24. Ryder

As I step into my truck, the familiar scent of leather and gasoline fills my senses. The engine purrs to life beneath me, a reassuring sound that accompanies my every journey.

Five in the morning wake up calls to get on the road to the University and get my day started so that I have plenty of quality time with Chloe and Gia later. They are my priority but to be my best version of myself, I have to put in the work in the gym as well as into myself.

I turn on a Ben Newman podcast and listen to his words float through the speakers as I drive. Nothing like personal development in the morning to get the blood flowing and the motivation activated.

Chloe is with Ren this morning. Thank goodness for my sister and her willingness to help out every day so that I can get in my necessary training and my daughter can get her sleep.

As I step into the gym, the familiar sights and sounds of the hockey rink greet me. The crisp smell of ice fills the air, and I feel a surge of adrenaline course through my veins. I waste no time in getting started, heading straight for the weights to begin my warm-up.

I smile as I hear the sound of the blades on the ice, the grunts and ragged breaths of one singular player putting in the work when no one else is around.

Ethan is here every morning, even before me, doing sprints on the ice. He has a series of drills that he does on the ice every morning before he hits the weight room. He's already done a five-mile run as well.

Hard work beats talent every time, but when you have both you become unstoppable. This kid is going to be a legend.

As I lift and squat, my mind wanders to the future. My career is good. I still love the game and showing up every day, I'll continue to do it until that changes. But more than anything, I think about Gia. I can"t imagine my future without her by my side.

Slow it down there, cowboy.

She wants to take it slow. Stop trying to make things happen before they're supposed to happen.

Just as I"m about to hop on the assault bike, my Coach"s call interrupts my thoughts. I answer, and his urgent tone sends a shiver down my spine.

"Ryder, we need to talk," he says, his voice tense.

"What's up, Coach?"

"Detroit's front office called me personally late last night."

"I already turned them down."

"Why do you think they called me personally?" he chuckles.

"They really want you to reconsider their coaching offer. They're willing to sweeten the deal financially. They're also willing to give you the ability to restructure everything. They want you bad. I think it could be a great opportunity for you."

"Coach, my timeline..." I begin, but he cuts me off.

"I know, Ryder. But this could be the opportunity of a lifetime. You could go out on top, still in your prime, without risking it all on the ice."

I take a deep breath, considering his words carefully. It"s a difficult decision, one that will impact not just my career, but my future with Gia as well.

"I"m not ready to make that decision yet," I finally say. "But I"ll consider the offer."

My coach sighs, but I can hear the respect in his voice. "I understand, Ryder. Just know that whatever you decide, we support you. We want you back on the team, but we also want what"s best for you and Chloe."

"Can you tell me that you have more time with your kids as a coach than you ever did as a player?"

"I make the time at home with them count," he replies. "But no, coaching doesn't give me more freedom. It just saved me from total knee replacements at a young age."

"Thanks for your honesty."

"Of course. Think about their offer and let me know by the end of the week."

"Yes sir."

We hang up the phone. I turn my music back on and start my workout on the assault bike.

Coaching is a decision I"ll have to make carefully, weighing my options and considering what"s best for my future. But for now, all I can do is focus on the present, pushing myself to be the best athlete and father I can be.

I want more time with Chloe and more time with Gia, I don't believe coaching is an option for me at this point. I will weigh it out and see if I'm reacting with pride because I'm not ready to fully hang up my skates yet.

I continue my conditioning and see movement out of the corner of my eye. Normally, Ethan and I are in here working out together. The kid is the best of the best because he puts in more hours on honing his craft than even I do.

"Hey old man," he chuckles.

"How was the workout?"

"Still going," he grins. "Never gets old."

"I agree."

"I overheard your conversation, I wasn't eavesdropping. Detroit is offering you a chance to coach?"

"Yeah, I turned them down once, so they reached out to coach."

"You turned them down?"

"Yeah, I'm not sure if that's where I'm at in my life or if I'll ever be there."

"I get that."

"I think I always pictured myself coaching kids, not adults," I laugh. "Coaching professionally has never been a dream."

"I also get that. I'd rather give back and teach those who are still learning the game. I help out a lot at my old high school when I get the chance."

"I didn't know that."

"I move in silence a lot," he shrugs.

