Page 64 of The Groupie

Zak

We’re filing off the team charter plane in Detroit, and most of the guys, the married ones, have their phones to their ears. A shot of wistfulness jars me. Since when do I envy the married guys? Haven’t I always been happy to be a bachelor?

The answer is that it was before my Bachelor of the Year status. And before Rylee, if I’m a hundred percent honest. Nowicki catches up to me as we get on the bus taking us to our hotel.

“I just heard from Suzie,” he says.

“Not you too? I didn’t think you’d turn into one of the pussy-whipped guys.”

He laughs and then shoves my shoulder as he takes a seat next to me near the back where the single guys sit. It’s funny, now that I realize it, how the team sits divided along the lines of bachelorhood versus married. Most of the bachelors are rookies, and we’ve always claimed to be the happily unmarried side of the divide. Now, I’m not so sure.

“You should talk. You’re as smitten as I’ve ever seen a man.”

I’m about to argue with him, which amounts to arguing with myself, when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I check it, and it’s Jett.

“I need to take this call.” He smirks. I smirk back. “Don’t get all self-righteous. It’s my agent.” I face the window, keeping my voice low, and answer the call.

“I need you to do me a favor.”

“Anything.” My answer doesn’t get more automatic.

“It’s more a favor for Rylee.” He pauses as if he thinks I might change my mind. If anything, I dig into my position with enthusiasm.

“What’s up?” My tell-tale heart rate starts to pick up as I try to stay in the moment and not project disaster.

“Her former agent called and told her the deal with GNU for the promo she shot a couple of weeks ago has been canceled, and they’re not paying the fee beyond the small advance she got.”

“Why?” I know I’m not going to like the answer, and I can’t help my mind spinning out of control and attributing all the bad news onto her fucking coach, Chuck Banner.

“They’re concerned about her place on the Olympic team based on something Mr. Banner told them.”

“That son of a—” My voice rises, and a couple of heads turn my way before I calm down. “What do you need from me?”

Jett explains his plan and my role in it, and as I nod, I don’t even flinch when he mentions Candice’s name.

When we get to the hotel, I’m on a mission, and it’s not hockey. Skipping the team meal, I head for my room and make my call to Candice to ask for a favor. It should be difficult and uncomfortable to do, but I’m zoned in on my purpose.

“Sure, I can do that. I have a friend at the show. Let me get back to you. But if I come through, you need to come through for me.”

“You’re on.” I end the call, and I should feel like I just made a deal with the devil, but satisfaction is what runs through me. I pace around the room while my stomach grumbles, and I ignore it. I’ll eat later, after I get the confirmation from Candice.

She’s agreed to ask her friend to get Rylee an interview spot on her local magazine show. In return, I’ve promised Candice I’ll do an on-camera interview for her online magazine. In her interview, Rylee will talk about the Olympics and reveal that she’s home for her mamma, who is sick and having surgery.

Once that happens, Jett is confident that he can convince the people at GNU to run the commercial and pay Rylee as promised. In the meantime, I’m fronting Rylee the rest of her fee, although I swore Jett to secrecy. He’s agreed to tell her it’s from GNU, so she won’t balk.

All the arrangements are made and confirmed while the rest of my team is napping—while I’m supposed to be napping—before we leave for the game. In fact, I’m cutting it close as I button my shirt and hear the solid knock on my door.

“Let’s go, Zak. We missed you at dinner. You okay?” It’s O’Rourke.

I open the door as I finish buttoning my shirt cuffs, my tie undone around my neck. He looks me over, partly annoyed and partly concerned.

“I’m fine. I had some business to take care of.”

“You get any sleep?”

I shake my head.

“Shit. Get your act together and focus. Forget about whatever your business was, and concentrate on hockey. Be on the bus in ten minutes, and when we get to the rink, make sure your head is in the game.”