Chapter 17
“This doesn’t look like it does on TV,” Aiden says with a frown as he looks out onto the ice.
“That’s because this isn’t where we play games.” I pat him on the shoulder and pull Willow into my side as I show them around the Blizzard Iceplex. “This place is for practices. It’s where our headquarters is, where we talk to the media. It’s also open to the public, so leagues play here, and people can rent it out for parties. They can even come watch us practice a few times a week p>
“That’s pretty cool,” Aiden says with a shrug, trying so hard to not look impressed, but his green eyes are wide as he takes everything in. “There’s a restaurant in here p>
I nod, seeing this place through the eyes of someone who’s never been here before. “And a merch shop, in case you want to pick anything up p>
I’ll be buying them a shit ton of stuff.
Particularly for Willow, because seeing her in my team gear turns me on at the drop of a fucking hat.
Checking the time, I sigh.
“Go,” Willow says, rubbing her little hand up and down my chest. “We’ll wander around and probably buy out the merch shop. We’re fine p>
“I don’t want to leave you alone p>
“Hey, guys,” Mac Reynolds says with a wide grin as he joins us. “Dude, go to your meeting. I’ll show these guys around. Buy Wills a jersey with my name on it p>
I lift an eyebrow. “Only if you want to lose your hand p>
“He’s so testy,” Mac says and pulls Willow in for a hug. Mac’s been here as long as I have, both of us having been drafted our rookie years and spending our whole careers in Seattle. He’s one of my best friends on the team and has met Willow many times, especially back in the day. “Hey, baby girl. You look delicious p>
“I. Will. Kill. You p>
He smirks at me over her head and then lets her go. “Are you saying your girl doesn’t look delicious p>
“Yeah, Ry?” Willow bats her eyelashes, and I snarl just as Aiden finds his tongue.
“You’re Mac Reynolds.” The kid looks starstruck.
“Guilty.” Mac holds his hand out to my boy. “And you’re Aiden. I’ve heard a lot about you. Let’s ditch this guy so we can talk about him behind his back p>
Aiden and Mac are already talking as Willow turns to me and lifts up on her toes, offering me her lips, but she’s still short as fuck.
It’s adorable.
“Have a good meeting,” she says. “And we’ll see you at the press conference in a little bit p>
Framing her face in my hands, I lower my lips to hers and gently nibble at the corner of her mouth. “I’m so glad you’re here p>
“Are you nervous?” She frowns up at me. “Ry, if you’re not ready to retire p>
“That’s not it. I’m just really glad you’re here with me today. It’s an important day. You were here in the beginning, and you’re here at the end, and I’m fucking grateful p>
Her sweet face softens as she steps into me, rests her cheek on my chest, and hugs me tight.
“There’s nowhere else I’d be. I won’t miss it. Go have your meeting p>
I press my lips to the top of her head, take a deep breath, and then step away.
“I’ll see you in a little bit p>
Willow offers me a wide smile and a wink, then hurries off to join Aiden and Mac.
Mac may give me shit, but he’ll take good care of them while I’m busy with this meeting. As I walk through the facility, fifteen years’ worth of memories swamp me. Practices. Injuries and therapy in the medical pavilion. Team meetings. Media conferences.
It was a damn good ride.
I make my way into the conference room next to the owner’s office and find everyone already here.
The ownership, led by Barry Jefferson. My coaching team. My trainers.
Everyone that helped me be a success in Seattle is in this room.
Except Andy. He wasn’t invited here.
“Cap,” Coach says, holding out his hand. They all stand for me, shake my hand, clap me on the back. Mr. Jefferson hugs me, patting me on the back.
These people are an extension of my family.
“I’m so sorry about Ray,” Mr. Jefferson says, and I nod in return.
“Thank you p>
After we take our seats, I sigh and lean on the table, folding my hands together. “I need to thank you.” My eyes move around the room. “All of you. You gave me a life that I never could have dreamed of p>
“We didn’t give you anything,” Coach says, his voice as gruff as always. “You fucking earned it, kiddo p>
I lick my lips. “I should have reached out to you all myself, rather than letting Andy handle it p>
“It’s the offseason,” Mr. Jefferson reminds me. “And you were dealing with the loss of your father p>
These guys get it, but my agent was a prick about it.
“Now,” Mr. Jefferson continues, “we would be happy to extend your contract and offer you a fuck ton of money to stay for two more years p>
I grin at him. “I appreciate that. I already have a fuck ton of money p>
He nods. “I figured you’d say that. I just didn’t want you to make a big decision like this while grieving p>
“We want to make sure you won’t regret it later,” Coach adds.
I sit back in the chair and push my fingers through my hair. I’m in my usual suit and tie, which I haven’t worn since Ray’s funeral. It’s not exactly comfortable.
