Page 12 of Heartfelt Goals

Dustin made it twenty minutes before he finally gave in. He had a tube of BenGay, a new heating pad, and some peel and heat strips he could hide under his uniform if it was still bothering him tomorrow. Sitting in his car, he called Madeline almost immediately.

“Talk – and you’re on speaker. I’ve got the mixer going, and we’re baking,” Madeline answered in a rush, and he could hear the chaos of the kitchen in the background. “I feel honored. Two calls in such a short period – what could be the problem?”

“Spill it.”

“What?”

“Laurel. She’s the rustbucket that has been reporting my car.”

“Well, don’t park like a douchebag.”

“You’re supposed to be on my side…”

“When you’re right – yes.”

“Why do I bother calling you…” he muttered, rolling his eyes at Madeline’s knowing laugh. “I swear, you’ve always been like this. You answer a question with another one, putting me on the defensive, and…”

“And you love me,” she interrupted, and he could hear the smile in her voice. “You called because you are a curious person tucked behind that whole ‘I’m-a-big-baddie’ persona you try to portray.”

“You think you’re so smart.”

“You would be amazed.”

“Probably,” he admitted, chuckling. “So spill it, give me everything and satisfy my curiosity.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?” he retorted, stunned. “Did you seriously just ‘No’ me? I’m invoking the family card and…”

“You don’t get to use it on Laurel because that’s cheating.”

“How?!” he nearly yelped, shocked at his sister’s reactions and response. “How exactly is that cheating.”

“Because I’m not about to betray my best friend or pick between the two of you when I love you both.”

“I’m family.”

“Yes, you are – but to me, she’s family too,” Madeline began, her voice full of emotion that surprised him. “Besides Kendall, I’m all that Laurel has, and I refuse to betray her. If you want to know something about her, then go knock on her door and start a conversation.”

“A one-sided one,” he retorted hotly. “She clams up whenever…”

“Funny,” Madeline interrupted quickly. “She said the same thing about you when I gave her the same advice. Now, I’m busy. One of you should attempt to take my advice or quit asking for it. I swear, you are both so stubborn sometimes and…”

His sister was rambling on when he saw his agent was calling him again.

“I gotta go, Madeline…”

“Love ya – byeeee…” she replied quickly, drawing out the last word as she hung up. He clicked the button to pick up the call – and winced.

“Well?”

Malcolm wasn’t holding back as he laid into him.

“You had better have an answer to me soon because the Wolverines just called again – asking about you – and upped theoffer. Do you hear what I am saying? They are willing to take on a worn-out goalie…”

“Whoa there…” Dustin protested, insulted, but Malcolm continued on.

“And offering you top dollar to take this spot – and you are having to ‘think about it,’” he mocked, his voice getting louder and louder. “There is no thinking – you need to do this. If you want to stay in the field, in the know, and move on to broadcasting or coaching later, then you will need every contact, every ace in the hole, and you are currently peeing on this one, Lafreniére!”

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