The mood in the locker room is somber. Although no one on the team blames me directly for the loss, I’m taking it personally, my previous advice to Cole providing little consolation for how I’m feeling. In reality, there was a perfect storm of missed opportunities. But still, I have to wonder. If my shoulder hadn’t given out on me when it did, would there have been a different outcome?
This is one of the nights I regret management’s decision to allow reporters in the locker room. I’m not in the mood and I have no time to prepare myself for the questions they fire at me before I can take a shower and change. The local NBC affiliate sports reporter asks me straight out about a recent drop in my performance and rumors of retirement. I hate this part of the job, having to answer unpleasant questions on the fly with the cameras rolling. Regardless of the amount of time the PR team spends prepping me for these impromptu sessions, it doesn’t get any easier. Before walking away, I provide the standard comment that I can recite in my sleep.
“Right now, I’m focused on winning the next game and forging a path to the playoffs.”
After showering and stowing my gear, my cell rings.Trevor.
“Stop by my office on your way out.”
Dread fills my stomach as I head toward the management offices. After what happened tonight, I’m not surprised he wants to talk to me.
“Jax, come on in.” He motions to the chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”
I look around Trevor’s office, taking in its contents. Everything the man touches seems to turn into success. His office is stocked full of trophies, plaques, and mementos from his playing days, along with a mix of souvenirs from the Golden Blades. In addition, business and community awards line the walls. All that aside, he tells people all the time that the most important thing to him is his family. The photos on the bookcase behind him reflect what he proudly calls his greatest achievements—his wife and kids. He’s truly a lucky man. I spend a moment running throughwhat ifscenarios in my mind, but I can’t picture myself with a family. Not because I don’t want to, but because I haven’t found that person.
He turns his chair to the mini-bar set up behind him. “Drink?”
“Sure.”
Trevor pours us both a whiskey. I figure I may as well have something to ease the pain of what he’s likely about to say.
“Now then. I’d like to talk about your future. Have you thought about what might be next for you? After retiring from hockey?”
I take a swallow of the amber liquid, letting it warm my throat as I choose my words carefully. No point in pissing off the guy who has my future by the balls.Who said anything about retiring from hockey?
“What’s next for me is leading the team to the Cup. I haven’t thought of anything beyond that.”
“Spoken like a true team leader, Jax. But you do need to start planning for the future. I’ve got some ideas about how you might best serve us off the ice.”
Off the ice? What the hell?And just like that, Trevor Logan confirms my greatest fear about how management views my longevity. The rest of the conversation with him fades to background noise that I try my best to tune out.
Going home to the isolation of my condo is the last thing I want to do right now. As I wander through the empty arena, the lights and video displays on monitors provide a false sense of activity in contrast to the vast silence, almost like the glow of a full moon on a desolate landscape during a cold winter’s night. Even the clean-up crew has come and gone.
As I turn the corner toward the main entrance, I realize I’m not alone at the arena. The ice princess is hard at work. She’s focused intently on a large block of ice, delicately weaving greenery into the frozen structure to create a living display. As I move closer, she looks up from her work. For the first time, I see a warmth in her eyes, rather than the air of indifference. It draws me to her like a port in a storm. If she’s been here for a while, she probably knows about the outcome of tonight’s game. Regardless, she doesn’t make a snarky comment or press me for details, she simply offers me a spare tool and shows me how to place moss inside of a frozen panel. The mindless but creative task is amazingly therapeutic, distracting me from all the noise in my head and the fear of an unknown future. It’s actually comforting to work beside someone with no demands or expectations, just offering companionship as the hours slip away toward dawn.
CHAPTER 4
Elise - Playing it Safe
I’m trying to revive myself with caffeine after a late night spent at the arena working. It’s been a while since I’ve pulled an all-nighter, and I certainly didn’t expect to do so this early into my project, but Jax Morgan needed an outlet to work through his emotions from that crushing loss. Sometimes it sucks to be an empath. I had arrived to the venue early and was watching from the shadows when he flubbed the face-off. I immediately knew something was wrong with his shoulder. And when the Blades lost the game, the disappointment was palpable. I know what it’s like to suffer a huge career disappointment. When I saw him standing there after the rink had emptied out, looking like a little boy lost, I wanted to give him something to do to take his mind off of that loss. Art can be very therapeutic. I know it’s gotten me through some rough times in my life. If it made him feel even a little better, it was worth the late night.
The vivid hues of the sunset from my front porch provide inspiration for some new tropical designs. I truly believe Pelican Point has one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. As I sketch an outline for a new installation for my portfolio, my cell rings.
The nameDesirae Anginelliflashes across the screen.
“Desirae! Hi!”
“Hey girl! How are the ice sculptures coming?”
“They’re coming along. If you’re at the arena any time soon, I’d be glad to show you my works in progress.”
“That would be great. And it’s actually part of the reason I’m calling. I was hoping you’d be there tomorrow night for the game.”
“I usually work late after it clears out or when there’s not a game scheduled. But I suppose I could go in a bit earlier tomorrow.”
“That would be fantastic. We’ve got the teddy bear toss and we need all the help we can get.”
“What’s the teddy bear toss?”
