Chapter 23

Evie

I must have misheard him.

Or maybe I misunderstood.

Maybe the stench from the locker room has seeped into my ears and messed up my hearing.

Because Fraser couldn"t have possibly said what I think he said…Could he?

I"m still so in awe at the stunning sight of all these yellow roses that I need to double-check, make sure I"m not losing my mind.

"You did what now?"

"I bought you a junior hockey team." He sits down on the bench. "Let me explain."

"Please do. Start at the beginning. And talk slowly, please."

He smiles, nods, and then launches into it. "I got the idea a few months ago driving past this old stadium."

"Wait. Is this…Are we in Harbor View Arena?"

"Good guess. Yeah, we are."

"You used to train here, but it got shut down like seven, eight years ago."

"Ten, actually. I contacted the owner, and they were open to selling it."

"Right."

"So I bought it."

He says it casually, like someone might say, I bought a loaf of bread at the grocery store today.

"You…own this stadium?"

"I do. Although, the plan is to transfer ownership to you. But we"re getting ahead of ourselves."

"Ya think?"

"After securing the stadium, I moved on to the next phase of my big plan—starting a junior league team. But I didn"t want it to be just any junior league team. I wanted it to be open to all kids, regardless of their gender or physical needs."

"Oh. Wow."

"As you know, there aren"t enough girls in the game…"

"No. There aren"t."

"Well, on this team, on your team, you can change that. I haven"t named the team yet, but it"s registered in the Western States Hockey League."

"Wow. That"s a tier two league."

The most common junior hockey teams are either Tier 2 or Tier 3. The main difference between the two tiers lies in the level of competition, player development, and exposure to higher levels of play. Tier two is the higher, more advanced tier.

My mind races ahead, picturing a team composed equally of boy and girl players. How awesome would it be to see that? And who knows, maybe one day there could even be an all-girl team to take on the all-boy teams.

Fraser drops his head and takes a breath. "Then I looked into kids with different needs, both mental and physical, and unfortunately, they"re ruled out of playing in the junior league. But I wasn"t going to let that stop me."

"What did you do?"

"Well, I kept digging into it and since you own the stadium, there"s nothing to prevent you from offering training to any kids you want. You can create a program that includes everyone, including kids like Oakey."

He smiles when he mentions him, and I can tell how much it would mean to him for Oakey to be included and treated just like everyone else.

"There"s a para ice hockey junior league which provides opportunities for young athletes with disabilities to participate in competitive hockey. That could be something to look into in the future."

"That sounds amazing."

"It is. There"s a lot to do. The stadium needs work, not to mention everything involved in setting up a junior league team and getting them ready for competition. And of course, the team is going to need a coach. Someone who knows the game inside out. Someone who"s tough but has also learned to be kind. Someone who wants to make a positive difference in the world."

His eyes swing to…

"Me?"

He nods. "I realize this is a lot to take in, Evie, especially considering it"s come out of left field. This is a humongous, crazy undertaking, but if anyone can make it work, you can. You"re at risk of losing your job, and I know you don"t really want to pursue Washington. And even though you enjoy making bracelets and you could possibly start a business selling them, it doesn"t light you up from the inside the way hockey does." He lowers his head and bites his lower lip. "Nothing lights you up like hockey does."

"Well," I quirk a brow. "Maybe one thing does."

He smiles bashfully. "Was hoping you"d say that."

My gaze travels around the locker room.

I"m trying to take it all in—Fraser"s announcement, the flowers filling my vision everywhere I look—but it"s almost too much for my brain to handle.

"This is…This is definitely a wow moment," I say. "And believe me, you and me, we"ve already had a few of those."

"You"re allowed a wow," Fraser says with a soft grin on his lips.

I nod, my mind still reeling. "This might even be a double-wow moment. A possible contender for a triple—or even quadruple—wow."

He braces my shoulders, and when I stare into his eyes, all I see is love and excitement and support.

"Evie," he says. "I would never force you into doing anything you don"t want to do. The stadium is yours, and the team is yours, but only if you want them. All the paperwork and legal stuff is currently in my name in case you don"t. I didn"t want to be presumptuous or for you to feel trapped or guilted into taking this on. This is a big decision, so take all the time you need to think about it. I"ve spoken with your dad, and he"s happy to step in as interim coach, and you know, I can help out since I know a thing or two about hockey."

I create a small gap between my thumb and index finger. "You know this much."

He chuckles. "Yeah. Give or take."

I get up and start pacing the length of the room, running my fingers over the flower petals fixed to the wall.

Fraser"s right.

Nothing ignites me like hockey does.

When I was a girl, I wanted to be a coach so badly, but not seeing any representation meant that it felt like a pipedream, completely unattainable.

By the time I got to high school, that dream had been replaced by more "realistic" options like teaching or reporting.

