I sit up in bed and my legs swing off to the side to rest on the floor. My heart rate also kicks up a notch.
“Blackhawks want you unsigned,” he says.
I blow out a breath. It would mean I would be playing with Declan. They are a super strong team and if I proved myself, I could secure a nice contract.
“Give me a second, sir,” I say.
I hear Coach laugh. “Why was I expecting you to say that at this point?”
“Because you know she will always come first,” I reply.
I put the phone on mute.
“Lili,” I call out, and she comes to the bathroom door.
“Who wants you?” she asks, looking nervous.
“Blackhawks,” I say, and damn do I want this.
Her shoulders deflate. “Chicago! That’s amazing. You’d be with Declan,” she says. She knows how much my brother means to me. How important it is for me that we stay close. “You need to take it.”
“It’s unsigned.”
“Do it,” she says confidently.
“It’s a two-hour flight from Boston,” I reason to her. “Declan and Poppy have managed just fine.”
“We will too,” she assures me. “Take it.”
“I love you.”
“You’re my life,” she replies, and her words give me the strength I need to answer Coach Ramirez.
I take the phone off mute. “We want it,” I confirm to him.
“It will likely push you down a few levels in the draft. You were expected to come in at number four, but this will push you to thirteen or so, and that’s just a guestimate.”
“I know, sir, and that’s fine by us. We want Chicago,” I repeat to him.
“Congratulations, son,” he says, and his words cause me to choke up. I never knew my father but since I met Lili, she’s given me a whole new family.
“Thanks,” I say.
“I’m going to make the call,” he says.
I get off the phone and look at Lili. We both hop around the room and dance naked while kissing each other all over again, and then she pauses and looks at me.
“Chicago,” she says softly with a smile.
“When are we going to get married?” I ask.
I proposed at Easter and now it is almost summer. Alessa and Nigel are getting married next month and Lili doesn’t want to steal their thunder, which I understand.
“Christmas in Hawaii,” she says. “Where it all began.”
“I love that,” I say to her.
“I love you.”
Meeting Lili on my first vacation ever was unexpected. Finding the love of my life on that vacation was more than I could ever ask for. I grew up without a proper family, we were poor, and we had to fend for ourselves. Now I know there was a master plan involved. It brought me not only to the woman I love, but to the life I could only dream of with the perfect job and family.
________
Get ready for a brand-new hockey series that takes place in the world of the NHL.
Turn the page for a sneak peek of Second Chance Player!
Please enjoy this preview of Second Chance Player (unedited and subject to change).
PROLOGUE
Prologue
We leave the club, and the annoying buzz in my ears gets louder. I usually don’t drink but it was Evan’s birthday and he’s the rookie this year on my NHL team. We’ve been buddies since college. I couldn’t say no to clicking glasses with him and wishing him all the best.
“Dude why didn’t you take that girl up on her offer?” Evan asks from beside me.
Even though I’m feeling my drink I wasn’t feeling her. She was gorgeous and had an amazing body, but I had my fill of meaningless hookups. I’m feeling burned out.
“I wasn’t up for that kind of thing,” I shrug.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Wolfe asks and he’s swaying.
“Means I wasn’t up for sex with a stranger. Didn’t know I’d have to spell it out.”
Evan makes a hissing sound. Wolfe laughs. So, I may have had quite the reputation with the ladies.
“Don’t be getting soft on me now. It’s only your second season. You need to enjoy the perks,” Brett winks referring to my status as an NHL player.
“Leave him alone, every player eventually bites the dust. It’s the best thing that can happen to you,” Wolfe says. He’s the only one here with a wife and kid.
“Don’t let Brett corrupt you,” Kaleb nods and gives my shoulder a squeeze.
“Bro this guy is already corrupt,” Evan assures him. “You had to see him back in college. New girl every weekend.”
“Not exactly. I took breaks,” I confess rolling my eyes. Thinking back to my college days makes me cringe.
“Barely,” Evan says dryly.
“There’s nothing wrong with settling down,” Wolfe says. “It’s pretty amazing.”
“My ears are burning,” Brett winces. He’s about twenty-eight years old and likes his bachelor life a little too much.
“Cap, this is the first time I’m really seeing you drunk,” Brett says.
I have to agree with him. I’ve never seen Wolfe this tipsy before and I’ve known him since freshman year at Westfall U.
“Tell me about it,” Wolfe says looking down at his phone while pressing some buttons.
“This guy barely drank in college. At least not in his senior year,” I add.
Wolfe gives me a pointed look. He clearly doesn’t want me talking about our college days. I get
“I’m fucking starving,” Brett says changing the subject.
Good.
I don’t like talking about my lack of interest in a meaningless hookup. I may have easy access to the ladies as a member of an NHL team, but I was never a true ladies’ man. College was me trying to make sense of how harsh life can be. I had wounds to lick but in the end it was time that healed me. Now that I wasn’t such a mess, I can’t stop thinking about the one girl I let slip through my fingers.
“I need food,” Kaleb mutters pulling me from my reverie. He also reminds me how hungry I am.
We played a game against the Bruins tonight. Then we hit a club right after to celebrate our buddy Evan.
“I’m freaking starved,” I agree. My voice feels scratchy, and that damn buzz in my ear won’t abate.
“I know a place.” Brett nods. “It’s out of the way. Hopefully we can sit in peace.”
“Lead the way,” Evan says to him.
“I’m heading home,” Wolfe mumbles as an Uber pulls up to the curb. “Get some sleep,” he says to all of us and then he takes off.
“Food first,” Brett replies.
Brett orders an Uber for us and a minute later a Tesla pulls up to the curb.
“This is us,” Brett says. We all pile in.
“This place better have good food. I’m so hungry I can eat a cow,” Kaleb warns.
“Remember The Firken?” Evan elbows me in the stomach a little too hard. His comment reminds me of our college days and a pub off campus that had the best grub.
“I could go for one of those burgers right now,” I tell him.