Page 41 of Slap Shots & Sweethearts

"Do what?" I ask, the dread is getting worse.

"You've breached your contract. I have to fire you for your inappropriate conduct with a member of the team."

"Inappropriate?" I ask, my voice is pleading as I say. "What are you talking about?"

"You've been dating Matt. I have photographic evidence of your time together and you've left me with no choice."

"But."

"Don't make this any harder than it already is Hannah."

"Can I at least take Noah to the ice?"

"I'm afraid not. Your termination is effective immediately."

I bite my lip to stop it from trembling as I get myself under control.

"Can you make sure he gets this duck?" I hold up the rubber duck from Lou. "He's supposed to ride the Zamboni as well."

"I'll take care of it personally." Stuart says.

"And see if the board can help his family pay for his medical care. They've been through a lot." I add, my voice growing quieter with each word.

He nods, and leaves Tiffany to ensure my departure. She smiles the entire time I clean out my desk, savoring my misery. She even ensures nothing in my purse is company property. The security escort she insists upon for my walk of shame out to my car is a waste of resources, but I leave without a fuss, or letting the tears flow that I know she wants to see.

I listen to the cheers of the arena, and catch sight of the game on a TV by concessions as I'm walking. Matt is in a fight on the ice with Lou. They were right to fire me. I've made things so much worse for everyone. My heart that was already aching, breaks completely.

Chapter 13

Matt

Iknow I asked Hannah for time, but two weeks later, the misery is continuing. Nothing feels right anymore.

Work is harder, and I can't walk down the tunnel to the locker room without thinking about our last conversation. Or really anywhere in the building without remembering a moment with her. But I can't bring myself to go to her office and talk to her about it because every time I think of her office, I think of her brushing me off as 'Nothing'.

She hasn't left pastries in the break room once. I've checked before and after practice and there hasn't been so much as a box in the trash. No one has brought Lou his lemon bars, and I don't understand how she can be so upset as to punish everyone else too. I know the rest of the office enjoyed the sweets too.

Asking someone about the pastries, or her is out of the question, because I care about her job. But also people at the arena won't make eye contact with me anymore. One little fight and they treat me like I have the plague.

Coach benched me that night after the fight with Lou. Told me I wouldn't see the ice again until I sorted myself out. The fight hadn't been my fault, but I won't lie and say I wasn't looking for one. I needed an outlet for my pain, I just hadn't expected it to come in the form of Lou. My jaw is still a little bruised from where he got a lucky hit in.

Whatever set him off, he's dealing with on his own. I still haven't talked to him since the game.

It's incredibly isolating, to come in day after day and only have Coach to talk to. Being benched, I don't even get to skate during practice. Instead, I have to watch the rest of the team on the ice. When they get through, Coach takes me to the weight room and runs me through my drills. But working out in the weight room isn't the same. The clanging of weights and the echo of my own footsteps is just a cruel reminder of the emptiness in my life right now.

I need something good in my life right now, and I definitely need a distraction. Ivy has agreed to join me for trivia night. I'd made the mistake of reserving a table when I thought Hannah was going to be my partner. I'm getting ready to leave the arena when my phone rings.

I answer it without looking to see who it is.

"Matt, my man," Lennox says. "How's the jaw?"

"It's fine." I wait for him to say that I've messed up my chances for the NHL due to the fights I've been in.

"That’s what I want to hear." His tone changes from a polite greeting, to serious. "Look man, whatever you've been doing your likability factor is through the roof. I've got offers."

I'm stunned.

He keeps talking. "I tried to send you the offers, but it says your email is full. Make some space and I'll send you the details for you to decide."

---