Page 92 of A Scoring Chance
“I’ve been a little busy.”
“Yeah, with your new girlfriend, Ramona King.”
I freeze in place, fear gripping tightly around my heart. I’ve done my best to keep Beauty’s name out of the press, even though Annamarie was more than willing to tell anyone who would listen what her name was. But things have been quiet for the last few months. If Remy is making a comment about our relationship, there has to be a reason. It's never a good thing when your agent is making statements about your personal life.
“How do you know Ramona or that she’s my girlfriend?”
“Besides the stunt you pulled back in September at the exhibition game?” Remy chuckles softly as my shoulders relax. There’s no way he’d be laughing if we had any issues to handle. “You forget I’m from Redwood Falls, too. Mom has been on my ass since she saw you two together about finding a girl of my own. Apparently, if you can think of something other than hockey, it’s time for me to do the same.”
“Sorry, not sorry, man. Ramona King is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
“Damn, you got it bad. Real bad.”
“I do, but we both know that’s not why I called. Why is Cole in Portland?” I check my watch and notice the time. I need to get out the door, or Beau will be waiting for me to leave. I rush out the door, making sure it clicks shut behind me before heading down the stairs.
“He came to talk to the coaching staff and check out the facility over break.”
“I thought he wasn’t interested in leaving Boise?”
“As far as I know, he isn’t, but the Wolverines are playing hardball and have ceased negotiations on his contract for next year.”
Motherfucker. I had a feeling this might happen after we quashed the rumors about me retiring. A few reporters have been poking around the hockey club games, asking questions about my plans for the future, but I shot them all down quickly. I joined the NHL as a Timberwolf, and I’ll end my career as a Timberwolf. I figured that would get any notion of Cole being able to talk me into moving teams out of their heads, but no go. If they want a Hendrix on their roster, they’re going to have to settle for the one they already have. Cole is an amazing hockey player and deserves so much more than they have given him. They used him up and now that he won’t give them exactly what they want, they’re going to spit him out.
“The sad part is that even coming to tour the facility is a waste of time. There’s no way the Timberwolves are going to offer him a spot on the team.”
“Why? Cole is an amazing player, and we have a few guys talking about retiring after we win the Stanley Cup this year.”
“You meanifyou win the Stanley Cup this year.”
“It’s a done deal, Remy. Just accept the inevitable.”
“Nothing is ever set in stone until the final buzzer rings, Cooper. You taught me that lesson.” Remy sighs loudly. I know that sound. That’s the sound he makes when he’s trying to find the right way to phrase something so I don’t blow my top. “But he’ll never get an offer from the team for the same reason the Wolverines are threatening to cut him loose.”
“Me.”
Everyone has been playing Beau, Cole, and me against each other since he entered the league at eighteen. It was a huge scandal that he didn’t sign with the Timberwolves, since Beau and I were already on the team. It never once crossed anyone’s mind that might be the reason he went with our rival in the first place. Couple that with the animosity between Cole and me any time we are on the ice together, and you can imagine some of the headlines. It makes sense the franchise wouldn’t want to piss off one of their star players by signing someone they assume he hates. But I don’t hate my brother, not even close. Not know how to talk to him because we’re so much alike? Yes. But I don’t hate him and would love the chance to play with him again.
“Bingo. The only way they’ll offer Cole a position on the roster is with your blessing.”
Fuck me. I’m damned if I do or damned if I don’t. Cole would never want me to intervene. He’d want to get on the team because of his skills as a hockey player and not because of whatever pull I have with the team. He has the skill to become a real threat with our starting lineup next season—hell, he might even give me a run for my money for the starting center spot.
It would be a lie if I said my three younger brothers weren’t always compared to each other over the years. Beau and I escaped a lot of the comparison because we’re closer in age, not to mention he’s a goalie. Cole and I play the same position and have a similar playing style. It’s almost impossible to not make comparisons between the two of us.
“So we just have to sit and wait; let the chips fall where they may. Unless you want to go have a chat with the GM and tell him how much you’d love to have Cole on the team.”
I come barrelling out of the stairwell door to find Beau leaning against my truck, tapping his watch to hit home the time. Damn, he’s never going to let me live this one down.
“That’s not happening. Maybe I can talk to him. He called Beau about grabbing drinks before he leaves town.”
“Good luck with that. I’ll make sure I have bail money available for one of you.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I grumble, clicking the unlock button for my truck and climbing in.
Coach blows the whistle, and we all skate toward center ice, my eyes drifting to Beauty sitting a few rows up from the ice. I wink at her as she ducks her head, but not before I catch sight of the rose pink color covering her cheeks.
“Some of us are here to play hockey, not flirt with the puck bunnies,” someone grumbles as I come to a stop in the huddle.
“If you were more focused on what was going on on the ice, you’d have made at least one of your shots since we started practice,” Beau growls, quickly losing his patience.
