Page 274 of Cross Check

Three knocks on the door have me falling into the sink. I scramble to my feet, yanking it open and nearly sobbing in relief when I see Amelia.

“Hi,” I whisper, cupping her cheeks. “Are you okay?”

“Am I okay?” Lia repeats, stepping inside and locking the door behind her. “How could you ask me that when our private relationship is being broadcast for the entire sports world to see?”

“I didn’t know people were taking pictures of us. That has to be illegal and violate a million laws. But it’s fine. It’s okay, Lia. Every dollar to my name will go to making sure those images are taken down and the internet is scrubbed of any evidence of the two of us together. When the Olympics are over and the season gets back into full swing, everyone will forget about us.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” The look she gives me is a knife to my chest. A dagger she twists when she moves away from me. “The damage is already done, Grant. For the rest of my career, I’m going to be known as the coach who slept with a player. It doesn’t matter if I win a Stanley Cup. It doesn’t matter if I go on to have the most victories of all time. When a reporter hands me a microphone, they’re going to want to know what happened between us. When a player comes to Baltimore, they’re going to wonder if I’ll make a move on them too.”

“It’s not that big of a transgression. Look at some of the shit guys in this league have gotten away with in the past. There are tons of horrible people who suit up every night, and you’re not one of them.”

“That’s the problem. All of those people were men. Me? I’m held to a different standard. I should know better. It’s not just boys being boys. It’s a grown woman who made a choice others don’t agree with. They’re going to assume that because one of us did it, all of us are doing it.” Her voice cracks. A tear slides down her cheek, and my soul splits in two. “I’m going to take the brunt of the blame while you walk away looking like a hero.”

“That’s…” I sniff. A sob racks my body because she’s right. She’s right, and I hate it. “I can fix this. I’ll figure it out. I love you, Lia. I have to figure it out.”

“You can’t always be the person who fixes things, Grant,” she whispers. “Maybe some things are supposed to stay broken.”

“Don’t say that.” I step toward her. She retreats until her back presses against the door, and I stop in my tracks. “You don’t mean it.”

“My career might be over. If I lose hockey, I lose everything. I can’t have this ripped away from me.”

“Let’s take a second to think things through.” My voice is barely above a rasp. I’m holding on by a thread. “We’ll take some time to decompress, and we’ll talk when we get home.”

“We shouldn’t see each other until then. We both have important games over the next week and a half, and I can’t have any distractions. I need to keep my head on straight, and that means not being around you. The more we’re seen together, the more people will talk about us.”

“I understand.” I nod, but I’m shocked I’m not bleeding out on the bathroom floor. That’s what this pain feels like. The thought of losing her forever cuts deep. “I’ll give you the space you need, but I’m not going to give up on us, Lia. I’m here whenever you want to talk.”

Amelia hesitates like she wants to say something else, but she doesn’t. She turns away and slips out the door, taking my heart and the last shreds of my optimism with her.

EIGHTY-SIX

GRANT

Puck Kings

Mitchy

Has anyone heard from Grant?

Connor

Nothing. Nothing on social media either.

Easy E

It’s been hours, dude. Can you tell us if you’re alive?

Huddy Boy

Can confirm he’s alive. He was at practice this morning.

Mitchy

I’m glad you’re in Italy with him, Huddy.

Easy E

What should we do?