Page 1 of The Import Slot
Chapter 1
Ryan
Oneseason.Ijustneed to stick it out for one season.
My twin brother, Liam, sits across from me, picking at a bagel. “It won’t be that bad,” he says, taking a chunk and popping it in his mouth. I scowl at him and look down at my cup. He tries to sound hopeful. “Come on, Ronnie said that you should at least pretend like you want to go. Johnny loves it over there.”
Our agent Veronica, or Ronnie, had to pull a load of strings to make this happen. Liam convinced me to go to the UK a month before he was supposed to. Now, I have a ticket with my name on it.
He’d made a bet with an old friend of ours, Johnny Koenig. If the NHL didn’t call up Liam, and Johnny’s team didn’t make the playoffs, Liam would play for a season in the UK. Of course, Liam didn’t get called up, and Johnny’s team didn’t make the playoffs.
I think there’s more to it; something to do with Johnny’s sister, Vicky, who Liam’s been in love with since we were kids. I can’t shake the feeling that something’s going on between them, but I don’t know what that something is.
“Fine.” I take my phone out of my pocket and snap a photo, a fake smile plastered on my face, ensuring I capture the ‘Departures’ sign in the background. Despite having many accounts, I hardly use social media. Still, I upload the photo to Instagram with the hashtag ‘#newadventure’, smirking at Liam before tossing my phone down; I feel like such a phony. “Happy?”
“Fuck’s sake,” he says, “you’re not looking at the positives here. You’ll get lots of attention. Chicks will throw themselves at you.”
I don’t want any attention; I just want to play hockey.
Liam went through a phase when he first split up with Vicky. He’d just moved to Toronto and had the pick of women, so it only stands to reason he’d think of that.
Picking up someone is easy when you’re in the NHL. You could be the ugliest guy in the club, with no teeth, and a crooked nose, and you’d still be fighting the ladies off.
Despite us being identical, our personalities couldn’t be less alike. Where Liam is loud and bold, I’m quiet and reserved. A lot more private and stricter about what I put on the internet.
My brother had spent his teenage years fucking around, while I’d spent the time in our yard perfecting my game. I invested my time working out each day, which is why I played third-line in the NHL at nineteen.
He’s a skilful player, though. He opted to go to college with Vicky, while I went the junior route, but Liam is still waiting for his call-up.
My rookie year performance earned me a four-year contract extension, and I became an unrestricted free agent at twenty-five. I was about to re-sign with the Jets before this shit-show happened.
Thanks to Liam’s powers of persuasion, and that I owe him one, I’m sitting at Toronto Pearson. My flight to Heathrow was due to depart in a few hours, changing my immediate future.
“Ronnie will square something away to get me re-signed next year, right?” I glance at Liam, desperate for reassurance. Not that he gives a shit about my career right now, and our dad calls me the selfish one.
“Yeah, yeah, she’ll sort it out.” He waves his hand dismissively. I’m not sure why I asked him. Of course, he’ll tell me what I want to hear to keep my morale above freezing. He can’t influence it, but we both know that the Jets are unlikely to re-sign me after a year off.
Ronnie had presented the idea so everyone was on board, and the UK team would gain from the extra publicity. In the end, Winnipeg is mostly happy for me to try one season overseas, but I need to keep my nose clean.
“Just think of it like this: you have one season there, one season to fuck about and make your new team excel. Give them a chance to promote the sport over there,” Liam pauses, “I can see it now, your face on billboards.”
He’s smiling to himself, gesturing with his hand to an advertisement screen overhead. My face was already on billboards in Winnipeg; I don’t give a shit about the billboards.
“I’m not going to fuck about. I’m just going to keep my head down. Get it done,” I assure him. “Listen, Lee,” I look at my brother, my tone almost pleading, “you need to pull your thumb out of your ass this season, make a real good go of it because that’s all you’ve got. One. Season.” I’m pointing at him now, reminding myself of our dad. Stern and unforgiving. The only one he forgave was my mom, but he holds no prisoners with us boys.
I’d have taken my brother’s place regardless of the circumstances. I feel guilty that he didn’t make it all the way, and I did; now is his time to make an impression.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” Liam drains his coffee and stands. “Do you want another?” He eyes my cup.
“Nah, I’d best go clear security.” I stand up and hold out my fist; Liam bumps it before he hugs me.
“Show them how we do it in Canada,” he smirks. “Call me when you land, and I’ll try to make it out during All-Star week.”
I nod, reaching for my carry-on and throwing it over my shoulder. Liam picks up my phone from the table and hands it to me before I walk away; I look back at him one last time before he turns to leave.
My phone lights up with notifications. Over 5,000 likes, and a load of comments wishing me good luck.
My phone vibrates with a text from Ronnie just before I board.
