Page 2 of Much Ado About Hockey

“I wanna make this quick – liketout suite, bruh…” Jett reminded him, thinking of his brother. “I need to phone myfamily before they hear about the news and tell them that I’m going to another team.”

“I hear you.”

“Sweet, bruh.”

“I’ll send you the contract so you can sign it digitally, and I’ve already dug up a few house listings for you in Quebec…”

“Nuh-uh,” Jett interrupted again. “I don’t do yard work, bro. Ain’t my style, and I’m not home enough to need a grassy patch for the poochie, if you get my drift. Send me a few swanky condos with a garage – you know the drill.”

“I remember.”

“That’s my guy,” Jett beamed. “Bruh, I am so glad you answered the phone…”

“I’m so glad you got cut, and you are willing to take this change on. I think the Wolverines will be perfect for you, and it’s an incredible roster. They pulled Kenneth Salas, Barrett Coeur, and Liam Savage…”

“Whoa…” he muttered, stunned.

“They are being very selective and requested you.”

“Exactly!” Jett preened, his ego completely stroked and relief filling him, “You hear that?” he hollered over his shoulder toward the arena again as if they could hear him. “Theyrequestedme, and you guys can suck it.”

“Yup. Just send me a copy of your marriage license and…”

Cue the record scratch in his very soul.

“I ain’t married!”

“Oh…”

“Whaddya mean ‘OH’?” Jett practically shrieked in disbelief. “You didn’t know that? How did you not know that I’m a single-Pringle-ready-to-mingle? You’re my agent – you get paid to know me, to keep up with me, and why do you need a marriage license?” his voice getting louder and more frantic with everyword. If he kept talking over his agent, who was trying to calm him down, he would be shattering glass very soon – or pass out.

His heart was definitely pounding exceedingly hard in his chest with fear.

“It’s just a small glitch…”

“Excuse me? Did you say ‘glitch’? Glitch? This is not aglitch, Julian!”

“Jett, calm down…”

“Don’t tell me to calm down!THIS IS MY CALM VOICE! I’M CALMING, BRUH – CALM!”

And a few windshields nearby wavered precariously. A flock of birds took off out of the closest trees nearby as well as a few squirrels and chipmunks scrambled for safety, hiding. He was pretty sure he heard the neighborhood dogs in the distance howling.

“Jett –breathe!”Julian said firmly. “I want you tobreatheandlistento me – don’t interrupt – let me get this out, and you focus on breathing combined with the words coming from my mouth, okay?”

Jett nodded, dragging air into his lungs. His eyes were pinched tight as he stood there, dragging in breath after breath, trying not to have a complete meltdown in the middle of the day in some park that was surprisingly empty.

“It’s not the end of the world that you are single – but it is a requirement…”

“Ohgawwsh…”

“Jett! Breathe!”

“Breathing,” he immediately panted, his hands trembling as he drew in another lungful, imagining the disappointment on his brother’s face. His mom was always cool in that mom-ish way, but his little bro had those big owlish eyes that made mincemeat of his soul, and he freakin’ loved the little dude with an all-encompassing brotherly bond that was nothing shortof amazing. The fact that his brother looked up to him was everything – and Jett was flailing right now.

“Find someone,” Julian said in a calming voice, “find someone and marry them on paper. Let them know we can annul the marriage in a few months or a year – and that this is just for show. Find someone, phone a friend, do whatever you need to, but get me that piece of paper, and we are golden, Jett.”

“Find… someone…” he breathed, testing the words.

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