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“Here’s what I’m going to do.” Ward leans forward, interlacing his fingers. “I’m going to call in a favor the owner owes me and ask to keep you, and you’re going to keep up whatever you’ve been doing this season.”
I’m hit with a tsunami of relief. I’m not leaving. It wasn’t all for nothing.
“It was Hazel. She changed my life.”
“You made quite a spectacle earlier.” Through his exhaustion, his eyes dance with amusement.
I wince. “Sorry.”
He shakes his head, smiling to himself. “It’s okay. I’m happy for you, Miller. It’s not every day that you find that.”
“I know.” I pull a deep breath in, letting the anxiety drain from me. “Thank you, coach. You don’t know what this means to me.”
“You have my jersey hanging in your home.” He shrugs, eyes twinkling. “I can’t trade a fan.”
He shoots me a good-natured grin and I chuckle.
“It’s not actually up yet. It’s propped on the floor because I haven’t had a chance to hang it.”
“You put me on the floor?” He shakes his head, still smiling. “Deal’s off.”
We share a laugh and I think about his jersey, and his career. “Do you miss playing?”
He stills, looking down before shooting me a tight smile. “Every day, Miller. But developing players, seeing who someone can be before they realize it themselves and thenbeing right? It’s just as rewarding, maybe more. What you did at the League Classic, putting Owens on offense, was very interesting. Got me thinking about a few things.”
Something snags in my thoughts. “Did a team make an offer because of what I did?”
His mouth flattens. “No. The offers came after the rumors started.” He glances at the door. “Call Hazel in, would you?”
When I open Ward’s door, Hazel jumps to her feet. My dad paces beside her, waiting.
“What did he say?” Hazel asks.
“That he’s going to call in a favor to keep me.”
She wraps me in a tight hug, and I relax into her as it hits me that I won’t have to leave her.
“Thank god,” she whispers, and I nod, rubbing her back.
“Miller, Hartley,” Ward calls from his office. “Let’s go.”
Hazel shoots me a confused look and I take her hand, pulling her into the office. Once we’re seated, Ward clears his throat.
“McKinnon has been sent back to the minors.”
Hazel stiffens. That’s why he wasn’t there tonight. I figured he was still benched.
“Because he tried to kiss me?” she asks.
Ward lets out a heavy sigh. “No, but I should have made the call when that happened.” He glances between us. “This doesn’t leave this room, but he was the inside source who started the rumors. There were no offers until the rumors started.”
“Shit,” I murmur.
“Yeah,” he says, unimpressed. “Shit. He wasn’t the right fit for the team from day one but I thought,” he gestures at me, “with the progress you were making, maybe he would, too. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, and I thought a new group of guys he could learn from would push him to change.” He rubs his jaw. “But no. My gut said he wasn’t a good fit but I ignored it.” He shakes his head in regret and frustration. “I’m sorry to both of you.”
“It’s okay.” Hazel’s mouth twists. “It’s behind us.”
He gives her a terse nod, and I wonder how long this is going to weigh on him. Hazel’s hand slips into mine, and we smile at each other.
