Brooke reached a hand across the table to hold mine. “Pick up. It could be good news too. Or perhaps he just wants to ask how you’re doing.”
“Maybe.” My eyes were back on my phone, my thumb hovering over the accept button but there was a moment of hesitation.
What if he was about to tell me bad news? It could ruin my entire mood. And what if that was going to set me back?
Then again, Anthony wasn’t anything like Pike. He was more understanding, and Colin told him what was going on.
So I picked up.
“Carter,” I said, hoping to sound neutral.
“Reece, are you seated right now?” Anthony sounded much happier than usual, it was strange. He wasn’t broody by any means, but cheerful?
What an odd question as well.
“I am?”
“Good,” he said. “You will want to sit down for what I have to say. But first, how are you?”
“I’ve seen better days,” I answered honestly.
I felt Brooke’s thumb brush over my knuckles, instantly drawing my attention to our hands.
There was no reason why a woman’s touch should make a guy feel at peace when there was a whole storm inside of him, but somehow Brooke managed to do just that to me.
When her eyes were on mine, her love for me was palpable. When her hand touched my own, every nerve in my bodycalmed instantly. When she was around, breathing made sense again.
Only with her, I could live.
She was the antidote that made life’s poison bearable.
“Of course. I am very sorry about your loss,” Anthony said, the cheery tone gone and replaced by sympathy.
“Thank you.”
“Now, I understand this might be an awful moment to call, but I have news that is supposed to make you happy.”
“Okay?” My eyebrows drew together in confusion. Anticipation filled my body, and though every instinct of mine wanted me to walk around the room, Brooke’s touch kept me seated. “What is it?”
“The Rangers want to draft you,” he told me.
My heart stopped beating and for a split second, my lungs were giving in and there wasn’t any oxygen coming through.
This was impossible.
“But I haven’t even entered the draft yet,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Brooke cocked her head, confused. Hell,Iwas confused.
“I know, Reece,” Anthony replied, his tone once again excited but more serious this time. “They reached out to me shortly after your father’s passing but I figured it was an even worse moment to call you.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t explain why… how?”
“They don’t want to risk losing you to another team. The Rangers have been keeping an eye on you for a long while now, and they obviously see a lot of potential in you. This isn’t just about talent though, it’s about legacy.”
So Colin said, but I barely wanted to believe him.
I felt a lump in my throat, my heart was racing, but somehow I couldn’t seem to be happy about it. There was no way this was real.
