Page 89 of A Whole New Trick

Morgan’s lips turn down. “You don’t have to earn the right to eat dessert, Mom.”

“Of course, you think that, dear,” Diana says with an awkward laugh. “You work out all the time.”

“That’s not true.”

“And your body type is more forgiving than mine,” Diana continues. “If I even put on half a pound, it shows. I can’t afford to indulge.”

“That’s a toxic mentality, Mom.”

Diana’s lips flatten. “Sweetheart, I am not one of your clients.”

“No, you’re my mom. And I care about your health.” Morgan motions to the plate of half-eaten food in front of her mother. “You barely ate any of your lunch, and now you’re denying yourself dessert. You need calories to stay healthy.”

“Morgan.” Diana smiles tightly. “Enough.”

I and the other men at the table keep quiet, but we glance at one another, picking up on the tension growing between the mother and daughter.

My phone rings again, punching a hole in the argument billowing over the dining room table. I look and see Eli’s name again. My forehead creases.

“Excuse me, everyone.” I look to Morgan and then her family. “I need to take this.”

Worry flickers in Morgan’s expression. “Everything okay?”

I have no idea.

“Yes,” I force a smile that I’m not sure is convincing. “I’ll be right back.”

I scoot my chair from the table and walk out of the dining room.

I accept the call. Before I can say a word, I hear, “Dude. Have you seen the news?”

“What news?” I enter the living room and sit on the cream sofa facing the oversized windows facing the backyard.

You’re not going to fucking believe it.”

I stiffen. Eli never curses.

“What’s going on?” A sports news show plays on the TV to my left. A glance reveals they’re talking about spring baseball training.

Eli’s heavy exhale travels through the phone. “Check your sports news app.”

I want to tell him to just tell me what’s got him so worked up, but something about his tone makes me do what he says. I draw my phone away from my ear and navigate to my home screen.

I open my favorite sports app and start to scroll through the headlines. Nothing catches my eye. Then, I hear a jingle come from the TV speakers followed by, “And for all you hockey fans, this just in.”

I lift my gaze to the screen. My jaw drops when my face appears above the sportscaster.

“Dane Larson, center for the Texas Ranchers, is set to be traded to the Glacier Kings at the end of the season. SportsCentral has reached out to Dane’s agent and the Ranchers for a comment. We will report more as this story develops.”

Ice floods my veins.

What. The. Fuck.

28

DANE

“This is horse shit,Henry. I never agreed to this.” I stand in the hotel lobby in Denver, trying to keep my volume down when frustration and anger make me want to shout.

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