Page 69 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

I doubt it, though.

No matter if we win or lose, they wouldn’t disband the other team. I felt like this was going to be a long build, and they were investing in these hockey teams, so we’d become the next Toronto Maple Leafs.

Or better.

The initiative wasn’t just Ontario or Saskatchewan. It was across Canada and the United States. It could become a global phenomenon if we proved to the world this initiative was well thought out and worth the investment.

It still bothered me, though, that there was the slight chance Coach Johnson would lose his job if we reach the end of the road and beat the Pincer Blades.

I can’t worry about that now.

I love Mikayla.

That isn’t going to change.

However, I loved hockey just as strongly and couldn’t put the entire team at risk because of the off-chance Mr. Champion would fire and disband Pincer Blades if we did beat them.

I was thinking too far ahead, which was unnecessary at this point.

For now, just gotta focus on the weeks ahead.

Not months.

My phone chimes with a different tone than my usual notifications.

It’s from Mkaykay.

Baby Girl Mkaykay:At the dorm’s office to sign some papers. Mack is here with me and offered to take me home since her aunt is picking her up. So, I’ll be going home soon.

I smile at the text, relieved she’s okay and with good company.

Alexandra, or Mack, is a really good friend to Mikayla. Whenever they’re together, I’m certainly worried about them getting into trouble wherever they go.

Like the club, for example, where they’ll both get shit-faced wasted. That’s the only problem with the troubled duo.

Another ping has me glancing at my phone once more.

Baby Girl Mkaykay:Let me know when you get back, okay?

My grin can’t get any bigger while my fingers text quickly in response.

Me:I will, Sweet Kay.

The typing bubble appears the moment I send my text, leaving me in wait as I wonder what else she’s going to say.

Baby Girl Mkaykay:Thanks, Maddox. For Everything.

My heart quickens while the feeling of being important swells inside me. There’s something about the way Mikayla praises and expresses gratitude that does something to me.

You’d think it was common etiquette, but I realized after Mikayla how few women praise their men for the littlest things. Unless you’re buying your girl a six-thousand-dollar Louis Vuitton or Channel bag as a third date gift, you’re not getting the common ‘thank you’ when you do your male responsibilities, like paying for dinner or taking her out for a date.

Obviously, not all girls were like that, but I guess things were changing these days.

Mikayla never changed.

Was that why I was madly in love with her?

Reasoning didn’t make sense when it came to my baby girl. She was unique, like a rare diamond, and the idea of actually having her back in my life was probably the reason why my heart was still pounding wildly against my chest.

---