Page 22 of Ice Mechanic

SEVEN

CHANCE

I’mface-deep in a tower of cheesy onion rings when my phone buzzes. Popping out my wireless earphones, I pause the Lucky Striker’s playoff video and mindlessly tap on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Chance, my man!”

My eyes widen and I whip my gaze down to the phone.

Derek - Agent

“Derek, I’ve been trying to reach you.” I look around for a napkin. When I find none, I stick my ketchup-stained thumb into my mouth, wipe the vestiges of salt from the rings on my T-shirt and scoop the phone up.

“Sorry, Chance. Been super busy. You know how it is.”

I’m sure he’s been busy...

Busy ghosting me.

Busy taking down my pictures from the company walls.

Busy scouting the next kid who’ll catapult him toward his next paycheck and the in-door pool he wanted to build.

My agent has always come across as more oily salesman than genuine friend. However, it never bothered me. Growing up withmoney means I’ve met a hundred Dereks in my lifetime. What made Derek different was that he saw me as his money ticketbecauseof hockey. Not because of my mother’s trust fund or my family’s connections.

I know exactly what gets Derek up in the morning.

Which is why his sudden call is so left field.

“I heard you signed with your college buddy. Max Mahoney, was it? Word on the street is he’s getting a local team off the ground. Plans to parade them around in the minors. How’s that working out for you?”

“We’ll see when the season starts, but actually, Derek, now that I have you on the line, I wanted to discuss?—”

“Negotiating with the league for a shortened suspension?”

I brighten. “Sounds like you already have a plan?”

“No, I don’t. And I’d give up on that dream if I were you.”

I reach for my fidget spinner which is dangling on the edge of the coffee table and give it a flick.

“Look, Chance, even high school students serve their full detention. What kind of havoc would it wreak if every athlete tried to negotiate out of an official ruling? Especially players with a reputation as awful as yours?”

I bristle immediately. “Who’s the one who encouraged me to take a stand on the ice? Who said it would be good for my ‘aggressively, masculine brand’?”

“Sure, sure. I might have encouraged you to play hard, but that was just for the ice. I’m not the one who took it off ice and started a brawl with the opposing team?”

“I didn’t start that fight…” I clear my throat. “I just… finished it.”

“To the tune of getting a suspension, losing all your brand deals and handing out millions in settlements. If it weren’t for your family’s money, you’d be done.”

I’m flicking so hard the fidget spinner sounds like helicopter blades. “I bear full responsibility for the mess I’m in. I’m assuming you didn’t call just to rub salt in the wound?”

“The opposite, actually. I’ve got good news.”

“If it’s not a shortened suspension, then it’s not good enough.”

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