Page 119 of His Big Bad Stick

Maybe of me. Or maybe of what could have happened.

Having one of their top players getting arrested for fighting in a game… that’s bad press. Big time bad press.

Of course, the social media cycle has to take its toll now on the situation.

Which is why I’m suspended and not allowed near anything to do with the team or the league. Banished until the smoke clears.

It’s the afternoon on another day that feels mostly wasted.

Abrielle is at her gallery, getting things in order.

I’m standing near a window in my apartment, looking out over the city.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I’m thinking about what comes next.

I don’t mean hockey either.

Can I do something with this apartment to get ready for a baby?

If I had to… sure.

There wouldn’t be a nursery though.

It was just… boring.

It’s also on my mind what Abrielle and I are going to do when the baby arrives.

Two separates places? Live together? Get a place together?

You want to talk about making my heart race?

I’ve never lived with someone since I lived in that damn mansion with my father.

Well, that’s not exactly true.

I did have a roommate in college for about a month.

I chased him out of the dorm though.

He couldn’t handle my ways of life. Up all night. Partying. College girls and all the fun noises they make when you touch them the right way.

Living alone is my peace.

A call from my agent Arty ends all those thoughts.

“You must be going crazy right now,” Arty says to start the conversation.

“Called me to say that?” I ask.

“No. Called to offer you something.”

“Offer? What kind of offer? They want me to retire or something?”

Arty laughs. “Not quite that bad. Although the topic has come up. You need to get in front of a camera and apologize.”

“What?”

“Colver, come on. Just do your thing. I’m not talking some thirty minute special or anything. You could just record a video even. Of yourself. Just say something along the lines of ‘Hey, I took things too far. I’m a passionate hockey player. Emotions got the best of me during a tense game and I should have respected the unwritten rules of hockey fighting…’ or something along those lines.”

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