Page 22 of Wild Blades

I told him he could keep both the house we bought years ago here in Edmonton and the apartment in New York as part of thedivorce settlement. I didn’t want either. I couldn’t sleep in the beds he cheated on me in.

“I’ll help you find a house here in the city.” I offer.

Hotels are for temporary living and what he needs is roots and a steady place to call home and decompress in. “That’s if you agree, again, to workwithme, notagainstme. I can’t keep fighting with you, Wade.” I tell him straight. “And there is nothing going on between Leon and me. We are business associates, as are you and I.” I wave my hand in the spaces between us all. “Leon and I have known each other for years.” I let my shoulders drop and flash him a smile, softening my tone a little to show him I’m not as bad as he thinks I am. “I see so much potential in you, Wade. I do genuinely want to help.”

It might be me needing the help afterward. I have a feeling this contract will either kill me from having to work so hard, or I will kill Wade, or perhaps Wade might kill me. I’m undecided at this point.

“We both want to help,” Leon confirms. “Kali is an incredible publicist, Wade. You need to let her do her job.”

Leon always has my back. He’s stellar.

“And I have a contract for you to look over with Calvin Klein. That’s the exciting news I had to tell you. Your looks fit their brief and style, but they have terms they want you to agree to, and then it’s game on.”

“You’re kidding?” Wade’s eyes light up and I can tell he’s excited about the news when he smiles. It’s the first time I’ve seen that happen, and holy cow, he’s even more handsome like this.

“But.” Leon stands shoulder to shoulder with me. “It’s only game on if you agree to do everything Kali says. I won’t represent you otherwise.”

I puff out my chest, feeling proud that I have so much clout. Leon’s one of the good guys, taller than a cell phone mast, softerthan a big, cuddly teddy bear, but he’s also sharp, credible, and appreciates how valuable I am.

“Okay,” Wade agrees.

He had better stick to his promise this time, or he’s on the first flight out of Edmonton to Bumfuck Hicksville. I’ll personally put him on myself and celebrate with fireworks as he flies off into the clouds.

It’s going to be long ass days working with Wade. I can feel a session with my therapist coming on. I jot down a mental note to book inWade Ranting Sessionswith Jeremy.

Leon spills more news. “I’ve approached another three potential hockey-related sponsorships, but none of them will touch you given your track record lately,” Leon confirms.

Wade cringes, biting his bottom lip.

I don’t want him wallowing like a hippo in shame. “We’ll turn it around, but we have work to do. Time to make you shine, Wade Collins.” And I know exactly how to do that.

He nods his head in agreement, “Should we go over your proposal now? You know, since I’m here?” Shyness slips into his words.

“For real this time?” I ask.

“For real.”

“Great.” I walk back to my desk and grab my laptop. “Let’s hit the boardroom where I can plug this thing in, and we can all view it on the larger screen.”

Leon’s out the door and patting Wade on the back, ushering him toward our conference facilities.

I can’t help but chuckle when I hear Wade whispering to Leon, but loud enough for me to hear. “If I don’t do what she says, she’s going to hunt me down and bust my balls, isn’t she?”

Leon wraps his arm around Wade’s shoulders. “Yeah, she fucking will. You lucky son of a bitch.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Wade

I’m making progress.

I feel it already.

I’m not drinking. Instead, Thomas and Joe have me going to the movies to fill my evenings, encouraging me to change up my environment to distract me, which is helping my brain switch off. I’m walking more and reading again too. Something I’ve enjoyed since I was a little boy when my grandfather’s library fed my curiosity, each book carrying me off to every corner of my imagination.

When Gretchen died, my mind struggled to focus on anything other than playing hockey.

But it’s as if something has changed in my brain and it’s all helping. As is the yoga they have me doing.

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