Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“That’s because she blocked your number,” Gage says.
I spin on him in disbelief. “She what?”
“She blocked you.” His tone is casual, as if this shouldn’t come as a shock based on the way I behaved. “She moved her office across the river and is backing away from the team.”
“Jesus Christ.” I rub at the back of my neck as it tightens with stress. “She didn’t come on the road trip.”
“She went to New York. Took some time off.”
Furious jealousy blurs my vision for just a second. Did she see someone there? Has she moved on that quickly?
No. Brienne wouldn’t do that, although I wouldn’t blame her if she did.
“I want to fix this.” My head swivels between Gage and Baden. “I handled it badly, but I can’t fix it if she won’t talk to me, and I’m about ready to lose my shit.”
Baden glares at me. “You need to hold it together and get your head in the game. We play the Vengeance tonight, and the last thing I need is for you to suck against the defending Cup champions.”
“Fuck the game. I want Brienne. I need her in my life because otherwise, none of this means anything.”
Gage starts laughing, and Baden and I both look at him as if he’s nuts. He shakes his head. “Dude… you’re in love.”
“No shit,” I growl as my fists clench. “Do you think I’d be this fucked up if I weren’t?”
His laugh winds down to a chuckle. “If it makes you feel any better, she’s torn up too. Brienne tried to cut Jenna out of her life. Gave her the whole song and dance about needing to maintain a professional relationship. She was rebuilding those tough Brienne walls, but Jenna wouldn’t let her. My girl was quite the badass and refused to let Brienne hide away. Maybe you need to insist on the same.”
“Again… there’s the whole matter of her blocking me. I’d settle this if she’d just give me the time of day.”
“Looks like you’re going to have to do a face-to-face,” Gage says.
I glance at my watch. Would she still be in her office? At her home?
“Not now, jackass,” Baden grumbles. “You have a game to get ready for, and on the off chance she tells you to go fuck yourself, I don’t want that messing with your head. So tuck this away until after the game. Then go get your girl.”
Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. I know she’ll go home after the game, and she won’t be able to ignore me when I’m banging on her door.
CHAPTER 32
Brienne
With five minutes left in the game, I leave the owner’s box with Callum, and we head down to the tunnel where we can greet the team as they come off the ice. We’re up 4–0, and it looks like an assured victory over the Vengeance.
This is a huge win, especially coming off a less than successful road trip. Everyone played like they were on fire tonight, and we had the added help from what have become known as the loudest fans in the entire league.
Drake appears to be over whatever slump he was in this past week, and despite feeling like I want to burst into tears every time I think about him, I’m happy he’s got his mojo back. I know he has to be reeling with the way Crystal has reentered his life, but he seemed really settled in goal tonight.
“I want you to be prepared to talk to reporters,” Callum says as we head down in the private elevator. “The entire sports world has been watching you closely this summer, during the preseason and these first few weeks of the regular season. With the win tonight, they’ve seen enough to know that you put Pittsburgh back on the hockey map.”
“You should do the interview,” I say as the doors slide open and we step into the hallway that circles the entire basement level of the arena. “You made all the important decisions to get us here.”
“Yeah, but you’re the face of the team,” he counters with a smile. “Besides… you had a lot to do with this. We wouldn’t have Drake McGinn if it weren’t for you.”
Another stab to my heart, but I manage a tight smile. “Yes… he’s been a great addition.”
Before we reach the tunnel that leads from the ice to the hallway, Callum stops and turns to me. “Listen… I know you’ve moved offices back across the river. I hope that doesn’t mean you’re stepping away from the team.”
I clasp my hands and look down at them. It’s hard to keep my composure because my emotions are still so raw, but I have it under control when I lift my gaze and shine it up with a professional-grade grin. “The team is solid, and you and Coach West are more than capable of carrying them forward to glory. I’ve got a lot of pressing things at Norcross Holdings that need my attention. But I’m around if you need me.”