Come Closer

Flashback continued.

“I got an offer to go train in Europe over the summer.” I said to James laying on his chest while he was playing with my hair.

“Are you going to go?” I could hear the concern in his voice.

“I don’t know yet, depends on this year. If we do well and win again then I will probably stay. If not then I think that a change of scenery would be good for me.”

“I don’t want you to leave.” James said almost in a whisper.

“I have to do what’s best for me and my career; out of everybody you should understand the most James.”

“I do understand but it’s just that summer is really the only time I come home during the year and I want to be with you as much as I can when I’m home.”

I sat up and turned to look at him.

“I’m not going to revolve my life around yours, I’m not just going to stay in Whitby my whole life and coach high school kids, I want to play on the national team and hopefully be on the Olympic team. I have dreams to and I need to follow them, if training in Europe is going to make me a better player then I’d be stupid not to go.” I was getting a little mad at him. “I would appreciate it if you could support me the way I support you.”

“I don’t know Meghan, if I’m away all of winter and your gone all of summer then how are we going to have a relationship when we will never get to see each other. Honestly, I have needs to…if you can’t be here with me then I might have to find someone who can be here with me and give me what I need.”

“James you sicken me.” I got up my voice getting louder. “Is this even worth it…am I even worth it?”

“Don’t you even give me that.” His voice was getting louder to. “If you weren’t worth it, I would be sleeping with girls behind your back.”

“What the hell does that mean? Why can’t you just be happy for me.” I started to pack up my stuff.

“Actually James, you are so full of yourself, thinking oh I’m a big time hockey player and I can get with whoever I want, well you aren’t getting with me anymore.”I zipped up my suitcase and walked toward the door.

“We are done.”

And I walked out the door leaving behind the man who I thought I would spend the rest of my life with.
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I knew the girls had practice this morning so I decided to meet Khloe for a late lunch so she can fill me in on the first practice they had without me. James and I have been making plans on how I am going to bring all my stuff here, getting a head start on the house selling process and hopefully land me a coaching job with one of the teams here.

“Oh. My. God” Khloe slumped onto the chair across from me. “I am begging you Meghan, please come back.” Khloe looked awful, I could tell she had not showered before we came here, her makeup all runny and just looked super over tired.

“What’s happening?” I asked looking very worried.

“I never realized the pressure you were under being captain of the team, girls were screaming at each other, Brendan was trying to keep his cool while Sara and Kim got into a screaming match about you leaving.” She was out of breath. “Everything is just one big hot mess, we need you back Meghan…I’m begging you.”

“Can I get you ladies to drink to start off?” the waitress came over.

“Vodka special…in a tall glass please.” Khloe answered. “I’ll just have a water thanks.” I told the girl.

“Khloe I can’t just come back, I have already have almost landed a job as head coach for the Pennsylvania team.”

“I just don’t know what to do about these girls, it’s like they are 12 years old, fighting and bickering. Bianca almost hit Bailey upside the head with a volleyball.” In the 20 years I have known Khloe I have never seen her like this.

“Just at least come by and talk some sense into all of them, if they won’t listen to me then they will listen to you.”
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After dinner with Khloe I drove her back to the hotel, I needed to hand in my jersey to Brendan anyway. After Khloe got out I sat in the car for a few minutes, I pulled out one of my three jerseys and stared at them.

A tear came from my eye holding it in my hand.

There have been so many great memories in this jersey, I remember last year at nationals all of us were warming up on the court floor when Brendan pulled me aside and told me that this was our moment, 5 years in a row we have won, time to do it all over again. We won nationals again that year, I had no idea then that it would be my last time competing.

I walked through the lobby and made my way up to Brendan’s room. I knocked and he came to the door right away.

“I was hoping you weren’t going to come, you will always be the captain of this team. Did you hear what happened today?” He told me to sit down.

“I went out for lunch with Khloe and she gave me a brief overview, what happened?” I looked at my former coach really worried.

“Sara and Kim almost got into a fist fight, Kim was standing up for you, Sara didn’t like that so she started bad mouthing you and Kim had enough and shoved her into the net, If Khloe and I didn’t hold them back I would have no doubt in my mind that someone would be at the hospital.”

“There is nothing I can to Brendan, I’m sure if Sara saw me again, she would do more than slap me across the face.”

“OK HOLD UP FOR A MINUTE, SHE SLAPPED YOU?” Brendan really raised his voice.

“Yeah a few days ago, I was in the bathroom with Khloe telling her that I got engaged and Sara was listening through the door, she came in told me some not nice things and I got in her face so she slapped me.”

“I’m done with her, she is getting the boot tomorrow after team dinner, I don’t put up with shit like that.”

Even though Brendan has always had a thing for me, he is still a great coach.

“Oh, I forgot.”

I pulled out my jerseys from out of my bag and handed them to him.

“Before I take these Meghan, are you sure you really want to do this? The team needs you…I need you.”

I took a step closer to him, kissed his cheek and handed him the jerseys, without saying anything I turned and walked out the door.

Notes