Total pages in book: 11
Estimated words: 9744 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 49(@200wpm)___ 39(@250wpm)___ 32(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 9744 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 49(@200wpm)___ 39(@250wpm)___ 32(@300wpm)
I feel the side of my mouth quirk up. “Did he?”
He nods, our noses rubbing against each other. “He did, and I called. They want me to come in tomorrow.”
My lips turn up. “Are you going to take it if they offer it?”
His eyes sparkle as he holds my gaze. “I couldn’t say no if I tried. I always want to be where you are.”
I kiss his top lip, so excited.
“I want to do this together.”
“As a team.”
He nods. “The best team.”
We kiss again, and I’m so overwhelmed with emotion. Together, we can do so much. We’ve already proven that, but no one is ready for what is about to come from us. We may not know what Dawson or Louis will choose to do, but no matter what, Team Sinclair will always succeed.
Because we have each other.
CHAPTER 6
A New Barn for the Sinclairs
Dawson
I stand beside my dad, his arm around my neck and mine around his waist. My mom is beside him with Louis tucked up next to her as we smile for the camera. Bellevue wanted family shots of us for the announcement of my parents’ new coaching positions. As a hockey family, we are all in skates on the ice, with Louis and me holding sticks. My mom is stunning, with her long blondish-brown hair in curls along her shoulders and wearing her teal Bellevue Bullies tee from when she was a student here. Dad has on one of his original logo shirts too, while Louis and I got new ones with the new Bullies logos.
It’s funny how quickly everything changed.
I thought for sure my dad was done with hockey. I was really worried for him and thought he wouldn’t bounce back. He loves hockey, as do I, but I saw him moving on and being a stay-at-home dad because he wouldn’t know what else to do. I should have known better. Like my grandma said, we all knew he couldn’t sit still for long. I’m not upset, though; I want this for him. He belongs on the ice, and it’s gonna be cool watching him coach along with my mom. They’re both so savvy when it comes to hockey and incredibly smart. Just as they’ve raised Louis and me to do big things, they’re gonna teach a lot of other people’s kids the same.
I’m excited for them.
The only problem is…now I feel even more pressure.
I’ve been playing hockey since I was able to put on skates. I’m pretty sure I skated before I walked. At least, that’s the running joke my dad tells. I love hockey, I do, but there is something about throwing a football that does it for me. I mean, hockey and football are so different, but I love them both. I enjoy the rush of getting a ball out of my hands before getting sacked, but I also love slamming into guys on the ice and scoring a huge, game-winning goal. I love it all. But now that my parents are both coaching for Bellevue, I feel as if I have to play hockey. I have to make them proud in the sport they love, but I don’t know if I love it like they do.
Thankfully, we’re done taking pictures pretty quickly, but before we can leave the ice, my mom asks, “Who wants to play?”
Louis jumps in excitement. “I’m on Mom’s team.”
Dad and I laugh, and I say, “Oh, you’re going down.”
Mom snorts. “Bring it, but don’t hit Dad. Especially not in his head.”
Dad gives her a dry look that she laughs at before kissing him on the lips. Louis complains as they kiss, but I don’t mind it. Most parents don’t show their love for each other, but ours do. Not only to each other, but to us.
While I love to play with my parents, I also hate it because as soon as we start, it turns into one-on-one between them. Louis and I are basically just passers at this point because my parents are beyond competitive. The story is that’s how they fell in love.
Playing hockey.
So how can I choose football with that shadow looming over me? It’s my legacy—to play and succeed just like they have. Not many people can say their moms played in the NHL, but I can. My parents have also won Olympic hockey medals. The weight of all that is so damn heavy. Do I turn my back on my family tradition? Do I follow my heart? I don’t know. But as I watch my dad lift my mom while she laughs after scoring on him, I do know they’ll always love me. That should make the decision easier, but it doesn’t. Instead of dwelling on that, though, I join in on the laughter with my family when we all fall to the ice.
As the ice melts against my skin, I look up into the rafters of the Bullies’ arena, seeing my mom’s and dad’s numbers up there. A grin pulls at my lips as pride fills me completely. I want to be up there with my parents, I want to be a part of the Sinclair legacy, and I want to make them proud. When my dad smacks his hand playfully into my chest, I look over at him as he laughs, his face so happy and full of love.