Page 5 of Puck, Marry, Thrill

“Hello?” he answered, his voice rough.

“Got time for me now?”

Kenneth sighed, rubbing his temple as a familiar tension crept into his shoulders. “Oh hey, Terry,” he muttered, mentally kicking himself for not returning the man’s call sooner. “What’s up? What’s this about a contract offer again?”

Terry’s voice on the other end was enthusiastic, though he could sense the weight of urgency in it. “So, there’s a secret hockey team about to be announced. They’ve got everything in the works, but they’re looking for you.”

“Okay,” Kenneth said, his hands still working at chopping the vegetables. “I told you I’m interested.”

Terry didn’t miss a beat. “You need to be a little more than interested, Ken.”

“Where’s it at?” Kenneth asked, his curiosity piqued despite his exhaustion.

“Quebec,” Terry answered.

“Interesting,” Kenneth muttered, his brow furrowing. He paused, sensing the gravity of the conversation.

“You didn’t pause at it being in Canada?” Terry drew out slyly, almost like he knew he had Kenneth’s agreement on the matter already.

“Nah,” Kenneth replied, his tone casual, though the edges of his thoughts were sharp with the weight of his responsibilities. “Let me tell you, I’m not keen on raising a kid in downtown Detroit.”

Terry let out a short laugh. “Detroit’s nice…”

“Yeah, it is,” Kenneth agreed, though his words felt hollow. “It’s really nice in certain places, but I need more than that – especially considering I’ve got sole custody now. I’m a little protective of my boy.”

A silence lingered for a moment before Terry spoke again, his voice softer. “So things are definitely off with Candi, huh? And you wouldn’t consider remarrying her?”

Kenneth’s grip on the knife tightened, the sharp metal biting into his hand, a physical manifestation of the emotional weight he carried. “I’d rather slice off my favorite appendage with a dull butter knife,” he muttered, the bitterness seeping into his words.

“I see,” Terry replied, not pushing the matter any further. “Well, that’s the nicest that I’ve heard something likethatput.”

Kenneth felt his chest tighten as Zachary’s small, eager voice reached his ears, the sound of little cars racing on the kitchen floor. The simple joy of his son brought a sudden warmth to his heart, and he couldn’t help but smile despite the chaos of his thoughts. “My kid’s playing with his cars on the floor nearby, so I’m watching my mouth. I’m making dinner,” he said quietly.

“Well, I’ll make this quick then,” Terry said as if respecting the moment. “They’re only taking married hockey players to keep up a family, wholesome image. They want this to be a big thing, a team, a family. They’re talking about building a community for the players and their families—luncheons, get-togethers, all that. Everything you’d need.”

“But I have to be married?” Kenneth asked, his voice tight with the sudden frustration of it all.

“Yes. I’m afraid so.”

“Then I’m out,” he muttered firmly. “If that’s the deal, then it’s a no-go.”

“It’s a lot of money, Ken,” Terry pressed, his voice insistent.

Kenneth shook his head, glancing over at Zachary as the little boy hummed contentedly, lost in his imaginary world. The thought of remarrying Candi seemed absurd to him. The money didn’t matter, not in the way Terry seemed to think it did. “It would have to be all of the money in Fort Knox, and even then, I’d say‘Heck No!’to remarrying Candi.”

There was a pause before Terry spoke again, his voice a little quieter now. “What about someone else?”

“I don’t know anyone else,” Kenneth replied, frustration creeping in. “I’m not looking for someone else.”

Terry wasn’t finished yet. “There’s gotta be somebody…” he trailed off, sensing that Kenneth was distracted or thinking about what he was saying.

Kenneth paused, his eyes narrowing as he heard the soft footsteps of someone walking just outside his door. My neighbor, he thought, recognizing the familiar rhythm of her walk down the hall.

“Does that pause mean you know someone?” Terry asked, the curiosity obvious in his voice.

“It means my neighbor’s home,” Kenneth muttered, his thoughts shifting for just a moment. He wasn’t even sure why it bothered him. It wasn’t like he was going to ask her to marry him, but suddenly, the weight of everything seemed heavier.

Terry’s voice took on a teasing edge. “Is she single? Is she pretty? Marryher, buddy. Let’s get this done.”

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