Page 32 of Sporting Goods

“I didn’t blow his chances. He’ll get on the team. Everyone gets on the team. Right?”

“Let’s hope so.”

“Love how supportive you are.”

She held her hands up defensively, “Just pointing out that at some point, you’ll need to tell him Logan isn’t coming back.” After I told Sam about my run in at the rink with Logan and my unplanned ultimatum, she insisted I apologize. It was no secret that the guy suffered a major injury, and I was practically throwing it in his face.

Sure, his arm was a little stiff. But there was nothing wrong with it. I was sure of it. Of course I’d never go on record without running some tests and an x-ray at the very least. But that arm moved just fine with me.

The rest of him might move just fine with me too.

I shook the thought out of my head. “Yeah, I know.”

I watched Jax practice handling the puck and wished I could jump on to teach him to smooth out his strides. He was too focused on the puck rather than balance and shifting.

I shook in my seat, itching to get on there and help him. How was I going to do this without confusing the hell out of my kid?

I stood, decidedly.

“Where you going?” Sam looked up.

“Teaching my kid a few moves I still remember.”

“Can’t wait to see this.”

A few minutes later I hopped onto the ice and skated over to my little boy. Who I wanted nowhere near the boys on the other side of the rink. But if he was determined to be one of them. He was going to be good.

Really good.

I worked with Jax for a half hour until the staring was beginning to boil inside me. Folks here knew who I was. Most did. But did I have a name? Probably. Otherwise known as their Buffalo Gaters star captain’s ex-wife.

I knew what they were thinking.

Were they even married?

Was that his kid?

The woman has serious trust issues. Who wouldn’t want to be with a gorgeous star hockey player?

How was he still loved by all?

Well, maybe not all. There were a handful of people —scarce and quiet, but they did exist. The people who didn’t love him at all. Didn’t trust him. I’d forget that sometimes.

I knew how it was when it came to celebrities. Blame the nobody ex-wife. She knew what she was getting into. Shechosethis life.

How could I have told them they were wrong? When it was the life I was living.

Girl gymnast meets cutest athlete on campus—oh and he’s a narcissist who cuts deep in his verbal abuse.

Free hockey lessons by gorgeous green-eyed pro player—oh and he happens to be utterly off limits.

“Mom,” my favorite voice called from a few feet away.

I blinked. “Hmm?”

“You’re supposed to try and block me.”

I gripped my kid sized stick. “Oh. Oh okay. But hey, why don’t we put these down for a minute and practice your sprints.”

---