Page 109 of Breakaway
Reed squeezed my hand before he stepped forward, the last of his mother’s remains in his hand. He looked out at the ocean, closing his eyes as he listened to the waves crash. Dax, Fletcher, and I stood behind him, a comforting sentry as he said his last goodbyes.
“Mom, losing you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But in some weird way, it became the best. You made me promise to keep living, to find something to care about and a purpose. And I did that. I went to Lux on a whim, hoping to appease the ghost of you I couldn’t escape. But you wouldn’t have that. First, you brought Henley into my life, having me bump into her on those stairs just when I’d thought of giving up. Then you had Reese swoop in and remind me of the power of hockey, of hope. I took the job, thinking it would at least get me out of bed and keep me in shape. Not only did it do that, but it brought me a family. A real one.”
Reed took a breath, the sound shaky as he gathered himself. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and I stepped up, wrapping my arms around him from behind. His body trembled, but he touched my hand, letting me know he was okay.
“In some ways, I’m mad at myself for waiting this long to become the man I am today. A man I wish you’d gotten to know. I have friends, brothers. I make jokes. I even have a cat. My life is full of so many things that aren’t hockey. It’s still a huge part, but it’s not the only thing anymore. I hope you’re proud of the man I’ve become, Mom. I think you would be.”
He took another deep breath, his back straightening as he composed himself.
“I’m getting married, Mom. I asked Henley with Dax and Fletch, and somehow, the crazy girl said yes.”
“Hey,” I teased, kissing his back. I could feel him chuckling against me.
“My life is moving forward, so it felt appropriate to say goodbye one last time, at the place where my next steps start, at the dawn of the new year. Thank you for being an amazing mom, Maria Cole. I love you. Now, go sprinkle your magic on some other grumpy fool.”
The four of us laughed, and if I wasn’t mistaken, I wasn’t the only one wiping my face as Reed opened the bag and let his mother’s ashes fly out to sea. We watched for a while as the ocean rose to meet them; the wind carrying them beyond until the sun fully rose.
“Come on. If we hurry, we can get into the buffet line first and get all the bacon,” I teased, taking Reed’s hand as the four of us walked back to the hotel. It was so beautiful here I could almost pinch myself, not expecting to end my year and start the next surrounded by love on the most gorgeous beaches.
But if there was one thing I’d learned this year, it was that life had a way of surprising you. I thought my life was over when Dakota leaked my video. I’d lost my career, my direction, and my hope. I had no clue what to do next, stuck in the penalty box life had placed me in. But inch by inch, I stepped out of it until I could breakaway on my own to the life I wanted.
To the heart of three incredible men.
To the belief, I could do more than hockey.
And to the acceptance of a sport that was ready for change and had just been waiting for me to step up.
Hockey would always be my first love, but it wasn’t my only any more. Nor did it define who I was.
I was Henley the hockey star, Henley the big sister, and Henley the first female coach of an elite hockey team. I was a woman in love, a loyal friend, and a force to be reckoned with. I was a girl boss, a praise lover, and sometimes a brat.
But most of all, I was me—flaws and all.
And I couldn’t wait to show the world everything I still planned to do.
The End
Read on for a glimpse into Reese’s life after Lux Brumalis.
Bonus Epilogue
REESE
Eight months later
I zipped up my last bag, swiping my bangs out of my eyes, and fixed my glasses. I plonked down onto the bed and surveyed the room, taking in the things I was leaving behind. While I’d only been in this room at the new house for a few months, it felt more like home than any other place—outside my room at Lux with Briana. That had been pretty close.
Pictures with the B&B twins, Cam, and Jack, hung on my wall, our smiling faces staring back at me. Blizzard team photos, the championship banner, and my J18 team jersey were scattered among them. Signed prints and towels from all the professional players I’d met over the year filled in the rest of the space. LED lights had been strung around the ceiling, giving them a soft glow. My desk was now empty, with only my laptop on top of it. The bookcase next to it was filled with graphic novels, Funko pops, and a mug from every city we played in this past season. It had become my thing.
Just staring around my room, happiness seeped into my bones. A year ago, I never would’ve believed this was my life, much less that I was happy. Back then, I only wanted to be seen for the person I was and the player I could be. Happiness seemed beyond my reach; I didn’t even pretend to want it.
That might sound sad, but I’d always been a realist. Growing up with Carol for a mother, one had to be. Add in the constant discomfort I felt within myself and feeling like I’d never be understood, and it was easier to focus only on hockey.
Hockey made sense: Hit the puck. Score goals. Keep the other team from winning.
The day Henley became my guardian, I hoped for the first time. From that day forward, it felt like anything was possible, especially with Henley by my side.
And this past year at Lux, she’d helped make all my dreams become a reality—friends, a team, and a future in hockey.