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But practice is going great and I’m psyched to be back on the ice, skating, shooting, wielding a stick in my hand.
Five games feels like a lot, but it doesn’t really matter now. The team pulled through, dropping only one of the games I was banned from.
At the conclusion of practice, Coach waves me over. “Hank’s waiting in my office to talk to you.”
I take a breath. I’m going to have to eat crow; that’s guaranteed. Probably going to have to shove my head so far up his ass I can see out of his eyeballs, too. But that’s fine. I can do it because this job is important to me. I want to be a man that Sloan is proud of and I want her to see that I am sturdy and dependable. That,when it comes down to it, I’ll do what I have to do even if I don’t like it.
God help me—am Imaturing?
I skate off the ice, hand my stick and gloves to the equipment guy, and walk down to the locker room and then into Coach’s office. Hank is sitting behind the desk. He looks up at me from whatever paperwork he’s staring at.
“Have a seat, Beck.” He nods to the chair in front of him.
I drop down in it. He folds his hands and leans forward to give me a meaningful look. “You have some good friends here, Daniels. Dixon Hayes came in and said that if you get traded, he’s going to request a trade. Then Adrian LaDuke did the same. Even Colin O’Leary walked in here and defended you until he was blue in the face.” He shakes his head. “Hell, Nico threatened to move his whole family to Russia to play there if we put you on the chopping block.”
I clear my throat. “I didn’t ask them to do that.”
“Oh, they made me very aware you had nothing to do with it.” He doesn’t seem all that annoyed that every member of his top line and most of his power play unit would need to be replaced and that they’re essentially blackmailing him. Instead, he seems… impressed, actually. “Hayes also told me what that prick was saying about your woman.”
Dixon.That two-timing son of a bitch. I’ll have to remind him to keep his nose out of my business next time I see him—but only after I give him a huge hug and thank him for being the best friend a guy could ask for.
“Analytics is also on my ass. Your penalty minutes are down from last year. Your points are up.” He shakes his head. “But your behavior is putting me in a tough spot.”
“I know, sir.” I look straight at him, not blinking, not shying away from responsibility for what I’ve done. “I apologize for that, for putting you in this position. I should’ve ignored him, and I didn’t. I promise you this, though: I’ll do better.”
He nods. “I know.” Then, for the first time since I entered, he sighs and smiles a bit. “I’ve been assured and reassured and re-reassured by your PR woman and half the damned team that once your baby gets here, you’ll be flying straight. Congratulations, by the way.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You’re welcome.” He rubs his beard wistfully. “Nothing like a kid to keep a man focused.”
That hasn’t really been my experience with my own father, so I don’t comment. The sentiment is the main point.
Hank sighs again. “Look, kid: you’re an asset to the team and I’m glad we found you when we did. You’re still a rising star, and after this many years in the league, that’s an oddity, not the norm. But I can’t have you flying off and putting other players out for the season. So here’s the way things stand: I’m not trading you. I’m sure my therapist is thrilled to hear that. But I need you to swear to me, here and now, that you’ll be an asset to this team, not a detriment. I want to believe in you, Beck. Give me a reason to.”
The only noise is the whine of the fluorescent lights. I clear my throat one more time, straighten up, and look Hank in the face as I say, “I swear to you, sir: my life has changed. I’m the bestman you could ever want on your team. Those guys who spoke up for me? Those are my brothers. Sloan is my queen. That baby coming soon is gonna be my prince or princess. I’ve got family on all sides to protect. I’m doing this for them now. Not for me—forthem.”
Hank can’t help but grin. “Hell of a speech, son. Let’s see you live up to it.” He plants his knuckles on the desk and stands. “Now, I believe you owe the coaches some conditioning. So get out of here and get skating. We need some wins. I’m counting on letting my wife spend her birthday with the Cup this year.”
He chuckles as I stand to shake his hand. My father didn’t teach me much about being a man, but he always said that you never shake a man’s hand while you’re sitting down. It’s stuck with me.
“Thank you, Mr. Floyd. You won’t regret this.”
I nod one more time, then walk back out to the ice. I have people to thank because, without my buddies, I’d probably be halfway to fucking Siberia by now.
My good mood carries me through some grueling post-practice conditioning and afterward when the guys drag me out for a drink, though they make it very, very clear that everything consumed today will be on my tab.
“Here’s to Beck. Luckiest son of a bitch who ever walked the earth.” Dix holds up his glass and as Sloan walks in the bar. “And here’s to the reason he’s so lucky.”
We clink glasses as she walks in to stand at the side of my barstool and slides her arm around me. “Damned right he’s lucky.”
“And finally in a good mood,” Colin chimes in. “I’ve known Beck for way too many years and finally, today, I saw him smile. Scared the hell out of me, to be honest. Here’s to never seeing it again.”
The rest of the team cheers and throws back another drink. Sloan pulls my attention to her. “I guess the first day back went well?”
I chuckle and drop a kiss on the end of her nose. “Better than I deserve.”
Dixon wasn’t wrong with his toast. There’s no doubt in my mind that Sloan walking into my bedroom that first day is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, a win on every front. I might need to call and thank Viv for hiring her, but as I’ve filed for a restraining order against Viv and blocked her on every device and account, I think I’ll keep my gratitude to myself.
