2. Ash

Itry to balance my coffee while putting my sunglasses on, the sun beating down as if to punish me.

I try to ignore my headache as I make my way inside, but pain shoots through my skull with every step.

The door slams behind me and I flinch.

I can feel Coach Mac’s eyes on me through the glass wall of the meeting room. I smile, hoping to keep the energy upbeat, but I’m met with a chorus of angry voices. Holding up my free hand in surrender, I say, “It’s all good. Everyone calm down.”

The room is thick with tension as everyone waits for me to explain myself.

Natalie shoots daggers at me from across the table. I know it’s her day off as well and I’ve ruined it.

I set my coffee down and take a seat. “Look, I’m sorry this happened, but it’s so not a big deal. His ego got hurt from losing a bet, that’s all.”

Natalie gives Patrick and Lily, the other members of the PR team, a pointed look.

Patrick clears his throat. “He’s saying that you ruined his car collection and wants you to pay for the lot.”

I bite the inside of my mouth, replaying the final bet in my head. “That’s not my fault. He’s the one who got super-competitive and involved his cars.”

Natalie raises an eyebrow. “I still don’t understand how the cars ended up in the pool.”

I shrug. “It doesn’t matter. Even though it wasn’t my fault, I’ll pay the damages.” I roll my eyes. “It’s not a big deal.”

Coach Mac sighs. That’s not a good sign.

He clicks his tongue and I brace myself.

“I don’t care about the money. This is about your attitude. You’ve been reckless. Your behavior has been getting worse, Ash, and this is the final straw.”

I scrunch my forehead. My behavior? “What about Rhys or Sullivan?”

Coach’s face goes red. “This isn’t about them; this is about you. You’re off the team for the rest of the season.”

I jump out of my seat. “What?!”

He steps toward me. “It’s only a few weeks, but we feel it’s necessary.”

I can’t believe this. Other guys on the team have done much worse, but I’m being punished. This is bullshit.

I slump into the chair.

Coach sits down and leans toward me. “This is for your own good, son. This is about your future and making sure you have one.”

I sigh. I don’t see how.

I suddenly remember Natalie, Lily and Patrick are still here.

Natalie leans forward, and her stare feels like it’s piercing my soul. “This is serious. Your sponsorship deals are on the line.”

I start to ask if it’s all of them. I have a few major sponsors in the pipeline for next season.

Natalie puts her finger up to stop me from interrupting. “Yes, even the ones for next season. At this point, you might not have another season.”

I lean my head back and groan. “What do I need to do?”

It’s quiet for a moment as Lily taps her pen against the table. I sit up straight. The PR team seem to be having a silent argument.

Natalie looks at Patrick. He sits up straighter and clears his throat. “Your image needs to be squeaky-clean. No media or press at all.”

I scoff. “Fine. I’ll be as squeaky-clean as a boy band wearing purity rings if that’s what it takes.”

Natalie rolls her eyes. “It’s not going to work if you don’t take it seriously.”

Patrick nods at Natalie. “We advise you skip town for a few weeks, until the media frenzy settles down.”

I look at Natalie. “Hold on, shouldn’t I be defending myself? It wasn’t my fault.”

She sighs. “We’re handling it, but the best thing you can do right now is disappear.”

This is ridiculous. I didn’t do anything wrong. I know at least five other players have done worse things, and none of them are missing the end of the season.

I put my head in my hands as I try to digest the information.

Natalie’s phone buzzes. “We’ve got to handle this, but in the meantime, disappear.”

Everyone gets up to leave and I take a deep breath.

Coach Mac pauses at the door. “Stay out of trouble, kid.”

I nod and he leaves.

My blood boils. I want to scream. I want to punch something. I clench and unclench my fists and try to take a few deep breaths. I can’t believe I’m going to miss the end of the season. I’ve worked so hard all year.

The infuriating part is it’s not even about my hockey skills. I’m one of the best players on the team — it’s insane that they won’t let me finish out the season. We’re pretty much guaranteed to get in the final. I can’t believe I won’t be there.

I pace back and forth trying to come to terms with everything that’s happening.

I just need a plan. I need somewhere to disappear to.

I rack my brain as I storm out to my car, going through the list of people I know who live outside the city. The only person I can think of is my college buddy, Jack.

We fell out of touch when he moved to Colorado to take over his dad’s ranch. I’ve been meaning to catch up with him, so this could be the perfect opportunity. I rarely leave the city, but a few weeks on a ranch could be refreshing.

I whip out my phone and call Jack. I’m worried he might not answer as the phone keeps ringing.

“Hey, A-list.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “Hey, J.”

“You need me to bail you out of somewhere again?”

I chuckle. Jack got me out of a lot of scrapes in college. I remember when I was taped to a flagpole by an opposing team. He came and got me down. Classic Jack. He was never surprised I got myself into these situations. He never judged me for it either, which is why we’re buddies.

One time he bailed me out of jail after I got caught retaliating against the team that put me on that flagpole.

They were frequent occurrences between hockey teams, so Jack bailed me out at least once a week.

He called me a trouble magnet because I always ended up in the middle of all the chaos. I was the captain; I had to be a leader and defender to all my guys. It came with the territory.

“You know me so well. I was wondering if I could come and visit for a few weeks?”

He laughs. “As long as my tractor doesn’t end up in a pool. Yeah, I’ve been keeping tabs on you.”

I roll my eyes. “Wow, you read the tabloids just for me? Stalker.”

He scoffs. “I had to make sure you weren’t getting into too much trouble without me around. I see you don’t need me as a wingman anymore.”

I laugh. “Don’t hate the player.”

We used to say that to girls when they would get angry at us for not committing.

I’m always upfront about having no strings attached. Yet, they still got attached. I don’t understand how it’s always my fault. I’m always honest from the start.

“Definitely come visit. It’ll do you good to get your head of out the clouds. I can deflate that ego of yours a little bit.”

I laugh. “Always keeping me so grounded.”

“Someone has to. Plus, the most trouble you can get in here is tipping a cow over.”

I think back to my grandparents’ ranch. I don’t think that’s something that happens.

Jack laughs at my silence. Yep, he was just messing with me.

“I was trying to figure out the logistics of it.”

Loud animal sounds blare through the phone.

“Got to run,” Jack says. “I’ll text you the address. See you soon, A-list.”

He hangs up.

I wonder what kind of trouble animals get into on a farm. It can’t be that hard to run a ranch, right?