Page 24 of Ice Mechanic

Dating became a rather unpleasant business, so I did less and less of it as I got older, choosing to focus on hockey alone.

“She’s a mechanic,” I say in exasperation. “We stopped to get something to eat on our way to grab my keys. We ran into her ex-boyfriend?—”

“I don’t need the play-by-play.”

“I should clarify for her sake,” I insist.

April must be horrified. She was nervous about being the topic of a neighborhood group chat. I can’t imagine how she’s feeling knowingthe worldthinks we’re together.

“Chance, you’d be crazy to stop the momentum now.”

“I’m not doing this, Derek. April’s not one of your athletes. You can’t mold her into a brand for profits.”

“What if I mold her into your ticket out of the boonies?”

I freeze, my fingers tightening on the phone.

“Look, Chance, I don’t really care who she is or why you were filmed. The point is you were. And it’s good. You said she’s a mechanic? Even better. You’ll be the guy who supports women in male dominated industries. You’ll have the internet eating out of your hands.”

A big sigh erupts from my chest. I genuinely admire April and her career choice. I think she’s amazing for opening her own shop. But every word out of Derek’s mouth right now is making me feel smarmy.

“Remember what you said the day the suspension was announced?” Derek coaxes. “You said you’d do anything to get back to the league. You said you’d clean toilets with a toothbrush. Well, getting a pretty girl to date you is ten times better than that.Andyou get to save your toothbrush.”

I start pacing, unable to keep still but also unable to deny anything he’s pointing out. “There has to be another way.”

“Right now, your reputation is in shambles. You’re not The Clairvoyant. You’re the guy who fights on and off the ice. You’re a bad influence and a hockey pariah.”

“I’m not?—”

“If you weren’t, why’d you sign with a no-name team?”

“I’m in the minor leagues to stay in shape,” I argue.

“You’re in the minor leagues because the Lucky Strikers are so insignificant, your bad press can’t do them any damage. No one here is stupid.”

I cough because that one hit me in the gut.

“Keep the girl by your side, Chance. Only good things will happen if you do.”

“I can’t. She hates me.”

“Then make her un-hate you,” he says, his voice going soft as it usually does when he already has the customer by the hook and he’s starting to reel them in.

“Derek, your meeting starts in five,” a voice says in the background.

“Just a minute, Lotty. Chance, we good?”

“No.”

He charges on as if he didn’t hear me. “You want me in your corner again? That’s the plan. Get yourself a steady girlfriend, show the world you’ve changed. Re-brand yourself as hockey’s Prodigal Son. Once you get some brand deals going, get some sponsors back, once you show the league that the public’s forgiven you, they just might forgive you too.”

“I—”

“Good luck out there. I’ll let you know once a big brand reaches out.”

“Derek—”

There’s a click followed by silence.

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