Page 80 of For the Boys
“Speaking of, have I paid you yet?”
“Paid me? That’s a thing that’s going to happen?”
Brent laughed. “It should’ve happened already! I’m pouring my cut of the profits back into the company, but you deserve a portion too. In fact, you’ve earned it.”
“Really?” Mackenzie said, her tone suddenly becoming diabolical. “And how much are we talking here?”
“I’m not sure yet. Let me call my accountant and work out the numbers, and I’ll get back to you. How would you like to be paid? Cash? Money order? Direct deposit?”
“Direct deposit, please,” Mackenzie said. “This is perfect, because I’ve been dying to refresh my wardrobe for spring, and my waitressing gig just isn’t cutting it anymore.”
Brent rolled his eyes.Women and their clothes. “Glad I could be of service,” he said.
“Just so we’re clear, B,” Mackenzie said, suddenly serious. “This isn’t you giving me a handout or anything. I worked for this money.”
Brent understood where she was coming from, and his heart softened for his baby sister. He and his parents had been helping Nate out for years while he worked his way through med school, and Mackenzie, already feeling inadequate in the shadow of her two successful siblings, didn’t want to follow in Nate’s footsteps.
“Mackenzie,” Brent said. “This is without a doubt money you worked your ass off for. Besides, it’s not even my money. It’s profits. From our company.”
“Our company,” Mackenzie said dreamily. “I like the sound of that.”
“I like working with you,” he told her. “It’s been fun, if a little stressful.”
“I agree!” she said enthusiastically. “I wish I was closer so I could be more hands-on.”
“Who knows, kid. Maybe one day we’ll open a storefront in New York.”
Mackenzie snorted. “One thing at a time. We have to get through this next launch first.”
Brent laughed. “Of course. And on that note, I have to survive my first day back to practice.”
“Good luck, big bro! Call me the second you hear from Danica.”
“I will,” he said. “Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Brent sped across town and pulled into the player lot outside the arena, getting out of his truck at the same time his phone rang. He smiled when the display showed Berkley’s name.
“Hey, you,” he said, grabbing his bag from the backseat.
“Hi!” she said. “Just wanted to check in and see how your doctor’s appointment went.”
“Aww, you remembered.”
“Of course I did,” Berkley said, scoffing. “The team needs you back. They’ve looked like shit without you.”
Brent laughed, hooking his bag over his shoulder as he made his way across the parking lot. “That’s what I keep hearing, but don’t tell the boys. There’s a lot of ego on that team.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Mitch walked up to the players’ entrance just as Brent did and held it open for him. “Who’s that?” he mouthed.
“Berk,” Brent said.
“Yeah?” she said in his ear.
“Oh, sorry, babe,” Brent said. “Mitch asked who I was on the phone with.”
