I glanced at Callum, who I know was listening intently but had his gaze averted out the window to the Pittsburgh skyline across the river.
And then she made it impossible for me to not do as she was asking.
“I don’t know you at all, Coen.” Her eyes seemed to mist over a bit and she smiled sadly. “But my brother was a big fan of yours. He thought you were one of the greatest sports heroes this city had ever seen, and I know you both had mutual respect for each other.”
Fuck… that was just low because I owed my start in this career to him. Had he not been on that plane and was the one asking me to stay with this team, I would have been hard pressed to walk away.
“I’m asking you to honor Adam and not walk away from this team until you’ve had the summer to think things over.”
Ultimately, I promised her that, but mentally, I was sort of crossing my fingers behind my back. I knew in my heart of hearts I couldn’t go back on the ice because I don’t deserve that precious spot. If Brienne didn’t want my answer until training camp, I could hold my tongue until then.
The crowd erupts in a roar that I swear to fuck shakes the building and jolts me out of my memories. Thousands upon thousands of Titans fans jump to their feet, screaming as we just scored a goal.
I don’t even fucking comprehend what’s happened at first and have to look up at the scoreboard for the instant replay while the guys on the ice celebrate.
What do you fucking know?
Boone Rivers scored.
The guy who replaced me.
It’s a sweet move, a floaty backhand off a feed from Gage that toppled right over the goalie’s right shoulder.
Good for him.
The guy next to me pushes at my shoulder and I glance up at him. I’m the only one in this throng of Titans fans sitting down. He’s grinning like a fool and holds his palm out for me to high five.
I smile—not because I feel like it, but because I don’t want to draw attention to myself for not doing what any sane fan should be doing—and I slap my hand to his.
The man turns to look down at the ice from our nose bleed seats and screams, “Titans, Titans, Titans” along with the rest of the crowd.
I push up from my seat and inch my way past a handful of people to the staircase that leads down.
I’m genuinely happy that Boone scored. I’m glad for my teammates that they have this experience. Hell, I’m even proud of what has been accomplished.
But this has done nothing but reiterate to me that this isn’t my life anymore.
It takes me a good fifteen minutes to exit the arena and make my way to my Mercedes G-wagon.
Prior to the crash, this puppy was one of my pride and joys. I love luxury cars and in addition to this tank, I have a Ferrari and a Maserati.
Such stupid things to adore and I’ll be unloading these frivolities soon.
Won’t be hard given that nothing seems to bring me any joy these days.
Well, except one thing.
Stone’s cabin.
It’s tucked back on almost twenty acres of remote wooded land, just a few miles outside of the borough of Coudersport. The tiny town is the county seat in the very unpopulated Potter County. It sits in a valley surrounded by the Allegheny plateau, where the Mill Creek joins the Allegheny River and flows all the way to Pittsburgh. The town itself holds no more than a few thousand people and I’m enjoying the peace and quiet more than any man has a right to.
If there’s one thing I’d like to do with my money, it’s secure this peace.
I start my SUV but before I exit the lot for my long drive northeast, I shoot off a text to Stone. I don’t give him platitudes over the great game he played but cut straight to the point. Interested in selling me the cabin? I’ll pay top dollar.
Pulling up my iTunes, I select a playlist that’s mostly hard rock and metal. I crank the volume and blast the air conditioning. I haven’t been sleeping for shit and the long drive back to the cabin is going to be brutal. I could stay at my condo across the river, but I can’t stomach it.
This city isn’t my home anymore.
Coen Highsmith was a league star, but he lost more than his team the day the Pittsburgh Titans’ plane crashed. Can he be saved from his downward spiral of guilt and regret to become the man he once was? Click here for details on Coen.
Will Jett Olsson convince the girl to give him a chance? The gorgeous executive in the Arizona Vengeance marketing department caught his eye at first glance, but his playboy ways don’t stand a chance against her all business attitude. Or do they? Click here to read Jett!
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