Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 86826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Tanner studies me for another second before sipping his coffee. I’ve admired him since the day we acquired him from Chicago. Yes, he brings consistency to our lineup every single night, and that’s why we traded for him. But underneath all the bravado and flirting and nonstop joking is someone who genuinely cares about this organization.
He understands culture and leadership. Part of me thinks if he matures enough, one day he’ll be captain of the team, but he has some growing up to do. Guys like Tanner make teams better long before the puck drops. And that’s captain material.
“You and me both… you ready for this roadie?” he asks.
“As ready as I’m going to be.”
“That’s the spirit.” He gestures toward the runway outside. “Nothing cures January depression like Winnipeg.”
“I’ll alert the tourism board.”
He grins. “See? Morale’s already improving.”
I shake my head while we fall into step toward the boarding gate as players filter through the terminal behind us.
Grizz appears carrying a duffel bag over one shoulder while Canyon Marchand argues loudly with one of the assistant coaches about playoff seeding projections despite it still being January.
Tanner watches them and smirks. “You know what’s underrated?”
“What?”
“Team chemistry.” He nods toward the others. “It’s different this year. Loving the chem we have in the locker room.”
I glance around again, taking it all in. “Yeah,” I admit. “Me too.”
Boarding begins minutes later.
Tanner claps me on the shoulder as we head toward the plane. “Glad you see it too,” he says simply. “I think this team’s about to become a real problem for the rest of the league.”
And for the first time in the last couple weeks, I find myself believing in something, although it’s not enough hope to pull me out of my funk over Harper.
By the time I board the plane, exhaustion has settled into me.
I take my usual seat near the front and loosen my tie slightly before reaching into my coat pocket for the small orange prescription bottle I keep for flights like this. A sleeping pill, noise-canceling headphones, six hours unconscious somewhere over the Midwest.
That’s the plan.
I’m just about to put the headphones on when I lift my eyes and see Grizz boarding the plane.
“Hey, Julian,” he says.
I lift my chin in greeting. “Grizz…”
He starts to move past me but then does a double take, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You good, boss?”
“Fine.” I even attempt a smile, but it falters, causing Grizz’s eyes to narrow even further.
He looks down the aisle, head swiveling to the players boarding behind him, and then to my surprise, plops down into the seat next to me that usually is taken by one of the coaches or front office execs who might choose to travel with us. Never has a player chosen to sit next to me, not that I would rebuff such a thing.
But today, I’m not in the mood. I start to put the headphones on, secretly trying to will the sleeping pill to work quicker than the normal thirty minutes it takes.
“You don’t look good,” Grizz observes, the second player to call me out to my face.
Give the man a fuckin’ prize, I think to myself. “Yeah, well… nothing for you to be concerned about.”
I’m completely stunned when he takes the headphones from my hand. “I seem to remember a day not too long ago when I was moping around New York City and you forced me into your home, held me hostage over a Thanksgiving dinner table, then made me talk about my feelings for Daisy.” His fingers tighten around my headphones. “I think I’m going to do the same.”
His temerity irritates me, but for some reason, I don’t force him to leave. Instead, I study him. He looks different than he did a few months ago. More secure. It’s showing on the ice and clearly in his confidence in talking to the man who holds his career in his hands.
A single, unbidden thought enters my mind. Love did that to him. Or maybe being loved properly did.
“I’m glad it worked out with you and Daisy,” I tell him. It’s the truth. Even though my love life is in the toilet, I want other people to experience it. I know what it’s like to have the very best love has to offer. Everyone deserves it at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, it’s not everyone’s to keep for long.
I shake my head, wondering if the sleeping pill is already messing with me.
A beat of silence passes between us while flight attendants move through the cabin preparing for departure. Then Grizz smirks faintly. “So I hear you’ve got a pretty good thing going with your former chauffeur.”
The statement jolts me. It’s light, teasing, meant to steer the conversation into what he thinks might be a subject that I’ll be happy to talk about. He has no idea the reason I haven’t been sleeping at night is because of the woman who used to be my… well, she was becoming my everything… is what’s got me twisted up.