I swallowed as I stared at my hands.“I want to stay in Houston,” I began.
“And we want you to,” Gunnar said from the door.“You show excellent potential to be one of our next-gen franchise players.”
Weight sloughed from my shoulders like dirt from the bottom of a shoe.I grinned.“That means a lot.Everything, actually.”From the moment I’d heard about the Houston expansion team, I’d known it was going to be life changing.Being here, learning from Silas, Cormac, Maxim, Cruz—all the guys—had taught me what it meant to be a man as much as how to be a better hockey professional.
“Plus, everyone sings Millie’s praises,” Gunnar added.“Adam said she’s a good influence on Naomi—has helped her settle down.And obviously Ida Jane loves your partner.”
“Paloma has also enjoyed spending time with her.She said Millie’s head is on straight,” Coach said.
I looked over at Gunnar.“What happens to the franchise if you don’t go through with Chasten’s deal?”Because that wouldn’t be happening.
His eyes gleamed.“Nothing.”
I raised an eyebrow.“Nothing?”
“I don’t need Chasten Jones’ money.We have a healthy fan base and sell out most games.You guys are popular with the locals, so we have robust jersey and merchandizing sales.I was more interested in Chasten’s community connections, wanting to make inroads into some programs we haven’t yet been able to ramp up.”
“Like a summer-long hockey camp for local kids,” Coach offered.
“Or at-risk teen mentorships,” Gunnar added.
“Those programs sound fabulous,” I told them.
“They do, but they’ll wait until we find the right person,” Gunnar said.“Chasten Jones is not that person.He wanted to force his daughter into a conservatorship so he could maintain control of money that wasn’t his.”Gunnar’s lip curled.“Or even worse, take a baby from loving parents as a power play—abargainingchip.”
I leaned forward, hands clasped between my knees, unsurprised that Gunnar knew as much about my situation as I did.“All three of us did the buccal swab, and we already have the results.”
“Did the answer change anything for you?I mean, how you feel about the baby?”Coach clarified.
I huffed out a laugh.“I didn’t even want to bother with the test because Bree’s been mine from the get-go.But indisputably, now everyone can know it’s me.I’m her dad.Though, I have to say once again, Millie’s word was enough for me.”
The two most powerful men I knew nodded their understanding, approval shining from their eyes.
I’d found it.My place.My home.
I’d needed Millie and Bree to settle me, to help me prioritize what was important—my family, my team, then my job.For the first time since my parents had skipped my pee-wee championship, I felt peace.
Whole.
I needed to tell Millie.But first…
“If Millie pries that money away from her father, which she will, would you be interested in working with her?”
Gunnar and Coach exchanged a look.
“She’d need to bring us a proposal,” Gunnar said.
“One that funnels some of Ida Jane’s clients into the program?”I asked.
Gunnar chuckled and clapped me on the shoulder.“You should be the one negotiating your contract.You do a better job than your agent.”
With a wave, he left, and I returned my attention to Coach.
He’d leaned back in his chair.“You really pulled your head out of your ass, Stolly.You’ve come a long way this year.Why don’t you go share the news with your woman so I don’t regret saying that—or offering you such a juicy contract?”
I leftthe office with a near-skip and a mile-wide grin.I called my agent and left a message to let him know I was accepting Houston’s offer.He called back immediately, again and again, but I let those go to voicemail, knowing he’d rail against me not including him in my decision-making.He’d huff and puff about the money I’d left on the table when I accepted the Wildcatters offer and not Colorado’s.But I’d call him back in a couple of days—once the ink was dry on my contract—and remind him that he’d just earned a fat paycheck.His job was to look out for my best interests, and those were in Houston, with the Wildcatters.
My smile remained in place as I opened the door to my condo.Millie’s voice drifted down the short hall, nearly drowned out by Bree’s ragged cries.
