Page 189 of The Right Move

“Good.”

He lingers as if I have something else to say and maybe I do. Maybe there’s something about this utter honesty thing.

“Can I tell you something that might make you change your mind and trade me?”

He chuckles. “Shoot.”

“Indy wasn’t my girlfriend when I first told you about her. We pretended to be a couple to convince you that I had softened up enough to be the kind of captain you wanted me to be. I completely lied to your face.”

Ron’s expression turns cold and stoic.

“She was just my sister’s best friend who moved in because I had an extra room.”

Ron’s serious face melts into a smile which morphs into uncontrollable belly laughs.

“No way!” He holds a hand to his chest. “Caroline was right all along! God, I’m going to hear so many ‘I told you so’s’ tonight when I get home.”

“Sir?”

“My wife, she knew you two were full of shit as soon as she saw you at the fall banquet together. On the other hand, you had me convinced. The only reason I had any doubts was because she was chirping in my ear.”

“She knew?”

“Of course, she knew! Who the hell goes camping in the middle of winter in Chicago?” He laughs again. “She assumed if we kept getting you two together, maybe it’d happen for real, and it did. Shay, you may have been lying to convince me you were someone else, but you became that man regardless.”

“So, you’re not mad?”

“No.” His chest rumbles. “I think the whole thing is hilarious.”

I smile, feeling much lighter now that all this fake shit is off my chest. “I really do love her though. Now.”

“Yeah, no shit, Shay. You don’t make the kinds of changes you’ve made for any reason other than love.”

He puts his hand out to shake mine and as I do, he pulls me into a hug.

“So, to be clear,” I ask again. “You’re not trading me?”

“I’m fairly certain Caroline would trade me for a new husband if I did. She really loves having Indy around and I couldn’t think of a better captain for this team.”

Lips pressed together, I dip my chin. “Thank you, sir.”

He takes off down the hall again. “Dinners don’t end when the season does!” he calls out. “I expect to see you, Indy, Ethan, and Annie at least once a month all summer long.”

A smile slides across my mouth. “We’ll host.”

Hopefully.

44

RYAN

I caught a flash of blonde hair in the middle of the third quarter when I allowed myself a moment to look into the stands.

Indy is here with Zanders and Stevie, and that alone feels like a win. The second win is coming in about fifteen seconds as the clock runs down on the final regular game of the season, ending with the Devils up by fourteen.

Our first playoff berth in six years.

It’s about time. For me. For this team. For this city.

---