Page 152 of Edging Coach
“To celebrate? Hell, yes. It’s within walking distance, so let’s head out.”
I reached for his hand. He took mine.
We walked into the fresh Vancouver air. Today’s rain had ended, and the streets sparkled under the streetlamps.
“Your news?” Jack gazed around—clearly wanting to assure himself that no one was within hearing distance.
“Nope. You first.”
He chuckled. “Delayed gratification?”
“You bet.”
“Yesterday, Hairs was put on unconditional waivers for termination of contract.”
I halted and turned Jack to face me. “No shit?”
“No shit.” He grinned. “No way was Emil keeping around a homophobic blackmailer. He runs a clean team. Plus, Amy’s secured a contract for next year. Hairs had been subtly undermining her. Whether because he’s sexist on top of everything else—or just equally homophobic between gays and lesbians—Emil had his limit.”
“His blackmail is still a secret, right?” If that was revealed, I knew something would break inside me. That people would look at my relationship with Jackdifferently.
“He’s been ordered not to speak about it. On threat of a lawsuit and a bunch of other stuff.”
“So, waivers…” My heart sped up. If he got picked up, then I might wind up on the ice playing against him. I could still be sent down again.
Not that I wouldn’t do everything in my power to avoid that.
“No one claimed him. His career is done.” Jack grinned. “At least for now.”
At least for now. Because things could be forgotten. Bad boys could, if their hockey game was good enough, be redeemed. Total bullshit. If a guy was an asshole off the ice, I didn’t give a fuck if they were the best player in the world—they didn’t deserve the honor of being on any team.
Hairs wasn’t that great of a player—but he could be vicious. Some general managers looked for that in their players.
“So, for now, we get a reprieve?”
“Yep.”
“Okay.” I felt like I could finally take a breath. “What aren’t you telling me?” He still had a shit-eating grin on his face.
He shrugged. But his smile didn’t diminish. “Okay, since you asked nicely.”
I punched him lightly in the gut.
Heoofedbut, again, his grin didn’t diminish. “I’ve been offered a job.”
My heart sped up.Oh God, he’s leaving Vancouver. He’s leaving Canada. Someone sees how brilliant he is and?—
“Relax.” He placed a thumb to my frown line. “Skills coach. For the Vancouver women’s hockey team. Since I’m one hundred percent gay, they figured I was safe to take a chance on.” He pressed a kiss to my lips. “And they saw I was in a very committed, very public relationship. I’m not likely to randomly start a relationship with a female player.”
“And if you tried, they might chop off part of your anatomy.”
“With a dull skate blade—and I wouldn’t blame them. What I did with you was bad enough. I’m never going to do that again.”
Neverwas a long time. There might come a time when he found himself back coaching a men’s team. As head coach, no less.
“Hey.” Again, he soothed his thumb to my frown line. “You’re my future. Forever. You get that, right?”
I tugged him toward me for a fierce hug.Yes, I do get that.And I promised myself not to borrow trouble—as my mother would’ve said. She also would’ve loved Jack.
