13. Bryce

13

Bryce

“ B ryce, we got an offer from the team.” My agent, Alex, woke me at 7 a.m. to deliver his news. “They wanted to ask if you would be interested in joining the team as an assistant coach. You wouldn’t be making as much in that position but would still be a part of the hockey world. The package they are offering is one of the best I’ve seen in years. You told me you don’t need the money, but if you want to stay in the field of hockey without playing any longer, this could be a great opportunity.”

“Alex, I told you before. I am staying in Valleywood. I am done chasing hockey stardom. I have new dreams now.”

“Do they have to do with a certain high school sweetheart you’ve rekindled things with?” Alex chuckled. “Of course they do. Maybe you can talk him into moving here with you.”

“But I want to be here.”

“Don’t you miss us?”

“Of course, I miss you and the team.”

Bang.

“Hold on.” I put the phone on mute and yelled, “You okay, babe? Do I need to come help you?”

“No.” Connor poked his head into the room, red-faced and shaky. “I accidentally knocked a picture off the wall out here. I’ll clean it up. No worries. You can get back to whatever you were doing.”

“Okay. Shout if you end up needing me after all.”

“I will.” Connor walked away, and I unmuted my call.

“Hey, Alex. I’m back. Listen, tell the team I’m not coming back. Tell anyone who asks that I’m not interested in any position that would take me out of Valleywood, okay? That’s my final decision. My mate, my family, and my home are all here. I’m done being other places.”

“Okay, man. I’ll let them know. And I’ll inform you if anything pops up near Valleywood, okay?”

“Sounds like a plan, thanks. Talk to you soon.”

Disconnecting the call, I went to the hallway to help Connor, but he was already gone, and the mess was cleaned up. I needed to make sure he didn’t cut himself though.

Making my way down to the kitchen, I found Connor looking at the food in the pantry.

“Thinking about what we should make for lunch?” I came up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my chin on his shoulder. “I could take you out somewhere instead. Do you have a taste for something in particular?”

Connor leaned back into me. “Is there any way we can track down Firedancer Food Truck? I could really use some spicy BBQ right now.”

“I’ll jump online and see if I can track their location down. Their fans usually keep the page updated.” I kissed his cheek and pulled away to look up the Facebook page that kept track of such information.

Connor

“Did you finish your manuscript? Connor?” Evelyn walked onto my porch, where I was sitting, enjoying my morning coffee. “The publishers called and wanted to know if it’s ready for them.”

“I thought we still had a few more days.” I put my coffee mug down and pulled my phone out of my pocket, checking my calendar for the date.

“We technically do.” Evelyn sat on the chair beside mine and sipped from her travel mug. “But if you have finished it, I can send it over. With the bullshit they’ve been pulling with the authors lately, I want everything to go smoothly. I figured this would ensure they wouldn’t find an excuse to fuck with you.”

“I am almost finished with my self-edits.” I picked my mug up and took a sip. “Let me finish my morning coffee, and then I’ll spend the rest of the day in my editing cave and send it tonight or early tomorrow at the latest.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Evelyn relaxed back in the chair. “Just give me a few minutes, and I will leave you to it.”

“No rush.” The dark circles under her eyes and the tense position of her shoulders clued me in that something was weighing heavy on her shoulders. “Is everything okay? You seem stressed. I mean, more than your normal level.”

Sighing, Evelyn turned her head and looked at me fully. “Honestly, Connor, I have been so incredibly tired lately. And everything at work seems to be crashing down. I no longer know if I am in the right job.”

“I thought you loved your job.” I always heard Evelyn say how happy she was to see her clients succeed. I assumed that meant she enjoyed it. “Do you think you might need a vacation away from it all? Maybe you should visit your brother in Florida for a month or two. Once I turn in my manuscript, the editors will have it for a while, so I shouldn’t need much help here. And I probably need us to do it over the phone. How about your other clients?”

“That’s the thing, Connor.” Evelyn closed her eyes and leaned her head back. “You are my only client. My manager has taken everyone’s cases and redistributed them. Since your contract states I am the only representative you will work with, they couldn’t take your case from me. So, they refused to give me any others. They said I need to focus 100 percent on you and getting your obligations met.”

“They act like I have been an issue client that you need to hand-hold.”

“Don’t see it like that. The truth is all the other clients were giving issues, and you are the only one we didn’t need to hand-hold. And they wanted your case to look good to the higher-ups. But since I am the only agent you listed, they couldn’t. So, they limited my access to anyone else. And they have tried to make the office environment inhospitable for me. They wore perfumes they were aware would trigger my migraines, and they kept trying to plant rumors high on the chain of command that I refused more clients, not that they wouldn’t give them to me. It’s a he-said-and-she-said type of thing, and they are currently winning. Maybe you are right, and I need a break.”

“After hearing that, I say you definitely do.” I reached over and patted her hand. “Maybe we should discuss that you and I were going to a different agency or striking out independently. Unless these idiots make it right.”

“I don’t think the company itself is bad—just the new management they put in place. I am going to put in my leave request and see what happens there. Even while I’m out of town visiting my brother Donnie, I’ll be available to you, so they shouldn’t have an issue.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Now, tell me about your man and that mating mark I see on your neck.”

My face heated. “Things are good, I guess.”

“You guess? You let him claim you, so I hope it’s good.”

“It is.” I shook my head, trying to clear away the negative thoughts. It didn’t work, so I figured I would tell my best friend my fears. “Everything with Bryce has been amazing. He shows me he loves me with his actions, not only with words. He remembers and celebrates our past but strives to create new memories together. He says he wants a future with me, here in Valleywood.”

“Then, why do I get the impression you are unsure about something?”

“How can you give up the life he had out in the world, making all that money, winning those championships, and being the focus of all those adoring fans? How can he abandon that life for this one? For plain old me?”

“First off, you are anything but plain or old.” Evelyn held up her fingers as she ticked off her points. “Second, I bet he isn’t giving that up for you. He is doing it because he wants something else more. He’s moving on from what he had for what he thinks is a better future. So, really, he is doing it for himself. And third, you really should talk to him about these fears and let him be the one to ease your mind. Don’t let it build up and become a huge mess. Communication is the key to relationships.”

“I know.” I stretched my neck and got up from the chair, Ren slinking out of his hiding spot and spooking Evelyn as he walked past her. He wasn’t a big Evelyn fan, especially since she kept forgetting the promised kitty treats. “I’m out of coffee. You can come in for more coffee and chat though.”

I didn’t want to rush Evelyn off, but I needed to get back to work, which meant getting back inside and upping my caffeine intake.

“No, I need to let you get that manuscript finished.” Evelyn stood and wrapped me in her arms. “Thank you for listening to me vent. And remember what I said. Don’t waste your time stressing. Talk to Bryce and let him prove you wrong.”