Page 14 of Comeback
“You didn’t know that? Jesus, Jack. You really are out of the loop, aren’t you?”
“Just tell me what happened.”
“Apparently, the general manager hatched some plot to trade Dane DeHardt, but it blew up in his face, big time. The Devils’ owner found out and cleaned house. He fired everyone, from the GM down to the coaching staff.”
“Huh. Wow.” I paused. “Okay, so what’s that got to do with me?”
“Well, now that there’s new management in Dallas, the media is suddenly asking questions. They wanna know whereyouare and if there’s any plans to bring you back. I even had some reporter call my office today, wondering if I still handled your finances.”
My heart palpitated. “You didn’t tell them anything, did you?”
“Of course not. I try not to make a habit out of violating my clients’ NDAs, you know? Kinda bad for business.”
I let out a breath of relief. “Good.” It was nice knowing there was at least one person I could trust.
“But Jack, the point is, the world is looking for you now. It’s just a matter of time until they track you down. Y’know, it might be a good time for you to start reaching out to some of your hockey buddies. Maybe figure out a game plan. Start thinking about what you’re going to do. How long are you going to hide, anyway? Maybe it’s time to start thinking about a comeback, now that there’s a new regime in Dallas?”
“Comeback,” I scoffed. “I’m retired, Brent. And I pay you to handle my money, not give me life advice.”
“You want to talk finances, then? Because I’ve got no problem putting it in those terms. Yeah, you’ve made plenty of money during your playing days. But you’re still only twenty-nine, and you have plenty of untapped earning potential still. You have good hockey left in you, Jack. I mean, what the hell else are you going to do with the rest of your life? Are you really going to hide out there in Ontario forever?Or,are you going to start thinking about the long term, go out and sign one more contract, andreallyset yourself up nice for the future? Don’t you want to settle down, find a wife, maybe have some kids and live the rest of your life living like a king?”
I shook my head. “It’s just not that easy.”
“Nonsense. Yeah, you’ll be rusty for a few months, but you’re way too goodnotto be an impact player once you’re caught up to game-speed.”
I hadn’t meant the hockey part, but I wasn’t going to correct him.
“Just think about it, okay?” Brent asked. “And please, talk to someone out there, someone out there you can trust. Youdohave someone to talk to out there, right? Someone besides me?”
“I’m hanging up now,” I said.
“Bye, Jack.”
I hung up and let out a sigh.
Maybe Brent was right. Not about the money, and certainly not about finding a wife and having kids. But maybe it would be good to talk to someone.
Thing is, I didn’t have anyone to talk to. I’d led a quiet life in Bayfield. I hadn’t let anyone close. Icouldn’tlet anyone close—or they might find out who I was. And the last thing I needed was a bunch of rumors spreading around town. If that happened, it’d only be a matter of time before the media found out where I’ve been living. Then I’d just have to move somewhere else because I wasn’t givinganyoneany explanations of what went down in Dallas. And I definitely wasn’t going back to hockey.
Hell, even if Ididhave someone to talk to, I wouldn’t even know what to say. What can you possibly talk about when your entire past is a secret?
Anytime I had the urge to talk to someone … I went out and picked up a girl instead.
I remembered that hot mom I’d met yesterday—Emma, the married girl, who worked at Perry’s.
I looked at the clock and wondered if she’d still be at work.
Hell, worth a shot.
I hurried upstairs to get dressed.
Chapter 7
Emma
A heaviness weighed on my soul as I swept the wait station’s floors and restocked supplies for the dinner shift. It had been another slow day, which meant another day of measly tips.
If there was any silver lining to be found, it was that Jack, the tourist-fucking Rollerblade Guy, didnotcome by. At least that’s what I had to tell myself to stop worrying about money.
