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“No, I just want to, you know, be sure. And I didn’t really know, before now, that this was actually going to be an option.”
“Remy, didn’t you realize I would have called you if I thought Colorado wasn’t going to make an offer?”
“No? I haven’t actually done this before?”
“For future reference, if I think you’re in danger of not getting a good offer, I’m going to tell you.”
“Right.”
“You had a season you can be proud of, Remy. This is a good offer. If you don’t want to stay with Colorado, I can think of at least three other teams that are looking to improve their defense and will probably be interested. Including New Jersey, which is a lot closer to home. Take the night to think it over, but you should feel good about this.”
“Thanks.” His throat started to close in on him. Yeah, he was having feelings, because people he respected didn’t usually talk to him like this. He sure as hell wasn’t ready to start being proud of himself, but maybe he could let himself feel good about the contract offer.
He called Lily right away, because he needed to talk to her before Jed got home.
“Hi! Did you get your offer from the Blizzards?” she asked.
“How did you know?”
“Because you’re calling. Instead of texting me. Or, like, making out with the best guy you’ve ever dated.”
“I think he might be the only guy I’ve actually dated?”
“Whatever.” Lily made a face. “You’re going to take it, right?”
“Well.” Remy hesitated, because this was the hard part, and he was figuring out that it wasn’t only because his little sister needed him. It struck him, more clearly than it ever had before, that he needed her, too. “I really want to, Lil. Are you sure that’s okay, though? It’s for three years. Although they could trade me. Obviously. But. If they don’t, I’ll be here for a while.”
“Of course it’s okay with me. I assume you’re going to be a millionaire now, so you can fly me down whenever I want, right?”
Remy thought about the guaranteed salary that Anne-Marie had mentioned. It wasn’t, like, headline-worthy, but it was a nice bump over league minimum. A very nice bump, if he made the bonuses. “Yeah, I’m going to be a millionaire. Fuck, Lily, who’d have thought, right?”
“You’ve worked so hard for it, Remy. Couldn’t happen to a better person who’s related to me and can buy me fancy presents now.”
“Aw, thanks. How’d you know that’s how I was going to spend it—” He broke off as the rumble of the garage door reached him. Jed was home. His heart started beating faster, and his mouth went dry.
“Look at you, all nervous.” Lily was giving him her biggest smile. “Your man is back, isn’t he. Go tell him the good news.” She blew him a kiss and ended the call as Jed came into the kitchen.
Remy was suddenly uncertain. Despite saying they should, they hadn’t talked about what would happen if he got the offer from Colorado. He realized that he’d made a lot of assumptions about what might happen, but he didn’t actually know.
“Was that Lily?” Jed asked, putting the food down on the kitchen island. Then he took in the uncertainty on Remy’s face and frowned. “What happened? You get news?”
“I did,” Remy said, coming closer, but not reaching for him yet. “Yeah. I did.”
“And?” Jed asked, standing really still.
“And yeah. Colorado. Three years. So.”
Jed took a step forward, then stopped again. “And?”
“And?”
“And, you’re taking it? Or not?”
“Well, yeah. I want to take it.”
“Okay,” Jed said, letting out his breath. “Fuck, Remy, you scared me there for a minute.” He pulled Remy in for a kiss and then stepped back when Remy didn’t return it. “What’s wrong?”
“We didn’t actually talk about what it means.” Remy found it hard to meet Jed’s eyes. They looked very blue right now. Jed’s usually neat hair was longer than usual, since he hadn’t had time for a trim since well before the playoffs, and it hung down over his forehead, but it didn’t hide the wrinkles in his brow as he examined Remy’s face.
