Page 52 of Taylor

“No problem. I actually wanted to talk to you about something. I have an artist friend. She’s really good. Hold on, I’m going to email you some of her work. She doesn’t think that there’s a market for her art, but I was telling her people commission art like this all the time. What do you think?” Taylor said.

“Hold on, let me look.”

There was a pause as she pulled it up.

His mind traveled to the cabin as it often did now. He needed to talk to Alice. He had gotten back into his schedule, but he hadn’t talked to her, so he needed to change that. There hadn’t been a day that he hadn’t thought of her.

“Wow, this is really fun! Is that you?”

“Yeah, she drew it while I was playing the game.”

“Hold on, is that the game you played constantly as a child?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, isn’t it great?”

“Hmmmm... who is this artist friend of yours?” she asked suspiciously.

Taylor laughed under his breath. He should have known his mother would pick up on that.

“She’s a little more than a friend, but it’s new.”

“Well, I hope to meet her someday. And yes, tell her there is definitely a market for this kind of work. I’d commission her for my next release myself. I think her art style would mesh with my vibe.”

“Thanks, Mom, I’ll let her know.”

He couldn’t wait to let Alice know. He would call her when he got home from this road trip. Even though it was well after the first of the year, and he hadn’t talked to her, he would change that when he got home.

“I gotta go. I just got to the center. I’m loading on the bus to head to Buffalo.”

“Okay, have a good game. I’ll be watching.”

After saying goodbye, he got his bag out of his trunk and made his way over to the bus. They were headed to Buffalo and then they would fly out for their game in Las Vegas before coming back home for another home game. After, they would have a rest day. Taylor was ready for that. He felt like he had been going full tilt since he came back from the holiday break.

After dropping his bag off, he headed onto the bus. Before long, Cash dropped into the seat beside him.

“I didn’t see you at the New Year’s party,” Cash said.

“Yeah . . . it wasn’t mandatory,” Taylor said simply.

“I know, but I thought you might be there.”

Taylor just eyed him skeptically. Cash knew him better than anyone on the team. How on earth was he surprised he sat out a loud party?

“You’re right,” Cash said with a chuckle. “I’m not sure what I was thinking.”

“I never understood the hype around New Year’s. It’s just another night,” Taylor said.

“You’re not wrong... I just love any excuse to look at Evie when she gets all dressed up like that.”

“How was Christmas with her family?” Taylor asked carefully.

Cash and Evie had a tricky relationship with her family. When they’d gotten together over the summer, it had been pretty dramatic.

“Surprisingly good. Her mother seems to be coming around, and I already got along great with her dad, so we’re good there.”

“You never did tell me how things were at the cabin,” Cash said.

“Oh,” said Taylor, trying to not let thoughts of Alice distract him like they had been ever since he got back.

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