perform best under pressure are the ones who have something worth playing for. Something more than just themselves.”
This man is full of surprises tonight, because that’s not what I expected him to say.
“The question is,” he carries on, pointing to the computer screen, “is this going to be a distraction tomorrow night, or is it going to be motivation?”
I think about Sutton, about how she looked when she was worried about Victor’s threats, and the board’s silent judgement about the way she’s been carrying the weight of running this team mostly alone.
“Motivation,” I say, sitting up taller in my seat and meaning it.
“Good. Because those scouts aren’t just evaluating your hockey skills. They’re looking at your character, your leadership, and how you handle adversity.” He closes the laptop. “This situation? This is adversity. How you handle it says a lot about who you are.”
Things I had not taken into consideration. “What do youthink I should do?”
Ben stands up, moving to sit on the edge of his desk, still facing me. “I think you should talk to Sutton. She’s probably dealing with ten times the pressure you are right now. Board members, media calls, people questioning her judgment.”
The thought makes my stomach clench. “I’ve tried texting. She’s not responding.”
“She will, when she’s ready. Until then, you keep showing up—for me, for her, but mostly for you. If you still hit a wall, my advice is always going to be then you try harder. Because right now, she’s probably thinking she’s dragged you into something that could hurt your career. And you’re probably thinking you’ve created problems for her with the team.” He turns back to me. “You’re both wrong, but you’re both too stubborn and focused on your own agendas to see it.”
“Ben—”
“Campbell, Sutton Mahoney is one of the strongest people I know. But even strong people need someone in their corner. If you care about her, be in her corner. And if she cares about you, she’ll be in yours tomorrow night. In her way. Got it?”
I stand, feeling lighter than I have since Tuesday. “Thanks, Ben.”
He claps me on the shoulder. “Look, tomorrow night you’ve got one job. Tomorrow night is about hockey first. Everything else comes after. But that doesn’t mean everything else doesn’t matter.”
As I reach the door, he adds, “And Campbell? For what it’s worth, I think you two could be good for each other. Just don’t let the noise from people who don’t matter drown out what you know is right.”
I want to hug him, but instead, I shake his hand and leave.
The locker room feels louder than it should—the low buzz of whispered questions, the not-so-subtle glances, the phantom vibration of phones blowing up with gossip alerts. Ikeep my head down, pretending it’s just another day, but inside I’m a mess.
Tomorrow night, scouts will be in the stands. Everything I’ve worked for is right there, dangling in front of me.
And all I can think about is Sutton. The risk. The fallout. The headlines.
And the truth I can’t outrun: she’s already worth it.
CHAPTER 18
SUTTON
Being sick as the team owner is like leaving your phone unlocked at a party—by the time you come back, there’s a viral photo, a new rumor, and a sudden interest in your “relationship status.”
Oh, wait. That’s not a rumor. It’s my life.
