Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
But hearing the words puts an ache in my chest.
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you, for taking us to seven Stanley Cups, winning us two of those, and being a damn good example of what it is to be an elite athlete, on and off the ice. You’re extraordinary, James, and I’m fucking pissed that we’re losing you,” Mr. Jefferson says, as the rest of the room nods in agreement.
“It’s been my honor.”
I mean every fucking word.
“Let’s go to the pressroom,” Coach says as we stand. “And get this over with.”
We all file into the media room, and I’m surprised to find it’s full, with standing room only. As I look to the back, I see my entire team standing there, watching. Even guys who don’t live in Seattle during the offseason are here, and it makes the ache in my chest spread.
Christ, I’m going to miss this.
But then my eyes skim farther, and I find Willow smiling at me, tears glistening in her pretty blue eyes, and I know without a doubt that she’s where I want to be.
She’s where I need to be.
There’s commotion outside the door we just entered, and I scowl when I see Andy trying to bully his way in, so I excuse myself for a moment and walk out into the hallway.
“What the fuck,” Andy demands. “You were just going to do all this without me?”
“I don’t need you for this. There are no contracts, nothing for you to do.”
“I’ve been by your side for everything, and this is how you pay me back?”
I push the man old enough to be my father against the wall and get into his face. “I don’t owe you shit. You made a lot of money off me. What you did with it isn’t my problem. I don’t want you here today. You’ve shown me over the past couple of months exactly who you are and what you want for me, and I’m done with you, Andy.”
I turn to the security guard who was keeping him out of the media room.
“Escort him out.”
He nods and reaches for Andy’s arm, but Andy jerks it away, his face scarlet with rage as he scowls at me. “Fuck you, James.”
“You’re not my type.”
With that, I return to the room, and everyone quiets down. Mr. Jefferson gestures to the seat next to him.
Rather than standing at a podium today, we’re seated across a long table because we’re likely to be here for a while, answering questions.
“I’m going to immediately pass this over to Mr. James, so he can make his statement,” Mr. Jefferson says.
I look at Willow and clear my throat. She smiles even as she brushes a tear off her pretty cheek. God, she’s beautiful in her blue summer dress, her hair falling around her shoulders. She’s wearing makeup today, and she’s done something to make her lips glossy.
Aiden’s next to her, listening raptly, and he’s actually holding his aunt’s hand.
That’s probably one of the reasons she’s crying.
“I’ll just dive in,” I say. “I’m announcing my retirement, effective immediately.”
The room erupts with voices. Questions. And so, for the next hour, I talk about why I came to the decision I did, how much I love my team and my teammates. How it’s time for me to move on to the next thing.
When it’s time to go, I stand to leave, but someone calls out, “Ryker!”
I stop and raise an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“No wink? Are you already forgetting how you do this?”
There are chuckles, and I give him a crooked smile before my eyes dart to my girl.
“No need to wink today,” I tell him. “She’s in the room.”
And with that, I walk out and wait for my girl to join me. She launches herself into my arms, and I hold her tight, kissing her for all I’m worth.
“Okay, lover boy,” Mac says, clapping me on the back. “Let her go for two seconds. There’s going to be a party tonight at Sport.”
I pull Aiden in for a hug, pound him on the shoulder, and then turn to Mac. “What time?”
“Seven. There will be food. Beer. The usual.”
“I’ll stay at the condo with Aiden,” Willow says, and I scowl down at her.
“Bullshit. You’re both coming with me.”
“Uh, I’m not taking my kid to a bar, not even for you, Captain.”
Mac snorts.
Aiden rolls his eyes.
I cup the back of her neck and lean in to whisper in her ear. “Call me that again in this building, around my team, and I’ll find an empty room to fuck you in. You and Aiden are coming tonight. They’ll close it down for us, and besides, it’s a restaurant. He’ll be fine. You know I won’t let anything happen to him.”
She licks her lips as I pull away.
“We don’t want to know,” Mac says to Aiden, who just shakes his head.