6. Tom

Chapter 6

Tom

T he room buzzed around me, a hive of congratulations and chatter that felt distant, almost surreal. My name echoed through the speakers, but it was like I didn’t hear it. Liam Wolfe’s nudge brought me back to the present, forcing me to my feet.

I moved toward the stage, each step heavy with a strange reluctance. Then I saw her. Ally Reed. She stood near the back, camera in hand, looking as striking as ever. Her auburn hair framed her face, and her blue eyes—intense and full of emotions I couldn’t decipher from this distance—caught mine. For a moment, everything else faded away.

My heart tightened in my chest, a mix of longing and regret crashing over me like a tidal wave. Seeing her again after all these months stirred up emotions I’d tried to bury deep down. The memory of our night together and the unspoken feelings we shared resurfaced, mingling with the fresh ache of loss that she didn’t even know I carried. My legs felt rooted to the spot, unwilling to move forward but unable to turn back.

Devries touched my shoulder lightly and guided me onto the stage, breaking the spell. The applause swelled around me as I took my place behind the podium.

I cleared my throat; the microphone crackling as I adjusted it. My eyes swept over the crowd, trying to find a focal point that wasn’t Ally. But they kept drifting back to her, like a moth to a flame. She was everywhere and nowhere at once.

"Well, well, well," I began, forcing a grin that felt more like a grimace. "Look at all you beautiful people out here tonight."

A few chuckles rippled through the audience. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, feeling like I was on display in a zoo exhibit.

"This season," I continued, "has been one hell of a ride. Blood, sweat, and tears—ain't that right, boys?" A cheer rose from the table where my team sat, their faces beaming with pride.

My gaze darted back to Ally. She was snapping photos, her camera clicking like a metronome keeping time with my heartbeat. The sight of her made my throat dry and my words catch in my mouth.

"We pushed harder than ever before," I said, forcing myself to look away from her and into the sea of faces. "We faced challenges that would make lesser men fold. But we didn’t break; we thrived."

I paused, taking a deep breath. "You know," I said slowly, trying to regain some composure, "people often ask me what makes a great team. It ain't just skill or talent—though we got plenty of that." Another round of applause erupted.

"It's about heart," I continued, feeling the words grow heavier on my tongue. "It's about giving everything you've got and then some."

My eyes flickered back to Ally again. Her face was partially hidden behind her camera, but I could see the intensity in her eyes as she captured every moment.

"And it’s about family," I said, my voice softening despite myself. "Not just blood family, but the family you build on and off the ice."

I swallowed hard, feeling an ache in my chest that had nothing to do with hockey. Ally lowered her camera for just a second, and our eyes locked again. The air felt charged with unspoken words and unresolved feelings.

"This award," I finished awkwardly, struggling to pull myself back together, "isn’t just mine. It's ours—every player who gave his all this season."

I glanced down at my hands gripping the podium so tightly my knuckles turned white.

I cleared my throat again, forcing a smile. "So, thank you to everyone—players, staff, fans. This is for all of us. Let’s keep pushing forward."

The applause swelled, a wave of sound washing over me as I stepped back from the podium. I gave a small nod and descended the stage, each step feeling like it took a lifetime. My eyes kept drifting toward Ally, even though I tried to focus on anything else.

As I made my way through the crowd, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Kara standing there; her smile wide and determined.

"A quick interview," she said brightly. "And a few pictures?"

She gestured toward Ally, who looked just as startled as I felt. My throat tightened again, but I nodded, swallowing hard.

"Right," I managed to say.

"Great!" Kara beamed, motioning toward a small room attached to the main hall. "Right this way."

I followed her through the crowd, my heart pounding louder with each step. As we entered the smaller room, Kara positioned herself beside a backdrop that had been hastily set up for interviews.

"Thomas Morgan," she began as soon as we were in place, her voice carrying the professional enthusiasm of someone used to handling public figures. "How does it feel to receive such an esteemed award?"

I shifted uncomfortably, but tried to maintain my composure. "What the fuck do you think, Paige?" I said, keeping my answers short and to the point. "It's a fucking honor and all that shit. The team worked hard all season; this is for them."

Kara nodded, clearly fishing for something more personal. "Your coaching style is known for being particularly intense. How do you keep your players motivated?"

I glanced briefly at Ally before looking back at Kara. "It’s about setting high expectations and believing in their potential," I replied carefully. "They rise to the occasion because they know what’s at stake. I'm also not afraid to hold them accountable and be a hardass, unlike the majority of parents nowadays."

