Page 6 of Playing to Win

I limped to the players’ entrance to meet Faith. Game days were always exhausting. I tried to be at the Bonfire practices, and since the women’s team had to have regular jobs to afford living in Toronto, those practices were early. Then rehab before starting my jobs for the Bonfire and Blaze.

Most of the guys had gone, just the players who’d been tied up with the media still in the building. Cooper paused on his way out. “You had something to do with this, didn’t you?”

I grinned, excitement pushing out the fatigue. “I knew Faith was here with her gear for a photo op. She was the obvious choice for EBUG.”

“And the third period?”

I shrugged. “I might have suggested it.”

He shook his head. “I knew they wouldn’t have come up with that on their own. You joining us at Faith’s place?”

“I wouldn’t miss it. I’m calling it part of my job so I can take some time off later in the week.”

“Did you see Mitchell, the new guy? I told him to come as well.”

“Great idea. I can get some shots of him and Faith together. He’ll be okay with that, won’t he? He’s not pissed that Faith got to start?”

Cooper looked out over the parking lot. “I think he’ll be good. He didn’t say anything. Was just kind of quiet after the game.”

Great. Just great.If his nose was out of joint because he’d had to share the spotlight with Faith, it was going to feed the trolls.

Cooper opened the arena door to head out. “I’ll see you there.”

“No puck bunnies tonight?”

“I put them off for a bit.”

I watched him walk to his…yeah, it was the Ferrari tonight. Must be nice to have that kind of money. Not that the guy wasn’t good, but Faith and I were also good and didn’t make a fraction of what he did.

I heard footsteps behind me. Faith approached, face glowing. “Tell me, Jayna, how did you convince them to let me play tonight?”

I laughed. “I just pointed out all the incredible publicity and goodwill they’d get.”

She pulled me into a hug. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

I hugged her back. She didn’t need to thank me. I was grateful my job had given me the opportunity to push one of my girls onto that ice tonight.

We headed out to her car, me leaning on my cane. “Isn’t Hailey with you?” I’d seen her on the Jumbotron with Faith’s husband, Seb.

“Seb took her back to the condo. It’s a late night for someone not yet two.”

“But a big night. A momentous night. A fucking brilliant night.”

“Thanks to you.” Faith unlocked the doors, and I slid into the car.

“I’m not the one who shut out Edmonton for a period,” I reminded her as I did up my seat belt.

“No, you just made sure I had that opportunity.”

“Come on. We have a party waiting. I messaged the team, and they all want to celebrate.”

“They’re going to be exhausted for practice.”

I grinned at her. “Coach is coming too.”

“You’re brilliant, Tempo.” I didn’t argue. I kind of was.

I caught sight of an older pickup truck pulled off to the side as we headed out. There was an Inferno sticker on the window and the blond head looked familiar. Was that Mitchell? I’d looked up photos of him, but none of them were of the back of his head.

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