Page 54 of Our Hearts to Break

I pull off him and smirk. “Like that?”

“Yes, I like that… But I want you to sing a real song for me.”

I push his back to the mattress and get in bed with him. “Which one?”

“Whatever you want. Just sing something for me.”

I roll onto my side, holding his back to my chest, and belt out the lyrics to “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. We forget about getting off, and River hangs onto every word.

When the song ends, he tells me to keep going. I sing until we forget about the drama of the night and fall asleep.

I don’t have a single nightmare.

ChapterNineteen

RIVER

While my motheris shopping the Black Friday deals with Savanna, I sit in my agent’s conference room, bored out of my mind. Four teams present their pitches.

I just want to play pro hockey.

Nate is beside me, his presence alone calming my anxiety. Dad occupies the chair next to my agent, Mickey Conway, leaning over to whisper in his ear.

Mickey nods and looks at me.

To my surprise, Spencer asked to attend the meetings. He’s on my dad’s left, scribbling notes on a legal pad. Spencer is more successful than everyone in this room combined. He’s skilled in business and a lawyer like my agent.

After the final pitch, the team representatives exit the room. All four of them wait on the other side of the door for my decision.

My heart thumps rapidly in my chest. Everything I sacrificed to be here has now come to fruition.

“Ready, kid?” Mickey asks.

I clear my throat and nod.

Mickey slides four contracts across the table. Nate intercepts them and flips through the pages. This is good practice for his career. Mickey doesn’t know it, but I want Nate to represent me after he graduates and completes the certification process.

“They’re pretty standard,” Mickey tells me. “Two-year contracts because of your age.”

I almost laugh because twenty-two is not old. But in hockey years, I’m already behind. I could have played at eighteen but chose to stay with Nate. And I’m glad I chose him.

“Each team is offering the top salary for a rookie,” Mickey says. “Plus a ten percent signing bonus and an A-level performance bonus with a max of one mill. Two teams added B-level bonuses worth up to two and a half mill.”

I glance at Nate. “Do I choose the money or the team?”

He rolls his broad shoulders against the highback leather chair. “It’s up to you.”

“I grew up wanting to play for the Rangers,” I say. “I’m a hometown guy. But…”

“The Islanders are paying more,” Spencer interjects. “Personally, I would go with them. And you would still be in New York.”

“Agreed,” Mickey says. “But the choice is yours, kid. You also got a nice offer from the Kings. Depends if you want to relocate to the West Coast.”

The thought of moving makes my stomach turn.

I love the East Coast.

It’s my home.

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