Page 24 of Off Side
SAM
Iwake up with a little stiffness in my back, but it’s bearable. It’s almost ten A.M. I had slept eight hours and I feel refreshed. Even though I had an epic adventure, I haven’t slept that well for weeks. I roll over to find the other side of the bed empty, but a note on the night stand that was big enough for me not to miss it. I smile knowing Drew had been thoughtful enough to leave it here instead of the kitchen so I would see it first thing. I flip it open to find his scrawling handwriting.
Sam,
You slept like a log and I’m so happy you finally did. Here’s hoping we don’t have to repeat all of last night every night just to get you sleeping. I had to get to the rink and deal with the chores. I will be back before your meeting this afternoon. The coffee pot is set for you, just turn it on and there’s a breakfast plate for you in the fridge. I wish I could have woken up with you beautiful.
See you soon,
D
I flop back on my bed and sigh while holding the note against my chest like a love sick school girl. Other than the whole getting bucked off my donkey part, last night was amazing.
Drew was there to take care of me and help me when I needed someone to just take over when my brain and body decided to shut down. By the time I came down from the tea high and adrenaline crash, I felt lost. He picked me up and helped me with the bath and dried me off. He even had me take some ibuprofen before bed to make sure I didn’t wake up overly sore. He slept with me naked without turning it into sex. Although I’m pretty sure if all the other events hadn’t occurred, we would have made it about sex. All that skin and muscle was hard for me to ignore, but I was so exhausted, sleep was the only option. He even left me breakfast in the fridge. Speaking of which, I was starving.
I slip into my robe and make my way downstairs, intent on eating breakfast and brewing a cup of coffee to take upstairs with me while I got ready for my meeting with the coaches and players. I find the plate in the fridge with a sticky note smiley face on it. It makes my heart do funny things. I pop it into the microwave for a few minutes and sit down with my notepad. I had made my pros and cons list of coaching but didn’t have a single thing written down. That was okay though.
The microwave beeps and I bring my breakfast over to the table. Copious amounts of bacon and some scrambled eggs wait for me. He knows I love bacon and obviously cooked way more than I needed. While I eat, I pick up my pen and doodle around my list. Under the pros I write, it will get Drew what he wants for his future. Under cons I write travel with the team, deal with media and hormonal teenagers. It’s all I could think of that I hated about doing the coaching gig, should I actually get behind the bench. They were just trivial things, really. When I could give the most amazing man a gift that would complete his life, how spoiled would I be to deny that because I didn’t want to travel on a bus with a bunch of teenage hockey players for the next five months or so? I feel like grandpa meant coaching as in the real deal and get behind the bench. Not to take the back seat like he had and I had to be directly in the game. I knew I was coaching already. It was a matter of how I would go about doing it. It’s a no brainer on what I should do now.
I polish off my breakfast and fix a mug of coffee to bring to my room. I have never felt so clear on my goals in my life.
I trusted Drew. I could be a better person with him supporting me. I could face life head on for once and not hide. My panic and anxiety could be controlled with his help. Now that I had made a decision on where my coaching was going to take place, I felt so much lighter. It was time to get ready for my meeting and move on to figure out how to get Drew loving hockey again and being involved with the team.
DREW
Our drive to the rink is fairly quiet. But it’s a comfortable quiet. I watch Sam out of the corner of my eye and she’s smiling. She seems completely at peace with her situation and no panic is coming across. I take a chance and reach out, placing my hand on her leg. My heart swells when she laces her fingers in mine and smiles.
“Have you decided what to do? You’ve been awfully quiet.”
“I’m, for the first time in a very long time, looking forward to a challenge in my life. I am over the anger and feeling of betrayal by my grandfather. I’m going to go in head first and do my best at this job.” She inhales a big breath and turns in her seat to face me. “I’m going to go behind the bench. I decided I’m doing the coaching for real. I feel like that’s what he wanted, for me to challenge myself and not hide in the office or anything. I feel it’s part of making me a better person and all that shit.” She laughs and squeezes my hand.
“That’s really great, Sam. I’m proud of you for putting yourself out there like that and I’m humbled to know you’re partly doing it for me. No one has ever done anything like this for me before.” My voice cracks when I realize what I said is very true.
My dad used me for his own gain, my mom loved me, but due to life circumstance she had to do what she could to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. I had nobody else. Tom came in and helped me at a time of great need, but it wasn’t putting himself out there, he was being a decent human being and helping me when I needed it. He didn’t risk anything by it. Sam though, she was putting herself out of her comfort zone and forcing herself to face her own issues. That’s the kind of person she is. She gives herself fully and her heart is so big it’s mind blowing for me to think she’s giving some of it to me.
She squeezes my hand again. “I believe you’re worth it. I also think we’ll make a great team.”
I hope I can meet her expectations. I never want to let her down.
We arrive at the rink and head to the conference room. I figure I’ll walk her there and do my Zamboni run before the boys arrive to take to the ice. I’ll watch the practice today too. I need to wait for Sam today anyway to take her home. Might as well start easing into this now.
“Drew! Nice to see you man!” Nixon Blackwell, one of the assistant coach’s greets me with a back slapping bro hug.
“You too, Nixon, been a long time. We should really catch up soon and grab a beer next door. How’s Hanson doing?” Hanson is Nixon’s dog. He’s a crazy looking mixed breed that has face markings making him look like he’s wearing big black glasses. He named him Hanson after the Hanson brothers in the movie Slap Shot. Nixon loved on that dog like I have never seen.
“Oh man, raising up shit like you wouldn’t believe. That damn dog still chews shoes even when I hide them. Guess where I keep my shoes right now that seems to be doing the trick since he hasn’t found them yet? I am actually keeping my shoes in the damn oven!”
I burst out a loud laugh. Sounds about right, that dog is so whacked. But Nixon is the best match for such a crazy dog. He may come across as a laid-back quiet type guy but he’s pretty rowdy once he lets loose and you get to know him.
“Jesus, Nixon, with a dog like that you’re never gonna find yourself a good woman. Hanson sounds just about as high maintenance as you can get!” As the words leave my mouth, I remember Sam is still there listening and I feel like an ass for saying them. I shoot her a look that pleads for an apology for sounding like such a stereotypical male but she appears amused which catches me off guard.
“I don’t know, Drew. At least the dog isn’t getting high or getting bucked off a donkey.”
Nixon’s eyebrows shoot up. “I feel like I’m missing something here. What’s going on?”
I chuckle and step closer to give her a kiss on the forehead. I whisper so only she can hear, “That’s not high maintenance, baby, that’s showing someone you’ve got their back no matter what.”
“It’s Sam’s story to tell, Nix, if she ever decides to share. You guys have a good meeting.” I turn to her. “I’m going to watch the practice today since we rode together. Meet you in the lobby after?”
“Yes, sure. That’s great. Thanks. Okay, Nixon, let’s get this meeting started. Michael is probably already mad we are starting late.”
I walk back down to the Zamboni area with a spring in my step. I have a great girl I think might be on her way to being mine, my future is good and I love talking with Nixon. Things were looking up indeed.
