Page 56

FIFTY-SIX

Clay

I’ve never had so many hours of joy in one night. Every smile lifts me higher. Every back pat. Every shout of victory.

Even the champagne shower I’m treated to in the dressing room is a blessing.

The place is packed with players, families, and media. Every ten seconds I’m hit with another cry of “Hey, Coach!” and then I’m shaking someone else’s hand, and trying to give intelligible soundbites to people who’ll be covering our victory.

“Clayzy!” my sister manages to shout at one point. “Over here!”

I swim through another clot of people to find my sister, her baby bump, and Raul. They’re beaming at me. Then I happen to glance at the couple beside them. My parents.

I blink. “You came?”

My mother laughs. “Congratulations, Clay. This is really something. Your sister said we shouldn’t miss it.”

I’m startled again as my father pulls me into a hug. “The youngest coach in the league gets it done in game six!” he says proudly. “I guess we won’t be needing that hotel room in Raleigh tomorrow night.”

“No you won’t,” I say, recovering. “Didn’t know you’d become a hockey fan, though.”

He shrugs. “I’m not. But I’m a fan of yours, Clay. I’m sorry if I wasn’t always so understanding of your career. Middle age has a way of showing you all the things you’ve missed, though.”

“Thanks?” I try to wrap my head around this development. “Sorry I’m tied up here for a while. It would be great to visit with you guys.”

“Tomorrow,” my mother says, reaching out to pat my arm. “We know it’s a big night. How about brunch?”

“Brunch sounds great,” I say. “I’ll be there.”

My mother kisses my cheek. As I wander back into the chaos, I’m still a little dazed.

Two hours later, I reek of champagne and cigar smoke. Players’ families and the press have cleared out. The players are finishing up long-delayed showers and taking selfies with the Cup, before they head off to party at a nearby club.

I’ve never stayed so late at the arena or gotten tipsy in the locker room. I find myself wondering how much an eventual Uber to Boulder is going to set me back, before remembering that money doesn’t matter. Not tonight anyway.

The only thing that matters is this team. This moment. This victory. I put my fingers in my mouth and whistle. “Guys? Can I have your attention?”

Wet heads turn in my direction. Everyone looks jubilant. “I’ve given you a lot of speeches this year. But you’re going to have to forgive me one more. Because I can’t leave here tonight without telling you how proud I am. How humbled I am by your effort and your sacrifice. The only way we arrived here tonight was by all of you giving a hundred percent, and then some.”

I glance at each man in turn, and they’re all smiling. Naturally, my gaze rests for an extra beat on Jethro. He’s got his feet kicked up onto an exercise ball, like a guy in a lounge chair. His arms are crossed as he gives me a lazy grin.

God, I love that man, and I don’t have the first idea what to do about it.

“I know you didn’t do it for me,” I say. “But thank you for making me the proudest man in hockey. My gratitude for you runs deep, and I can’t believe I have the best job in the world. Can’t wait until our championship rings show up. I’ve been saving space right here.” I lift my hand in the air, and everyone laughs. “So thank you and good night.”

There’s loud applause. Kapski jumps up and waves his hands. “I just want to echo everything that Coach said. I have so much faith in all of you, and it’s an honor to be your captain. Does anyone else have anything they need to say before we head out to party until dawn?”

More applause, and then a hand goes up. Jethro’s.

My heart stumbles a little as he kicks his feet off their perch and stands up. “Team, look, I appreciate your patience with me this season. Took me a while to become the goalie you needed.”

“But you got there!” Stoney calls. “Timing is everything! Timing and vision boards!”

“Yeah, about that,” he says, shoving his hands in his trouser pockets. “I never really envisioned that this day would come for me, but I’m making a new vision board, kids. Tonight was it for me. I’m out.”

My heart stops.

“Your man over here…” He points at Volkov, who had to watch tonight’s victory from the box. “He’s doing his rehab so he can lead you to another victory next year. I need to do the smart thing and make my exit with grace.”

I’m hearing all these words, but my heart can hardly believe them. And somehow my eyes are hot, and my throat is closing up.

“Besides,” he adds. “There’s another consideration…” He gazes directly across the circle, right at me. As if asking permission for…something?

I nod. Whatever it is, I’m ready.

“…Your coach is the most amazing guy I ever met. But he said he won’t date me until I leave the team.” Jethro shrugs. “So there you go. I’m pretty much in love with him, so it makes quitting easier.”

“ Jetty ,” I gasp.

Newgate laughs.

The GM blanches.

DiCosta snorts.

