Page 122 of The Breaking Point

I sipped my water. “Awesome.”

“It’s really difficult to get tenure nowadays, but through an act of God I got this tenure-track position. But it doesn’t pay like being on the NHL does.” Cal leaned forward. “Tell me, what’s the craziest thing you’ve seen a player do? I mean, we all heard about Mac going to that weird sex club. Anything crazier than that?”

I shook my head. “Nothing beyond the usual,” I lied.

Cal looked disappointed. “Well, Brady has been in the news a lot lately. Seems like it’s affected his playing, too.”

I flinched. Cal seemed to sense he’d said too much, because he hastily apologized.

“What do you do for work?” Cal asked. “I realized I didn’t ask you.”

As we chatted, I realized that all my answers seemed to be linked back to hockey, the Blades, and Brady. My internship, my dad, my ex-boyfriend. Nothing in my life was my own, was it?

Even my brother had played hockey. And now a new guy was interested in me simply because of my link to the Blades.

When Kelly finally returned to our table, I almost jumped out of my seat. “I remembered I have a work project due,” I lied, grabbing onto Kelly’s arm. “Can you drive me home?”

Kelly blinked, but to her credit, she didn’t call me out on my lie. We both said goodbye to the guys and headed out.

After I’d gotten back home, I knew I needed to make some changes in my life. If I really, truly wanted to get over Brady, I needed to have my own life outside of the Blades. And that also meant I needed to carve out a new life that didn’t include Brady Carmichael.

When Julia called me into her office on Friday morning, I expected bad news.

“We’d like to offer you a full-time position with us,” she said. “We’ve all been impressed with your performance during your internship, and we think you’d be a great addition to our team.”

I stared at her, shocked. I’d been barely pulling my weight in the last month since I’d ended things with Brady. I hadn’t even wanted to apply for a full-time position.

“That’s ... awesome,” I said, not sure how to respond.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Julia was doing this just because I was the coach’s daughter. Had my dad talked her into doing this? Because I hadn’t exactly been giving my all lately.

Thinking of Dad interfering in my career reminded me that I needed to untangle myself from this world. I couldn’t be my own person if I stayed in the Blades ecosystem.

And how could I expect to move on from Brady if I was reminded of him constantly at my job?

I folded my hands, trying to calm my pounding heart. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to have to decline,” I said.

Julia raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure?”

Saying the words made me feel calmer. It felt like a heavy burden was slowly being lifted from my shoulders.

“I think I need to figure out what I really want to do with my life,” I admitted. “And I don’t want it to seem like I’ve only gotten where I am because of who my dad is.”

“Well, I’ll admit, I’m disappointed, but I understand where you’re coming from. If you ever change your mind, please reach out.”

We shook hands, and then I left after saying goodbye to Garrett and the rest of the team. I didn’t mention that I’d been offered a job, though. I just hoped that Garrett got a job offer: he was the one who deserved it, not me.

I went to my car and sat, staring at nothing for a while. I waited for the inevitable feelings of regret or fear, but there were none.

I just felt lighter. And I thought that I might have the strength to get over Brady Carmichael once and for all.

GRACE

“I need to talk to you about something,” Mom said to me the Sunday morning following my internship ending.

Mom had gone out for doughnuts and coffee, something she rarely did, which made me wonder whether something was up. Dad had gone to the gym—he’d wanted to start losing weight after his doctor had lectured him about his high cholesterol and blood pressure—so it was just Mom and I that morning.

I bit into a doughnut, not caring that it was my third one already. “What?” I asked, my mouth full.

---