Page 67 of Playing to Win

“They’d eat up a promotional opportunity like this. Money, equipment, clothing—this is great promo for them.”

“Would they really want to support a program in Montana?”

“Hmmm. Not sure. You wouldn’t want to run it from here?”

“I’ve already started things back home. I know the places that don’t have a lot of hockey support in small towns there. I don’t know Ontario.”

“Anything in the Toronto area is pretty well covered. The places you could help would be up north, maybe Western Ontario.”

“And we’re talking towns of just a few hundred people—that’s what I’m looking at. Not big numbers. That’s why they don’t have much.” Jayna rolled on her side and I moved to face her. Now, with my eyes adjusted, I could almost see her expression.

“Is this just for boys, or are girls and nonbinary kids welcome too?”

I reached out, brushed my hand over her arm. “Honestly, when I started this I was only thinking about boys. But last week I reached out to the coaches and facilities I’d spoken to, and I asked them to invite girls as well. And now I’ll make sure it’s just kids, nothing gender defined to limit things.”

“You’re learning, Mitchell.”

“I’m trying. I really am.”

Jayna watched me for a minute. She swallowed, the sound audible in the quiet room. “I can’t play anymore.”

That was it. The worst-case scenario for her. No wonder she’d been at that bar drinking. Without thinking I reached out, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close. For a moment she resisted. Then she gave in, and I held her tightly against me.

“My knee isn’t going to be good enough again. I can’t play hockey.” And she burst into tears.

* * *

I got up toolate to run after comforting Jayna for most of the night. I found Luke in the kitchen pouring out coffee.

“Enough for two?” I was short on sleep and needed to wake up.

Luke frowned but poured a cup for me, shoving creamer across the island along with the mug. I dropped my ass on the stool and stirred in the creamer. The first sip hit my mouth with a jolt. My shoulders dropped. This hit the spot.

I ran a hand through my hair. Maybe I should stay here. Jayna was going to feel like crap when she woke up after drinking so much, and she had the news about her knee to deal with.

Luke was still frowning.

“What?” Jayna and I didn’t have sex, so we hadn’t disturbed him. No need for him to look like someone had peed in his Wheaties.

“You didn’t go for a run.”

I flinched. I’d missed a few runs lately, but there was a lot going on. The runs and the early bedtimes had suffered, but I didn’t know Luke had been keeping track.

“I had to help Jayna. I’m not sure she’s okay on her own right now.”

He crossed his arms. “Really? I thought you were just pretending to date.”

I wasn’t pretending anymore, but I didn’t need Luke on my case. “I just want to be a decent person. Plus there’s no point being in condition if I’m not going to play because the Blaze drop me. Jayna’s helping rehab my image.” Which made me think of Jayna’s rehab. “Maybe I should skip practice today. I’m just sitting on the bench.”

He looked away and sighed. “Don’t fucking skip practice! I’m worried about you, Mitch. You worked hard to get here. You do that stupid superstitious shit because you want to play in the NHL permanently. Don’t throw that all away for a woman you’re not even really dating.”

I put the mug back on the island, holding back angry words.

“And saying you’re only backing up is bullshit. You’re playing because two fluke accidents happened. Hockey’s like that—things change in a moment.”

I stood up. He was right, but I was torn. “I appreciate the concern, but I’m not a kid. I’ll go to practice, but Jayna is still sleeping. Don’t bitch at her when she gets up, okay? She’s going through some bad stuff.”

Luke’s concern irritated me. Everyone teased me that I was too stuck in my routines, but change them just a bit and suddenly everyone was worried.

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