"I want to hate you for how good you are on the ice, how cocky you can be, but you make it really hard," I joke.

He laughs and grins back at me. "You're a lot of the reason for that. You were one of my idols when I first started playing. It always stuck with me that you served in the military while also maintaining a competitive and legendary hockey career. It's something you didn't have to do, but did. It's also something that isn't easy or normal."

Wow. I was not expecting that.

"Thanks for saying that."

He nods and quietly goes back to his workout. By the time I'm finished with all of my workouts it's time to get dressed for hockey practice.

I head to the locker room. As I take a quick shower before putting on my hockey gear my phone begins vibrating incessantly. I glance down to see that Ren has called me four times and texted as much.

Just as I'm about to call her back, she calls again.

"Ren, what's going on?"

"Ryder, Chloe is missing."

"This isn't funny, Ren."

"I'm not being funny!" she screams shrilly.

My stomach drops as I realize she's serious. I can hear the panic in her voice.

"We went to the park this morning. One minute she was on the swings playing with other kids. I was talking to some of the moms that were also there and when I turned around Chloe was gone. I've looked everywhere for her and no one saw her leave. I swear to God I didn"t take my eyes off of her for more than a couple minutes!"

"How is that possible?"

"I don't know. I don't know," she sobs.

"Did you call the cops?"

"Yes. I called Josh too when I couldn't get a hold of you."

My phone starts vibrating, and I see that Josh is now trying to call me.

"I'm on my way home. I'll call Gia and have her meet you at the park to help look."

I hang up the phone and answer Josh's call.

"Ryder," he growls in a panic."I already talked to Ren. I'm leaving the University now," I tell him as I begin throwing my clothes on in a panic. "Can you get to the park and help her look? Chloe probably just wandered off after finding a hurt animal."

"That's what I told her too. Rosa and I are on our way. I called Eric and told him what Ren told me. The dispatcher notified him of a missing child but didn't tell him who it was."

"I'm going to call Gia and have her meet you guys there. It'll be about an hour before I'm there."

"Okay. We'll find her, Ryder."

I hang up without a goodbye. Panic starts to settle in as all of the bad thoughts pour in.

"Everything okay?" Ethan asks as he sees me hurriedly getting dressed in my regular clothes.

"My daughter is missing."

"Oh shit," he says as I grab my things and race out of the locker room.

I sprint to my truck, hop in and peel out of the parking lot without a second thought. I connect to the Bluetooth and then tell Siri to call Gia.

She doesn't answer. I send her a text and then try to call her five more times in a short span, but she doesn't pick up.

"Come on, Gia. Where the fuck are you? Answer the phone."

I continue calling, but she never answers. The drive home feels like an eternity, each passing second an agonizing torture of Ren not calling to tell me Chloe is okay. My heart pounds in my chest, panic clawing at the edges of my mind.

How could she have gone missing?

My mind races with a million scenarios, each one more terrifying than the last.

I pull into the park, my eyes scanning the area frantically for any sign of Chloe. The flashing lights of police cars illuminate the area. My stomach churns as I see the determined faces of the officers, making intentional passes through the park and surrounding areas in search of my daughter.

An hour has passed since Chloe went missing and still there"s no sign of her. It doesn"t make sense. Everyone in town knows her, so how could someone just walk off with her?

Eric greets me at my truck.

"Any news?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "We"re doing everything we can, Ryder. Officers are scouring security footage from nearby businesses, hoping to catch something."

I nod, grateful for their efforts, but it"s little comfort in the face of my daughter"s disappearance. Ren is beside herself, tears streaming down her face as she apologizes profusely. I try to reassure her, but my own fears threaten to consume me.

Josh and Rosa walk over to where I'm standing with Eric and Ren.

"I can"t get a hold of Gia," he says, his voice tight with worry. "I"ve tried calling her multiple times, but she"s not answering."

"She's not answering my calls either."

"Gia always answers her phone, no matter what. The fact that she"s unreachable worries me. What if something"s happened to her too?" Josh says.

I try to push the thought from my mind, focusing instead on the task at hand. Chloe needs me now more than ever, and I"ll stop at nothing to find her. With a deep breath, I steel myself for what lies ahead, praying that we"ll find her safe and sound.