MOM and I stared at each other.
“I’m sorry, Rory.”
“Mom, don’t apologize. It’s been a trying few days.”
“Why would Baxter try and set up Max?”
“Dad and Baxter got into a fight. Dad wanted to bring Max onto the team, Baxter wanted Joseph. Their difference of opinion cost Baxter his promotion to assistant GM.”
“Baxter came here and asked me to put him in charge.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I signed the paperwork that put him in charge.”
“Brian is on his way here with the paperwork to reverse that.”
“Rory, I’m sorry I misjudged Max.”
I stood there, feeling helpless. “What’s the truth, mom? Dad has taken a dislike to him since he got here. And so have you.”
Her face became more pale. “It’s a long story. From the past.”
“Does it have to do with someone named Garrett?”
She flinched. “Yes.”
“Can you tell me?”
She sat down on the seat with a heavy sigh. “It was the first year we owned the team. Garrett Walter’s was our star player.”
I sat down beside her. “He played for the Wolves?”
“Yes, and he was a total cowboy. Things were different back them. The NHL was like the wild west. He was handsome and a star on the ice. But he was also wild with his partying.”
“What happened?”
“Rumor was that he wasn’t a gentleman with the ladies, but he was such a gifted hockey player, your father turned a blind eye to his antics. We didn’t have the media reporting things like they do today. It was a different time back then.”
A sickening feeling grew in my stomach. “But something else happened.”
Her lips trembled. “I was waiting for your father one night after the game. He was in meetings with the coaches. He was much more involved back then. And Garrett found me waiting. We were alone, and no one was around.”
“Mom, what happened?”
“He tried to assault me, but your father interrupted him. It was terrible. Your father didn’t want that negativity to impact the team, so we didn’t go to the police. Your Dad kicked Garrett off the team. We would have won the cup that year but with Garrett gone, we didn’t even make the playoffs. Garrett died a few years later in a drinking and driving accident.”
Holy shit.
“Oh Mom.”
She swallowed. “Max is a dead ringer for Garrett. I didn’t see it at first until that night at the ball when you mentioned Garrett. And it all came rushing back.”
“Mom, Max is not Garrett.”
“I know,” she breathed. “But he reminded me so much of him, and I was scared for you. We let that cloud our vision. Then with everything going on, it was easy to believe the worst of him.”
“I think he was my father,” Max stood in the doorway.
“What?” We both spoke at the same time.
Max came over and sat down across from us. Trouble clouded his eyes. “When I was 15, my coach told me that my playing style reminded him of Garrett Walters. I became obsessed and did everything I could to research him. My mom walked in on me watching footage of him and she became hysterical. I put two and two together after that.”
“Garrett Walter’s didn’t have any children,” Mom managed to speak.
“My mom waitressed in the restaurant at your stadium at the same time Garrett played for Vancouver.”
Holy shit.
“Hey guys, I got here as quick as I could.” Brian stood in the doorway, wearing the same clothes he was wearing yesterday. His gaze skittered between the three of us. “What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Mom recovered. “Do you have papers for me to sign?”
“Right here.”
Max stood up and moved out of the waiting room. With anxiety, I followed him.
“Wait, Max.”
He turned. Pain etched his expression. “So, now you know.”
“Know what?”
“The entire truth about who I am.”
I touched his arm. “That’s not who you are.”
“My father was not a good person.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You just heard that my father tried to assault your mom. Doesn’t that scare you?”
“The only thing that scares me about you is that you’re about to leave again.”
“Maybe I should.”
“Please don’t talk like that.”
“Everything that happened this week makes me think of my Dad. I feel like I’m paying for his sins. What if I’m like him?”
“Max, you are nothing like your dad. You are a kind, incredible man.”
His blue gaze, so vulnerable and troubled held mine. “Why do you believe I’m good?”
Emotion choked me, halting my words. “How could I not believe in your goodness? From that first fateful flight, when we thought we were dying, you took care of me. You drove across town in the middle of the night to make sure I got home from my non-existent date. When I was attacked at that Minnesota game you fought off half a dozen men to save me. You came to my defense with Baxter. You’ve encouraged me and believed in me every step of the way. You fought for Lolita and she told me what you did for her, how you supported her and helped her. I’ve listened to how you’ve tried to help your mom. You’re such a good man, Max. Better than I deserve.”
