Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
No fucking way. I played my ass off, and while DeBoer is doing great, really stepping up and proving himself, I’m not done playing. I’m not done.
Coach Wilson has still been talking, but my own thoughts were so loud that I must’ve missed something because he’s staring at me like I should be saying something.
“Sorry . . . what?”
He blinks, his eyes boring into my soul. “I said I got a call about you. The Otters want you for next season. You ready for the big leagues, son?”
Ready? For the NHL? For the contract I’ve always dreamed of? With the local team that’ll keep me here where Joy is?
Abso-fucking-lutely, I am. I can feel my face stretching into a wide grin at the reality of all my dreams coming true.
“Yes, sir. I’m ready,” I finally say, thrusting my hand toward him for a shake. “Thank you, Coach. For everything.”
“I’m gonna be sad to lose you. You’re a great player, Dalton.”
Coach called me by my name. It’s a first I won’t forget.
“Thank you,” I say again, too shocked to say anything else.
I think I tell him goodbye and grab my bag, but I’m not sure. The next thing I remember is walking into Chuck’s and seeing the celebration already raging.
Joy
I look at the door again. Dalton should be here by now.
The rest of the guys arrived about twenty minutes ago, and I’ve been willing Dalton to walk through the door ever since.
“He’ll be here,” Hope tells me again.
“I know,” I insist. “I’m just excited to tell him my good news.”
“You could tell me, you know?” my sister answers. “I can keep a secret.”
She can. But I want to tell Dalton first, so I mime locking my lips and throwing away the key. But out of the side of my mouth, I say, “I’ll tell you as soon as I tell him.”
She nods, understanding.
It’s good to see her. This stretch between visits was way too long, or at least it felt like it was with everything that happened. But she would never miss the playoffs, especially with Shep playing. Thankfully, she and Ben are going to stay for a while this time. His album is in the production phase, so all the guys—and Hope—are getting a well-deserved break.
With the season wrapping up, Shep and Dalton will have a little more downtime, too, so they’re all planning some Maple Creek outings. I still have daily sports reports to do, but I’ll be with them for the weekend fun, and I’ve already introduced Rayleigh and Hope, who are becoming fast friends as well.
The guys have some fun for city-boy Ben planned too. Shepherd suggested they take him fishing on the lake, and Dalton laughed evilly, so I’m sure that’ll go well. Someone—or maybe all of them—will definitely end up overboard in the still-cold water.
“There he is,” Hope tells me, and I whirl, my eyes finding Dalton instantly across the crowd.
I run to him, weaving my way through the crowd with his mom and sister doing the same. His mom hugs him first, holding him tight and crying happily as June and I hold each other supportively. Mom hugged Shepherd the same way when he walked in. The players’ families have sacrificed so much for them to play hockey and chase their dreams, so seeing them win means everything.
And then Dalton wraps me in his arms, picking me up so that my feet dangle several inches above the ground. He buries his head into my shoulder and murmurs, “We did it, Joy. We did it.” His voice hitches, and I feel every bit of the emotion in those few words.
“You did it,” I assure him, going koala-mode and hanging on to his neck.
He pulls back, meeting my eyes. “I got the call,” he says, his dark eyes filled with excitement. “The NHL. The Otters.”
“What?” I gasp, struggling to find my footing. Literally. I wiggle until he puts me down and then grab his face in my hands, pulling him to my level. “Really?” He nods. “Oh my god, Dalton! Congratulations!”
I’m swept up in his arms again, and though I don’t think anyone could’ve heard what he said, it’s like everyone understands what’s happening. There’s a big cheer all around us, hands reaching out to pat Dalton on the shoulder and back. Some of them land on me, too, like I had anything to do with his dream coming true.
“Congratulations, Dalton!” a feminine voice says from right beside us.
I look over and see Mollie trying to wiggle up to Dalton’s side. I swear, that woman cannot take a hint. Shepherd had a meeting with the Moosette captain, Ashley, informing her that one of her teammates was causing trouble. Since then, the two groups have basically been avoiding each other, staying in completely opposite orbits, and the no-fraternization rule has actually been in effect. Not that Mollie seems to care.