Page 24 of Interference
“Because now you are having a child. Son, don’t throw away all you have ever worked for on a whim. You can play and have a kid.”
I think over my words for a moment before I speak. “I want to be present in my child’s life. Truly present. I don’t want to be a part-time dad. The draft was something I aimed toward because I thought I had to. Honestly? It doesn’t even bother me to give it up. I don’t think I ever really wanted to playhockey professionally. This, though? This feels right. Like it’s my destiny.”
Coach groans as he tips his head back. “You’re killing me, Woods. Killing. Me,” he says, making me chuckle.
“Sorry,” I lie.
I’m not sorry. Not at all. I’ll do anything for Emery and our child.
“How is she handling it? It must be hard being so close to that level of achievement and coming up short.”
“She didn’t come up short,” I snap.
“You know what I mean, Brett.”
I sigh. “She has her moments. Rightfully so.”
He nods. “Well, damn, Brett. I didn’t see this coming.”
Neither did I.
“I appreciate you being a man and coming in here and telling me. I’ll inform the rest of the staff that if you are missing, it’s been cleared ahead of time, so it’s fine. I still expect you back out on that ice. Even if you don’t plan to draft, I need you to help us win this championship.”
“Thank you.”
“Just make sure you take care of your girl.”
“I will, sir.”
I stand, and he does the same.
I reach across his desk and shake his hand. “I’ll see you later at practice,” I tell him.
“Of course, and do me a favor, put on your skates and join us.”
“I’ll think about it,” I lie.
I leave his office and head down the hall. Instead of heading for the exit, though, I head toward the rink. I come to a stop and watch a woman skate below. Even from a distance and with my limited knowledge, I can tell she’s not as good as Emery. She wobbles in her skates, and her tricks seem more lackluster.
When she comes to a stop, you can tell her coach tells her as much by the way she stomps off after, throwing a fit.
Something Emery would never do.
I shake my head at the sight, and for a moment guilt sets in.
If it weren’t for me, she would be out there on the ice, making a name for herself and taking the skating world by storm.
She’ll be back, though.
I’ll make sure of it. Even if I have to drag her to the rink every morning and force her onto the ice. She will get her moment to shine, and the world will know her name.
six
“Come on. You have to eat something. You barely ate your dinner last night.”
I want to growl at Brett right now. Literally growl.
I don’t, though. I keep it together and manage to not punch him. I wish he was going through all the changes my body is. Cravings, soreness, sickness. You name it, I’ve felt it, and it’s only been fifteen weeks. I can’t believe that it’s been three since I told Brett about this whole crazy thing. I still wake up sometimes thinking it was a dream, but nope. There is always something to remind me.
