20. Zane

20

ZANE

"I didn't talk to any fucking?—"

The denial is halfway out of my mouth before I remember the guy from the other night.

Coach shakes his head. "I thought we were past this shit, Whitaker. I shouldn't be blindsided by something like this."

"I didn't talk to any scout," I snarl. "I'm not trying to leave the team."

The "team" in question is standing in a loose circle around mine and Coach's little show. I can only imagine what they're thinking right now.

I can only imagine what Mira is thinking. Of course, today of all days, she's sitting in the stands.

Coach Popov's neck is red and veiny. He waves a warning finger at me. "I shouldn't need to remind you that I have the footage. I saw you talking to him."

I look Coach directly in his eyes. "I talked to the scout, but I?—"

"You have some fucking nerve," he growls. "After everything this team has done for you."

"—I didn't ask to talk to him," I continue. "He showed up on his own."

Someone behind Coach laughs, but I can't tell who it is. Instead, I glance over my shoulder to where Mira was sitting. She's moved down the stands and is hovering right behind the bench, watching every second.

Coach jabs me in the chest again, forcing my attention back to him. "Scouts don't fly halfway across the country to talk to players who aren't interested. They wouldn't be here unless someone thought you were looking to switch teams."

"I'm not looking to trade! Why would I want to—" The doors open and I see Carson slip into the hallway.

And suddenly, it all makes sense.

It takes every ounce of self-control I have to stay standing here and not hunt the motherfucker down and beat him with my skates. "Someone set me up. They want it to look like I'm not committed to this team."

It's the only explanation. No one else would waste their time trying to recruit me. Not unless they'd gotten direct word that I was looking to trade.

It would make sense why the scout looked so shocked I wasn't interested.

Coach is staring at me like he's trying to burrow straight through my skull. Finally, he sighs. "I don't know if I can trust you."

His words hurt worse than he probably knows.

But Jace skates over, skidding to a stop next to me. "Coach, why would Z want to leave? Things are going well for him. He just got his kid in preschool."

"That's hard to do!" Reeves chimes in. "There are long waiting lists."

Jace nods. "He's settled here. Why would he be looking to leave?"

"I'm not looking to leave," I repeat loudly enough for everyone to hear. "It's a misunderstanding. That scout caught me after the game and wanted to chat, but I told him I wasn't interested."

"Who wouldn't be interested?" Lars, our backup goalie, shrugs. "Sorry, man, but… Changing teams comes with a pay raise. It would be weirder if you weren't interested."

There's a murmur of agreement before Davis slaps his stick against the ice. "This is bullshit. Don't pretend you all didn't read the articles talking about how much our boy was paid to come to the Angels. Who do you think is going to top that pay?"

I don't love flaunting all of the zeroes that come along with my contract, but it's a fair point. It would be a tough number for most teams to beat.

"Maybe it's not about the money," one of the rookies tosses out. "It's because you don't want Carson to be your captain."

Even when Carson isn't here, his puppets talk for him.

My molars grind together at the thought. "You're right; I don't want Carson to be captain. But I wouldn't throw away what I've built here in a tantrum. If Carson beats me out for captain, then I'll deal with it. I'm not going anywhere."

I don't know what I expect, but a nod of agreement would be nice. Maybe some thumbs up, something that lets me know my team is behind me.

But there's nothing.

No one says a word.

They don't believe me.

I don't owe anyone an explanation about my life, but I can't be at odds with the team. I probably lost out on being captain when I bailed right before a game to go track down Mira, but this goes deeper than that. If my teammates aren't behind me, I could get fucking wrecked on the ice. It's dangerous for me and bad for them.

"I'm not going anywhere!" I repeat, spinning in a slow circle. "And it has nothing at all to do with any of you."

"You sure know how to flatter me," Davis drawls.

"I love this team," I say to him and everyone else. "I have no intention of leaving. But the real reason I'm staying is because I love my kid."

