Drew Anderson's Talking Titans Trade.
"The Titans?" I whisper. "But they play in—"
"Washington? Yeah." Blake pulls his phone back and shakes his head. "What the hell, man? I didn't even get my damn autograph."
All the blood in my body rushes to my feet, and my chest constricts, my ears ringing despite the silence between us. Without thinking, I reach forward and snag the phone from his hand.
"What the—"
"Brooke, what are you doing?" Mom questions. "Do you even know this boy?"
"Everyone knows him, Mom," Blake explains. "He's the Flames' star forward—their captain."
Amy pops into the picture from the other room. "Ooh, are you talking about—"
"Hey, hey, hey. Don't even start with his muscles. He—"
"Can everyone just please shut up!" My words spew from my mouth much louder than intended, but between their comments and the thoughts in my head, I can’t focus enough to even read the damn article.
It is rumored on good authority that Drew Anderson is looking to make a big change at the end of this season. Cam Rouke, right wing on the Washington Titans, who holds the same position as Anderson, announced his retirement earlier this week. This, in turn, sparked assumptions about who Washington would pick up to replace him.
A source, who would like to remain anonymous, but is admittedly very close to Anderson, shared earlier that "Drew has had a great run in Golden City, but is looking to venture out west to join the Titans in their pursuit ofa Cup.”
Speculations could be made that the move makes sense, especially after the Flames’ forward has unexpectedly changed his tune recently, which hasn't happened since his failed drug test last season. His typical on-ice personality was clearly toned down during his last few games, and his own team’s Instagram advertised a major change in his iconic image.
Although a haircut and lack of showboating aren’t guaranteed evidence that number twelve plans to leave Golden City, one could argue that these may be small steps toward a greater change. It’s possible that this franchise player is looking to build a new empire—or maybe he’s simply a fallen hero looking to out-run an old mistake.
When I finally stop reading, my eyes stay frozen on the screen as it fades to black. I attempt to shove down the emotion in my throat, but my mouth is so dry I can barely swallow. My mother’s voice seems to grow from a distance until her once faint words push through the fog and pull me back to reality.
"Brooke! Hello? What is going on?”
"I, um—”
"You okay, sis?” Blake asks cautiously. He grabs a hold of the phone as it slips from my grasp, and before I know it, I’m moving toward the door.
"Where are you going?” my mother shouts from the couch, but her voice barely registers. All I can think about are these last few weeks.
The kiss in the street.
Him blowing past my excuses.
The shooting bay. The sauna. The penalty box.
The cemetery.
Everything we've admitted out loud.
Don't leave.
Was he planning this the entire time?
Am I just another adjustment to his image?
My instincts say no. Drew’s never been whotheysay he is. But maybe it wasn’t calculated. Maybe this opportunity came up, and he didn't know how to tell me.
Ivy always says that timing is everything. Maybe this is just the universe’s way of ending things for us. A quiet way of telling us we’re wrong—it won’t work. Of saving us from even more pain.
But then my biggest fear floats to the forefront of my mind. That none of that’s true, and this has just been his most convincing performance of them all. My heart drops through my feet as they carry me toward the door, and I attempt to reassure myself.
