Chapter 58

KNOX

“Have another beer,”Cooper offers.

“No, I’m good, man.”

“Just call me Cooper.”

“I think you two are hitting it off,” Coach Damon says with a proud look on his face. “I knew you two would work well together.”

“This isn’t a date,” Cooper says to Coach Damon. “How much have you had to drink?”

“Stuff it up your ass, Cooper,” Coach Damon says. “I just handed you another seven figures, huh?”

“Wow, thanks for making me feel like a whore,” I say.

Cooper cracks up laughing.

“Knox, you’re sitting on a goldmine here,” Coach Damon says. “I never do this kind of thing. But you’re the future. I hope you know that.”

“Coach is right,” Cooper says. “And like I told you, I’ll guide you along the way. Players like you make my job easy. It’s the other side of it that pisses me off.”

“Meaning?” I ask.

“The leeches. The ones who promise you big but come up short. And they’re everywhere, Knox.”

“How do I know you’re not one of them?”

“Knox,” Coach Damon says.

“Fair question,” Cooper says. “Truth is you don’t know. Let me ask you something though. Have I pushed anything on you? Have I told you what to do? Have I made a promise yet?”

I shake my head. “You’ve talked. That’s it. But talk is cheap, Cooper. What’s the plan?”

Cooper drinks his beer from a pint glass.

He’s just like some regular guy.

Not in a fancy suit and tie and talking fast and telling me I’ll be filthy rich.

“What do you want your plan to be, Knox?” Cooper asks. “What’s your vision?”

“Right now? You want to know the truth? I’m about to be a father.”

Cooper nods.

Zero fucking judgement from him.

“Was that part of the plan? Not at all. I’ve learned to let plans have wiggle room. My father is a high profile prosecutor. I grew up with nothing but plans. High strung kind of shit, okay? And I approach hockey the same way. It’s never failed me. But now I’ve got this… situation…”

“Knox,” Coach Damon says. He places a hand to my shoulder. “We can talk about this privately. If you have things on your mind about the baby.”

“Damon,” Cooper says. “Why don’t you go take a walk?”

I laugh.

Coach Damon crosses his arms.

“Continue,” Cooper says to me. “I want to know your vision. All of it.”

“I’ll put it all on the table,” I say. “I want to earn money right now. I want to know all my options. Sign a deal? Enter the draft? Give me everything you’ve got, Cooper. I need to know what’s legally allowed and not allowed when it comes to getting paid. But I’m ready for this.”

Cooper nods some more. “So you’re first concern is financial. Makes total sense. You have a baby on the way. I’m going to assume you’re looking to get yourself set up somewhere. Off campus.”

“I’m not into this kind of talking either, Cooper. Just so you know. This vulnerability shit? Screw that.”

“I think what he means is that-”

“He trusts me,” Cooper says, cutting off Coach Damon. “And I respect that. At the collegiate level there are a lot of loopholes and bullshit to sort through when it comes to money. But I also respect your honesty. For good reason too. You’re coming into this whole thing with a sense of maturity that not many have. You mentioned your father is a lawyer. Should we give him a call? Set up a meeting? I’d be happy to talk about everything with him too.”

“He’ll talk you out of this gig,” I say.

“He can talk all he wants. I don’t need to represent you, Knox. I hope that’s not too much of a fucked up thing to say. I’ve made my money. What I look for now is talent and then guide that talent. Look, no matter what you do you’re looking at a lucrative career. What I would like to do for you is make it smooth. Contracts are clear, precise, the money is fair. We don’t have to shake hands today. We don’t have sign any paperwork. Hell, I didn’t bring anything with me. We’re just a few guys having some beers.”

“I bet half of what we’re talking about isn’t even legal,” I say. “I’m out of my element, aren’t I?”

“Not exactly. There are new laws in place right now.”

“I know what I want here, Cooper,” I say. “It’s time.” I look at Coach Damon. “You trust Cooper, right?”

“Yeah,” Coach Damon says. “And I don’t do this kind of thing. I don’t parade players in front of Cooper.”

“That’s true,” Cooper says.

“I’m the best goddamn goalie in the country, Cooper,” I say. “And I will take the pros by storm. Nobody knows what’s about to happen. But before any of that goes, I have a family to take care of.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way, Knox,” Cooper says. “I’ll tell you this… I find out you’re dicking around or end up being a shitty father… I’ll drop you as a client and then I’ll kick your ass. Deal?”

Cooper offers his right hand.

I have never returned a handshake so fast in my life.

I finish my beer, my head racing with too many thoughts.

“Can’t even get this guy to drink,” Cooper says. “He’s obsessed…”

I stand up. “I have to go. There’s something I need to do.”

“Nothing stupid, I hope,” Cooper says.

“Stupid? No…”

… but it might be the craziest thing I’ve ever done in my life.