Page 77 of Playing to Win

His hands rested on my waist, warm and comforting. “For kissing you?”

“For being there. For being you. You’re a better boyfriend than any of the so-called real ones were.”

His hands tightened. “I don’t feel like a fake boyfriend right now.”

“It feels real, doesn’t it?”

He nodded.

I leaned forward and kissed him again, lust sparking in my veins. I wanted to take him home or go to his place. I wanted to spend time making him feel good. I wanted him to make me forget losing my career, this championship, everything else but him. He could do it—had done it before. We could go to my place. Megan would be out— “Shit.”

“Hmm?”

“I have to go to Randy’s, our captain’s place. The whole team is there—end of season, losing the game, getting drunk…”

He drew in a breath. “You have to go. Okay. Call me tomorrow?”

I nodded and drew him in for yet another kiss. When I pulled back he leaned forward, reluctant to let me go. “I have to go now or I won’t go at all.”

He stepped back. “Let me get you an Uber. It’s too late for transit.”

I’d often taken transit at this time, but tonight I’d accept the help. I was walking without my cane, but my knee tired easily. My brain bounced all over—the end of the season, the end of my career, what job I could get, my new non-fake boyfriend. It was a lot.

He pulled out his phone and found a car just a block away. He walked me to the street, waiting the thirty seconds it took for the car to pull up.

The driver recognized Braydon and promised to make sure I arrived at Randy’s safely. One last kiss and he closed the door behind me.

I fell back against the seat. I wasn’t myself. I wasn’t a hockey player; I wasn’t part of the Bonfire. Instead, I wasdatinga hockey player. The me I thought I was turned upside down. It was a lot to process, and I still had a tough challenge ahead of me. The day felt endless.

I found a sad group of women at Randy’s place, well on their way to getting drunk.

“Tempo!”

The greeting hit me hard. I was an emotional mess tonight.

“Damn, we could have used you tonight.”

I felt guilty for not being there. Might as well tell them why. I drew in a shaky breath. “I’m done, guys.”

Confused stares met me. Megan waved a glass at me. “Yep, done with work and here to help us celebrate this stinking loss.”

I wanted to accept her interpretation and pretend this wasn’t the last time I’d be with this team as part of it. But wishing didn’t change anything. My hockey career was over.

I grabbed a bottle of champagne that someone had bought hoping to celebrate a win. It was open, half empty, and I held it up. The team raised their glasses or bottles or, in one case, a Cheezie, in response.

“I loved playing hockey. Still love the sport. But my knee is officially done, so I am too.” I took a swallow. Not the best champagne, but I drank another mouthful anyway.

It took a moment for the news to work through the alcohol. Megan burst into tears. Faith lurched up to wrap her arms around me, and then the whole team was there, a massive group hug. It was sharing together the pain of our loss. It was thanking me for what I’d done for them. And it was goodbye.

Then I finished off the bottle while the team ignored their loss for a few minutes asking about mine.

RIP, Tempo.

Chapter23

I could see it coming

Braydon

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