Page 6 of Shot on Goal at a Second Chance
He chuckles and tips a hat that isn’t there, confirming his Texas origins. “I guess it does. If you don’t mind me saying, your daddy was a great man.”
A wave of emotion pushes behind my eyes. “He was. Thank you.”
Another player skates up and nudges Wade to move on. “Ethan McKennan, defense. Pleased to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, Ethan. Thank you for taking care of your forwards.”
After a moment of surprise, he grins and shakes my hand. “My pleasure, ma’am.”
I let thema’amslide as the rest of the players line up, much like they do after winning a game to congratulate the goalie. My heart squeezes at the thought.
The next one moves forward. “Payton Maxwell and it’s an honor. I’d say welcome to the team, but technically, you outrank us all now. Just promise you won’t trade me too quickly, yeah?”
I can’t help but smile at his cheeky British humor. “I’ve seen your stats, Payton. No worries there.”
His grin widens. “Cheers.”
The rest glide up, one by one. I match each face to the names and positions I’ve already memorized, adding first impressions to my mental files. I’ll gain deeper insights when they return forpractice in a few weeks because I plan to attend and get a feel for the dynamics of this team. At least initially. We still need a captain since the previous coach stupidly traded ours for a rookie.
After the last player skates back to the rest, I return to the podium to invite the press to ask their questions, but the words evaporate from my tongue. For a moment, the arena and its occupants fade, leaving only one person in sharp focus.
Zach Keller. The years have added lines to his face and streaks of silver to his dark hair, but the intensity of his gaze remains unchanged.
A gaze locked on me.
The last time I saw him, I was a twenty-year-old in college, planning to follow in my father’s footsteps in sports management. I wanted to work in the industry in any way possible to stay connected to the game I’d loved since childhood. Zach played right wing on the team my father was coaching then.
Driven, attractive, five years older, and cocky as all get out. Not to mention taboo.
Me, that is. Dad made it clear his daughter was off limits. But that didn’t stop us from flirting, and Zach and I did a lot of that. When I didn’t have classes, I would hang out at the arena, soaking in as much of the sport I loved as possible and helping my father with miscellaneous tasks.
When Zach noticed I was there, he’d make a point to skate past me, wearing that tilted smile that made my stomach flutter. Sometimes, he’d wink at me.
And then, one day, he stopped, leaning against the boards after practice, his grin as cocky as ever. He glancedover his shoulder to ensure my father wasn’t in earshot before whispering, “You ever going to let me take you out, Rebecca?”
I tried not to smile but failed miserably. “My father would have a fit.”
He didn’t say anything. Just raised his brows, challenging me.
Reckless? Definitely. But I couldn’t stay away. Looking back now, I don’t know if we were drawn to the thrill of secrecy or if we truly believed in what we had. At the time, I was sure it was real. I bet everything on it. But in the end, it wasn’t time that proved me wrong—it was Zach.
My hands have a death grip on the podium. I didn’t think the man was capable of becoming even more attractive, but that sprinkle of silver at the sides only added to his rugged appeal. The same smugness resided in his tilted smile, but age lines softened his fierce gaze somewhat. However, nothing had diminished his confidence, that’s for sure.
I refocus and point to a young woman. “Your question.”
“Sophie Adams, the Sarabella Herald Tribune. What made you decide to take a chance on the Sun Kings?”
A warmth fills me as I think of my father. “Owning a hockey franchise has always been a shared dream for my father and me. I guess we both like challenges.” Laughter ripples around me. “My only wish is that he was here today to share this with me.”
I point to the reporter from USA Hockey next.
“Ms. Piedmont, what are your initial plans for the team?”
“We have a long list of things to accomplish, but our priorities are getting the arena updated and, of course, finding a new coach.”
Zach lifts his hand, and everything inside me tightens.
I’m tempted to avoid his question—to avoid him. When he got called up to the NHL, I thought that would mean a future for us since I wouldn’t be his coach’s daughter anymore, but he didn’t stay in touch. And I certainly wasn’t going to drop out of college and give up my dream to follow him.