"Any plans for next season?" she asked.

I hesitated, feeling the weight of unsaid words pressing down on me. "We’ll keep pushing forward," I finally said.

Kara seemed satisfied with that answer and turned toward Ally. "All right, let’s get some photos," she said cheerfully.

Ally stepped forward hesitantly, her camera ready, but her expression guarded. Our eyes met again briefly before she raised her camera and began snapping shots.

The flashes of light felt like they were capturing more than just an image—they were freezing moments of tension and unresolved feelings in time.

Kara's enthusiasm grated on me as she directed me toward the backdrop, her smile unwavering. I tried to keep my frustration in check, but the whole situation felt like a circus. I forced a smile, but it probably looked more like a grimace.

"All right, Morgan," Kara said, positioning me with a gentle push on my shoulder. "Let's start with you standing straight, arms crossed. Show us that commanding presence."

"Fuck, Darling —"

"Come on," she insisted. "The quicker it's done, the quicker we can all go home."

I scowled, but crossed my arms over my chest, my muscles tensing under the fabric of my suit. I stared directly at the camera, trying to project authority. Ally's camera clicked rapidly, each flash feeling like an intrusion.

"Perfect," Kara chirped. "Now, let’s get one of you with your hands on your hips, looking off to the side—like you’re contemplating the next big win."

"Fucking stupid…"

I shifted my stance, placing my hands on my hips and looking away from the camera. The pose felt unnatural, forced. My jaw tightened as Ally continued snapping photos.

"Great! Now, how about a more relaxed pose? One hand in your pocket, the other resting by your side."

I complied, slipping one hand into my pocket and letting the other hang loosely. My patience was wearing thin. The clicking of Ally's camera was incessant.

Kara clapped her hands together. "Awesome! Now let’s get one last shot of you smiling—really smiling this time."

A genuine smile was the last thing I felt like giving. I tried to force one anyway, but it probably came off as a grimace. Kara's eyes sparkled with determination as she noticed my reluctance.

"C'mon, Morgan," she urged. "Think of something that makes you happy."

Happy? That was a tall order at this moment. I thought of the team’s last victory, of the adrenaline rush and the sense of accomplishment. My lips twitched into a semblance of a smile.

"Much better," Kara said approvingly. "That’s what we needed!"

I clenched my jaw again as she signaled to Ally to take the final shots. The ordeal felt endless.

"All done," Kara finally announced with a satisfied nod. "Thank you so much for your time, Coach."

I exhaled sharply, relieved that it was over.

"Wait," she said, pausing. Kara's heels clicked as she hurried away. "We need one with your trophy. I'll grab it. Be right back."

"Kara," Ally said tightly, her eyes tracking her friend as she left.

But Kara disappeared around the corner, leaving us alone.

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, feeling the awkwardness settle between us like a thick fog. Ally forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Congratulations," she said, her voice strained.

"Thanks," I replied, equally stiff.

We both started talking at the same time, then stopped abruptly. Ally blushed furiously, the color spreading down her neck and disappearing under her collar. I remembered those blushes, how far they went, and I had to stop myself from thinking about it.

"Go ahead," I said, trying to break the tension.

"No, you first," she insisted, lowering her gaze.

I cleared my throat. "How've you been?"

Her eyes flickered up to meet mine for a moment before dropping again. "I've been... okay," she said softly. "Busy with work."

"Yeah, me too," I replied lamely, cursing myself for not coming up with something better to say.

The silence stretched on, uncomfortable and heavy with unspoken words. I wanted to ask her about everything—about the time we spent together, about how she'd been coping—but now wasn't the time.

Ally's fingers fidgeted with the strap of her camera. "I didn't expect to see you here tonight," she admitted quietly. "Wait, no. I mean, of course you'd be here. More like, I didn't expect to…" She let her voice trail off.

"Same here," I said, smirking. She looked so fucking cute when she babbled. "But it's good to see you."

She looked up then, her blue eyes searching mine as if trying to read what lay beneath my guarded exterior. For a moment, it felt like we were back in my room, her room, didn’t matter; where everything had been raw and real and uncomplicated by the world outside.

"Are you..." Ally bit her lip, shaking her head. "Sorry. It's none of my business."

"What?" I asked softly, leaning in just a fraction, drawn to the vulnerability in her eyes.

"I just... I hope you're celebrating with someone," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I chuckled, the sound coming out more bitter than I'd intended. "I don't mind being alone," I said. "I fucking prefer it."

She smiled, and my heart stuttered. Damn, she was beautiful.

