Chapter 41 Sitting in the locker room alone wasn't on my docket for tonight's game, but here I am. I feel like I'm three years old and in time out, but I'm a grown ass man wearing a suit that cost me thousands of dollars. My hand isn't in shape to play...but I'm pretty sure Mitch wouldn't have let me play, anyway. My brother-in-law's angry lecture from earlier is still running through my mind on repeat, causing my shoulders to inch up to my ears. Mitch has been a father figure to me since I was twelve years old, but he's never, ever yelled at me like that. Sure, over the years he's raised his voice. But he's never yelled. And worse-way worse-was when he was done shouting at me and stood to leave, he paused by the door to his office and looked back at me before exiting. The expression of pure disappointment on his face was something I will never, ever forget. After that, I spent the afternoon with the team doctor getting an X-ray for my hand. Thankfully, I didn't break anything, but it hurts like a son of a bitch. My team just started the third period, and I'm sitting in front of my cubby with my elbows resting on my knees. I stare down at my wrapped hand that's still throbbing with the proof of my outburst earlier. Guilt coils through my body, creating a tension in my limbs that's hard to shake. The desire to protect the girl I love was my undoing. My failure that I have to deal with. I can't even bring myself to check the score of the game. What if they're losing? During the break when everyone filed into the locker room, the game was tied two to two, and Mitch was pissed at Penn for racking up two penalties, so I can imagine he's been getting into it with Chad-dick. And I'm not there to have his back. And then there's Ally. I don't even know how to look her in the face again, let alone speak to her. She's tried calling me twenty times today, but I can't bring myself to face her yet, which is just making me feel even worse. I have no idea if she's even out there watching the game right now. But dealing with Mitch's disappointment was hard enough, and I'm not sure I can take it from Ally too. I ruined the whole weekend we'd planned, something she's been looking forward to for weeks. I missed meeting her parents and going to lunch with them. They probably hate me and are warning their daughter against me. I groan, allowing my head to fall into my hands, which hurts like hell and makes me wince in pain. My head pops back up when I hear the locker room door swing open. A man strides inside, and I straighten up in surprise when I see it's Carter Callahan-Ally's dad. This isn't how we were supposed to meet. I was supposed to charm him over lunch and then impress him when I played tonight. Maybe even score a goal or two. Be the hero...not the asshole sitting in the locker room alone, licking his wounds. He walks over and stops right in front of me, then takes a seat beside me on the long bench. "How'd you get back here?" The question slips from my mouth before I can take it back. That's great, Noah...piss him off even more by acting like a dick. He huffs a laugh through his nose. "Perks of being famous. I know people." Carter smirks, then leans in like he's telling me a secret. "And one of those people happens to be Coach Slater." I nod, noticing Carter is completely relaxed and even smiling at me. Wait, why isn't he pissed? Where's his look of dismay? I'm surprised again when Carter reaches his hand out-his left hand. I falter, looking down at my injured right hand before finally reaching out with my left hand and shaking his awkwardly. "I'm Carter," he says-as if I don't already know. "It's really nice to meet you, Noah." "Um, nice to meet you, too, sir," I say back, sounding robotic. Carter removes his hand from mine and sets it on my shoulder in a friendly gesture. "You can relax, son. I'm not here to lecture you." My eyebrows shoot up. "Really? Why not?" "Well, first, I'd be a hypocrite for lecturing you about protecting Allegra when I got in trouble for doing the same damn thing over her mom years ago." My shoulders relax slightly for the first time all day. "What happened?" He shrugs one shoulder. "Allegra's biological father was running his mouth about the woman I love, so I punched his lights out." Carter levels me with a serious stare. "The media went wild, spewing lies about how I was violent and unhinged. My reputation was in tatters, and it almost ruined my career. But I didn't have a single regret. You know why?" I swallow. "Why?" "Because the way I see it, it's okay to protect those you love, at any cost. There's no shame in what you did, Noah. Hell, I would have done the same thing had I known what that asshole put my daughter through." He releases a breath. "I know Coach Anderson gave you quite the run down earlier, but he doesn't know the whole story yet. I don't know your brother-in-law, but I have a pretty good feeling he wouldn't hesitate to punch someone who threatened his wife or his girls. Do you agree?" He quirks one eyebrow, his eyes twinkling. A shaky laugh escapes me. "Yeah, I agree." Mitch would absolutely annihilate anyone who hurt Andie or the girls. Carter claps his hand on my back. "Don't be too hard on yourself. And thank you for looking out for Allegra. It's clear she adores you, and you have no idea how much easier Lana Mae and I can rest now knowing she has you on her side." I blink, trying to clear the haze from my eyes. It's probably dust or something, definitely not tears. "So, you guys don't hate me?" His head falls back with a booming laugh that fills the locker room and eases the tension that has made my limbs feel like heavy tree trunks all day. "I'd only