“I think it’s a great idea,” I said.
“Hey, anything for Coach,” Riff said. “He’s like a father to us. And to see him going through this is just…”
“It’s not right,” Alonso said, pointing at Riff.
“No, it’s not,” I said.
I felt guilty for feeling a little relieved.
Alonso had no idea about me and his daughter.
But at the same time, this was a sad moment because of Coach’s wife.
“So, what do we do?” Lay asked. “I’m asking Mav, by the way.”
“We do what Alonso said,” I said. “Create awareness. I mean, that’s what Coach’s wife wants, right?”
“That’s what Carrie wants,” Alonso said. “No more of thisCoach’s wifetitle. Her name is Carrie. She’s a beautiful woman. She’s a fighter. Tougher than all of us.”
“That’s for sure,” Reid said.
“So, this is going to work then,” Alonso said. “We can do something for her. For the family too. I’m picturing some kind of event. We celebrate Carrie’s fight. We fill her up with enough love and positive energy to keep going. But we also use our platform for awareness.”
“We can get shirts made,” I said. “We can dedicate games to her and the fight against all cancer.”
“There you go,” Alonso said.
“I like that, Mav,” Matias said. “I like that a lot. You know, my one aunt fought breast cancer. She kicked its ass too.”
“Let’s talk to her,” Alonso said. “Let’s bring those fighters together.Fighters.That’s what they are. These powerful and beautiful survivors.”
Alonso gritted his teeth.
His right fist was balled up so tight, his hand began to shake.
“Tell the other guys too,” Alonso said. He released his hold on my shoulder and stood up. “Let’s make this into something. Let’s make this our message and journey this season. Aside from a championship, of course.”
“Two things in one season?” Lay asked.
“Why is he talking to me again?” Alonso asked me.
“That’s what Lay does,” I said. “He can’t take a hint.”
“Maybe I should make him eat a hockey puck,” Alonso said.
Lay looked down and shut his mouth.
Alonso looked at me and smirked.
He still had that vicious hockey attitude inside him.
And to think he hated Lay this much just from making one comment about Madison.
What the hell would he think or do to me if he found out what I’d been doing to his daughter?
To be fair, it wasn’t like I was hurting Madison.
I was bringing her happiness. I was bringing her joy.