"I remember," she said softly, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

God, I missed her. The urge to reach out and touch her was almost overwhelming, but I kept my hands firmly at my sides. It was like a knife twisting in my chest.

Before I could say anything more, the door swung open with a bang. Nick stood there, his presence filling the room like a storm cloud. My kid looked like he’d just stepped off the set of a gritty drama—tall and broad-shouldered, with tousled hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through me. His jaw was set in that familiar stubborn line that reminded me so much of myself at his age.

"Ally," he said, his voice hardening as he took in the scene before him. "I need to talk to you." His gaze flicked between us suspiciously, narrowing as if trying to piece together an unsolved puzzle. "Unless I'm interrupting something?"

Ally stepped back instinctively, creating more space between us. Her face flushed as she fumbled with the camera strap hanging around her neck.

I stepped in front of Ally, blocking Nick’s path. “What the fuck do you need her for?”

Nick’s eyes blazed with anger. “It’s none of your goddamn business. What is this?” His gaze shifted between Ally and me, suspicion etched into every line of his face.

“Nick,” Ally said, trying to diffuse the tension. “Your father just won an award?—”

“I don’t care,” Nick snapped. “I need a favor.”

“A favor?” Ally echoed, her voice tinged with confusion.

I clenched my fists at my sides, every instinct screaming to step in, to protect her from whatever my son had planned. But I held back. The last time I intervened, things went south fast. I overdid it, lost control, and ended up arrested. Nick had a black eye, and I hadn’t seen Ally since that night. I couldn’t make the same mistake again.

Ally’s eyes flickered between us, searching for answers. “What kind of favor?”

Nick took a step closer, his expression softening just a fraction as he looked at her. “I need some photos taken for a project,” he said, his voice losing some of its edge. “It’s important. You owe me."

I forced myself to breathe evenly, to not let the anger boil over. Ally deserved better than being caught in the crossfire between us.

And what the fuck did he mean, she owed him?

“Photos?” she repeated slowly.

“Yes,” Nick said, his tone insistent but not as harsh as before. “You’re the best photographer I know.”

Ally glanced at me, uncertainty clouding her features.

"How about you leave her the fuck alone?" I growled, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

Nick's eyes blazed with a familiar defiance. "You know, Dad," he spat, "Mom always said you never cared about anyone other than yourself. And yet…" His gaze flicked to Ally, and my stomach churned. "You need to get fucked, Dad. Literally. Get. Laid. Stay away from someone half your age?—"

"Nick!" Ally snapped, stepping forward. "You can't talk to your dad this way. I know what you're doing. You wanted to cause a scene. For what? To get him to react?"

Nick glared at her, his jaw tightening. "Ally," he warned, his voice low and menacing. "You better watch what you say, okay? You owe me. If you don't want him to know?—"

"Know?" I interrupted, looking between them both, my heart pounding in my chest. "Know what?"

Nick smirked, a cruel glint in his eyes. "Why don't you ask her?"

I turned to Ally, my mind racing with questions and doubts. But before I could say anything more, I looked back at Nick, feeling the rage bubble up inside me.

"Fuck off," I said through gritted teeth.

Nick’s smirk widened into something almost feral. "You're not going to?—"

I took a step forward, cracking my knuckles menacingly. "I said fuck off, Nick."

He hesitated for a moment, then scoffed. "You wouldn't?—"

"You know I would," I said coldly, my eyes narrowing. "You think I give a shit about this?" I gestured at the room around us with disdain. "You know I don't. You either stop threatening her or I'll break your jaw."

"Your own son's jaw?" Nick challenged, but there was uncertainty in his voice now.

"Convenient," I drawled sarcastically. "You're my son when it's convenient."

Nick’s glare deepened as he looked back at Ally one last time. “I'll call you,” he muttered before storming out of the room.

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving a tense silence in his wake.

I turned to Ally, my chest heaving with barely contained fury and confusion. “What the hell was that about?”

Before she could answer, Kara walked back in with the trophy in her hands, her eyes darting between us suspiciously.

“What did I miss?” she asked brightly, oblivious to the storm that had just passed through the room.

I shook my head slightly and forced myself to calm down as much as possible, for Kara’s sake.

“Nothing,” I lied smoothly as I glanced back at Ally, whose eyes were still wide with shock and something else—something that looked like fear or regret.

“Let’s just finish this,” she muttered softly as she raised her camera again.

I nodded silently but couldn’t shake off the feeling that whatever had just happened was far from over.