Page 64 of Pucking My Grumpy Accidental Husband

"Think fast. Because whatever's going on, it's affecting your game. You've been playing like shit since Detroit, and Coach is starting to notice."

As if summoned by Jamie's words, Coach Martinez appears at the end of the hallway.

"Kingston! There you are. My office. Now."

"Told you," Jamie mutters as I follow Martinez down the hall.

His office feels smaller than usual, maybe because the tension in the air is thick enough to cut with a skate blade. Martinez closes the door and settles behind his desk with the expression he reserves for serious conversations.

"Sit down, son."

I sit, my mind racing through possible scenarios. Does he know about Tessa? Is this about my performance? About the team dynamics that have been steadily deteriorating?

"I'm going to ask you a direct question, and I want a direct answer." Martinez leans forward. "Are you having personal problems that are affecting your performance?"

The question is loaded, and we both know it. I could lie, deflect, give him some bullshit about being tired or stressed about the season. But looking at his face—the genuine concern in his eyes—I realize he's not fishing for information. He's trying to help.

"Yeah," I admit. "I am."

"Want to talk about it?"

"It's complicated."

"Most worthwhile things are." Martinez leans back in his chair. "You know, in my day, players' personal lives stayed personal. Management didn't give a shit who you were sleeping with as long as you showed up and played."

The way he says it makes me think he knows more than he's letting on.

"Times are different now," I say carefully.

"They are. Sometimes that's good—we're more aware of harassment, more protective of everyone's wellbeing. Sometimes it's bad—people use policies as weapons instead of protections."

"Coach—"

"I've been coaching for twenty years, Dax. I've seen players destroyed by personal problems, and I've seen them elevated by the right relationship. You want to know what I think?"

I nod.

"I think something good happened in your life recently - you were playing better, seemed happier, showed real leadership growth. But the past week or two? You've been distracted, making mistakes, playing angry instead of smart." Martinez studies my face. "That tells me whatever was making you better has now become a source of stress. And that usually means someone's trying to take it away from you."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that sometimes fighting for what makes you better is worth the risk. And sometimes the people who try to destroy that are the real problem."

Before I can respond, his phone rings.

"Martinez... Yes, sir... All staff?... Right now?... Understood."

He hangs up and looks at me with an expression I can't read.

"Emergency team meeting. All players and staff. Harrison's calling it now."

My stomach drops. "About what?"

"Personnel policies and staffing decisions that affect the entire organization."

"Fuck."

"Yeah. Fuck is right."