“I suspect she’s looking for ways to keep me in line. To make sure I fight less?—”
Carson’s loud bark of a laugh interrupts me. “That’s kind of what you’re known for.”
“Yeah, well I don’t think it’s what she’s looking for anymore.”
“Makes sense, with the way the Rebels’ style of play is changing. You know the stats, I’m sure.”
“I do. AJ mentioned the Rebels had the least amount of time in the penalty box last season... when I wasn’t around.” It’s hard to know whether she meant that it wasbecauseI wasn’t around, or if it was simply reflective of a shifting approach to winning.
“Honestly, she’s probably also looking for ways to protect her investment. You’re no good to that team if you hurt your hand again.” Carson pauses, then says, “I think you should take the alternate captain position. Show her that you’re coming back more committed than ever.”
I nod. “I know. I just can’t stop thinking that this feels a bit like a setup. Like she’s giving me enough leeway to mess up, because if I take the position and end up in a few fights on the ice, she’ll have reason enough not to keep me.”
“Even if you don’t take the offer, that could be a reason for her not to keep you. If youdotake it, it could be extra motivation for you to clean up your act and demonstrate some leadership skills you’ve had no need to tap into in the NHL. You were the captain of a D1 team in college, so it’s not like you lack the skills.”
I shake my head, and unclench my fists like I often have to force myself to do when I’m extra tense. “College was an entirely different game.”
“Sure,” Carson says with a shrug. “But the skills needed to be a leader on any hockey team are pretty consistent.”
I glance out the window of his office high above Copley Square, taking in the view of brownstone rooftops lined up on the few blocks between here and the Charles River.
“So?” he says. “You going to do it?”
“I need to think about it more... get out on the ice with my teammates and see if it feels right.”
“Keep me posted,” he says, and I think we’re done here. But as I set my hands on the arms of the chair, ready to stand, he adds, “By the way, my daughter mentioned interviewing you for some social media and PR about your return to the team.”
I give him a nod that I hope hides my shock. I hadn’t thought she’d mention us knowing each other. Then again, he’d obviously know his daughter is working for the team, so of course we’d meet eventually. As long as she didn’t tell him about Bermuda, there’s no harm in him knowing we work together.
“Morgan’s got ambition and a work ethic to match. But she also has a strong need to help people, especially an underdog. And I would never want to see her taken advantage of,” he says, eyeing me up and down. “I’m sure this goes without saying but I’m going to say it anyway. No distractions, Aidan... just like we talked about this summer. Thatespeciallygoes for women, andmost especiallythe young woman I raised.”
“Understood,” I say. The word is calm and reassuring, nothing like the chaos I’m feeling inside. I need him on my side as we enter contract negotiations this season, and he’s telling me point-blank to stay away from his daughter.
If he knew what had already happened between us, I’d have a broken nose and be looking for a new agent.
“So I can trust you to makeresponsiblechoices this season?” Carson asks, his eyes narrowing on me. The man is shrewd, I’ll give him that.
“For sure.” I look him dead in the eye when I say this, because despite what’s already happened between Morgan andme, I’m committing here and now to not allowing it to happen again.
It doesn’t matter that I haven’t stopped thinking about her since that first night together in Bermuda, or that every time I jerk off I’m picturing her. It doesn’t matter that if the circumstances were different, I’d want more than just those days in Bermuda with her.
Because none of that can happen again... every time I consider it, the universe throws another obstacle in the way. I’ll just have to figure out how to be around her without wanting to bewithher. There’s no other option now.
“Ican’t believe Ledderman is going out like that,” Drew says, shaking his head as he sets his glass on the table.
“Not like he can play with a pulled groin,” Colt says. “And thirteen years on the team... at some point you just have to admit that your body can’t take it anymore.”
Hartmann turns toward Colt, and runs a hand through his hair. “You trying to tell us something?” The kid looks a bit nervous, and after the way he choked last season, I’m not surprised.
“Nah, you’re stuck with me until the end of the season.” I’m a little surprised Colt doesn’t come back with a barb about not being able to retire because he doesn’t have a reliable backup goalie—something I heard him say to our other goalie, who Luke replaced. Even Colt seems more chill now.
“Unless AJ finds you standing on another chair,” Drew says.
My eyebrows dip in confusion as everyone else laughs. I have no idea what they’re talking about. McCabe must notice, because he says, “You had to be there.”
Then Walsh says, “Just imagine Colt standing on a chair, trying to hang a mobile on a ceiling above a crib, while he’s still in PT for his knee, and AJ walking in and telling him to get his ass off the chair or she’ll put him back on IR.”
“Whose crib was this?” I ask, trying to figure out if Colt has a baby I don’t know about. Pretty sure he and his agent’s little sister Jules just got engaged a few months ago, so I don’t think she had his baby.
