Page 33 of Hot Puck
“Okay. I’ll look at the contract. But”—I hold up a hand to stop her from speaking—“I won’t make a decision on my own. The twins will need to weigh-in, and I’ll need to research schools and see your house.”
“I can help with the school, and I have pictures of my house on my phone but if you want, we can take a trip to see it in person.”
“Is that wise? Won’t that draw attention to us?”
“I can make it happen without anyone knowing.”
“How?”
“Private jet.”
“You have a private jet? Wait. Of course you do.”
I scrub a hand over my head again. My mind is spinning but I can’t deny I want to say yes to playing for the Rogues without any of the other stuff.
But I can no longer make snap decisions like that. I need to consider how they affect the girls and my need to parent them as our parents would have.
“Think about what I’ve said.” She taps the pile of papers on the table in front of her. “Read this. Make notes or highlight whatever you have questions about.”
Natalie has it all set up. Contract, highlighters, sticky notes. I hadn’t even noticed it when we sat down. Sure, I saw it butseeingit didn’t happen.
“What’s that?” I point to the business card on the other side of her.
“Drake Morgan’s contact information.”
“The agent?”
“Yes. He represents a few of our players as well as our head coach.”
“Walker Alcott, right?”
“Yes.”
“And Blake Watts is assistant coach?”
“Yes.”
“Can you name other players? I understand if you can’t.”
“I can tell you a few. Others are in final negotiations. The ones we’ve already signed who have been announced are, Beckett Higgison, Branton Lattimer Watts, Ryder?—”
“Lattimer Watts?”
“When Branton married Blake, he took her last name.”
“Lattimer married Blake?”
“For someone who has spent his life working toward playing in the NHL you aren’t up on the recent media attention.”
“I don’t need to know about the personal lives of players or coaches to work for a spot in the league.”
“I guess not.” She pushes her chair back. “I’ll head out. The twins said they need to be dropped off at nine tomorrow. I can be here at seven to help with the morning routine and drop off if you want.”
“You”—I shake my head—“Is this what you mean about being the other parent in their life?”
“Yes.”
As much as I don’t want to think of myself—or Natalie—as their parent, it’s what I am, what she would be if I take her up on her offer, no matter our connections to the girls.
