Page 22 of The Fake Play

“Good. So when it comes to Lucas, remember that he's not here to replace you. He's here to play the game, just like you are. There's room for both of you on the team. He just needs to get his head out of his ass.”

Before I can respond, we hear footsteps. A second later, Nelly, his new wife, appears. She’s holding a plate of cookies, her dark hair tied back in a loose ponytail. “Oh good, you're still here. I brought snacks.”

“Well aren’t you just the best wife in the world. Are those chocolate chip? Gimme.” I hold out my hand. I’d been craving them ever since Keke told me the name of her preposterous book.

She sets the plate down on the counter and kisses Seb on the cheek. He smiles instantly. “Nice of you to join us. We're busy solving the world's problems.”

“I'm sure,” she responds sarcastically. “Can't imagine two grown men standing around gossiping.”

He wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her onto his lap. Nelly squeals in surprise, swatting at him playfully, but she doesn’t move away. They’re both laughing, completely at ease with each other. It’s the kind of easy going that comes with a deep connection. Watching them, I feel something twist inside my chest.

It isn’t jealousy. I’m not jealous of Seb. He’s my friend, and I’m happy for him. As attractive as Nelly is, I have no interest in her. She sits firmly in the sister category in my head on account of their marriage.

But watching them, seeing how close they are, how effortlessly they fit together, makes me realize just how much I want that for myself. It hits me harder than expected, settling deep into my bones.

Nelly catches my expression and grins. “Don't listen to him, Luke. Seb’s just trying to distract you with all of his deep wisdom, but I know for a fact he already bought the super yacht. He came to the Fire because he needed something else to add to his billionaire bucket list.”

Seb rolls his eyes but can’t suppress the smile tugging at his mouth. “It's barely a super yacht, just a regular yacht, really.”

“And now you're stuck playing hockey instead of sailing the seven seas? I tease.

He laughs. “Pretty much, but honestly, I'd pick hockey every time. It's my challenge, and it keeps me on my toes. I love it.”

Nelly pinches his arm. “It's my job to keep you on your toes. Not hockey’s.”

I know they’re joking, but I understand it more than I want to admit. That’s part of what makes hockey special. There’s always something to prove, a new accomplishment to tackle. But what makes it special also makes it hard to let it go. The challenge of it never stops, not even when you start to feel the weight of your years. It just pushes you that much harder.

Sebastian must have sensed my inner unease because he turns serious again. “Luke, you've got more years than you think. And when it comes time to step back, you'll know. But don't let the kid rattle you. He's not your competition. He's your teammate. You'll be a better player for it if you can figure out how to make that work. So will he.”

I nod though I’m not sure if I fully believe him. It’s not about Lucas, not really. It’s about me figuring out how to keep pushing myself when I’m not sure how much more I have left to give.

“What about your new handler? How's that going?” Nelly asks.

“Keke. She's a peach, but she's wound tighter than a spring.”

She giggles, clearly amused. “Sounds like she could use some loosening up.”

Seb grins. “You gonna help her with that, Luke?”

I preferred thinking about Keke instead of the existential crisis that had been knocking around in my head all day. Dealing with her was far easier than contemplating the end of my career. “Maybe. I've got a plan.”

I don’t elaborate, mostly because I’m not entirely sure what the plan is yet. But as I finish my beer and watch Seb and Nelly joke and laugh together, I feel the outline of something forming in the back of my mind.

Keke is different, sharp. No nonsense, all business. But there’s something about her underneath that professional exterior that makes me wonder if she needs someone in her life who can help her see it from a different angle.

I’m not sure yet if that someone is me but I’m damn sure going to find out.

-

Chapter 10

Keke

By the time Luke gets back to the condo, it’s fairly late. I’d been perched on the kitchen island for hours, scrolling through emails, organizing files, and trying to piece together a strategy that would keep him from making the front page of another tabloid for the wrong reasons.

Whitney is lucky I don’t bill overtime.

I glance up when he walks into the room. He’s looking tired, worn. His shoulders are slumped, and after he tosses his bag onto the chair, he stands there for a minute, looking out the window. He doesn’t say anything right away, and I can tell there’s something weighing on him.

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