Everyone else stares.

“So, yeah, that’s a wrap for me. It’s been an honor to play with you guys. Thanks for listening.”

Everyone starts talking at once. I stand where I am, rooted to the floor, completely floored that Jethro would go there tonight.

But mostly I’m overwhelmed by the idea that he’d do that for me. That he’d do the brave thing and step away from the only life he’s known for fifteen years, and tell the whole world that I matter to him.

“Hey,” he says a moment later, arriving at my elbow. “I know that was…yeah. I should have cleared that with you ahead of time. But I’m ready to give you everything I have, and I just couldn’t wait.”

“Well it’s…” I clear my throat. “It’s a big deal to hear you say it,” I say, finding the courage to look straight into his deep green eyes. “I’m not really used to everyone seeing me as an actual human with his own life. But you’re worth a little awkwardness, Jetty. You’ve always been worth it to me.”

He grins, and it makes him look ten years younger. “Can we get out of here?” he asks. “Are you going to the club with the guys?”

“Not anymore.” I grab my suit jacket off a hook and turn toward the door.

Someone hoots at us. I think it’s Stoney, but I don’t turn around to see. I let Jethro walk me out into the corridor, and then out into the parking structure. “I was going to Uber home after all that champagne.”

“I don’t drink, so it’s your lucky day,” he says, putting a hand on my back. “I’m over here.”

He guides me to his SUV and opens the passenger door for me, handing me into it like a gentleman.

I’m not that drunk, but it doesn’t matter. As soon as the door closes, I sink my head into my hands and relax for the first time in… Well, a long time. It’s been months since I felt like I wasn’t holding up the whole world.

A warm hand lands on my knee, and I realize Jethro is seated beside me, but he hasn’t started the car. “I’m okay,” I mutter.

“I know,” he says quietly. “But maybe we just need a minute after that.”

“God. That’s the truth.” I pick my head up and sink back into the seat. “I’ve never been so happy. But I also feel about a hundred years old.”

He laughs. “Good thing I’m attracted to older guys.”

I manage a snort.

He turns to me in his seat, and moves his hand to my shoulder. “Where are we headed? Toby and my dad are at my place.”

“Kaitlyn’s at mine.” I shake off my daze and look at him. He’s watching me with patient eyes. “There’s always some obstacle with us.”

“You say that.” He runs a hand through my hair. “But I’m knockin’ them down as fast as I can. You’re not my boss anymore. I don’t have to call you Coach anymore, unless that’s a kink you have. Then we’ll talk.”

I let out an exhausted chuckle. “No issues there. Jetty—I want this. I really do. But I’m not letting myself get too excited about it yet. Because you just made a huge decision. You don’t have your future planned. And I know you need to get on a plane to Michigan.”

“Yeah, that’s all true,” he says quietly, stroking my cheekbone with his thumb. “But I want this too. For me.”

My heart does a flip flop.

“And there’s a couple of details you don’t know,” he continues. “My sister’s parole hearing was this morning, and they approved it.”

“Whoa.” I throw my head back against the headrest. “Holy shit. She’s out?”

He shakes his head. “No, but she will be within the month. I don’t know exactly how that’s going to go. But she wants to move back into my father’s house and parent her child. She wants to petition for an end to my custody of Toby.”

“Oh wow.”

“I’ll spend the summer in Michigan with all of them. If she does well, she’ll regain custody. Then I won’t have to stay there, Clay. After a few months, I could be anywhere.”

“ Oh .” Hope bubbles up inside me faster than the champagne I was showered with earlier. “You mean, like…Colorado?”

“Now he gets it.”

“Jethro.” I lean over the gearbox and put a hand on his chest. “Listen, I’m trying so hard not to leap to conclusions here. I never thought it was possible to get everything I ever wanted inside of three hours.”

He smiles at me. “I don’t know when you became the cynic and I became the optimist, but I’m kind of digging it.”

“How long,” I demand suddenly. “How long until you go back to Michigan for the summer?”

“Couple days, probably.”

I make a frustrated sound. “Can I visit? I don’t want to go a whole summer without you.”

He blinks. “Hell yes. I can get away for a weekend, too. We could have a getaway on Lake Michigan somewhere. Just don’t make vacation plans without me. I don’t want to hear that you took your annual sex trip to Italy or wherever without me.”

I laugh, because I can’t even imagine wanting that. Everything I want is in this car. “Drive me home. Sneak into my place. Kaitlyn and her guy are probably asleep.”

He hits the ignition button. “You don’t have to ask twice. I’m there.”