Kiss Me Captain (Emily and Maddie) novel Chapter 66

[Maddie’s POV]

Monday morning finds me standing outside Coach’s office like a condemned prisoner waiting for execution, except I’m the one who scheduled the appointment.

My stomach’s doing Olympic-level gymnastics, which is ironic considering I’m a figure skater whose career might be ending before I even get to attempt Olympic-level anything. I knock. Coach’s voice calls out: “Come in.”

The office is exactly as intimidating as it’s always been—awards lining every available surface, photographs of past champions staring down at me like judgmental ancestors. Coach looks up from her desk, her expression unreadable. She gestures to the chair across from her, and I sit before my knees give out entirely.

“Thanks for meeting with me,” I start, my voice coming out steadier than I feel. Which is saying something, because internally I’m approximately three seconds from completely falling apart.

“Of course.” Coach sets down her pen, giving me her full attention. Which somehow makes this exponentially worse. “What’s going on, Maddie? Your text said it was urgent.”

I take a breath and then another one. A third for good measure. “I came out to my parents this weekend. Told them I’m gay and that Emily and I are together.”

Coach’s expression doesn’t change. She just nods once, like I’ve confirmed something she already suspected. “How did they react?”

“My father gave me an ultimatum.” The words taste bitter. “He said I need to choose between my family and my ‘lifestyle.’ He threatened to cut off financial support if I don’t break up with Emily and, quote, come to my senses.”

Coach leans back in her chair, and I brace myself for the inevitable disappointment. For her to say she’s sorry but there’s nothing she can do, that family issues are personal matters, that I need to figure this out on my own.

Instead, after a long moment, she says: “I’m not going to let you quit because your father is a bigot.”

I blink. Process those words. Try to reconcile them with every possible scenario I’d imagined for this conversation. “What?”

“You heard me.” Coach’s voice is firm, unyielding in that way that makes her such an effective coach. “I’ve been coaching for twenty years, Maddie. I’ve seen talented skaters forced out because their parents couldn’t accept them. I won’t let it happen on my team.”

My throat tightens. “I don’t understand. I might not be able to afford—”

“There are options.” Coach interrupts, already pulling out a folder from her desk drawer like she’s been preparing for this exact conversation. “Additional scholarships, emergency funds, program resources. The university has financial aid specifically for situations like this. I’ll work with the financial aid office to figure something out.”

I stare at her, completely overwhelmed. This is so far from what I expected that my brain hasn’t caught up yet. “But why would you do this? Why go through all that trouble for me?”

Coach meets my eyes directly, and her expression softens just slightly. “Because you’re one of the best skaters I’ve ever coached. You have a real shot at nationals, maybe even beyond. And because what your father’s doing is wrong. I won’t be complicit in it by standing by and letting talent walk away because of bigotry.”

The tears I’ve been fighting all morning finally break free. I swipe at them frantically, trying to maintain some shred of dignity. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything.” Coach slides a tissue box across the desk. “Just keep skating. Keep fighting. That’s what you need to do.”

After leaving Coach’s office, I feel something I haven’t felt since Saturday afternoon at that park—hope. It’s tiny, fragile, but it’s there. Maybe I can still skate. Maybe I don’t have to give up everything.

I pull out my phone and text Emily: Coach is helping me find emergency funding. I might not have to quit.

Her response comes before I’ve even put my phone back in my pocket: THAT’S AMAZING! I knew she’d come through. See you after PT?

Me: Yeah. See you then.

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