Page 113 of The Roommate Remodel

“Maybe she doesn’t like you now that you and Jaz are fighting,” Leo says.

I knew I shouldn’t have told the guys on the way over, but I felt like they had a right to know.

“Leo, don’t be a jerk,” Vale warns.

Tate looks at me. “Maybe we should rent a house in their neighborhood. Or even better, buy one.”

Leo frowns. “We’re not married, stupid.”

“I don’t mean us. I meant Vale and Brax.” Tate points at us. “You could buy a house, and we could rent from you.”

“Not going to happen,” I say, still looking at my phone, wishing that Jaz would send me a text. “We’re not staying long enough to buy a house.” The words slip out before I realize it. Vale is the only one I’ve told about Alex’s secret, and I was waiting for the right time to share it with the rest of the team.

Tate’s face snaps to mine. “What do you mean you’re not staying? Are you leaving the team?”

I glance at Vale, trying to figure out how to backpedal. “No.”

Leo approaches me with a frown. “Do you know something we don’t?”

I let out an inaudible sigh. “Alex is planning on shutting the team down and turning the Ice House into a multi-sports complex. It’s a done deal.” I slump against the wall. This isn’t how I wanted them to find out.

Leo’s jaw clenches. “Says who?”

“Says Alex. Who do you think?”

Leo folds his arms across his chest and stares at me. “Don’t tell me you’ve given up.”

“I haven’t given up. I just don’t know what to do about it. If I could buy the team, I would.”

“That’s just it.” Leo circles the room slowly. “We can’t buy the team. But what if someone else could?”

“Like who?” Tate asks. “You got a rich uncle?”

“No.” He narrows his eyes, deep in thought. “But Brendan does. Didn’t you hear Brax mention it? He said Brendan’s uncle likes collecting teams.”

“That was a minor league baseball team,” Tate corrects. “Not hockey.”

“Who says he wouldn’t be interested in hockey?” Leo shrugs.

I shake my head. “It’s a long shot at best.”

“What about the fundraiser?” Tate asks.

“It’s off now that Jaz is gone,” I answer.

“Why couldn’t we do it anyway?” Vale suggests. “Not make it an official team event under Alex’s control, but one that’s strictly player-organized?”

I push off from the wall. “Are you suggesting we raise the funds to save the team?”

“Yeah, why not?” Vale answers. “Maybe we could convince Alex to keep the team rolling for another season.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know if Alex would buy it, and I would feel bad not sharing the funds with a charity. That’s how it’s been promoted.”

“Vale’s right, though.” Leo goes over to the kitchen island and sits on it, facing us. “What if we tell everyone what Alex is proposing and we get our fans riled up about it? Then we use the fundraiser to gain support. If it works, our fans will have our back, and we'll still donate some to charity. In the end, we make Alex look like the bad guy.”

I frown. “Scare tactics?”

“More like...revolution.” The word rolls off Leo’s tongue.

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