Page 66 of Hot Puck
“And her mom won’t move here?”
“No. She’s got a good job, with benefits, and she’s worked her way to where she is without help. Although, once I knew about Bella, I’ve been making sure neither of them go without. I even bought an apartment, wanted to give it to her but she refused.” He snorts. “She pays me market rent on the damn thing.”
“You don’t need the money.”
“I don’t. That’s why I’m funneling it into an account for Bella’s future. Or a rainy day if something goes wrong.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all worked out. Except living close.”
“Yep.” He leans into the aisle before turning back and lowering his voice. “I want a trade. I might have someone willing to swap but we haven’t spoken to anyone about it. You’re close with the GM, right?”
“Ah… She’s helping me with my sisters.” I don’t elaborate. And it’s ridiculous to deny because everyone has seen Gem with the girls. Mainly Candace.
“Do you think she’d listen if I could convince the guy from New York to trade places? Our positions are the same, deals similar, and I’d take a cut to go back home.”
“Shit, man, you need to talk to someone about this. I think Gem would be open to the suggestion, but it can’t be a simple swap. The New York GM would have to agree.”
“I know, I know.” He shakes his head. “I’m just testing the scenario.”
“Casio. If you hate it here that?—”
“Don’t hate it. Kinda love it actually. But I feel guilty about that too.”
“Look, I’m cool with talking to you about this, but I think you need someone who can help fix the situation. And that isn’t me.”
“I get it. I just wondered how you deal with being away from your sisters. Didn’t mean to dump all that on you. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. I’m happy to talk. Whenever you want or need.”
“Thanks.”
“I mean it, talk to Coach or even Gem. What does your agent say?”
He snorts. “He thinks I’m an idiot for wanting to go back. New York is still struggling after the drama from last season.”
“That was bad.” I’d spent a few weeks refreshing my knowledge of the league after arriving in Baton Rouge and read all about the ex-husband of the owner taking her to court to try and wrestle the team from her.
“It looked bad from the outside, the inside was a little easier, but still not good for the players.”
“Explains how you ended up at the bottom of the standings when the year before you almost made it to the cup.”
“Losing Walker didn’t help. And I don’t know what happened, but Landon Watts wasn’t playing at his best.”
“They’re looking good this year though.”
“They are. But then so are we.” He grins. “I might want to live in New York, but I want to play for the Rogues. I think we’re going all the way this year.”
“It’s our first season.”
“Wouldn’t matter if it was our tenth. The team is playing fantastic hockey.”
I shake my head. “And you want to leave that?”
“No. Not really. But Bella is more important than a career that’s going to be over in a few years.”
“Would you retire early?”
“No. Although I have thought about it.”
