Page 95 of Reckless Storm
Thomas sighs. “We think our new General Manager’s going to resign.”
“What?”Jesus. I did not see that coming. “He just started.”
That’s all we need. Another GM controversy. It took them long enough to find this guy. Mind you, he hasn’t really proven himself yet.
“Think you can convince Wes this time?” I perk up. I wasn’t around when Wes Johnson played for Storm but we all know who he is. He was an incredible player before he had to retire due to injury. He’s now married to Lucy, our ex-teammate Dylan’s sister, and Thomas knows him well.
Thomas laughs at my comment. “I’m sure as hell going to try. And this time it might involve begging. Or maybe I’ll get Lucy on my side. I know Carter’s already giving him hell.” Carter is our teammate and Wes’s close friend. “That aside, the team’s got enough going on without another fucking controversy. The media only just stopped talking about that goddamn TV show.”
“It doesn’t help that Zane keeps bringing it up.”
“No, it doesn’t, but I’m going to give him a pass.” He frowns and my eyes widen.
“Do you know something I don’t?”
“I might.” He chuckles though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I see a little of myself in him. Not myselfnow, but when I was younger. I think he’s self-destructing.”
While I don’t know a lot about Thomas’s private life, he’s been extremely open about his struggles with alcohol and depression. If he’s seeing something in Zane, I trust him completely.
“I’m only telling you this because I know you’re a good guy and one of the only guys that hasn’t written him off yet. There may come a time when he needs his friends and he’s going to realize he doesn’t have many.”
A feeling of déjà vu hits me. I’ve thought the same thing many times before. “I’ll be there,” I say truthfully.
“I know, man. Thanks.” He pats me on the back and smiles at Brad. “I better get this to Lainey.” He holds up one of the drinks in his hand. “She hasn’t left the dance floor all night.”
He turns to walk away but his gaze flits back to mine. “Shit, I keep forgetting to ask… How’s the mentoring with Landon? He mentioned you’ve been checking in on him.”
“Yeah, I think he’s onto me. But I don’t think he’d mind having an official mentor. He’s eager to learn and responsive to suggestions.”
“I thought that might be the case. And he’s in the right hands.”
“What can I say, I’m trying.” I shrug and Thomas laughs, though I’m not really joking. I’m trying because while Landon’s eager to learn, I’m conscious of not making him feel like he needs a mentor more than anyone else on the team. We have a mentoring program—that he’s a part of—but it focuses purely on the game. What I’m doing with Landon is more than that. I’m trying to build his confidence and integrate him better into the team. And deep down, I know that’s what Thomas really meant. Otherwise he wouldn’t have askedme.
“Thanks, Reed.” Thomas nods, his warm knowing smile flashing my way before he disappears and Brad turns his attention to me, changing the topic.
“So…you and Riley, huh?”
“What?”Riley? Oh… “You’ve readJaded Beginnings?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “My girlfriend has and she’s obsessed. She made me watch the trailer. At leastfiftytimes. No exaggeration.”
“I bet she’s excited for the release.”
“She wants to go to the midnight screening.” He rolls his eyes jokingly and my heart jumps as a warmth takes over me.
“Hayley will love hearing that. Is your girlfriend here?”
“She just left.” He cringes, a sadness in his eyes. “She has to work early tomorrow.”
“Oh, shame. Remind me next time we’re all together, and I’ll introduce her to Hayley.”
“Bullshit. Really? That would earn me brownie points for a lifetime. She barely took her eyes off Hayley all night. She was definitely fan-girling.”
I laugh until a thought hits me… That explains Hayley’s feelings about someone watching her. Her intuition was right. Only it wasn’t Bria like she guessed.
“Next time, you should bring her over. Hayley would love to meet a fan.”
“Thanks, man. I will.”
