“But I am worried about work. There’s a policy of no fraternization,” I tell her.
“Maybe you two being married might null that clause,” she suggests.
I hadn’t thought about it like that, but it could be a possibility. “We’re back at it tomorrow, so I guess we will find out then.”
“Good luck, it will all work out.”
“Hope so.”
EPILOGUE
FISH
We’ve been called into a meeting with HR, Coach Anderson, Mike, and PR. Emmett and Jo have gone in first. Collette and I sit in the corridor outside like two kids waiting to see the principal. She’s in her work clothes, hair pulled back, looking professional and composed and nothing like the woman who sobbed into her mother’s shoulder yesterday.
“You okay?” I ask.
“No.” She reaches for my hand. “You?”
“No. But whatever happens, we are in this together, okay?” I reassure her.
The door opens twenty minutes later, and Emmett and Jo walk out. Jo’s face is pale, but she looks relieved. Emmett gives me a nod that says,‘Brace yourself.’
“Mr. Crawford. Ms. St. Pierre.” Linda, the HR rep, holds the door open. “You’re next.”
“It’s Mrs. Crawford, actually,” Collette says as she walks in.
Linda blinks, looks at her file, then looks at Collette.
“We’re married,” Collette states as we take our seats.
The room goes quiet, she’s stunned everyone silent. Coach Anderson leans back in his chair. Renee, Collette’s boss, raises a brow.
“You’re married,” Linda repeats.
“Yes, ma’am,” Collette says.
“To a player on the team,” Linda confirms.
“Yes, the one sitting right beside me.”
Linda turns to me, and then to the others.
“Never thought I would see the day,” Coach says, shaking his head. “Are you telling me in a space of twenty-four hours, I’ve learned that my captain has been secretly dating the team physiotherapist, and one of my forwards has secretly married the social media coordinator, and both of these women are the sisters to two of my players?”
“When you say it like that, it sounds bad,” I offer.
“It is bad, Mr. Crawford,” Linda states.
Seems like Linda doesn’t like jokes. I turn to Collette, who gives me a shrug.
“Colette, you understand when you joined this organization, you signed a contract, and in that contract, it talked about fraternization with players, that it wouldn’t be tolerated unless under certain circumstances, which it seems your marriage is one of.”Oh.“The contract technically talks about dating, it doesn’t mention marriage.”
Maybe eloping has saved our asses.
“The fact that you’re legally married and not in a causal relationship means we will be giving you a warning for not disclosing your change in circumstances,” Linda explains.
This is good. This means Collette doesn’t lose her job.