“Killian Kade,” a man with a deep voice says on the other end of the line.
“Yes.”
“It’s Tyler Kane. General manager of the Flyers.”
“Uh… yeah… um, hi.” I sound like such an idiot.
What do I say to someone like Tyler Kane?
“Holy shit,” I mouth to Jade, and her eyes widen.
For the last few months, I’ve been working my ass off to get back to where I was before the accident.
Coach, Preston’s mom and my new agent, had agreed to take me on as a client. Risking my life to play hockey for Strickland University has its perks. I knew when I made all of the hard decisions over the years they would all pay off in the end. I never would have had access to famous hockey players and agents if I never played with my teammates.
A few weeks ago, I had a tryout with the Flyers, and now, I’m talking to Tyler Kane, a player I’ve idolized since I was a kid. I can’t even think straight, let alone breathe. This is surreal.
“Killian.” A woman says through the speaker. “It’s Coach. I’m here with Tyler and Alex. They’re happy with your tryout and want to sign you.”
“Hey, Killian,” Alex Parker says.
I stare at Jade in awe and hold out the phone, my entire body trembling. I’ve never been more nervous in my life.
“Who is it?” Jade mouths, eyes full with curiosity, and I mouth back that it’s Coach.
“Oh my God,” she whispers.
We’ve been waiting for this phone call for the past two weeks. I was so sure I blew the tryout and had no shot at getting into the NHL. I don’t care if it’s for a month or a day. I just want the chance to play for my favorite hockey team at least once.
Since graduation, I’ve been working for Jamie at his father’s new company on his development team for Quest for Shanaya, still holding out the hope that I would have a chance at making it pro.
“Killian, can you come down to the Wells Fargo Center?” Coach asks me.
“When?”
“Now,” she says, her tone firm. Coach is a real no-nonsense kind of woman. I’ve never met anyone like her.
“I’ll be there in ten,” I say, grabbing my keys from the coffee table.
After I hang up, I bend down to kiss Jade on the lips. “I gotta go, baby. I’m getting signed by the Flyers.”
She squeals so loud my eardrums hurt. Then, she jumps off the couch and into my arms, wrapping her arms around my neck and her legs around my back. “You did it, Killian.” She kisses my cheeks and finally my lips. “I’m so proud of you. All of your hard work paid off.”
I kiss her back, my head spinning from the feeling which spreads throughout my body. Every time I touch her, the excitement never fades. “I couldn’t have done it without you by my side. When we are together, we’re unstoppable.”
She smiles. “Who would’ve thought your injury would’ve forced both of us in the right direction?”
“Definitely not me,” I admit, setting her down on the floor. “But I gotta go, baby. Everything’s going to change after today. You. Me. Forever. We’re in this together.”
Her smile widens, no words necessary to know what she’s thinking.
From the night we met until now, Jade has saved me in more ways than I can count. I couldn’t imagine my world without her in it. She’s given me a life I never thought someone like me could have, and to think all of this started with me stealing her car and her blackmailing me. We both wanted something from each other, and from my darkness came her light creating the perfect balance.
Epilogue
Jade: Six months later
Fixing the diamond on my finger, I smile at the engagement ring Killian gave me after he received his first check from the Flyers. He didn’t waste any time proposing, almost too eager to ask me to marry him the second the money hit his bank account. Killian was so afraid it was all a dream, and that someone would take it from him, that he said he wanted to buy the most important thing first.
Sitting in the front row behind the Flyers’ bench with Coach, Killian’s agent, and Bex, who now works for Coach, I stare at the ice where the Flyers are playing the Penguins. The Penguins signed Preston Parker right out of college, and Bex is here not only as his girlfriend but also as his agent.
“Did you pick a date?” Bex nods at the ring I can’t stop playing with. It’s become such a habit over the past few months.
I shake my head. “No, not yet.”
“Because of your dad?”
I nod. “I always imagined my dad walking me down the aisle on my wedding day. I’m hoping my parents will come around, but they don’t want anything to do with me.”