Page 76 of Pucking My Grumpy Accidental Husband

"Actually, it is that simple," interrupts Kevin, one of the rookies. "You helped me through my panic attacks. You probably saved my career."

"And you make Kingston tolerable to be around," adds Torres with a grin. "Which is honestly a fucking miracle."

"Hey," Dax protests, but he's fighting a smile.

"Look," Jamie gets serious. "We don't know what Harrison's threatening you with, but we want you to know that if you fight this, you've got the whole team behind you. All of us."

Before either of us can answer Jamie's question, Coach Martinez appears in the doorway looking like he's aged ten years since yesterday.

"Players, out. Bennett, Kingston, my office. Now."

The team files out with supportive nods and shoulder pats, and Jamie whispers, "Whatever you decide, we've got your backs."

Martinez closes his office door and immediately starts pacing. "I just got off a very interesting phone call with three board members."

"About us?" I ask, my stomach dropping.

"About Harrison. Turns out his little surveillance operation and intimidation tactics haven't gone unnoticed upstairs." Martinez stops pacing and looks directly at me. "They're concerned about his management style, especially regarding female staff members."

"What kind of concerned?" Dax leans forward.

"They are questioning whether his methods are creating liability issues for the organization." Martinez pulls out a folder. "They've also noticed that team performance has improved significantly since Dr. Bennett joined the staff. Chemistry's better, player satisfaction surveys are up, even our PR metrics have improved."

I blink. "They track that?"

"They track everything. And what they're seeing is a coach trying to fix something that isn't broken while potentially exposing the organization to discrimination lawsuits."

"So what does that mean for us?" Dax asks.

"It means you might have more support than you think. But it also means Harrison's getting desperate, which makes him dangerous."

An hour later after the discussion with Martinez, we're sitting when Dax suddenly asks.

"What do you want to do, Tessa?"

The honest answer surprises me. "I want to fight. I'm tired of running, tired of letting assholes like Harrison and Marcus Williams destroy good things."

"Even if it means I might lose Boston?"

"Dax, if you take that trade to protect me, you'll resent me forever. And if I let you sacrifice your dreams for me, I'll never forgive myself."

"And if we both lose everything?"

He cups my face in his hands. "You realize I love you more than hockey, right? More than Boston, more than any contract they could offer me?"

"Don't say that."

"Why not? It's true. Yeah, Boston would be incredible. But without you? It would just be hockey. And I've been just playing hockey my whole life until I met you."

I'm definitely crying now. "You're going to make me ruin my mascara."

"I'll buy you new mascara. I'll buy you a whole fucking makeup store."

"That's very romantic in a capitalist sort of way."

"I'm trying to tell you I choose you, Tessa. Over everything else, I choose you."

After Dax helps me control my emotions we're walking back to my office to plan our strategy when I see him standing by mydoor. Harrison, in his expensive suit, holding what looks like legal documents and wearing the coldest smile I've ever seen.