That"s why I framed that photo of the four women I admired so much and hung it alongside my favorite players. My dream may have been over before it even began, but the photo was a small reminder, a link to a part of myself I had given up on a long time ago.

But Fraser never gave up on it.

And now…now he"s BOUGHT ME A HOCKEY TEAM!!!, and I can actually do it. I can pursue a dream I never in a million years thought I"d be able to.

Best of all, I can coach a team made up of young girls and all kids, regardless of their abilities. I can make sure every child has an opportunity to pursue their dream.

I spin around and take in the kindest, most loving, thoughtful, amazing man. I know he said I could take time to think about it, but I don"t need any. My mind is already made up.

"It"s…It"s…It"s perfect!"

"Are you sure?" He scrutinizes me intently. "Because you just it"s-ed me three times."

"Yeah, well, get ready for number four. I it"s-ed you three times because it"s a lot for me to get my mind around. This has always felt like such an unattainable thing. I didn"t even try to seriously pursue it because I put it in the same category as, like, wanting to grow up and lead the first human expedition to Mars."

"Hockey still has a long way to go, but there are some incredible women breaking through."

He lists off the names of a few women as well as the roles they currently have in the NHL. It"s impressive how seriously he"s taking this. It"s not a tokenistic gesture. He really believes in this.

He believes in me.

"And they"re only the beginning, Evie. More women can and will come through. If it"s something that you want, you can be one of those women. Women in hockey should not be in the same category as humans colonizing another planet."

I glance once more around the flower-filled locker room. With each passing second, I grow even more certain that this is what I want. "I want this. I really, really want this."

"In the absence of having something to physically give you to signify your ownership of the stadium and the team?—"

"What? This place doesn"t come with a key?"

He chuckles. "No it doesn"t. I"m going to lend you something instead."

He lifts the cuff of his dress shirt and peels a bracelet off his wrist. I recognize it instantly. It"s the one I made him all those years ago.

He hands it over to me. "I will need this back as soon as preseason games start, but I want you to have it for now."

I take it from him and throw my arms over his shoulders. He slides his hands around me, and we hug, his warm, firm body pressed against mine, the love between us so strong, so right.

When we break apart, his hands stay anchored on my waist. "Being with you has shown me that I am capable of opening up and talking more. That being closed off isn"t the only way to be. I don"t think I"ll ever be Mr. Sunshine Who Likes to Talk Everyone"s Ear Off, but thanks to you, I"m also not going to be Mr. Don"t Go Near That Angry Looking Man, either. You…you make me a better man, Evie." He brushes the backs of his fingers across my cheek. "I love you with all of my heart. And I know you"ll make this work. Take a chance and believe in yourself."

"I"ve officially reached quadruple-wow status," I breathe out because wow, has he hit the nail on the head or what. "That"s been the missing piece this whole time," I say, as a lifetime of unspoken feelings crash into me. "I"ve never fully trusted myself or my instincts. I"ve always been swayed by what I thought other people wanted me to do. Like Mom with Washington, or Margo with the story about you."

"To be clear, I"m not trying to sway you, either. Despite having bought you a stadium and a hockey team. I just want you to realize for yourself that you are brilliant, Evie. You don"t need anyone"s approval or to change any part of yourself for anyone."

"Even my love of hot food?"

He grimaces.

"Or my collection of vinyl punk albums?"

"Is it too late for me to take that last statement back?"

"Totally. You said it. It"s on the record." I smile, bring my lips to his, and murmur, "What you"ve done is beyond amazing, Fraser. I cannot tell you how much I"m looking forward to starting this next chapter of my life."

"And you"re absolutely sure?"

"I am."

I open my mouth to say something else, but the words stall in my throat. But then I think about how much Fraser has opened up to me. How hard he"s worked on himself. This incredible thing he"s done for me…

I find the courage to ask, "So what does this mean for us?"

"Well, I"ve got another season, maybe two, left in me. And then after that, I guess I"ll move back home, and if I"m reaaally lucky, the most successful coach in the junior league might put me to good use as her assistant coach."

Something he said in my bedroom all those years ago comes back to me "You"ve always wanted to coach, too."

With a shy grin, he says "I have. But I thought I lacked the people skills."

"You definitely do not lack the people skills." Then my mind processes the other implication of what he just said. "Wait. Does that mean you"re going to move back here? To Comfort Bay?"

He nods. "I"d like to, yeah."

"What about eighteen-year-old Fraser who couldn"t wait to get out of here?"

"Yeah, well, almost twenty-six-year-old Fraser has found a reason to come back."

"A reason, eh? Do I know her?"

"You do," he says, releasing a warm chuckle. "I don"t know what my post-hockey life will be like. All I know is, I want it to be with you."