Page 112 of The Callahan Effect

"You flew here to watch hockey and now you want me to feed you?"

"I flew here to support my best friend. The hockey was a bonus."

“You did it,“ Jack said proudly.

"We did," I insisted, because Jack had been part of everything that brought me back from the injury and onto the ice for the most important game of my college career. He hadn't scored the goals or worn the jersey, but he'd been there through the rehabilitation, the frustration, the setbacks, and every milestone that eventually returned me to the player I'd been before the accident.

Dad waited until we'd decided where to meet for dinner before drawing me slightly away from the others. His expression had changed, and I knew immediately that whatever he wanted to tell me had nothing to do with Corey's ridiculous claims about his contribution to my championship. Jack stepped to my mother’s side, leaving us alone.

"I've been sitting on something since yesterday because I wasn't about to put anything else in your head before the final."

That caught my attention.

"What?"

"The Washington Icemen called."

For several seconds I could only stare at him. Half a dozen professional teams had shown interest during the season, but Dad, as my manager, knew as well as anyone that Washington was the organization I'd been hoping to hear from.

I still had another year at Evergreen before I intended to turn professional, and I'd made that clear whenever scouts approached us, but the Icemen were different. They were the one team capable of offering me the career I'd worked toward without requiring me to build a future somewhere far away from Jack.

"What did they say?"

"They wanted you to know they're serious about you. They know you're staying at Evergreen for your final year and they're not asking you to change that, but they wanted to make their intentions clear before you start next season."

I stepped back and reached for Jack’s hand, drawing him closer.

"They actually want me?"

Dad's expression told me exactly what he thought of the question.

"You just finished as the highest scorer in college hockey after missing almost three months and made it to the Frozen Four final. Do you really think they wouldn’t show interest? They’ll be even more desperate for your answer after you scored the last goal and won the championship."

A laugh escaped me as the significance finally sank in. I'd spent months refusing to become distracted by scouts from teams I had no intention of joining, hoping the one organization I wanted would eventually show the same interest.

Jack squeezed my hand.

"So..."

I turned toward him, already knowing what he was going to see in my face.

"So it looks like Washington might be where we're headed after I finish my last year at Evergreen."

"So I'm going to Seattle?"

The words felt strangely natural.

"I take it you're happy they're interested?"

Jack's expression answered before his voice did. "You know I am."

Dad nodded. "I'll speak to them tomorrow. Nothing needs deciding now, and they know that. You've got another year at Evergreen before any of this becomes real. If everything still lines up a year from now, they could be the perfect place to start your professional career."

I turned to Jack.

"You've still got another eighteen months before you finish medical school. Six months after I begin with Washington."

"Most of my clinical rotations can be arranged around your schedule. Whenever I'm not at the hospital, I'll be wherever you are. Once I graduate we can be together."