Updated Feb 24, 2026 • ~7 min read
POV: Blair
Morning came too soon. Blair woke wrapped in Cal’s arms—perfect, safe, doomed—because today they would tell Preston. Risk everything. For love.
“You’re sure about this?” Cal asked over coffee.
“No. But I’m doing it anyway.”
“We could wait. Try harder to hide—”
“We tried. We failed. And I’m tired of living half a life. Pretending at work. Only being real in secret. That’s not sustainable.”
“So we burn it down?”
“We try honesty first. Maybe Preston will surprise us.”
Cal didn’t look convinced. Neither was Blair. But they were doing this. Together.
They arrived at the facility separately, professional and careful, one last time. Cal had morning skate, Blair had paperwork. They would meet in Preston’s office at noon—together, united, ready for whatever came.
Except Preston called Blair in early. 9 AM. Emergency meeting. Blair’s stomach dropped. He knew. Somehow he knew.
She texted Cal: Preston called me in early. Don’t worry.
His response: I’m coming with you.
No. Let me handle this. I’ll text after.
Reluctantly: Okay. But if he fires you, I’m quitting.
Don’t. Please. Let me do this my way.
Preston’s office felt like a courtroom. He was behind his desk, stern and angry. Blair sat and waited.
“I have something to show you.”
He turned his monitor and played a video. Security footage. Empty training room. Two weeks ago. Blair and Cal. Kissing. That first desperate kiss after weeks of fighting it. The kiss that had changed everything.
“This footage was flagged by security last week. Inappropriate contact between staff and player. I’ve been deciding what to do about it.”
Blair couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe. Proof. Undeniable proof.
“I wanted to give you a chance to explain. Before I make this official.”
“There’s nothing to explain. You saw it. Cal and I are in a relationship. We tried to fight it. We couldn’t. We’re in love.”
“So you’re admitting to violating team policy?”
“Yes.”
“Knowing the consequences?”
“Yes.”
“You realize I have to fire you now. This footage is proof. HR requires termination.”
Blair’s world tilted. This was real. Actually happening. She was getting fired.
“When?”
“Effective immediately. Pack your things. Security will escort you out.”
“Can I at least finish Cal’s PT? Get him through playoffs? Then I’ll leave—”
“Absolutely not. You’re done. Today. Now.”
The door slammed open. Cal stormed in.
“You’re not firing her.”
“Mr. Montgomery. This doesn’t concern—”
“Like hell it doesn’t. I’m in that footage too. You want to punish someone? Punish me.”
“Oh, I intend to. You’re benched. Effective immediately. Until further notice.”
Cal’s face went white. “You can’t bench me. Playoffs start in six weeks—”
“I can and I am. The policy is clear. Relationships result in consequences. For both parties. Blair’s fired. You’re benched. Case closed.”
“That’s insane! I’m your best player—”
“You’re also in violation of team policy. Actions have consequences.”
Blair stood. “This is my fault. Cal didn’t pursue me. I pursued him—”
“That’s a lie,” Cal interrupted. “I pursued her. If anyone should be punished—”
“Both of you, quiet. I don’t care who pursued whom. The relationship exists. The policy was violated. You’re both facing consequences.”
Preston pulled out paperwork—termination notice for Blair, suspension notice for Cal. Official. Legal. Final.
“Sign these. Then leave the building.”
Blair signed, her hand shaking, her heart breaking. Her dream job. Gone.
Cal refused. “I’m not signing. You want to bench me? Trade me. I don’t care. But I won’t pretend this is justified.”
“Sign or you’re off the team entirely. Your choice.”
Cal grabbed the pen and signed violently. “Happy now?”
“Not remotely. But policy is policy. You knew the rules. You broke them anyway.”
Security escorted Blair out—literally. Two guards walked her to her office and supervised while she packed. It was humiliating. She grabbed essentials, personal items, photos. Left the rest. Couldn’t look at it. Couldn’t process. Just packed mechanically. Numb.
Cal was waiting in the parking lot, against orders. Don’t care.
“This is bullshit. We’re suing. Wrongful termination—”
“We signed contracts. Acknowledged the policy. We have no case.”
