Page 104 of Lucky Puck

“I am. But I’m her friend.”

I nod and we grab some slices and head back into the living room. I pull up a third chair to take advantage of the harbor view, and we sit.

“I read a lot of shit online, Holden, but nothing illegal. I’ll call your sponsors in the morning.”

“Wait a minute,” Jett says. “That’s my job.”

“Fine. We’ll both call. Since they’re enjoying so much publicity and we can spin this all in a very harmless way with interviews, social media, and news articles, I don’t think we’ll have a problem. I know Stubichuk. He’s a very practical guy. He doesn’t want to tamper with the new phenom and the surge in hockey interest. So he’ll go along with the innocent slant.”

“Especially since it’s the truth,” I say. “You didn’t need to come here today to say this.”

“Nope. But I heed good advice when given by one of my most trusted professional friends—that would be Brooks. So when she said you needed looking after, here I am.”

“Ah. I see you’re from the Brooks school of client management, doing whatever it takes.”

“In the most professional way possible.” She winks.

We haven’t taken more than a few bites of pizza when there’s another ring on the doorbell.

Ax shoulders past me into the room carrying a case of beer.

“Don’t tell me Brooks sent you too.”

“No.” His face clouds in momentary confusion. “I wanted to move back in before she called me. Thought you could use the company in this trying time.”

“This trying time?” I’m almost amused.

“How’d you know Brooks called?”

“It’s what she does.” She’s always thinking of me, trying to take care of me, and everyone she cares about.

Over beer and whatever pizza Ax lets us eat, we strategize next steps. He joins in the discussion, invited or not, and spends most of his attention on the admittedly lovely Heidi Lawless.

I pace around the room.

“Let’s set up the meeting with all the stakeholders for Wednesday after practice.”

“We have a game Thursday,” Ax says. “As long as it’s not going to run late.”

“It shouldn’t take more than two hours. Tops.”

“Are you kidding?” Heidi says. “It’ll take thirty minutes. I figure that’s the only way we’ll get everyone we need there.”

“How are you going to keep it to 30 minutes?” Jett asks.

“We’re not going to let anyone else do any talking. It’s Brody’s meeting. They either buy in or they’re out.”

I grin because I like her style. I notice Ax grinning too, but he looks more starstruck, like Heidi is some kind of goddess from the attorney world and he’s her loyal subject.

“Let’s get down to business. I think I have an understanding of the issues. What are your proposed solutions?”

Ax mostly listens, and I do most of the talking with input from Heidi and Jett.

Once the pizza boxes are empty along with all the beer and half a bottle of the Courvoisier, it’s Ax who says the most important thing.

“I hate to say this, Brody, but after listening to you and everything that’s going on, I’m betting you don’t need me as your roommate. I’m betting you want someone else named Brooks to room with you.”

I laugh, and it’s not that heavy, half-sad, and pathetic laugh I’ve been subjecting people to for the past week.