Page 43 of Play to Win

“Lacey, this is Manny Martinez.He plays left wing for the Condors.”

I smile at him.

“Manny, this is ...Lacey.”He pauses.“My wife.”

10

THÉO

Wow,that feels weird, saying it.

“Holy shit!”Manny’s eyes widen.“I had no idea you were married.When did this happen?”

“Last night.”The answer bursts from my lips before I can even think.

“What?”He laughs in disbelief, as if I’m joking.

“Yeah.It was our last night in Vegas so we decided to tie the knot.Did the cheesy Vegas chapel thing and all.”I catch Lacey’s eye and she smiles because this is all true.

“Wow.”Manny shakes his head and advances on Lacey.“Well, nice to meet you, Lacey.”

“Likewise.”They shake hands.

“Manny and I played hockey together in Wilkes-Barre,” I tell Lacey.“And now we’ve both ended up here.”

“Small world,” Manny says.“Small hockey world.So, I’m, uh, interrupting your honeymoon, I guess.”

“Ha.No worries.We’re going to take a honeymoon trip later, since I’m starting work right away.”This is an outright lie, but oh well.

“I’d like to go to Italy,” Lacey says.I can tell her tongue is in her cheek and I shake my head, trying not to laugh.

In the kitchen, I grab a beer for Manny.“Want another beer, Lace?”I call.

“Um, no thanks, I’m good.”

I take one for myself as well, and we all sit again in the living room.

“What the hell are you watching?”Manny says.

“Nashville and Chicago.”

“Fuck.”Manny rubs his face.“We’re out and I don’t even care who wins.Haven’t watched a single playoff game.”

“Manny rents one of the other units in this building,” I tell Lacey.“And the third one is occupied by Wyatt Bell, another Condors player.Bobby owns the whole place.”

“Wow.A hockey building.”She grins.

“Wyatt went home to New Brunswick,” Manny says.“But he’ll be back in a week or so.”

Manny’s one of the few NHL players from California.A lot of guys head back to where they’re from when the season ends, but he’s still here.

“So, are you eager to get started?”Manny asks me.“Ready to make some trades?”

His tone is light, but I see a little tightness at the corners of his mouth.I have to remember that having new management is probably causing the guys some stress.Everybody no doubt expects a lot of changes.And there will definitely be changes.I already know that from the research and analysis I’ve been doing, even before arriving here.

“We’ll see,” I answer.“Right now, I’m getting ready for the draft.”The annual draft would be held at the end of June.I’ve got a lengthy to-do list between now and the start of training camp in September.Of course, the draft could involve a trade.Or more.

“Yeah, the good thing about having a craptastic season is we have the number two pick.That’s pretty cool.”

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