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Like I expected, the press had a field day when they learned of my arrest, calling me every name in the book and demanding I be locked away for good. It was only when Lottie’s police report got leaked to the press, that some news outlets decided to paint me in a different light. One day they were calling me a risk to society, and the next they were saying I was some kind of hero.
I don’t feel very heroic, though.
Not when the love of my life still bears the scars of that day.
I’ll never be free of my guilt for not getting there sooner. If I had, she wouldn’t have suffered the nightmarish experience that she had to live through.
But my Lottie is strong.
So much stronger than I am.
She’s adamant not to let what happened to her define her. In her words, that would be giving her asshole ex too much power over her life, and she refuses to let him taint our happiness any more than he already has.
Like I said, my Lottie is a force of nature.
And she makes me want to be one too.
That’s why I’m here, lacing up my skates and getting ready to get back on the ice. Both Coach Byrne and Trent told me that I was more than welcome to take a few days off to myself and skip this big game. Though my absence would be felt, the team would understand if I had to step back from playing hockey for the rest of the season if needed, just so I could be there for my girl while this mess gets settled. I honestly considered taking them up on their offer, but Lottie wouldn’t hear of it.
“You’ve come too far to quit now. Your team—your family—needs you,” she said when I told her about their offer. “The man I love wouldn’t turn his back on his family, no matter the reason.”
So here I am—getting ready to face the Chicago Titans with my brothers, knowing my girl is in the stands with her father beside her, cheering me on.
“Hey,” Jack says, taking a seat beside me. “You ready for this?”
“Honestly, I’m not looking forward to it.”
“You think the Titans will beat us?” he asks with a frown.
“No. We have the better team. There’s no way Chicago will win over us in our own home. I won’t let that happen.”
“Glad to hear it.” He smiles, slapping his hand on my knee. “Then what has you worried?”
I let out a pent-up exhale, my shoulders slumping a little.
“I’m just not looking forward to going out there and having the fans boo me every time my stick touches the puck. I had to endure that shit for months, so the idea that the fans hate me again is not something I’m looking forward to.”
Jack offers me a commiserating smile before getting up to stand in front of me.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe they’ll surprise you.”
“Yeah. Maybe this time they’ll start throwing shit at me instead of cussing me out. That would definitely be a surprise.”
Jack just chuckles, stretching out his hand for me to take and pulling me up from the bench.
“Whatever happens out there, just remember one thing.”
“And what’s that?” I ask.
“Even if the world is plotting against you, your brothers will always have your back.”
He then tilts his chin, making me turn around to see my teammates in their white and green gear staring back at me with nothing but pride and genuine camaraderie.
“What do you say, fellas? Are we going to kick some Chicago butt for our brother Nate or what?!” Jack shouts.
They all pull their hockey sticks into a circle and start beating them on the bench.
I choke up at their loyalty, inwardly thanking Lottie for forcing me to not give up on my family.
