Page 22 of The Game Changer

“Sounds good, and how about I swing by and pick you up for dinner, then we can go back to your place so that you’ve got everything you need to make your morning go smoothly.”

“That works for me,” she says as she heads into her building. I toss the trash from lunch, making sure to keep my pickles from the bag before tossing it. I walk around the building and to my truck that is parked in the front lot. I stop and pick up a coffee on my way to the team offices, still arriving a few minutes early. I sit in my truck waiting on Greg to pull in, so I pull my phone out, trying to decide where I want to take Jill for dinner tonight. We’ve already done Mexican, and of course the meal that I cooked for her last night. I don’t really feel like having to be all dressed up for a fancy steakhouse, so maybe one of the brewery pubs will work for tonight. I don’t get the vibe from Jill that she’d expect a fancy upscale restaurant every time we go out.

I startle when someone knocks their knuckles on my window. I look out and see Mark Lee standing next to my truck, a shit-eating grin on his face after startling me.

“Hey, man. How’s it going?” I ask once I’ve got the door open.

“It’s going. Just brought the kids down to see mommy,” he says, hooking his thumb over his shoulder that’s pointing to his SUV, where his kids are buckled into their car seats.

“Ah. I’m about to go meet with her myself,” I tell him. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before he hears the news, either because of who his wife is or through the media, who will absolutely report on it.

“Good luck. She mentioned she had a meeting this afternoon, just didn’t tell me with whom or about what. Confidentiality and all that jazz,” he tells me as I hear a kid start to cry from his open window.

“Yeah, and so that you hear it from me and not anyone else, but it’s time. I’m hanging up the skates. My scans don’t look good, and they don’t recommend I return to playing anymore. Said I’ve already done irreversible damage and any more could be fatal.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, JC. I know that isn’t the outcome you wanted. We’re going to miss you out on the ice. Whoever fills your line spot is going to have some big skates to fill. Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you. Once the dust all settles and more of the guys are back in town, let’s get together,” he says as he opens his door and places a pacifier in his daughter’s mouth, which immediately stops her cries.

“I’d like that, and thanks, man,” I tell him as we pull each other into a man hug. I smack him on the back before stepping back. I notice Greg’s car pulling into the lot. “There’s my agent, so it’s time to go face the music. Have fun with the kids,” I tell him, pointing back at his SUV.

“Thanks, and good to see you. Don’t be a stranger,” he calls out as he climbs into the driver’s seat. I wave at him as I start to walk over to the sidewalk that leads to the building where I meet up with Greg.

“Ready to get this done with?” he asks, offering his hand to me to shake.

“As ready as I can be,” I tell him as we walk into the team offices.

We’re shown to a conference room where we go over the terms already laid out in my contract and what the standard injury clause states that is already written in, as well.

Once we’ve had the chance to go over things, Greg lets them know we’re ready to meet. Laura Erickson-Lee, the managing partner, and Daniel Johnston, the team’s General Manager join us. We get down to business hashing out how things are going to be handled. In the end, they decide to pay out my contract over the months that are left on it, which is fine by me.

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