We lay like this, just soaking up the moment before I hear my phone chime behind me and reach for it. Sighing at what I see, I know that our peaceful morning has just ended.
“What’s wrong?”
I show her the text from Coach. “Apparently my outburst went viral, and now, the GM and Coach want to see me in their office this afternoon.”
She gets up with me as we both decide to get dressed and then make our way to the kitchen for breakfast. “Do you know what you’re going to say?”
“I’m gonna tell them the truth about what happened. Coach knows about us and so does HR, so we aren’t doing anything wrong.” I start to take out the ingredients to make eggs when I look over and notice her chewing on her bottom lip again.
Walking over, I spin her around and pick her up as I place her on the counter, stepping in between her legs. “I’ll be fine. It’ll all work out.”
“I’m just worried about what Eric might do or say to make this worse. If he’s been able to get away with his behavior for so long, what tricks does he have up his sleeves?” Worry laces her tone.
Brushing some loose strands from her face, I cup her cheek so she’s looking right at me. “The only thing we can do is go in there and tell the truth. As long as I have you by my side, we’ll figure this out together.”
She kisses me softly before pulling away again. “We’re in this together.”
I go back to making breakfast as we fill the silence with quiet banter and chatter. It’s a comfortable moment between us, and there's no pressure to make it any more.
Chapter 37
Jake
Pulling up to the arena, there’s a lot of nervous energy in the air. I’m not sure what to expect as Kailyn and I park, but it definitely isn’t the group of people standing outside the entrance.
“What are they all doing here?”
Kailyn called her brothers to meet us here rather than at my house, but I’m shocked to also see Beckett, Connor, Hannah, Lainey, and Emilia.
Reaching across the center console, Kailyn grabs my hands and laces our fingers together. Seeing her sitting next to me and wearing my jacket with my number and name on it both melts my heart and has me so turned on by her. She’s taken to wearing my clothes when she’s over and now that we’re about to tell everyone about us, I think she’s ready to stake her claim on me. I’m not mad in the slightest at the thought that this girl is mine, and I’m hers.
“They’re all here because I asked the twins to invite them. We’re a family, and we face this together. Plus, if we’re gonna take Eric down, then we need the numbers.”
Smiling gratefully at her, grateful for the family that’sstanding outside those doors waiting for us, I squeeze her hand before we start to get out of the car.
We walk up to the group, Kailyn coming up on my side and lacing her hand in mine. With just a simple touch, I know that I can face anything and be anything. My world has done a full three-sixty in the last couple months, and yes things have changed so fast, but I wouldn’t change a thing knowing that this is where we end up.
“How are you both feeling?” Connor asks.
“I’m ready to get in there and demand to be heard. Until Eric is gone, as much as the team culture has changed, we’re still living in the same toxic shit as last season,” I say honestly.
All the guys nod along, remembering all of the toxicity that plagued our team the last couple years and how we’ve worked to overcome it. We won’t fully be rid of it until Eric is dealt with.
“I think we need to come up with a game plan. It’s safe to say you’ll get a suspension for what you did, but we need to make sure that the GM knows what has been happening.” Brandon adds.
“B’s right. I know Coach is with us, but that might not be enough,” Kailyn adds, squeezing my hand one more time to let me know she's here for me to lean on.
“So, what’s the play then?” Connor asks.
“We go in there, let them talk to Jake about what happened and get a read of the room, and go from there. We can’t come in hot, so let’s see what they have to say.”
“Alright then. Lead the way, Jake, and we’ll follow you.”
We all make our way inside the arena and to the conference office. The closer we get, the more my nerves start to pick up. As logical as Brandon’s outcome sounded of a suspension, I can’t help but feel like it might be more.
I don’t regret my actions.
If I had the choice to do it all over again, I’d do exactly the same thing, because while hockey has been my life for as long as I can remember, having Kailyn back in my life has changed things for me. She’s my endgame, my reason to be and my partner in crime. I’d do anything to protect her and love her with everything I have.