Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Zach

Even though I took a two-hour nap on the hammock yesterday, I still slept like a baby last night. I haven't been this rested in years, which makes me think there's something about the air in Maple Falls that acts like a tranquilizer. Yet, I expect my sense of calm has more to do with Ellie than the air. She makes me feel peaceful and protective—even when she's grumbling at me, her presence is a balm.

Looking through my suitcase, I can't decide if I should wear a suit to the rink or if I should dress more casually. A suit might make me look like a stuffy billionaire—like I was trying to put myself above everyone else, and jeans could send the message that I'm not giving the event the amount of respect it deserves. I wind up splitting the difference and putting on a pair of khakis with a nice shirt, no tie.

I'm not usually the type of guy to overthink his wardrobe. The only reason I'm giving it any thought now is because of the damage Yolanda has done to my reputation. I want to see that woman today as much as I want to jump out of a plane without a parachute. Unfortunately, I have no doubt she's going to be at all the events and I'm going to have to keep my cool.

I'm tempted to stop and see Ellie on my way out today, but I think better of it after the way we parted company yesterday. While I thought we had a good day, she pulled back rather dramatically.

As soon as I get into the SUV, I turn on the ignition before rolling the windows down. Then I back out of the driveway and head toward my destiny. I hope Troy is right and this project will turn things around for me. Too bad when he created his plan, neither of us suspected Yolanda would be here.

As soon as I arrive at the arena, I run my fingers through my hair to tame the wind damage caused by the ride over here. After getting out of the car, I head toward the locker room. I assume all the players are here, but from the number of cars in the lot, it doesn't look like a ton of press have arrived. Most of them are probably going to skip it and just hit the main event later at the hotel.

Walking through the locker room door, I'm met by a scene that temporarily causes my throat to tighten. I see familiar faces I know from going to games over the years, like Noah Beaumont, a hotshot who was playing for a team out of New York until he bad boyed his way down to an AHL team. Troy always liked him, so I trust his judgment. But, hey, at least he got a shot at the NHL.

When I was injured in college, I had to force myself to put all things hockey behind me. It was an act of self-preservation. Yet standing amid so many players now—some that I know and some I don't—makes me feel a nostalgia that nearly brings me to my knees.

Even being on the ice with Tommy the other night didn't affect me like this. I'm about to turn and walk back outside when I hear a familiar voice. "Zach, my man! How the heck have you been?"

Turning around, I spy the familiar face of Dan Roberts—my nephew's hero. Sticking out my hand, I greet, "Dan, how are you? I hear you're the Ice Breakers captain. "

Dan ignores my hand and pulls me into a man hug before proceeding to pat my back like he's trying to burp a gorilla. "Sure am," he says. "Happy to be back in Maple Falls."

Dan grew up here and talked about his hometown so fondly that when Troy was looking for a place to settle down, he decided he had to visit. He never left.

"I bet Maple Falls is happy to have you back."

Dan seems pensive for a beat before saying, "My family is."

Something about his tone makes me think there might be someone else who isn't as eager to see him. I'll have to remember to ask him about it at another time. I currently have bigger fish to fry. "Have you seen Troy?"

He points across the room. "He's in his office." Then he adds, "Watch out; I saw Yolanda Simms out there. That woman is bent on ending you, Zach."

"Tell me about it." I don't bother defending myself because I'm fairly certain Dan knows I'm not the kind of guy I'm being portrayed as being. "I'll see you later," I tell him before walking away.

I call out a few other greetings as I make my way across the room, but I don't stop moving until I'm standing at the entrance of the press room. Peeking through the small square window on the door, I see a dozen or so reporters, as well as my brother, who's shuffling through a stack of papers at a desk set up in front of the assemblage.

Troy looks up and sees me before standing up and joining me in the hall. "Hey, bro. You ready?"

"As I'll ever be, I suppose."

"Just play it cool," he tells me. "Yolanda is sure to ask questions about you and her, but I'll cut her off. Most of the folks inside are from local affiliates and not national ones, so I'm going to let them ask the bulk of the questions."

Nodding my head, I tell him, "Let's do this."

Before we meet the press, Troy crosses the hall and opens the locker room door. He shouts, "We're ready to start! Come on out into the hallway. I'll signal you when it's time to introduce you."

As soon as my brother and I walk into the press room, the reporters begin a barrage of questions. Troy raises his hand to quiet them before saying, "Welcome to the first annual Ice Breakers All-Star charity hockey tournament. I'd like to introduce you all to my little brother Zach."

"Oh, we know Zach," a man in the front calls out before asking, "What's going on with you and Yolanda?"

Instead of letting me answer, Troy says, "Zach is going to match all corporate donations of up to two million dollars."

"Is that because The Tattler accused you of being a tightwad, Zach?" a female reporter wants to know.

I shake my head before offering, "I donate a lot of money to charity, but I don't make all of those donations public. I'm participating in this event because I have a soft spot for kids in need."

"So you're not here to clear up your bad press?" someone else asks.

"I don't pander to anyone. Not even the press," I tell them.

"Not even when you've dumped one of us so unceremoniously?" Yolanda has entered the discussion.

"Yolanda," I say. "You and I went on three perfectly nice dates. I have no idea why you decided to announce to the world that we were in an exclusive relationship when we hadn't so much as held hands. My choosing not to see you after that cannot be called dumping you."

"Zach …" She bats her eyes several times like she's trying to hold back tears. "I don't know why you're lying about us, but it really hurts."

"I don't know why you're lying," I tell her. "Not only is it unprofessional, but it makes you look like a fool." I didn't mean to add that last bit, but the woman has a way of riling me up.

"Do you always call your girlfriends fools?" This from the reporter who asked the first question .

"I don't call any of my girlfriends fools." I tell him. "Which should make it clear that Ms. Simms never held that title."

Before things can go more off the rails, Troy takes over. "I know a lot of you are hoping to get answers from my brother, but please remember that Zach and I are here to raise money for charity."

Troy spends the next half-hour introducing the players to the press, starting with local Maple Falls hero Dan Roberts. This has the desired effect of getting everyone back on task. While the team answers questions, I slip out of the room, hoping for a break from the chaos. Even though I shouldn't be, I'm surprised when Yolanda joins me.

"Are you ready to hear me out?" she asks.

I look at her sleek blonde hair and her overly made-up face and search for a clue as to why she's targeting me. "I have no desire to talk to you."

She rolls her eyes. "Zach, I have a proposition for you. If you'll just listen to me, you'll understand the genius of it."

"Does your proposition involve you telling the world that you're a liar?"

She scoffs loudly. "Of course not."

"Then I'm not interested." And even though I feel quite righteous in my indignation, a part of me can't help but wonder if I've just signed my own death warrant.