“I was already considering retirement,” I admit. “Hockey is a brutal sport, and I’m thirty-five p>
“You have to hurt,” one of the trainers says with a knowing wince.
“Daily,” I confirm. “And I need to work the ranch that my father built. I need to retire before I’m so crippled up from hockey that I can’t do that anymore p>
“We’re not closing the door,” Mr. Jefferson says. “You may not play anymore, but we’ll include you in alumni games and invite you for special events. I hope you’ll consider coming. You are a part of our family p>
“I wouldn’t miss it. Thank you for including me p>
“In addition,” Mr. Jefferson continues, and I see Coach’s face droop, as if he’s sad. “We’ll be retiring your number p>
That doesn’t shock me. In fact, I’d be surprised if they didn’t do that.
But hearing the words puts an ache in my chest.
“Thank you p>
“No, thank you, for taking us to seven Stanley Cups, winning us two of those, and being a damn good example of what it is to be an elite athlete, on and off the ice. You’re extraordinary, James, and I’m fucking pissed that we’re losing you,” Mr. Jefferson says, as the rest of the room nods in agreement.
“It’s been my honor p>
I mean every fucking word.
“Let’s go to the pressroom,” Coach says as we stand. “And get this over with p>
We all file into the media room, and I’m surprised to find it’s full, with standing room only. As I look to the back, I see my entire team standing there, watching. Even guys who don’t live in Seattle during the offseason are here, and it makes the ache in my chest spread.
Christ, I’m going to miss this.
But then my eyes skim farther, and I find Willow smiling at me, tears glistening in her pretty blue eyes, and I know without a doubt that she’s where I want to be.
She’s where I need to be.
There’s commotion outside the door we just entered, and I scowl when I see Andy trying to bully his way in, so I excuse myself for a moment and walk out into the hallway.
“What the fuck,” Andy demands. “You were just going to do all this without me p>
“I don’t need you for this. There are no contracts, nothing for you to do p>
“I’ve been by your side for everything, and this is how you pay me back p>
I push the man old enough to be my father against the wall and get into his face. “I don’t owe you shit. You made a lot of money off me. What you did with it isn’t my problem. I don’t want you here today. You’ve shown me over the past couple of months exactly who you are and what you want for me, and I’m done with you, Andy p>
I turn to the security guard who was keeping him out of the media room.
“Escort him out p>
He nods and reaches for Andy’s arm, but Andy jerks it away, his face scarlet with rage as he scowls at me. “Fuck you, James p>
“You’re not my type p>
With that, I return to the room, and everyone quiets down. Mr. Jefferson gestures to the seat next to him.
Rather than standing at a podium today, we’re seated across a long table because we’re likely to be here for a while, answering questions.
“I’m going to immediately pass this over to Mr. James, so he can make his statement,” Mr. Jefferson says.
I look at Willow and clear my throat. She smiles even as she brushes a tear off her pretty cheek. God, she’s beautiful in her blue summer dress, her hair falling around her shoulders. She’s wearing makeup today, and she’s done something to make her lips glossy.
Aiden’s next to her, listening raptly, and he’s actually holding his aunt’s hand.
That’s probably one of the reasons she’s crying.
“I’ll just dive in,” I say. “I’m announcing my retirement, effective immediately p>
The room erupts with voices. Questions. And so, for the next hour, I talk about why I came to the decision I did, how much I love my team and my teammates. How it’s time for me to move on to the next thing.
When it’s time to go, I stand to leave, but someone calls out, “Ryker p>
I stop and raise an eyebrow. “Yeah p>
“No wink? Are you already forgetting how you do this p>
There are chuckles, and I give him a crooked smile before my eyes dart to my girl.
“No need to wink today,” I tell him. “She’s in the room p>
And with that, I walk out and wait for my girl to join me. She launches herself into my arms, and I hold her tight, kissing her for all I’m worth.
“Okay, lover boy,” Mac says, clapping me on the back. “Let her go for two seconds. There’s going to be a party tonight at Sport p>
I pull Aiden in for a hug, pound him on the shoulder, and then turn to Mac. “What time p>
“Seven. There will be food. Beer. The usual p>
“I’ll stay at the condo with Aiden,” Willow says, and I scowl down at her.
“Bullshit. You’re both coming with me p>
“Uh, I’m not taking my kid to a bar, not even for you, Captain p>
Mac snorts.
Aiden rolls his eyes.
I cup the back of her neck and lean in to whisper in her ear. “Call me that again in this building, around my team, and I’ll find an empty room to fuck you in. You and Aiden are coming tonight. They’ll close it down for us, and besides, it’s a restaurant. He’ll be fine. You know I won’t let anything happen to him p>
She licks her lips as I pull away.
“We don’t want to know,” Mac says to Aiden, who just shakes his head.
“So can I go?” Aiden asks, and I lift an eyebrow at my girl.
“Yeah. We’re going p>