Page 100 of One Time Player

She laughs through her tears. “I don’t want you taking them back. I love you too, Evan Hayworth, with all my heart. I’ve felt this way for a while, but I was scared of what it all meant. It’s the first time I’m going to be a mom and I want to get it right. I’m terrified of messing up. I was around Skylar and Crew when he was born and I tried to help, but Skylar was a natural and I don’t know if I’ll be a natural mom too. Who really knows,” she cackles. “What I do know is I love you and I want to be with you.”

“I love you too. I want both of you with me always,” I declare.

Coach walks into the room and he is tearing.

“Daddy?” Patty asks.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I knew it. I saw the way you two looked at each other and I knew there was a strong foundation here,” Coach admits.

“Do you really believe that?” I ask Coach.

“I do, son, I really do,” Coach affirms, nodding and sniffling. I’ve never seen this soft side to him, he’s usually so tough. “You don’t need to worry about parenting. No one knows what they are doing at first. Your mom and I winged it a lot of times at the beginning, but we loved you and Kevin so much and that’s what mattered. We grew with you and learned.”

“That sounds oddly reassuring,” I say, quirking my lip sideways.

“I’m actually worried.” Patty smirks. “What exactly did you and Mom wing?”

Coach laughs. “That’s a story for another day.”

After about an hour or so of us hanging out, I clear my throat. “I think we need to come clean to the GM, ASAP. I kind of freaked out about Patty fainting and I called her honey and was really worried. I don’t think anyone is buying we are friends at this point. Jamie gave me a very weird look.”

“It’s time to come clean,” Coach says, and he looks at me.

“Your dad kind of wanted us to come clean weeks ago, but I didn’t know how to tell you. He wants the three of us to go to the GM together. He’s prepared to get fired and if I get traded, he and your mom are willing to move to wherever we land,” I disclose to her. “I know this is terrible timing to drop this on you. Part of the reason I didn’t tell you was because I didn’t want to add the extra stress, but at this point, I just don’t think we can wait any longer.”

“I quit,” Patty says.

“What?” I ask.

“I’m quitting the team. I don’t like walking away from something in the middle, but it’s taking a toll on my health and the baby’s. I need to put the baby first now, even if I don’t like walking away,” she explains, and she seems at peace with her decision.

“And that’s my baby growing up,” Coach states. “Being a parent is about making hard decisions. It’s not about doing what you want but what is good for your children.”

“But, Daddy, you could get fired. You guys are so close to winning the Cup,” Patty reminds.

“Patty, darling, I don’t give a shit about the Cup. What I care about is my family. You and that baby and Evan are my family. I need you to be okay and I’ll be okay. If management wants me to move on, so be it. I’ve got good years of coaching ahead of me and if it isn’t with the Rangers; it’ll be another team.”

“I feel the same way,” I affirm. “I may get traded but as long as I have you by my side, that’s all that matters,” I pledge to Patty, and I take her hand in mine.

“I want that too,” she says and I lay a soft, sweet kiss on her lips.

* * *

The next day Patty is released from the hospital, but she was ordered to stay off her feet for a week and get some rest. Her mother flew out to Washington so she could fly back to New York with her. I stayed to play another game the following night. If my friends had any questions about what was going on between Patty and me, they didn’t say anything. Maybe they were so busy with playoffs they really didn’t pay any attention to what was brewing between Patty and me, or maybe they were just giving us the privacy we needed.

When we returned to New York, Coach and I asked for a meeting with management.

“Just play it cool, Evan. We lay it out on the line and let them make their decision. These people are all about winning and making money, and with the number of points you have this season, they’d be fools to let you go.”

“Thanks, Coach,” I say and exhale. We walk into the offices and see the secretary. She announces our presence. The GM and President of Operations meet us in the boardroom in the Rangers offices. Coach and I both showed up in suits.

“Please have a seat, men,” President Alan Rothersmith invites.

“Thank you, sir,” I reply.

Coach is quiet and takes the seat beside me.

“You mentioned there was a breach of policy,” the GM initiates.

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