Page 104 of Playoff

I can’t blame him since I do too.

It’sover.

I lift my gaze, searching for Rowan, and there are tears in her eyes as she stands there, next to Coach Vanek.

We have to get through the handshake line, and then we’ll lick our wounds in private.

This is quite possibly the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

Usually, you take a loss with grace and professionalism. You have to.

But I really don’t want to.

Not tonight.

Not when so much more than hockey is on the line for me.

The other guys have next season.

Right now, I have nothing.

No job security, no Rowan, no nothing.

When we finally file back tothe locker room, it’s quiet.

Deathly quiet.

Because our season just flatlined.

Along with so many hopes and dreams.

There doesn’t seem to be anything to say.

It’s just…over. Done.

We fought hard, but it wasn’t enough.

The Sidewinders were simply the better team.

“Gentlemen.” I look up at the sound of Harper’s voice.

She’s probably pissed, but she’s hiding it well.

In fact, she’s smiling, which is weird.

What’s wrong with her?

Is this some fucked-up pregnancy thing?

Why the fuck is she smiling in light of what just happened?

“I know you’re disappointed,” she says. “I am too. But I’m also so, so proud. I can’t tell you how proud I am. Of every single one of you. This playoff run has been the single most exciting thing I’ve ever experienced professionally. You—every person in this room—made the impossible happen. You made a dream come true for me. And not just for me, but for my late husband, Edward. He would have been proud of you too.”

I see tears in her eyes.

“Just before he died, he told me his only regret in life was not seeing the team make it to the playoffs. He left that legacy to me—and thanks to all of you, I fulfilled my last promise to him.” She pauses, digging a tissue out of her purse. “I know you feel awful right now, but you have nothing to feel bad about. We started this series with a fucking bus accident that could have killed us. Both literally and figuratively. And yet, you all steppedup and found a way to win that series. Even without a few key players, we beat the Blizzard and we came this close—” She holds up a hand, her thumb and forefinger barely an inch apart. “—to defeating the Sidewinders. I hope none of you are beating yourselves up too badly. You made me proud. I love all of you, and I’m so excited about next season. Thank you.” She stops talking and bursts into tears. Gabe is immediately up, pulling her close, and the rest of us start to clap.

She’s done so much with this team in just one season. A woman with almost no hockey experience. But she did it. I don’t know much about her late husband, who left the team to her, but it doesn’t matter to me. I have a lot of respect for her, and the team came a long way this year under her direction.

---