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Hoss
Iraised an eyebrow as I turned to look at Pete. “Who’s sending text messages in the middle of the night?”
“It’s Coach Benton. He’s congratulating me for something.”
I scratched my head. “Nothing’s out yet about your idea on the purchase of the team. At least, I don’t think so. What’s his message about?”
“Let me give him a quick call.” I climbed into bed while Pete headed back to the living room.
When he came back, he had a serious look on his face, and he was shaking his head. “He was right, we didn’t know about this,” Pete whispered.
"Everything okay?" I asked.
He sat on the edge of the bed, running his fingers through his sandy-blond hair. "He heard about job offers we should get tomorrow. Assistant coaching positions in the NHL, hiring us on as a package deal.”
My heart flipped. The NHL—the stage every hockey player and coach dreamt of. But it was late, and Pete's eyes looked a bit cloudy. "Let's talk about it in the morning," I suggested. “That’s way too much to unpack right now."
He nodded, and we slid under the covers together. The lights went out, but my thoughts flickered on like a scoreboard with a short. NHL? Us? On the same team?
The tension tied knots in my stomach, and every time I closed my eyes, hypothetical scenarios played out on the back of my eyelids—us standing in NHL arenas, anthems blaring, lights blinding. But then another thought came—a quieter one, but no less powerful—what about the Cougars?
Eventually, I heard Pete's steady breathing beside me. He'd found sleep, but it was still dodging me. After tossing and turning for what felt like a damn eternity, I checked the phone on my bedside table—3:43 AM. Groaning, I sat up and rubbed my face with my hands.
I eventually fell back asleep, but I tossed and turned until I was wide awake again at 5:30.
When Pete woke up, I suggested a walk by the ocean shore beyond downtown—our unofficial thinking spot. Pete agreed, and the early morning air was pleasantly warm, with a promise of summer just around the corner.
“So," he finally broke the silence. His eyebrows knit together like he was working on solving the world’s hardest crossword puzzle. “The NHL. This time, it’s not about me solo. We’re a package deal. It wouldn’t break us up.”
“Are you sure about that?” I asked. “What about the day that two different teams need new head coaches? What would we do then?”
Pete sighed. His eyes narrowed as he wrestled with my questions. “It’s all hypotheticals that far out, Hoss. This is a big deal,” Pete insisted.
"Yeah," I said, my mouth suddenly dry. "It's a big deal. Always was my dream to coach in the NHL after I wasn’t a player anymore, you know? Before, well, life happened."
We continued down the gravel path.
“Well,” Pete started again, his eyes focused on the horizon, "let's talk this through. A job in the NHL is not just a job; it's the big leagues. It’s everything we work toward, in a way."
I nodded. "I know. Hell, I was in the thick of it for several years, remember? It's the dream, but dreams change. Do you ever think that maybe we were supposed to end up right here in Cold Pines with the Cougars?"
He looked at me. "I've thought about it," he said. “I was rolling it around in my head while I brushed my teeth this morning. The Cougars aren't just another job for me anymore. They've become a part of me, and so have you."
I stopped walking and turned to face him. "That means a lot, hearing you say that. Look, I've been at the bottom. Felt the pull into the abyss and managed to climb back out of it. I've had plenty of time to think about what really matters. And it's not the big spotlight; it's not the fame. It's about doing something you love, somewhere you love, and with someone you love."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Pete replied as a small smile curled the corners of his mouth. "I've fought hard for every win in my life, and I don't back down from challenges. I’d face the NHL, too, but I’m hearing that it’s not for us.”
"Here, we're shaping the future,” I insisted, “not just of the Cougars but also of every young talent like Eddie who walks through that door. We're not just building a team; we're helping construct quality lives."
He took a step closer. "So, what are we doing? Are we letting this opportunity pass us by?"
My heart pounded against my ribs as I took a deep breath. "I say we stay and take the better opportunity. I say we build something worthwhile right here. And, of course, we continue building something incredible with each other."
Pete’s eyes lit up, and the gathered tension began to melt away. “Damn, you have a way with words."
"And you with plays," I responded. I started grinning like a fool, too. “Let's make this our best play yet. Let's stay."
He didn't need another second to think. We agreed right there, next to that damn beautiful ocean, to decline the offer and stick with the Cougars. If necessary, we decided we'd even help transition the team to new ownership, ensuring the legacy lived on.
