Page 37 of Face Off

He lifted his head enough to lock eyes with me. “I think I am.”

I reached out and took one of his hands in mine. “You can talk to me about it. If you want.”

He stared down at where we were connected and sighed, falling against the back of the car. I shifted and pulled away so I was sitting next to him, in the middle of the parking garage. It was probably filthy, but I couldn’t worry about that right now. He needed me.

“I had another meeting.”

That was all he said for a long while. I didn’t press or even look at him. I just sat a few inches away. Within reach, if he needed me.

“The GM and president have a problem with me. That was why I was so upset your first day here. When I didn’t hold the elevator and hit you with the door.”

I nodded. I remembered it well.

“They think I’m underperforming. They threatened to send me to the farm team or buy out my contract at the end of the season, but I’m not ready to be done.” He paused and clenched his fists. “Today they went over the numbers they want me to hit this season. They’re impossible. Our best defensemen, Brassard and Kozlov, can’t even reach them.”

“That’s horrible. Can they do that? Set unrealistic expectations?” It sounded like a violation of conduct or rules or something. I wasn’t sure if there was anyone that outranked them that could step in. The NHL had a commissioner. Could he get involved?

“My agent is looking into it.” He sighed. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I’ve been playing my very best, training harder than ever, putting in extra hours on the ice, but nothing is enough for them.”

“I’m so sorry, Mikey.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. I wanted to give him a hug and tell him that he would get through this. That eventually, it would only be a bad memory, but I didn’t know if that was true. I was out of my element here.

“I don’t want to leave.” His voice was barely a whisper.

I didn’t want him to leave either.

“I’m sorry that I’ve been a jerk lately. I feel like I haven’t been myself since I found out, which happened to be the day we met. I’m not normally so doom and gloom.”

I shifted so I could face him. “You’re allowed to have bad days, even weeks or months. And you haven’t been a jerk. I don’t think a jerk would have played with my daughter or carried her to my car.”

His eyes softened, and a small smile pulled at his lips.

“Don’t give up. I might not be an expert, but even I can tell you’re an excellent player. And your teammates love you. You’ve got to fight.”

He nodded before standing up and offering me his hand. I let him help me up, then I wiped off the back of my pants.

“I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later?” he asked while backing up to the driver’s door of the car we’d been leaning against.

“Sure.” I went to my car and rolled up the windows before heading back up to the office. There had to be more I could do. I hated feeling helpless. I was a fixer. I was a problem solver, but this might be too far out of my reach.

“Hey, Holly! I emailed you the templates. Let me know if you want to make any changes,” Cam said as I passed.

“Thanks.” I sat at my desk and unlocked my laptop. When I opened his email, an idea struck.

14

Mikey

I stared at Madi through the open door while she looked over the results of my x-ray. I tried to find a hint of the results from her expression, but she was good. She didn’t flinch, frown, smile, or give me any reaction to work with.

She closed the folder and came back into the room, closing her office door behind her, and sat at her desk.

She didn’t speak, and my heart rate sped up the longer the silence stretched.

“What is it?” I finally cracked. Was she doing this on purpose? Freaking me out so she could trick me? Her husband was probably rubbing off on her.

“Do you remember ever reinjuring your ankle?” Her voice was perfectly even.

I shook my head. I was pretty sure I’d have a clear memory of that and would have come to her the day after it happened for her to check it out.