Page 29 of Icing the Play

“Good, this is Dean Wilson. I’m an agent for your friends, Tyler Hodge and Rowan Mackenzie.”

My stomach flip-flopped. Holy shit. “Yes, hi, my dad said he met with you, eh.”

“Yes, I just signed Ethan. He’s a good kid.” He chuckled. “Now about you.” He inhaled sharply. “I’ve been watching footage from last year. You’ve got potential.”

“I-I do?” Dropping my mouth open, I stared at the table. My heart raced. “So, are you going to sign me?”

“Well, here’s the thing. I’ve spoken to your coaches, and it sounds like they’re going to play you on the first line with Neuman. I’d like to see how that dynamic plays out first.”

My heart sank. “Oh.” Of course, it wouldn’t be so easy for me. I’d have to show him what I could do.

“Myles, I’m sure you’ve improved over last season. I need to figure out how to position you and get an idea of where that could be.”

“Yes, I understand.” I nodded. This would upset Dad. But then, maybe I wouldn’t tell him.

“I have a good feeling about you this year. Just do your best and I’ll be in touch. Okay?” he asked. “You can call me anytime at this number if you have questions.”

“Sure, thank you so much.” I planted my elbow on the table and my forehead in my hand. “I’ll do my best once the games start, I promise.”

“Okay, then. We’ll be in touch. Goodbye.”

“Bye.” I hung up the call. That was weird. If he wasn’t signing me right now, why would he call? I twisted my lips. Maybe to be sure I wasn’t hunting for another agent? But he’d signed my friends and my brother. Fuck if I knew. I sighed.

My phone buzzed in my hand.

“What now?” I looked at the screen. A text message popped up.

JJ

What are you doing later? Want to meet up for dinner?

I pressed my lips together. My schedule was clear, so why not? And then maybe we could talk, and I could figure out where his head was at.

Myles

Sure. How about the Cornish Pasty?

We’d met there for a study group last year and I’d been craving it ever since. I watched the three bubbles flicker on my phone.

JJ

Sounds good. How about six?

Myles

See you there.

After classes,I drove home and strode into the kitchen from the garage with my backpack slung over my shoulder. My gaze stopped on Cooper, puttering around the kitchen with a frying pan in his hand. “Hey, how’s things?” I slipped my backpack off my arm and onto the floor at the end of the island.

“Good, just about to cook a chicken dish. Want some?” With a warm smile, he faced me.

“Uh no. I’m meeting JJ for dinner.” I pressed my lips together. Should I tell him I might break things off with JJ?

“Oh?” Lifting his brows, he set the pan on the stove. “I guess you’ll be home late then.” He opened a package of chicken breast, rinsed it in the sink and patted it dry with a paper towel.

“No, I’ll be home right after.” I watched him work. Was he ready to continue our project for our social media class? “Do you want to work on our?—”

“Naw, just figured, you know, you guys might go back to his place after or…” He shrugged, poured oil into the pan and then tossed a chicken breast into it. “You guys are seeing a lot of each other.” He dumped spices onto the chicken and covered it with a lid. “It’s so nice to cook without cleaning a bunch of dishes first.”

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