Page 159 of Interference

He laughed softly. “Honestly, kid, you’ve been living up to it from the start. Now that I know what was going on with you and Cars, the first part of this season makes a lot of sense. We shouldn’t have put you in that position. The fact that you kept your head together as much as you did, and that you recovered—I’m not worried at all going forward. Especially now that you don’t have all that pressure on you.”

“Thanks, Coach,” I whispered. “I appreciate it.”

We ended the call a moment later, and I closed my eyes as I leaned back against the headboard. “Holy shit.”

Wyatt squeezed my hand. “So… everything’s good?”

I nodded. “Yeah.” I sounded as dazed as I felt. “Everything’s good.” I let my head loll toward him so I could look in his eyes, and I relayed what my coach had told me.

“Wow. So they’re not fucking around, are they?”

“No. they’re not. All this time I thought they’d cut me loose…” I rubbed my hand over my face. “Never thought they’d pick me over him.” I paused. “Then again, I never thought he’d tell Cole goddamned Tandy about us.” With a dry laugh, I added, “Fuck around and find out, Simon.”

Wyatt chuckled. “Yeah, kinda seems like he did you a favor and shot himself in the foot.”

“About time he did something for me,” I muttered. Right then, my phone pinged with a text. I cringed, sure it was the man in question ready to read me the riot act.

Instead, it was the team’s captain.

D’Angelo: Hey, man. You good after today?

I wrote back with total honesty:

Anthony: Kind of shocked by all of it, but yeah, I’m good.

D’Angelo: Good. Wish we’d all known what was going on, but I get why you kept it quiet. We’ve got your back, though. 100%

My vision actually blurred as I sent back a thank-you text. Then I put the phone aside, and Wyatt quietly wrapped me up in his arms.

“I won’t say I’m glad he smeared your name all over the tabloids,” he said. “But I’m glad Simon showed his ass and got what was coming to him.”

“Me too.” I exhaled as so, so fucking much weight rolled off my shoulders. “I’m really glad I’m staying, too. I like this team. And the city.”

“I like it here, too.”

I met his gaze. “If I sign an extension after this season, I’ll probably be here for at least five or six more years. Especially if I ask for a no-move clause.”

“You can do that?”

“Mmhmm.” I touched his face. “I’d be willing to do it, too. Staying in one place will make it a lot easier for you, won’t it?”

He blinked as if he hadn’t expected that. “It… yeah. It will. I’ll be close to my family. I can maybe get a career going or something. Maybe—” He cut himself off.

I sat up a little. “Hmm?”

Wyatt dropped his gaze as some color bloomed in his cheeks. “It might be a bit of a pipe dream.”

“So was my hockey career.” I squeezed his hand. “Tell me.”

He looked at me through his lashes, and after a moment, he said, “Now that I have some stability, I really want to do something for people who were in my situation. Homeless vets. Or… I mean, homeless anyone, you know?” He fidgeted a little. “I’m not sure what I can do. Or what it would even take, but… If we’re going to be in the same place for a few years, maybe I can get something going.”

“That sounds like a great idea. And if you want to start something—an organization or whatever—I can offer up some seed money.”

He stared at me. “Really?”

“Of course. It’s… I mean, I’m not a billionaire or anything, but I want to help. Just say the word.”

His lips parted, but then he smiled and drew me in. “You really are amazing, you know that?”

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