On cue, Aiden peeks his head out from behind Nathan. He shakily makes his way over to me, catching himself on the legs of my teammates until his little arms are wrapped around my thigh.

I pat his head. "I love my son and he's happy here. I wouldn't take him away from his friends and his school if I didn't absolutely have to. But also, I—" The words catch in my throat, and I have to clear it. "I'm staying because I love a woman."

Mira is already walking around the stands to get closer, probably to grab Aiden from me, but she freezes between sections 108 and 109. I can see the whites of her eyes from here.

Davis whoops and Jace and Reeves clap their sticks against the ice until half the team has joined them.

Once they quiet down, I keep my eyes pinned on Mira's. "I've built a life here for myself in the last few months. There are too many things in this city that I don't want to give up, and no amount of money could pull me away."

Mira swipes at her cheeks, and Jace grabs Aiden like he knows before I do that I'm going to go to her. I skate over to Mira and she meets me at the boards.

"You're making a scene," she whispers through a laugh.

"Coach started it." I lean towards her, voice soft. "Do you believe me?"

She nods without hesitation. "Of course I do. Even before you confessed your undying love for me in way too public of a setting." She blushes. "I trust you, Zane."

Warmth spreads through my chest. "I should've told you about the scout, but it wasn't important. I didn't even catch which team he was from. I told him I wasn't interested right away."

"It's okay. It doesn't matter to me. Even if you did want to leave, I'd go with you." Mira leans close, her warm vanilla shampoo wrapping around us both. "Because I think—I'm pretty sure I—" She blows out a frustrated breath. "One truth?"

I throw an arm back to the teammates thronged behind me. "I think I'm good for today."

"I know. It's my turn." She gives me a nervous smile. "My truth is… I can see it: the future you want, the life you outlined for us. At first, I wasn't sure, but lately, I can see it. And I want it."

I'm not breathing. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." She nods. "We're a forever kind of family, Zane. I'd follow you anywhere. I love you."

Before I can stop myself, I grab Mira by the waist and haul her over the boards and onto the ice. She yelps in surprise, but the sound is lost when I kiss her.

We meld together. She's standing on her tiptoes on top of my skates, and I have every single one of her soft curves pinned against my body. In my mind, we're the only people in existence.

"There are children present!" Daniel calls, splintering the moment.

I glance over and he's leaning against the doorway, watching the spectacle with Aiden at his side.

"And me," Davis adds. "I don't want to see this, either."

Nathan snorts. "Right? I've never felt more single in my life."

Slowly, everyone devolves into either making fun of me for being a lovesick puppy or sullenly heading for the locker rooms.

I know some of the team still don't believe me, but there's nothing I can do about that right now aside from show up every day and be consistent.

Reeves skates over. "I don't want to be crude, but have you changed your mind about that sleepover? Aiden just asked if he could play with Jalen. I could take Aiden right now and keep him for tonight if you?—"

"Do it."

My hand tightens on Mira's waist. If I could get everyone out of this arena, I'd throw her down and take her right here.

"Yeah, I thought so." Reeves bites back a laugh. "I'll bring him home tomorrow morning. Late." He looks from me to Mira, who is still gazing up at my face. "Maybe after lunch. I'll text you."

Mira drops her forehead to my chest. "Everyone knows what we're about to do."

"That explains the jealous looks I'm getting."

She pokes me in the rib. "Best behavior, Whitaker. Your coach is coming."

I keep my arm around Mira, but then to face Coach. He looks stern, but his face is back to its normal shade. He sighs. "I should've checked with you before assuming the worst."

I bite back several smartass comments. "I appreciate that."

"But if you really were set up, then you need to fix it," Popov warns. "I've had enough of petty jealousy causing drama on my team."

Carson. He's had enough of Carson.

But I bite that back, too.

I nod. "I'll take care of it, Coach."

As soon as he's gone, Mira fists my jersey. "When are you planning to take care of it? Now or…?"

"Later," I growl, pulling her close. "Definitely later. Right now, I have plans."