“Did you enjoy the game?” he asks me.
My mind races, and my words come out a little too fast. “It could have been better, but I’m sure everyone did their best.”
“Yes, except their best was not enough tonight. And our star player cost us this game. Do you know how embarrassing it is to lose a game to one of the worst teams in the league when you are the best? All because Alec was distracted withyou. I’m guessing his absences from practice lately were also because ofyou.” His voice is short and sharp.
And anxiety begins threading into my chest with each heartbeat.
Absences from practice?Alec didn’t mention anything. I just assumed he’d been hanging out with us in his free time.
Without waiting for my response, he offers me a smile, but it is the furthest thing from friendly. “I am going to tell you this once, so listen. If you refuse to follow my instructions, you will solely be responsible for the absolute destruction of Alec Kostelecky’s career. Am I understood?”
20
Ishake my head. “I’m sorry, what?”
There’s no way the words I heard could’ve come from his mouth.
He takes a step closer to me. “I was clear. Alec has missed practices because of you. And he lost this entire game because he was concerned for the little boy and for you. His head and focus are clouded. If you do not leave him alone, I will make damn sure that he never sets foot on the ice for the rest of his contract here. Or any contract after for that matter.”
Dumbfounded, I ask, “You’re serious?”
He takes a step back and straightens his tie.
He looks around, smiles, and waves to fans while he says, “You have twenty-four hours, or he’s done.”
And with that, he turns, leaving me with my heart in pieces on the floor.
I should tell him to shove it, to fuck off, that his opinion would never and could never affect my life. I should run to Alec, I should tell him the threat that his coach made.
But am I willing to be the reason that his entire life’s work is thrown in the trash?
I would like to think that Alec would be calm and smart with handling this, but Alec is a man driven by his emotions. He would probably beat the seat out of the coach and for sure get thrown off the team, and with the sway his coach has in the league, he would be done.
I will find a way around this, I just need some time. I need some time to figure out how to go around him, how to keep our family together and to keep Alec on the team. But I just don’t know how to do that quite yet.
As my lip starts to tremble, the world around me seems to slow.
When did it get so quiet in here?
My body takes control, my mind is numb. My legs carry me outside, through the never-ending people and cars.
My hand opens the passenger door of the car, where Charlotte, Josh, and Jack are waiting.
I can’t hear their words as I slide into the seat. My hand grabs ahold of the buckle and latches me into place.
My shoulders move, and water runs down my face.
Not moving.
Shaking, rapidly rising and falling.
Not water.
My fingertips touch my cheeks—tears.
There’s only one voice that breaks through the silence. “Mommy, why are you crying?”
As if my ears were hearing for the first time, sound floods in. Charlotte’s and Josh’s voices blend with the medley of horns honking, cars starting, and cheering that has spilled into the parking lot of the arena.
