Page 15 of The Sweet Spot

Callen

But did you swallow?

Kenzie

I fucking hate you.

Maddox

You’re a doctor. You’ve seen worse.

Brynlee

I hate you too.

Callen Did you happen to find any unused condoms, Grace? I was looking for my box while we were unpacking.

Callen has been removed from the conversation.

Lindy

Get rid of Maddox too.

Maddox has been removed from the conversation.

Everly

Good. Never let them in our sacred space again.

Brynlee

Okay, Mother Earth.

Could summer in the city be heating up? Word is spreading that Philly’s favorite hockey team has added a new hockey hottie to their roster. But wait... is the Revolution’s newest addition a player or a coach? Rumors are circulating they’ve been in talks to replace their newly retired, multi-Cup-winning coach with a hot, young newcomer to the pros. So young, he may just be the youngest coach ever to coach pro hockey. And this reporter is ready to dig up the truth of it all. Stay tuned for all the dirty deets, peeps.

#KroydonKronicles

DEACON

“Ithought your new position was being kept quiet until you officially signed your new contract this week.”

I’m suddenly glad to be having this conversation via Bluetooth instead of in person, because at least this way I can’t get shit for the look on my face as I navigate the sweltering streets of Kroydon Hills, listening to my ex-wife—who happens to be one of my best friends—manage to nag me as if she were my current wife. But instead of showing her any of that, I just nod in agreement.

“Yeah, so did I. I’m sure the Kingston’s PR team already has someone on it. Just ignore that trash, Isla. It’s not news. It’s gossip.” Some shithead kid slams on the horn of his Tesla that Mommy and Daddy probably bought him as I stop at the yellow light instead of running it, and I flip him the fuck off, already done with today. “I don’t know why you read those things in the first place. They’re called gossip rags for a reason.” After a moment, the light turns green, and I turn into the parking lot of the Kroydon Hills Plaza, wishing I hadn’t had to leave Isla, her husband, Shaun, and our daughter, Kennedy, at the beach for a few more days. “Seriously, why are you even following the Kroydon Kronicles anyway?”

“I don’t follow them,” she clucks, her words dripping with annoyance. “I have notifications set up for your name, and I added the Revolution after your meeting last week. Someone has to look out for you, Deacon. You’re not very good at doing it yourself.” Her voice holds a condescending tone, like I just asked the most ridiculous question Isla’s ever heard. Her tolerance for having to explain herself has never been one of her better qualities. At least, not with anyone who isn’t our daughter. Her husband and I have had a few beers and laughed over her lack of patience more than once at her expense.

The four of us don’t have what most would consider a stereotypical blended-family relationship.

When she and I got divorced, our relationship actually got better, not worse. Which was a good thing. If we’d continued down the path we’d been on for much longer, things would have gotten ugly. We somehow managed to end our marriage as friends who are able to put Kennedy first.

The late afternoon sun bakes against the truck’s windshield as I choose my next words carefully. “Listen... News is going to spread. There’s nothing we can do about that. If anyone reaches out to you, you know the drill.”

“I know. No comment.” It’s been the same since I got hurt my first and only year in the pros. We got really good at “no comment” back then.

I silently nod. “None of it matters. The deal is happening. The organization included a house in my contract. Maybe you could help Kennedy pick out a few things for her new room this week.”

Kennedy isn’t a big fan of change. It makes her anxious. I’m hoping that being closer to Isla and Shaun will make things easier than they’ve been since they moved down to Philadelphia from Boston. I haven’t gotten nearly enough time with Kennedy this past year, and I can’t even pretend that spending more time with my daughter isn’t the best part of this new job opportunity.

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