Chapter 23

Emily's POV

"Come in," I said when I heard a knock at my office door.

"Hey Em," I dejected looking Cox said standing in the doorway. He looked like he'd been crying. A knot started to form in the pit of my stomach. Oh god, he's been cut.

"I just wanted to tell you that Herb needs to talk to you," he told me quietly, his voice sounding ready to crack.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, getting up to move closer to him.

"I don't know. He didn't tell me what he needs to see you about," he replied.

"No, I mean with you," I corrected.

"I got cut," Ralph whispered. "My flight leaves in a couple hours."

"Oh god, Ralph, I'm so sorry," I said, hugging him tightly.

"Had to happen to someone," he conceded, shrugging his shoulders.

"I'm gonna miss you most of all, Scarecrow," I whispered in his ear as I tried to hold back tears. "Are you gonna at least come to some of the games?"

"I'll try, but if not, I'll see you at the wedding," Coxie said feigning a smile. "You're gonna name the baby after me, right?"

"Well, it's a girl, but I'll make sure to figure something out," I replied, smiling back.

"I'm gonna go say goodbye to the guys, then I have to pack," he said, walking into the hallway, me following behind. "I'll give you a call when I get home. God knows the team mom has to make sure all her boys are safe."

"Damn straight you're calling me," I replied in a motherly tone. "Have a safe flight," I added, kissing his cheek.

"Emily, I need to talk to you," I heard Herb's voice call. We had stopped right in front of his semi ajar office door.

"Talk to you later," I said to Ralph before going inside.

"Emily, take a seat," Herb instructed, not looking up from his paperwork. I did as told, then he looked up. "I heard from some of the boys that you and OC are engaged."

Which boys?

"Yes, that's right," I told him.

"I thought I'd made it clear that I didn't want any player getting involved with my staff," Herb more said than asked.

"Yes, but," I started.

"You and OC broke my rule," Herb interrupted. "I can't have insubordination among my staff."

"What does that mean?" I asked, getting nervous for Jack's spot on the team.

"I'm sorry to do this, Emily, but I have to let you go," Herb stated. His eyes, his face were completely emotionless.

"What about Jack?" I inquired, afraid to know.

"His roster spot is safe, but I'll be talking to him about this, too," Herb explained.

I inwardly gave a sigh of relief. As long as Jack had nothing to worry about but a stern talking to, I could have cared less about my position on this team.

"Now, you can still come to the Madison Square Garden game," Herb said as kindly as he could.

"Thanks," I muttered. Just as I stood to leave, Herb looked at me for the first time.

"How far are you?"

"How far am I from what?" I asked confused.

"When's the baby due?"

"In about four months," I told him. "We just found out it's a girl."

"Congratulations," Herb quietly replied.

"Thanks," I said, walking out the door.

I called Jack as soon as I got home. My curiosity about whether or not Herb spoke to him yet was getting the better of me.

Twenty minutes after hanging up the phone, Jack arrived at my apartment.

"Hey babe, everything okay?" he asked, softly kissing me.

"Herb decided I was too much of a distraction to you, so he kinda sorta fired me," I explained. "I'm still allowed to go to the MSG game against the Russians, but the Olympics is up in the air."

"You can stay with my folks during the Olympics," he decided. "They won't mind."

"And your mother is going to be alright with this?" I inquired, pointing at the swollen bump that was my stomach.

"She knows already. All she said was she prefers we get married before the baby's born," Jack stated. "You've got nothing to worry about. She's not gonna douse you in holy water to absolve you of your sins."

"Good to know," I mumbled.

"Did you hear about Coxie?" he asked, doing a complete 180 on the subject.

"Yep. He looked so sad when he came to see me," I replied, my conversation with him replaying in my head.

"That had to be tough on him. I mean it's a week before the damn Games, and Herb cuts him of all guys," Jack said, starting to sound angry. He and Coxie had gotten really close over the last seven months. No one wanted to see Cox get cut. Of course they didn't want it to be themselves either.

"Herb was in the same position as Coxie was twenty years ago," I reminded him. "Hopefully he was a little empathetic for him."

"No, I could see Herb saying 'Pack your bags. See ya later,'" Jack bitterly replied.

"Baby, there's no use in getting upset of it. What's done is done. We can't change Herb's decision," I reasoned.

"I guess," he mumbled. "But it's not fair."

"Well, just be glad he didn't cut you too," I stated.

"Meaning?" he asked, bewilderment written on his face.

"Meaning Herb could have cut your ass from the team for 'involvement with the staff' like he did to me."

"So he said my spot is secure?" he asked.

"Yep, definitely secure," I replied.