Page 31 of From Ice to Grace
“Did you get some sleep?” he asks, turning on the blender for a few seconds before switching it off again.
“Do I look well rested to you?” I deadpan, reaching over and switching on the blender again. “No lumps, Barney. Everything is lumpy enough.”
He chuckles. “I’m sure you’ll get the verdict today. Then you can deal and move on,” he says, talking loud enough for me to hear him over the noise of the blades chopping our fruit into mush.
I wait until he’s done and turn off the machine before I respond.
“They will definitely give the verdict today,” I say with a sigh. “These types of things don’t take too long. But I’m pretty sure the odds won’t be in my favor here.”
“You never know,” Lindgren says, trying to be helpful as he cracks in another egg.
I know.
Last night was bad.
I should’ve had more control over the situation and because I didn’t, another player got hurt. Not only do I have to wait to hear what will happen to me, but also how I impacted another player’s career. I’ll have to face the consequences of my actions…the consequences set by the NHL and the ones that will undoubtedly haunt me until my dying day. Last night I got kicked off the ice, but today, I’m sure the rest of it will follow.
My phone rings on the counter next to us. Lindgren’s eyes widen and for a moment I want to smack him over the head. It’s like he’s the one waiting on dreadful news, not me.
Relief fills my gut as Lucas’s name pops up on screen. Relief, quickly followed by dread. Because it means I still have to wait for the verdict.
“Lucky Luke, what’s up?” I ask, watching as Lindgren pours the protein shake into two glasses, making a mess on the counter in the process.
“Listen, we have that thing tonight right?” he says, his voice serious. “That charity, season starter dinner thing.”
Getting up, I grab a dishtowel from the sink and toss it at Lindgren.
“I forgot about that,” I say with a grimace. “I haven’t even told Melissa yet.”
At the start of every season, Harry organizes an event with the big shots surrounding the team. He wants us to play nice with all the money, network a bit and maybe score a sponsorship or something while keeping the endorses of the team happy at the same time.
Reaching around Lindgren, I grab my shake and take a sip.
“That’s good, because I think you should take someone else,” Lucas says.
“Come again?” I say, almost choking on the shake.
“Hannah knows someone who might be perfect for you.” Lucas’s voice is filled with caution.
There are no words forming in my head. This is one of those things that I know would be the right thing to do, to plan pro-actively. Coach already warned me that our GM will be on my case, and after last night, I’m sure Harry will be the one to call me later today. If I accept this, then I’d have a plan to present to Harry.
But if not…
“Come on, Dec. Just try.” There’s a hint of pleading in his voice. But I know Lucas, he’ll lay it all out and leave the final decision to me. “It can’t hurt to try and fix the damage. I’m sure that hit will have some sort of fine at the very least. Let’s just try to work on fixing things. We need you out there, you’re a part of this team. You want to fix this right?”
I take a deep breath, imagining for a second what it would be like to never wear my Rangers jersey again. I’d still play hockey, but for a different organization.
But there’s no denying this team is different and that I’ve never felt more at home with any other team.
“I do,” I say with a sigh.
“Then it’s easy. You do what needs to be done,” Lucas says like it’s the easiest thing in the world. “Think about it and let me know.”
“I’ll think about it.”
It goes against everything inside of me to take out a woman and actually date her. So if I do this tonight, I have no idea what to expect, no idea how to act.
I don’t date. I have agreements. That way no one is left wondering what to do.
