Page 10 of Face Off

We did a few more rounds of pad work before he removed them and we sparred. He had a few inches and about twenty pounds of muscle on me, but I was just a bit faster, so it wasn’t always a complete shut out. He’d also been boxing for years while I’d only started a couple of months ago. He didn’t take it easy on me, but I could tell he was holding back. Whenever he got a hit in, he would explain how I’d let my guard down or had focused so much on my upper body that I left my legs and back vulnerable. He was a great teacher, and after another hour, we were both exhausted.

“Thanks for this. I really needed to get out of my head and get a break from the arena.”

“No problem.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “I know what you mean. Sometimes you just need some space for yourself.”

His eyes wandered around the gym and settled on the tattooed guy again.

“Is he a friend of yours?” I asked.

Mitch flinched and shook his head. “No, we’ve talked a few times, but that’s it.”

Something seemed off between this guy and Mitch, but I didn’t say anything. I didn’t come here enough to understand the dynamics. Maybe they were rivals. Maybe he’d beaten Mitch and wouldn’t go for a rematch.

“I’m heading home.” I gathered my stuff and shoved it in my bag. “See you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, see ya.” He gave a two-finger wave, and I headed out.

When I got back to my apartment, I dropped my duffel on the ground near the door and went to the fridge, hoping I had leftovers. There were a few cartons of premade meals my assistant ordered for me. They were pre-portioned, super healthy, and what I was supposed to eat through the season, but bland chicken and steamed veggies just didn’t sound appetizing. After a grueling training session, I wanted carbs and fats with lots of protein. Pizza sounded amazing, but I’d regret it tomorrow at practice.

I glared at the black container and caved. I heated up the lackluster meal and took it to my couch. When I turned on the TV, the sports channel was already recapping the last night’s games from all leagues. Because I didn’t have enough sports in my life, the channel never changed. I wasn’t home enough to invest in streaming services or a movie collection, so I stuck with what was familiar.

I was almost done when the logo of the Denver hockey team filled half the screen.

A reporter spoke. “It’s been confirmed that the Denver organization is following in the footsteps of their neighbors in Salt Lake. The team announced this morning on their social media and in a press release that they’ve hired a new general manager and head coach, effective immediately.”

I lowered my fork and watched the faces of the new GM and coach pop up. What was happening in the league? Denver was the number one team in our division right now. Why would they make such drastic changes when things were obviously working?

“The Denver players have voiced their support of the changes, and we look forward to seeing how this affects their game starting tonight at five.” A commercial break came on, and I went back to the kitchen to rinse off my dish.

It wasn’t exactly comforting that Denver was going through similar changes, if anything, I was more confused, but it likely meant I’d get more answers. There had to be a bigger reason for all these changes, something coming from the commissioner's office.

I couldn’t think about it too much. Mitch was right, I needed to focus on myself and make sure I was giving my all to every practice and game. It wouldn’t matter what was going on with the league if I wasn’t a part of it in a few months.

5

Holly

I’d almost survived my first day. I was tempted to go check on Sadie during my lunch break, but if I got caught by her, I knew that would make things worse for both of us. Marcy hadn’t texted me again, but I took that to mean things were still going well.

Chloe told me to spend the afternoon setting up my desk, situated between Taylor and Matt and Cam. I wasn’t sure what would work best, but I organized my few items, then got on the team website to review the players with the list of who would be at the photo shoot. I knew most of them but wanted to make sure I knew all fourteen by face and name so I could direct them on Friday without stumbling over myself.

I was feeling pretty confident with all of them when my cell lit up with a new email. It was from Peter. I didn’t want to open it. Whatever it said would likely be upsetting. It always was. But I’d been waiting on an answer from him for three weeks, so I opened it.

Holly,

For the last time, I have no interest in being involved in either of your lives. Fill out the form so I can submit it to the court.

I ignored the attachment. I knew what it was. This was the fourth time he’d sent it to me. It wasn’t that I wanted his money or to stay connected to the man, I was delaying because I wanted to give him as much time as possible to reconsider.

He was giving up his parental rights. He didn’t want to be involved in Sadie’s life, ever.

She deserved so much better than him, but it wasn’t fair for him to take away her chance to know him.

Signing a paper and getting a judge to agree didn’t change the fact that he was her father. No matter how many times I told him he didn’t need to take custody, or even pay child support, he didn’t listen. I just wanted to leave that line open for the future. I was hoping that one day his mom would talk enough sense into him that he’d realize he was missing out on the unique opportunity of knowing his little girl.

I deleted the email and slid my phone away.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Taylor appeared next to my desk with a wide grin, but it disappeared when she saw my face. “Oh no. What’s wrong?”