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After they leave, Lily and I stand alone in the kitchen. She's still gripping my hand like she knows if she lets go, she'll let me go.
"You can't pick me tonight, Lily," I say quietly with a sad smile.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, everyone in the arena is going to be looking at you and looking at me and wondering if I'm the monster Cassidy Tippett made me out to be."
"Then let's show them you're not." She pauses and turns to face me, looking me right in the eyes. The bruise marring her face stands out, mocking me louder than words ever could. "I love you, Chase. I've always loved you. Even when I was just a kid and you were pulling on my pigtails, hiding in the treehouse with Luke looking at pictures of boobs. I loved you then too."
I chuckle, but the sound lacks realness.
"Don't do this," Lily says, tears welling in her eyes. "Don't give up on us. We deserve this chance."
"I love you too, Lily. You've always been my lifeline. You were my light when I was at my darkest."
"Then fight for us, Chase. Don't walk away. Don't ask me to walk away." She pleads with me as tears fall down her cheeks, and I hate myself for asking this of her, but I need to figure my shit out. Right now, I'm not the man she deserves, but maybe one day I could be.
23
The Choice
Chase
I'm so fucking proud of Lily as she stands in front of thousands of people, her head held high and hands two large cheques to the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Holly and Avery decided it only made sense to give both charities the money rather than choosing one over the other. They've rolled out the red carpet for a pre-game ceremony and photo op.
"And here to make her final decision is Lily Valentine," Holly hands over the microphone to Lily. The entire spectacle is strained and awkward because of Cassidy Tippett's article, and I know the decision she's making isn't one she wants.
"Thank you, Holly. And thank you to Monica and Mitchell Starling, the entire Northmen organization, and all of our sponsors for their generous donations." Lily takes a breath and looks at both Sam and me before continuing. "Over the last several weeks, I have had the opportunity to date not one, but two amazing men. I honestly could not have asked for two more kind, genuine, fun, and, as you all can see, handsome men." A laugh ripples through the crowd at Lily's joke, and she takes a long breath.
"Tonight, I'm supposed to make a choice. But as I stand here, looking into a crowd with many more women, and young girls than usual, I've decided to choose something different." She pauses, a hint of sadness in her eyes, but then she blinks and it's gone. "I choose me. I choose myself. As a woman, there's nothing wrong with putting yourself or your career above a relationship. And it also doesn't have to be one or the other. We can have both if we are strong enough to pursue our dreams and have the love and support of those around us.
"Sometimes the decisions we must make are not the ones we want to. We make them because they're the right ones, not because they are the easy ones." Lily turns and smiles at Sam and me, and her eyes find mine when she says her next words. "Love isn't always about getting what you want when you want it. Sometimes it's about sacrifice, patience, and timing. I can be patient because when you've waited your whole life for someone to love you back, what difference does a little more time make?"
Chatter and clapping fill the arena as Lily hands the mic back the Holly and walks carefully off the ice. My eyes follow her as she goes, my heart swelling.
When you've waited your whole life for someone to love you back, what difference does a little more time make?
Her words echo in my mind. Lily Valentine will never give up on me. She'll wait for me. I just need to become the best version of myself for her and be brave enough to do that.
NHL Breaking News:
After a 3-1 win over the Las Vegas Aces, in which Chase Wilder scored two goals and had one assist, he announced that he's taking a leave of absence from the team to deal with personal matters. It should be noted that Wilder is not entering the Player Assistance Program, and his leave is not related to any issues with substance abuse.
It has also been confirmed that any allegations stemming from the article written by Buzz reporter, Cassidy Tippett, are false, and the organization is seeking legal counsel to file a defamation suit against the gossip columnist.
24
Setting the Story Straight
Chase
Six Weeks Later
Someone from the sound crew adjusts my lapel mic while a makeup artist touches-up something on my forehead, probably sweat. The lighting in here is hot as fuck, but the reporter sitting across from me smiles patiently. Scarlett St. James-Kaur is one of the most highly respected and professional journalists in her field.
A few years ago, she was just starting as a broadcast reporter when she broke a story about corruption and abuse within the Canadian Hockey Association. She worked extensively with victims, players, and investigators to uncover the truth behind the cover-up of player sexual misconduct and under-the-table hush money payments to victims. She won several prestigious awards for journalistic integrity, and her career has skyrocketed.
When it comes to giving a voice to the voiceless and speaking difficult truths, there's no one better than Scarlett St. James-Kaur. She's made herself a household name. And it just so happens that Holly and Avery have a working relationship with her from when they were all students at Western.
