Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Not only did he come in and turn the team around, but he also became my son-in-law,” Doug says, his voice full of pride. “On and off the ice, he puts one hundred percent dedication into everything. I’ve seen him scrap on the ice and end up with five stitches on his face, and the next day hold a tea party for his girls.” Everyone laughs except Matthew who shakes his head. “I knew the time would come when this moment would happen, but I knew that the Stingers wouldn’t be what they are without him.” He smiles while everyone claps. “It gives me great honor to announce today at his retirement party that the New York Stingers just signed him to be our new general manager.” There are gasps and then clapping. “I believe he has a couple of announcements himself.”
“Oh, dear lord,” Zoe says. “I swear if she is pregnant again, I’m going to die.” Karrie looks over at her and flips her the bird.
Matthew walks upon stage and shakes Doug’s hand and then gives him a hug as they exchange words.
He steps up to the microphone. “Thank you so much for that introduction.” He looks at Doug who just nods at him. “What he didn’t say was that he was also at that tea party.” Doug throws his head back and laughs along with everyone else.
“I don’t even know where to begin with this,” he says, and then he looks at Karrie. “Before accepting this position, I knew that I couldn’t do it without the support of my wife and kids.” Karrie nods at him. “I also knew that I couldn’t do it without my partner in crime.” Everyone looks at Max. “This”—and I swear he is going to say fucker, but he doesn’t—“this guy. We didn’t really start off on the right track.” Max now throws his head back and laughs. “We entered the biggest pissing contest of all pissing contests.” The crowd laughs, and Matthew leans closer to the microphone. “I won.”
“He wishes he won,” Max says.
“But I warmed up to him slowly and started trusting him on the ice and off the ice. Did you know he dated my sister right under my nose?” He points at Max who pulls Allison to him and kisses her. “She’s still my sister.” Oh, the crowd is roaring, and I swear these two can put on a comedy show. “Anyway, fast forward some years and throw in a couple of kids, and he’s family, plain and simple, and that is what the Stinger organization stands for. Family.” Everyone claps. I look over at Cooper who I swear beams with so much pride it’s bursting out of him.
“So as the new GM of the Stingers, I knew that if I had to do this job and do it well, I needed him at my back. So I am happy to introduce you to the newest scouting agent for the New York Stingers.” Everyone claps, and Max gets up and now walks on stage where they share a bro hug. “Do you want to say a few words?” Matthew asks him, and he just shakes his head no.
“Okay, so before we start this celebration, there is one last huge announcement,” Matthew says, and everyone looks around the table to see if they know what they are talking about.
“I love you.” I put my hand around Zara’s shoulder, my thumb rubbing her bare arm. “With everything I am, I love you.” She looks at me and tilts her head to the side.
“With the both of us retiring,” Matthew says, “we knew that we needed two great players to fill those big skates we are leaving behind. And we knew that we had to go big or go home.” He leans in to the mic. “So after much going back and forth, we finally agreed on the person who would fill one of those skates. Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to say that earlier today, as my first order of GM the New York Stingers, we signed Evan Richards.” I watch Zara’s face as she turns to me, and I see the tears in her eyes, and she sobs.
“You did this for me?” she asks me, putting her hand to her mouth to try to stop the sobs.
“No, I did it for us.” It’s the last thing I can say to her because everyone at the table is standing up. I lean over and kiss her lips, and then I stand, going to my father and hugging him and then to my mother who is also sobbing. I walk to the stage, but Cooper stops me and smiles big.
“Welcome to the family, son,” he says, hugging me, and I nod at him. I walk to the stage where Matthew and Max stand holding my new jersey.