Page 53 of Claiming Her Cougar
“Got an email from the real estate agent.They’re ready to sell Sand Dollar Pier now and are offering to us first.Price is right where we want, and buying now stops another six months of neglect.You guys still in?”
“Hell yeah!”Teagan yells.
“Absolutely,” Jake affirms.
I look at Dad.
“Mike, what do you think?”Dad asks.
“You’re the businessman, Will, but I think you’d be stupid to pass up this opportunity.”Uncle Mike clears his throat.“Of course, all of this depends on inspections and our due diligence going as expected, but based on what we’ve done already, I don’t foresee any issues.”
“You’ve covered your ass well, Mike.Your lawyerly duty is done,” Dad says, his blue eyes twinkling with his laughter.“We’re buying a pier!”he calls out, raising his arms like he just scored the winning goal.
We all cheer and discuss the next steps.Morgan Development is purchasing the pier, but it’ll become a joint venture with Devil’s Den and Penhall Enterprises.I email the agent with our intent to purchase, and the information needed to start the process of contracts and inspections.
Wow!I’ve just taken the first step of my future.I hope it’ll lead me right to where I want to be—working for myself, coaching, and if I can ever woo her in the right direction, in a relationship with Mallory Carter.
Dad stands to leave.“Well, I’m going back up to the house.Congratulations, guys.I’m excited to be working with you.”
“This speeds up our timeline,” Teagan says.“Do we want to submit our franchise application now?”
This is it.We’re finally doing it.This pier will provide the home arena for a team in the very first Paranormal Hockey League.I pump my fist in the air.Finally, shifter players like me and Trevor will have opportunities to play after college.I can’t believe I’m finally getting my dream.
“Absolutely,” Jake states firmly.“Get in as an inaugural team and have a say in how the league is run.We can’t pass up on an opportunity like that.”
“Listen to you, making managerial decisions already,” I tease Jake.
“Okay.”Teagan types on her laptop.“This is really happening.Our franchise application has been ready to go.We just needed word on the pier.We have Boardwalk Hall as a backup plan if the pier falls through, but I trust all will go well.”
We spend another hour discussing our plans and what we need to do to implement them.My brain is buzzing with everything on the horizon.I always knew a career playing professionally wasn’t an option for me since I was a shifter, but I was hoping to work for an NHL team behind the scenes as a coach or in the front office.After the accident derailed my college playing career, I sidelined those dreams.
Now I have a chance to achieve not only my dream but to help others achieve their dreams of playing professional hockey.It’s heady stuff.
I want to call Mallory and tell her about all of this, but until we’re under contract for the pier and our franchise application is approved, there’s nothing to tell.Anyway, according to her, we’re just friends with benefits.Our plans for the future, our dreams, don’t factor into it.
According to her.According to me, she’s part of my plans for the future, part of my dreams.She just doesn’t know it yet.
22
MALLORY
Sunday morning arriveswith a deluge of rain outside my window.The tree farm will be closed, so there goes our plans to hang out there tonight.I was hoping Uncle Zack’s instinct was off when he sent home food with my parents, but, as always, he’s spot-on with the weather.That’s a handy trait for a farmer, I suppose.
Daphne and I are supposed to go shopping today, but I’m not feeling it.The mall is going to be packed with holiday shoppers, and it’s too rainy to do the outlet center.According to my closet, I don’t need to go shopping.I don’t want to bail on her though.My phone dings, and I pick it up from the nightstand.It’s Daphne.
Daphne: How much would you hate me if I said I didn’t feel like shopping today?
Me: I wouldn’t hate you at all.My closet is telling me I’ve shopped enough.LOL.
Daphne: It’s icky, and the mall will be so full of people.
Me: Did you want to do something else?
Daphne: The guys are going to be watching football, so the moms were going to have a craft day making ornaments and drinking wine.That sounds fun…
It does sound like fun, and I know Daphne misses having her mom to do things with and having a family for the holidays, so she needs to do this.But I can’t ditch my mom to go hang out with them, and I don’t want to bring her along.Yeah, I can imagine the introductions.“Mom, you know that guy I was in the shower with yesterday?This is his mom.”
That wouldn’t be awkward at all.