He took a deep breath. “I never want to be like him.”
“You’re nothing like him. You’re your own person. And you make me so proud.”
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me tight against him. “Rory.”
I snuggled against him, mashing my face against his chest, breathing in his clean scent. “I need you.”
Brian cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt but Rory I need you to sign the papers. And I have the other thing too.”
He meant the paperwork, reinstating Max onto the team.
I lifted my gaze to Max’s. “So, do you want to play hockey?”
He blinked. Thinking.
I repeated the question from that first fateful meeting. “The question, number 33, is do you give enough of a fuck to play for this team?”
His face broke into the most beautiful smile. “My name’s Max.”
“Okay, Logan. Do you want to play? Because we have a lot of money with your name on it, if you’re willing.”
“What about the fans?”
“Fuck the fans.”
“And your dad?”
“He’s the one who fought for you from the start.”
“I think we can win.”
“Only if you come back.”
“Will you be my girlfriend still?”
I couldn’t keep the stupid grin off my face. “Yes.”
“What about Baxter?”
“We’ll deal with him.”
“Hell yeah.”
I whooped so loud, the two nurses at the station lifted their head and gave me dirty looks.
We moved back to the waiting room.
“Where’s my mom?”
“She went to check on your dad.” Brian handed me a pen. “Sign here, sign here, sign here.”
When I finished, he handed Max some papers to sign.
“Congratulations, you’ve been reinstated as a member of the Wolves hockey team.”
Max shook his hand. “Thanks, man. For everything.”
“My pleasure.”
I handed the papers back to Brian. “Thanks for all your help.”
“Congratulations, you’re the new temporary GM of an NHL hockey team.”
Oh boy. “What happens with Baxter? Do I have to fire him tomorrow?”
“Your mom already took care of that.”
“She did?”
“She called him and gave him a rather feisty piece of her mind.”
“Way to go, mom.”
“We’ve suspended his contract as a coach and have terminated his access to the building. You can sort out the rest tomorrow.”
I must have had a stunned expression on my face because Max put his arm around me and squeezed. “You got this.”
“Take care, guys,” Brian put the papers in his portfolio. “I’m going home for a hot shower and the biggest drink imaginable.”
I pulled Brian into a quick hug. “I won’t ever forget what you did for my family.”
He grinned. “It might have been the most exciting legal week of my life.”
“Thank, Brian,” Max shook his head. “I owe you.”
Brian laughed. “Can you both stay out of trouble at least until I get home and change my clothes?”
“No more trouble,” I promised. This promise I was certain I could keep.
“I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” he winked at me, before he walked out of the room.
Max studied me. “You okay?”
“I’ve never been in charge of anything in my life.”
He smirked. “You’ve been running circles around all of us since day one.”
“Now what?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Would you think less of me if I suggested we head back to my place for some cuddles?”
I laughed. My chest felt so light and free. “You don’t do cuddles.”
“I don’t mind them.”
“Are you saying that we cuddle just for my benefit?”
“Pretty much.”
“That’s big of you.”
“I do what I can.”
“I’d love to.”
Hand in hand, we walked out. Tonight was my time. I would come back and deal with my parents in the morning.
Max squeezed my hand. “I need to go check out of my hotel and grab my stuff.”
“And I need to swing by my place and grab some clothes for work. Apparently, I’ve been unfired.”
“Baxter actually fired you?”
“He banned me from the building.”
“He banned you from the building that has your name on it?”
“I told him it was a career limiting move.”
Max laughed, and it sounded like music to my ears. My heart zinged with so much happiness, I thought it’d burst.
In the elevator, Max pressed me against the wall for some mind reeling kisses. “We might do more than cuddle.”
“I could get on board with that.”
“Let me drive you to your place.”
I pushed him away from me when the door slid open. “It’ll be faster if we meet at your place. Maximize our cuddle time.”
He reluctantly let go of my hand. “See you soon.”