dislike you if you hadn't taught that creep a lesson." A smile tugs at my mouth. "Sorry for ruining your visit this weekend." "Don't be. We're extending our time here a bit, actually. We wanted to spend more time with Allegra. And you." An easy grin spreads across my face. I find myself genuinely looking forward to their time here-but then, Ally and her twenty missed calls pops in my head and my smile falls. Panic builds in my chest at the shameful reminder that I've been avoiding my girlfriend all day-if she still even wants to be my girlfriend after the way I've acted. "Is Ally okay?" I blurt. "Is she here?" Carter smiles. "She's right outside. And she's waiting not-so-patiently to talk to you. I pulled the dad card and told her I wanted to have a word with you first." I shoot to my feet, and Carter stands, too. "Thank you," I tell him, extending my good hand once more. "I respect the hell out of you for what you did today," he says with a firm shake, then strides out of the room. I stand there, staring at the door for a moment until it opens again and Ally slips inside. She's wearing black leggings and a jersey...not a Lions jersey, but my lucky Arlington U jersey. Hope soars in my heart at the sight of her, until I notice that her eyes are red-rimmed like she's been crying all day. That's all it takes for me to rush to her and pull her into my arms. "Baby," I whisper, my voice cracking as she sinks against me. I hold her tightly to me, filled with regret. "I'm so sorry." "You better be apologizing for ignoring me all day and not for knocking Tyler out," she says, her voice muffled against my suit jacket. I pull back to look at her, cupping her face with my uninjured hand as she looks up at me with fiery brown eyes. "I'm sorry for both." I squeeze my eyes shut, shaking my head. "I just saw him hovering over you, and something came over me...the thought of someone hurting you, Ally-it's too much. I love you too much to let anyone ever hurt you again." Her hands come up to my face, gently guiding my eyes back to hers, which are now soft and twinkling. "I love you too, Noah Downsby. You're the best man I've ever met. And thank you," she pauses, one lonesome tear trailing down her cheek. "For protecting me. I've never been so glad to see anyone as when I saw you furiously moving toward me in that hallway earlier." For the first time all day, maybe for the first time in my life, I feel completely whole and content. Her words are like a hug to my soul. A soul that I didn't realize was lonely until I met her. "Always," I whisper before leaning in and taking her mouth with mine. The kiss is soft and gentle, achingly tender. I lean away just enough to rub the tip of my nose along hers. "I love you so damn much." "I need you to promise me you won't hide away from me again. Through the good and the bad, we're here for each other. We'll love each other through it all, okay?" "I promise." I swallow the emotion welling in my throat, unsure what on earth I did to deserve this woman in my arms. "You come first, no matter what. I'm all in." "My Noah," she responds, her voice filled with so much love, so much emotion, that I feel it in my chest. She removes her hands from my face, looping them around my waist and hugging me. "The Lions are kicking the Fire Cats' asses, by the way," Ally whispers against my chest. My eyes widen in a glance toward the clock hung across the room. The guys will be coming in here any moment and stripping. "You need to get out of here before you see a bunch of naked hockey players." She chuckles, reluctantly releasing me and taking a step toward the door. "One hockey player is more than enough for me." I smile. "I'll be out soon, okay?" "Take your time." She nods and eases through the door, and I watch her go, filled with more hope than I've felt in a long time. I rush to check the score on my phone and sure enough, the Lions just won five to two, with Penn scoring one of those goals. A moment later my teammates file inside, everyone yelling and talking at once, on a high from their win. Penn is beaming and stalks toward me, lifting his hand for a high five. "Did you kick Weatherby's ass?" I ask him. It's the first time I've seen my best friend since what went down this morning, and I'm unsure how he's feeling about what happened. Penn nods. "You know I did." "I'm sorry I wasn't out there with you," I say. Instead of responding, he pulls me into a hug. Not one of those bro-hugs where we slap each other on the back, but an actual hug-even though a room full of hockey players are watching. Some of them start jeering, but Penn doesn't appear to notice, or care. "I heard what happened to Ally," he says in a low voice so only I can hear. "And you don't have a damn thing to be sorry about, Downsby. If I'd known, I would have been right behind you, ready to do some damage." "Thank you," I tell him as we break apart. Penn thumps my back before moving away, and I'm startled to notice Sandine has been standing right behind us. I brace myself for a comment about how reckless I am, and how it must be nice to behave however I want since my brother-in-law is the coach...but instead, he comes to stand right in front me and says, "I thought you were a sissy until I saw you punch some jerk out today. No idea why, but Fisher said he deserved it...so good for you, kid." He gives me a playful push. "Maybe you're not so bad after all." And with that, he crosses the room and slumps down in front of his cubby like that was totally normal. Penn looks at me and shrugs. I take a seat next to my friend and feel light...like all is finally right in my world. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!