AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No bike today, bud. I’m gonna drive you before you’re late for school. Get your stuff, and I’ll meet you in the car as soon as I change.”
My boy doesn’t put up a fight, despite how excited he was to ride his bike to school. Instead, he raises his hand in a salute before grabbing his backpack from its hook and slinging it over his shoulder. Once he heads into the garage, I take off toward my bedroom.
Despite the chaos that is our laundry room, the rest of the house is clean and organized. I’ve never been a messy person, but being a single father is no easy feat. Between chauffeuring Cooper to band practice four out of seven days a week, art lessons another two, and owning and managing a booming business, I’ve allowed myself just one room to not give a crap about. One room where I can shove everything I don’t want or don’t have time to deal with away where I can’t see it.
Out of sight, out of mind, right?
My bare feet thump against the cold wood planks lining the hallway before meeting the plush carpet in my bedroom. The walk-in closet is too extravagant for my taste, with the built-in maple shelves and drawers and collection of mirrors that make it impossible to avoid staring at yourself, but it came with the house, and I haven’t had the time to change anything yet.
I quickly change into a pair of black track pants and a hoodie, both featuring the White Ice Training logo, before slipping on a pair of socks. Stepping in front of the mirror beside the rack housing my suit jackets, I shake my hair out again and run my fingers through the brown curls.
Every day that passes where I don’t find a grey hair on my head is a day to celebrate. Knowing that my father went grey in his early thirties has been hanging over me like a piano on a thin wire since the day I turned thirty. It’s been three years since, and every day, I count my blessings.
The beeping of my smartwatch has me quickly flicking off all lights and jogging through the house to the garage. Easton watches me run down the hallway from his place on the couch, and I flip him off before heading outside.
Cooper is already waiting for me in the car, and when I slide into the driver’s seat, he levels me with a disapproving stare that makes him look far older than he is.
“Are you finally ready, beauty queen?”
With a quick burst of laughter, I reach over the console and ruffle his hair. “Careful, tough guy. I might drop you off on the side of the road and leave you there.”
“I dare you,” he sniffs, slapping my arms.
I pull back and start the engine. “Triple doggy dare me and you have a deal, bucko.”
* * *
White Ice Trainingis a hockey arena located a few minutes from East Vancouver, housing a half rink, a full-size gym, and several rooms specialized for position-specific training.
We coach over a hundred athletes, with ages ranging from five-year-olds learning to skate, players in their late teens preparing for their chance at the big leagues, and anywhere in between.
Besides Cooper, WIT is my pride and joy. My blood, sweat, and bucketloads of tears. I’ve put everything I am and have ever had into building my company, and it still feels like a dream come true to stand here—a handful of feet away from the entrance—and stare up at what I’ve built in utter awe.
I pull open the heavy glass door and step inside, welcoming the slight chill that settles on my cheeks from the busy rink. I’m very late this morning, and after having to call Banks, my second-in-command, and deal with his chiding when I asked him to come in early and open the building, I’ve already determined it’ll be a hellish day.
“Good morning, Adam,” Brielle, one of our front desk workers, greets me with a smile.
“Hello, Brie. How was your morning?” I ask, closing the gap between us and leaning my forearms on the half wall separating me from her desk.
Brielle is a young single mother of triplets. Her ex-boyfriend left before the three girls were even born, and although she has a lot of help from her parents, I’ve offered to help her out whenever necessary.
Usually, a couple of days a week, I pick her girls up for school since I’m already taking Coop in that direction, but she’s been adamant recently that she can handle it on her own. It’s not my place to push her on it. Lord knows I didn’t love taking handouts when Cooper was young, even if that’s not what I’m offering.
Brielle smiles warmly. “It was pretty good. I think we’ve finally worked out a good morning schedule for the four of us. One that doesn’t have me rushing out of the house with my hair still up in a towel and three six-year-olds wearing Halloween costumes.”
I toss my head back and laugh. “That’s great. But I’m sure they’re the life of the classroom in those costumes.”
“Oh yes. I’ve heard all about how much their teachers love chasing child-size hot dogs and pickles around during morning announcements.”
“I remember when Cooper was in the third grade, he went to school on Halloween with one of those Scream masks that was filled with fake blood. The tubing attached to the pump ended up ripping open, and whatever they used to create the blood squirted all over his math teacher. I received quite the scolding from the principal that day.”
Brielle covers her mouth with her hand and giggles.
“I know, I know. I’m a cool dad.” I wink.
She shakes her head, her lips tugging at the corners. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
I push myself back and plant my hands on my hips. “I better get to work before Banks sees me slacking off. There are three interviews on the schedule today. Just page me to my office when the applicants get here, yeah?” It’s been a long search for the perfect addition to our team, and at this point, I’m losing hope that we’ll find anybody worth hiring.
She nods. “Sounds good, boss. Good luck with Banks today. He’s already nearly thrown down with Brooklyn Danvers.”
Great. One of our best clients and an Olympic gold medalist. Mornings and Banks don’t mix, so as much as it might annoy me, I’m not surprised.
“Thanks, Brie. I’ll see ya later.” I throw her a grateful smile before spinning around and heading for my office.
As I walk through the busy halls of WIT, I can only hope to make it out of this day in one piece.
