“Seriously?” He sounds shocked. “Oh, hells yeah! You know I’d be on board with that.”
There it is. That’s the enthusiasm I need.
“Did you think I’d forget you? Dude, I was always going to get you here. I just needed to get everyone else on board first, which was not difficult, by the way. You gotta know I’ll go to the mat for you.” I need him.If the new guy in Boston doesn’t see the genius that is David Jones, it’ll be his loss and my gain.
“Thank fuck. God, I’m miserable here. How soon do you need me? I saw this kid play last week. Amazing. I’ll send you the tape. Sniped it to the back net at 102 mph. It was gold.” That’s my boy. Already giving me the good stuff.
“I can’t wait. I’m sure he’s worth checking out. How soon can you hop a plane out here? Want you to meet the owners and talk about all the on-boarding crap. I need you yesterday, man. Season starts in two months, and we’ve got dead weight to chop.” I’m pushing him, but I don’t have a choice. We need him. Desperately.
“I can be there by tomorrow night. I’ll book the flight today and send you the itinerary. Gonna assume you’ll reimburse expenses?”
“Not even a question. Just keep the receipts. I’ll get you a place to stay and a car. Let’s aim for dinner. You gotta at least let me wine and dine ya a bit.”
Could I get Joslyn and Jacob’s PA to book him a hotel and a car for me? I’m not entirely sure about the protocol here or if there’s even a process. We’re winging it while we set up the infrastructure we want. Their PA, Matilda, is intimidating. She reminds me of my fifth-grade math teacher—not someone I want to remember. I swear I still have nightmares about her calling on me in class. I shudder at the thought and lock it away. No need to dwell on it.
“Yeah, I’m probably a sure thing, but you go ahead and bring out the big guns. I won’t be disappointed.”
I can hear the grin in his voice. He knows he’s getting a fantastic steak dinner out of the deal. I don’t mind one bit. I’m looking forward to seeing him.
The following evening, I grab a Lyft to meet Jonesy for dinner. I’m leaving my car here because finding parking in downtown Denver is always a hassle, and I don’t want to deal with it. I managed to convince Matilda the Hun to handle the reservations for Jonesy’s hotel and his transportation. She booked him a nice room at the Brown Palace. I was genuinely surprised. It was helpful, even if she did make me feel stupid for asking her to handle it.
Matilda the Hun is Joslyn’s nickname. The first time she used it, I ended up spitting my coffee out. We both had a nice chuckle over it. When she laughs, it lights up the whole room. It felt like I’d won the lottery the first time I heard it. I love that she allowed me to see that side of her—the side I’m sure not many people get to experience.
That woman is guarded with a capital G. I was flattered she gave me even a tiny peek beyond her professional facade. The more she reveals, the more I want to know. I hope we’ve at least become friends, even though I wish every day it could be so much more. Yeah, my crush has become something else entirely. I try not to examine what it’s become because denial is where I live right now.
I’m taking Jonesy to Elway’s for dinner. I wouldn’t have chosen such a high-end place, but when Jacob asked if he was worth it, I had no problem saying yes. So, Elway’s it is. They have a bone-in filet that melts in your mouth, and I know Jonesy will love it. They also serve Blanton’s, and I’m pulling out all the stops to get him on board, including his favorite bourbon. He’s not leaving here tonight without agreeing to our offer.
I’m hanging out at the bar so we can grab a drink before dinner. I planned our reservation for a bit later, because I know he likes to chat for a bit first. It gives us time to catch up. He’s a punctual guy, which I appreciate because he doesn’t waste my time, so I know I won’t be waiting long. I only have time to order my go-to club soda before I see his blond head above the crowd heading my way. He’s a large guy, over six and a quarter, so he can easily find me. He grabs my arm for a bro hug.
“Hawk! What’s up? Order me a drink yet?”
“Wasn’t sure what you wanted, man. They have Blanton’s.” I grin slyly as his green eyes light up with delight.
“God, I love how well you know me. Sign me up!”
I motion for the bartender and put in his drink order.
“So, tell me about this new job you’ve got for me. I want to hear all about how I’m going to bail your ass out yet again.”
I snort but fill him in on what we’re offering, knowing he’ll negotiate like a lawyer until he believes he’s got the best deal out of us. I love a good negotiation, though, so bring it on. I’ll go hard, but at the end of the day, I’ll do whatever it takes to bring him on board. He doesn’t need to know that, though. This is the fun part of my job.
An hour later, after a remarkable steak dinner and much less bourbon than I initially anticipated, I’m confident we’ve negotiated a win-win deal. Some of his demands surprise me, but nothing outrageous, like a new Ferrari or other extravagant items. No, he wants a stake in our organization and a chance to train his replacement. It caught me off guard. Turns out, he’s getting tired of the scouting life. He figures he has about two to three years of traveling left in him. He wants to set the Wolves up for future success, and subsequently wants a stake in their success. Having already discussed our limits with Joslyn and Jacob, it was a straightforward process to reach an agreement. I’m impressed with his negotiating skills. When I’m ready to hire one, he’ll make a great assistant GM. I make a mental note for future consideration.
Business complete, our talk becomes more personal. Jonesy’s the kind of friend who makes distance irrelevant. Whether it’s a day, a week, or a year, it’s like no time has passed. Once we’ve caught up on each other’s family gossip, he jumps straight into questions about Joslyn. He’s very aware of my crush from my rookie days, and he’s put two and two together quicker than I did.
“So, what’s going on with you and your fantasy girl? Ironic,” he adds, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Yup, he’s diving right in. I should have seen this coming.
“Nothing,” I groan with frustration. “Not a damn thing, and that’s how it’s going to stay. She can’t know.” I give him my best friend glare. “Cone of silence. Forever.”
“What, you don’t want me to tell her you moped around for years, lovesick and crying about how she was married and out of reach?” His smile is wicked.
“I hate you right now. Also, I was not crying. You’re making me sound pathetic.”
“Oh, please. Do I even need to bring up how much I had to babysit your drunk ass back then? I pulled you out of a literal gutter one night after you passed out. You’re fucking heavy, man! You have no idea how much you talked about her. Ad nauseam, my friend, ad nauseam.” He shakes his head because, apparently, yes, I was pathetic. Oh, yay, let’s revisit that time of my life. Hard no.
“Thanks for the lovely walk down memory lane. That was fun,” I deadpan.
“Here to help!” he chuckles. “But come on, man, how do you feel about her now? It’s been a long time, and a lot has changed. She’s not just a fantasy. How ya feeling about everything now? That’s gotta be hella awkward.”
