Aiden nods to Wyatt in greeting. Wyatt nods back. To my surprise he answers Luka, no qualms given that Wyatt is listening. “My dad is coming to Friday’s game.”
“Shit.” Luka’s one word response says it all.
“Assuming you don’t want him here?” Wyatt asks.
“No, man. You remember what I told you about him, would you want that around you?” Aiden gruffly answers.
“I remember and no I wouldn’t want that kind of negativity at a game,” Wyatt answers, then asks, “What’s the plan, then?”
“Aiden wants me to talk toCoachand get him to discourage Isaac from coming but I don’t see that happening or going well,” I answer for him, not making eye contact with Wyatt but rather focusing on Aiden.
Luka’s already shaking his head in agreement. “No, probably not.”
“So what are the options?” Wyatt asks.
It’s quietfora moment before Luka speaks up, “What if we offer him the VIP special?”
Aiden’s eyebrows go together in confusion, but I think I know where Luka’s going with this andit’spretty damn brilliant.
“What? Why would we do that? I’m trying to make sure he never comes to another game, not roll out the damn red carpet,” Aiden spews harshly.
“Just hear me out. I’m talking about setting him up in the owner’s box so he’s out of camera view and away from the bench and you,” Luka says.
Aiden shakes his head, “It’s not going to work. He hates sitting up in the boxes. He wants to be down where the action is.”
“It will work if we play to his ego. It’s exclusive to the president and vice president. Nobody else can get into that box. You don’t think your dad would be all over that? To get to sit in the seats no one else gets to,” I say.
Aidenwaverswith indecision. “I don’t know man. We would really have to play it up.”
I’m already nodding my head. “And that’s what we will do. I can definitely get Coach on board with that. It’s the best of both worlds for him. The almighty hockey god gets to grace us with his presence, but we get to control the narrative.”
“What about the press?” Wyatt asks.
“Yeah, he isn’t going to keep quiet about coming. That’s the only reason he wants to be here, so he can boast about it on social media. He doesn’t give a shit about actually watching me play. It’s all about the media attention.”
“I can talk toCoachabout thattoo. Maybe we can use the school’s reporter. Let it be an exclusive interview and provide predetermined questions so he can’t go too far off the rails,” I suggest.
“You think that will work?” Luka asks. “What if Isaac won’t agree?” he continues.
“Have you seen the school reporter, dude? She’ssmoking. No wayDaddyGraham isn’t going to be all over Olivia,” I answer with confidence. All we have to do is flash a picture of her and he’ll be sold.
“That coming from personal experience Cap?” Aiden asks, wagging his eyebrows.
I smirk, “Maybe.” We didn’t hook up officially, but we did have a hot encounter in a bathroom at a frat party that involved some serious tonsil hockey that would have led to more if we weren’t interrupted by a drunk girl banging on the door incessantly.
“You think Olivia will be down to be used like that? I mean we would be serving her up on a damn silver platter," Wyatt asks.
I admit begrudgingly that Wyatt may have a point. “She’s going to want the story. I can guarantee that. We tell her upfront and make sure she’s never alone with him,” I answer.
“I don’t know man. What if it backfires or he doesn’t go for it?” Aiden asks.
“We have to make sure he does. Rowan and I will handle Coach and the box,it’syour job to make sure your dad agrees,” Luka answers.
I nod my head in confirmation.
Aiden blows out an unsteady breath before stepping back and nodding his head in agreement. “I appreciate you guys. I know this isn’t really your shit to worry aboutbut—”
Luka clasps him on his shoulder before saying, “You’re our teammate, which makes you our brother. We got you.”