“Then we fight another way. I’ll quit. Force their hand—”
“No. You love hockey. I won’t let you give that up.”
“I love you more.”
“Cal—”
“I mean it. Hockey without you isn’t worth it.”
Blair was crying. Full ugly sobs. Everything she’d worked for, gone, because she fell in love.
“I’m sorry. This is my fault—”
“It’s not. It’s Preston’s. The policy’s. Not yours.”
He held her while she broke, right there in the parking lot, everyone watching. They didn’t care anymore. What was left to hide? She’d already lost everything.
News spread fast. By noon, the whole team knew—Blair fired, Cal benched, for a relationship. Reactions were mixed. Some players supported them: “Preston’s being ridiculous. They’re adults.” Others agreed with the policy: “Rules exist for a reason. They knew better.”
Nash texted Cal: This is fucked. I’m sorry, man.
Cal didn’t respond. Too angry. Too hurt.
Media got the story by evening. Someone had leaked it. Headlines everywhere: SERPENTS’ STAR CAL MONTGOMERY BENCHED FOR RELATIONSHIP WITH TEAM PT. FORBIDDEN ROMANCE COSTS CAREERS: MONTGOMERY AND SUTTON VIOLATED TEAM POLICY. LOVE VS HOCKEY: CAL MONTGOMERY’S CHOICE ENDS IN DISASTER.
Blair’s phone exploded with interview requests, comments, opinions. She turned it off. Couldn’t handle it.
Sienna found her that night, crying on the couch, wine bottle half-empty.
“Oh, babe.” She sat and held her.
“I lost everything. My job. My reputation. Everything I worked for. Gone.”
“You didn’t lose everything. You have Cal.”
“Cal’s benched. Might get traded. His career’s in jeopardy because of me.”
“Because of a stupid policy. Not you.”
“Same result.”
“Is it though? You chose love. That takes courage.”
“Courage looks a lot like stupidity right now.”
Cal showed up an hour later. Sienna let him in and gave them privacy.
“How are you?” he asked.
“How do you think?”
“Stupid question. Sorry.”
He sat beside her and took her hand. “I talked to my agent. He’s looking into the policy. Seeing if there’s legal recourse.”
“There isn’t. We signed—”
“Contracts can be challenged. Policies can be unfair. We’re not giving up.”
“What if we have to? What if this is it? You benched. Me fired. No way back.”
“Then we move forward. Together. Find new teams. New jobs. New cities. I don’t care where. As long as we’re together.”
“You’d really leave Seattle? For me?”
“I’d leave hockey. For you.”
Blair was crying again. “Don’t say that. Hockey’s your life—”
“You’re my life. Hockey’s just what I do. You’re who I am.”
They made love again, desperate, clinging, affirming. Still together. Still choosing each other. Despite everything.
After, Cal said: “I don’t regret it. Any of it. Loving you. Fighting for you. Even this. I’d do it again.”
“Even knowing the cost?”
“Especially knowing the cost. Because you’re worth it.”
Blair wished she felt as certain. Right now, she felt lost. Her career in ruins. Cal’s career threatened. All because they fell in love. Was it worth it? She didn’t know. But Cal did. And maybe that was enough. For now.
That night, lying awake, Blair thought about the footage. That kiss in the training room. The kiss that had doomed them. Preston had said it was flagged last week. He’d known for seven days. Waited. Watched. Collected evidence. Then struck when it hurt most—right before playoffs. Maximum damage.
It wasn’t just enforcement. It was punishment. For defying him. For choosing love over obedience. Preston hadn’t just fired her. He’d destroyed her. Publicly. Deliberately. Cruelly. And she couldn’t even fight back because, technically, he was right. They’d violated policy. Actions have consequences. Even when those actions are love.
Sleep didn’t come. Just replays of the day. Security footage. Termination papers. Cal’s benched expression. All of it. Her fault. Her choice. Her consequences.
Tomorrow, she would figure out next steps. Find a new job. Rebuild her reputation. Move forward. But tonight? Tonight she mourned everything she’d lost, everything it had cost, everything love had demanded. And she wondered if it was worth it.
She still didn’t have an answer. Just Cal, sleeping beside her, choosing her despite everything. Maybe that was answer enough. For now.
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