AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You should join,” he says, a smile on his face. “Everyone’s posting all their summer escapades. Fucking Boone and Kirill are pretty much sleeping on a beach in Costa Rica trying to learn how to surf.”
A small pang of longing hits.
Not for the beach or surfing, but for caring about what my teammates are doing this summer.
“I’m not on Facebook,” I mutter.
“You should be. It’s a great way to stay in contact.”
“Why would I want to do that?”
Stone looks from his phone to me.
“This isn’t my team anymore,” I say.
“Have you officially announced your retirement?” he throws back, not batting an eye.
My jaw locks tight. “I promised Brienne I wouldn’t make such a proclamation until training camp started.”
“Then you’re still a fucking Titan,” he replies with a wink, putting his phone on the table. “But seriously, man… how’s it going in Coudersport? There’s not much to do there.”
His question relaxes me, since we’re not talking hockey, and weirdly, a fond smile comes to my face. “I’m digging in, to be honest. I love the quiet. I’ve been running the trails, and I’m in the best cardio shape of my life.”
“Yeah, Harlow went to the cabin a few times with Brooks. He loved walking that property.”
Stone mentioning his brother, Brooks, is a stark reminder that I’m not the only one who suffered after that plane crash. His brother was a Titan—my friend—and went down with the others. Stone took his place on the team, and I’m sure he’s had a lot of heavy shit to overcome. I guess that makes us a lot alike.
“I’ve taken up fly-fishing,” I say, wanting to move away from talking about his brother, as that might inspire him to get me to talk about the crash, and fuck if I’m doing that.
“No shit?” Stone leans back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the armrest.
“Yeah… actually hired a guide who took me out and taught me the basics. There’s a stream on the very back of the property. I’m not very good, but I guess it doesn’t matter. I like spending the time out there trying.”
“Very Zen, dude.”
I snort because I haven’t felt Zen or even close to it in months.
The conference room door opens and Harlow walks in. Stone sure hooked up with a stunner with her red hair and bright green eyes. I’ve met her once or twice in passing, and we’ve talked on the phone a few times because not only is she handling the house closing, but she’s helping me with my criminal charges in New York.
I start to stand—manners and all drilled into me—but Harlow waves me back down. It’s a relief because I didn’t want to have to endure a hug of greeting.
I’m not the warm-and-fuzzy type these days.
“Good to see you,” Harlow says with a warm smile and takes a seat next to me to go over the paperwork.
She dives right in, and that’s fine by me. She goes through each document, gives me a layman’s overview of what it says, and then points where to sign. I half listen, knowing none of this is really important because she’s the attorney and knows what she’s doing.
I let words like title insurance, escrow, and easements go in one ear and right out the other. I think about refurbishing an old koi pond that sits off the back deck and maybe finishing the basement to make a nicer workout area.
When we’re done, Harlow smiles. “Congratulations, Coen. You’re a new homeowner.”
And what do you fucking know? I smile back. This is the best thing that’s happened to me since the crash.
“Congrats, man,” Stone says, lifting his ass out of his chair to reach across the conference room table to offer me his hand.
I take it and we shake. “Thanks for selling to me.”
“It’s all good. Harlow and I weren’t ever going to use it. Brooks loved that place, but it wasn’t for me. I’m glad a friend of Brooks’s will enjoy it.”
