Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“How’s the team looking for the season?” I ask nonchalantly, schooling my face into a placid expression of mild interest.
“Not bad,” Gage says. “A lot of guys returning, but some good trades being made.”
Now that Gage is officially a member of the coaching staff, he has insider knowledge right along with Baden.
“The goalie situation has become a problem,” Baden chimes in. Our primary goalie, Jesper Keane, got injured late in the season, and our backup, Patrik Stenlund, just couldn’t hold it together. His play was inconsistent and unreliable. He’s a perfect example of someone brought up from the minors who couldn’t handle the transition to major league hockey. “Brienne’s going to reach out to Drake again.”
“Drake McGinn?” I ask. He’s the only Drake associated with the league who is a goalie.
Not that he’s actually in the league anymore. He left last year after a major betting scandal or some shit. I can’t recall the details.
“That’s the one,” Baden says grimly. “He met with Brienne when she was actively building the new team, and things didn’t go well.”
“As evidenced by the fact he’s not on the team,” Stone says.
“What happened?” I ask.
Stone, Gage, and Baden exchange looks that are somewhere between amused and frustrated. Clearly they all know the story, and why wouldn’t they? They bonded. They shared stories and information while the season progressed. I cut myself off from all relationships, because I didn’t think I deserved them and I was mired deep inside my own fucked up head.
“Oh, it was a fucking disaster,” Baden says with a mirthless chuckle. “Brienne inadvertently insulted him by asking about his kids and how he’d care for them, and he essentially told her to fuck off. The meeting lasted less than three minutes.”
I shake my head. “Damn. So, she’s going to try again?”
“I’m thinking there will be groveling involved, but yeah… she’s going to reach out to him.”
Gage laughs. “I can’t imagine Brienne Norcross groveling to anyone.”
I smile. While I don’t have much good to say about the hockey season from my perspective, I have mad respect for the way Brienne took over the team. For knowing almost nothing about the sport, she sure has proven she has the ability to turn shit into gold.
“What about Cannon West?” I ask just as the server arrives with our salads. He sets them down before each of us. “Has he moved to Pittsburgh yet?”
“Yeah,” Gage replies, grabbing salt and pepper. “He bought a downtown condo. We’ve already had a meeting with the whole coaching staff. I think he’ll be good for getting the team to gel.”
I cut into my salad. “Man, it’s hard for me to remember you’re a coach and not a player.”
“Hard for me too sometimes,” Gage replies as he stabs a cucumber.
There’s a moment of silence as we all take bites, but it’s Stone who turns things distinctly uncomfortable for me. “Now that Gage is a coach, there’s a captain slot available.”
My head lifts, and he’s looking straight at me. Baden’s and Gage’s forks still above their plates.
I keep my tone light but dismissive. “You’d make a great captain.”
“You’d make a better one,” he replies, his tone just as light but in no way dismissive. “You’re the best choice for this team.”
“I’m not on this team,” I remind him.
“Wrong,” Gage says, and my gaze slides to him. “You’re still on the roster. You’re still drawing a salary. You promised Brienne and Callum you wouldn’t make a decision on quitting until training camp.”
Those things are all fucking true, but I’ve quit in my heart. That’s what I mean. “Nothing has changed in my mind. I’m done with hockey.”
“The fuck you are,” Stone growls. “You wouldn’t have played with us today if that were the case. You wouldn’t have taken the time to do a selfie with a young fan, and you sure as hell wouldn’t be asking how the team is shaping up or asking about Cannon West if you weren’t still tied to it.”
I set my utensils down and pick up my bourbon. I take a hefty swallow before I look around the table. “I told Gage this when he came to visit a few weeks ago, but I broke major trust with one of the players who was on the team, and the guilt is—”
“Stop,” Stone says, holding up a hand. “I don’t give a fuck what you did.”
I glance at Gage. It’s the same thing he said to me, but he holds his silence, instead picking up his fork and digging into his salad.
“But I—”
“No one’s interested,” Baden says, cutting me off. “Not our business.”
“It is when it comes to the matter of trust,” I growl, my gaze moving back and forth among the men. “You know what a team is. We’re family. We’re brothers. And I—”
“Stop,” Stone orders again. “No matter what comes out of your mouth, no one cares. It’s in the past. It’s over. It doesn’t involve us. It’s not who you are.”