Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 54710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Templeton was intended to be the team’s main practice facility, but Noel likes practicing on the home ice. Both the arena and Templeton have weight rooms and training facilities.
Some of the kids are already there, even though the event doesn’t start until eleven a.m. One of them runs up to Noel and throws her arms around him, her head barely clearing his waist.
After the hug, he squats down so he’s at eye level with her, his intimidating scowl replaced with a warm smile. Whatever he says to her makes her light up.
I shoot a few photos, checking them out on my camera screen when someone says, “Hey, Jules.”
It’s Isaac, who walks over and hugs me.
“Hey, hi.”
“How’s it going?”
“Good, thanks.”
His gaze moves down my body as he takes in my dark-gray pants and jacket. I’m wearing a light-blue cami under the jacket and black heels.
“You look nice,” he says.
“Moss!”
We both turn toward the deep, booming voice. It’s Noel, who’s scowling at Isaac and waving him over.
Isaac grins at me. “Gotta go. Catch you later.”
I watch as he approaches Noel, who chews on him. I can’t hear what he’s saying, and I fight my urge to move closer so I can.
I remind myself yet again that I’m a professional. I have work to do.
CHAPTER FIVE
Noel
The sunrise is still hours away, and I’ve already had it with today. My alarm went off at three a.m. for a road trip. And when I walked into my kitchen, there was water all over the floor from an apparent dishwasher leak. And then I saw the text waiting for me from my son Chase.
I left a message with someone from the front office to get a plumber over to my house today, and now that I’m finally in my plane seat, I can text Chase back.
I read his text to me again.
Chase: I’m over it. We shouldn’t be practicing in the offseason. I want to have fun, it’s my senior year. Mom doesn’t care if I quit.
I type out a response, trying not to blow a gasket over him wanting to quit basketball. He’s worked hard since he was five years old, and he’s going to be able to play college ball. But not if he quits before his senior high school season even starts.
Noel: Winning teams practice year-round. That’s nothing new for the program. You don’t have a job and there’s plenty of time for fun. Get your ass into that weight room. And what the hell are you doing texting me at 1:41 am on a school night?
I put my phone in my bag on the seat next to me, knowing Chase won’t get the message for several hours. Co-parenting is the cherry on top of the shit sundae that is divorce. My daughter Chloe had to fax a school permission slip to the front office the other day because Angie’s on a boat in the Keys with her boyfriend, and she doesn’t have phone access. I don’t like the kids being home alone for so long, even though they’re teenagers.
It’s time to have a tough conversation with Nick Simmons about him not making the roster. I’m usually all business about those, but this one’s bothering me. I hate to cut such a hard worker, but it has to be done. He’s only nineteen, so I’m not telling him not ever, I’m telling him not yet.
After this road trip, I’ll do all three conversations on the same day, but his will be the hardest.
I get on my phone and open Dropbox, going to the folder where our film coordinator, Jax, left videos for everyone to review. I sit in the back of the plane on flights, either sleeping or watching film. When I get in my bag to find my reading glasses, I catch a glimpse of Jules walking down the center aisle of the plane. She’s wearing another suit, this one black with a silky royal-blue V-neck beneath the jacket. Her makeup is perfect, as always, and her long hair is done in an elegant knot at the nape of her neck.
I shouldn’t be looking at her so long, but I can’t make myself look away. She greets every player with a smile or a nod, stopping about midway down the aisle.
Isaac is standing, giving her that shit-eating grin. She smiles back and shakes her head. He reaches for her carry-on bag. When she pinches her brows together in a look of concern, I know exactly what’s up.
I get my phone and text Talia.
Noel: Get Jules to sit with you.
“Jules!” Talia calls out, standing up from a few rows in front of me. “I saved you a seat.”
Jules gets her bag back from Isaac, who isn’t smiling anymore. That fucker knows better than to try to get a staffer into his bed. But I don’t have much room to complain since my own daughter is a staffer who’s in a relationship with a player.