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“Hm.” She opens her car door right before I get to mine. “That’s not what they say about good guys, though, right? I thought they always finish last.”
“Too bad I’m not a good guy.” I wink, yanking open my door. “But don’t worry. I’ll always make sure you come first.”
Her jaw drops, and I use the moment of distraction to slide inside my car.
“See you there, Isla.”
With the push of a button, I start the engine and shift into drive. As I pull out of the parking lot, that lightness grows, relaxing my muscles and making my smile wider. Only she can set me straight when I’m diving headfirst into a pool of troubling thoughts.
Isla’s mug of steaming hot chocolate is cradled between her palms. Mine is on the nightstand, just like the pack of Oreos I brought from the kitchen.
Naturally, I let her win, but I don’t think I can eat anything right now.
“Call him.” She nudges me with her shoulder. “I’m here, and whatever it is, we will figure it out together.”
I unlock my phone and navigate to Pablo’s contact. He answers on the second ring, and I put him on speaker so Isla can hear the conversation.
“Finally,” he practically shouts. “I’ve been running around like crazy, trying to find you.”
“Sorry.” I scratch the back of my neck. “I was at the rink, and my phone was on Do Not Disturb.”
“That’s okay.” He clears his throat. “You sitting down?”
I straighten and glance at Isla, who’s next to me on the bed, her eyes glued to my phone. “Yeah.”
“Okay. Summer has come early. I’m not sure if you’ve heard yet, but Ross’ injury is worse than we thought. He’s out for the season, and the Phantoms want you up before winter break. Paperwork’s already moving.”
The words land all at once, like a deluge, nearly drowning me.
“What do you mean summer has come early?” I mutter, my mouth dry. “As in—”
“As in, you’re packing, Michael. Medicals, meetings, media. You’ll skate with them in January, but they want you in the building immediately. Visibility matters. Getting you here ASAP is crucial.”
I thread my fingers through my hair, tugging at the roots. “What about school? The Hawks?”
“That’s not what you should be focusing on,” he says firmly. “You’ve been working your whole life for this opportunity. This has been the plan since you were drafted. It’s just happening a little earlier than expected.”
“But I thought I’d still have time—”
“Michael, this is the time. Talk to your dad, discuss college with him.” He softens his voice. “I’m booking our flights. We need to be in New York in two days.”
Two days…
Tuesday?
Heart in my throat, I turn and lock eyes with Isla.
Her pupils are blown out, her lip caught between her teeth. Her flight to Paris is on Tuesday too. She’s going to France, and I’m going to New York. After her competition, she will be here, and I will be in New York.
“Michael?” Pablo asks, breaking through my spiraling thoughts.
Sucking in a breath, I nod once. “Thanks. Um…I need to talk to Dad, and I need a little time to digest the news.” I clear my throat. “Talk to you tomorrow, or should we just wait until Tuesday?”
“I’ll send you flight details in a few and call you tomorrow.”
He ends the call, plunging my room into a heavy silence.
“Wow.” I drag a shaky hand down my face. “That’s not what I expected.”
