Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
We check into the hotel, and then just as quickly as I drop my bag, Erika whisks me out of my room. I think she knows that if I sit, it’ll make everything worse. “We have to get to Long Island,” she says. I get into the car and see that I have a text from Manning.
Manning: Let me know you’re okay.
Me: I’m okay.
Manning: Can I do anything? Do you want to come here?
Me: No, out of town. I’ll touch base once I get back home.
Manning: I’m calling you tonight.
I don’t answer him. My phone rings, and I see it’s Miller. For the first time ever in my career, I send one of my clients to voice mail intentionally. I don’t want to do it, but how do I know he isn’t with Nico? Instead, I send Miller a text.
Me: Sorry, in a meeting. Everything okay?
I wait for him to answer, looking out the window as we drive away from the city. “How does the schedule look for tomorrow?”
“We have five kids to see all in and around New York, starting at ten, and I have already ten for Chicago two days from now.”
“Good,” I say, thinking this is what I need. I need to be buried in my work.
The phone pings, and I see it’s Miller.
Miller: Making sure you are okay. Call me when you can.
The car stops, so I put my phone away. I get out of the car and walk into the arena. The smell of ice hits me right away. This is where it starts for all the kids, I think.
I see that the team is already on the ice, and I pull open the doors that have seen better years. The long rink fills the whole room. I walk to the right where I see the metal seats right under the heaters. The smell of teenage boys hit you right away, and it smells like stinky feet and cheddar chips. I stand at the boards watching while Erika is busy on her phone. Her fingers are flying across the keyboard, the sound of the board clattering makes me look on the ice. The boys go at it. “I think you’re a little lost.” I hear a voice and look up to see Matthew Grant coming close to me. He’s dressed in jeans and a leather jacket. I’ve seen women fall over themselves to get close to him, but his eyes never wander from his wife. From what I’ve seen and heard, he is madly in love with her.
“Hello there.” I smile at him as he comes closer to me. “Fancy seeing you here.”
He laughs. “I would say the same since you are far from home.” He looks at the ice.
“I was in the neighborhood.” He laughs at my joke.
“Seriously.” He stands and looks at the players. “You really came all this way to scope out the kids?”
“I wouldn’t be the best if I didn’t do my homework.” I look at the ice. “How’s Cooper?”
He puts his hands in his pockets and I see that he is torn. “He’s doing good.”
“It’s hard,” I say, and he looks at me. “The whole growing up and them leaving the nest.”
“Do you have kids?” he asks, and I shake my head.
“Not yet,” I say, and for the first time in my life, I wonder what it would be like if I had kids. The thought knocks me on my ass. “Not anytime soon, either.” Erika walks away toward the door as her phone rings. “It also must be hard for him.” Matthew just looks at me. “Listen, it’s one thing to be good, and everyone wants you.” I look toward the ice when I hear the whistle blow. “It’s another thing to be fucking good, yet you are constantly compared to everyone in your family.”
He nods his head. “Yeah, it sucks for all the kids in the family.”
“But from what I’ve seen,” I say. “He is a good kid with a level head on his shoulders.”
“He gets that from his mother and less from me.” I smile.
“The questions he asked me when we met.” I put my hands into my pockets. “I’ve never got those questions before. All the kids cared about was the money.” He nods his head.
“I have to head out,” I say when I see Erika motion with her head. “I have another arena to go to. Say hello to Cooper for me.”
“I will,” he says, and I walk away from him.
Getting in the car, I don’t even bother with my phone. If I am needed, they know to call Erika. By the time we get to the other arena, I’m ready to call it a day.
My ass drags when I get back to my hotel room. Erika is staying in the room right next door to me. I kick off the UGG boots and crawl into the bed fully dressed, looking out the window at the office building in front of it. I don’t know how long I lie here, nor do I realize that my pillow is soaking wet from tears when I hear a soft knock on the door. My heart speeds up as I sit up, and I’m about to go the door when it opens.