Chapter Eighteen
MAVERICK
Asell-out game waited just outside the locker room and down the hallway on the ice. The arena had a buzz to it that made the game much bigger than a regular season game. We had a west coast team visiting, so it wasn’t even like the game had that wild sense of rivalry going on either.
Tonight was all about Coach and his family.
We all decided as a team we wanted to hear that final siren cry out and make sure we had the win.
Especially with Coach’s wife and his two kids in attendance.
The reality of Coach’s wife was officially known by everyone now.
He came out with a touching press conference to talk about Carrie’s diagnosis and the plan they had together as a husband, wife and family to fight.
Carrie then stood next to Coach at the podium and told everyone that she could fight like a hockey player. But more importantly, she could fight as a woman. And she dared any man or any hockey player to take on the will of a woman and a mother.
There weren’t many dry eyes by the end of the press conference.
And everyone there cheered for her.
As we watched the press conference, I thought about Madison.
I always managed to think of her.
If our last meeting was indeed our final meeting, then the ending to our risky arrangement completely and totally sucked.
We went from flirting through a bathroom door to jumping into bed to her kicking me out way faster than I ever thought possible.
And I had no explanation.
Which was normally the best-case scenario for me.
Get in, get out, and get no information.
The issue with Madison was an easy one.
I still had to see and deal with her.
She was still the team’s photographer.
The locker room door opened and Coach’s son poked his head in.
He met eyes with me and gasped.
“Hey, kid,” I said. “Come on in.”
Mike Jr. stepped into the locker room and looked terrified to be there.
He wore an oversizedApple Catsjersey.
“Who’s on your jersey?” I asked.
Mike Jr. turned and I saw my name on the back of the jersey.
Ah, damn…
“A goalie guy, huh?” I asked.