Page 2 of Chips & Checks
Destiny pouts. “Shame. I make a killer breakfast.”
“Even bigger shame—I don’t stay for breakfast.”
She stops walking just long enough to give me a once-over, clearly recalculating her strategy. “So, that’s how it is, huh?”
“That’s how it has to be.”
Her brows lift. “Someone already warming your bed, Mr. Murphy?”
“Never for longer than a few hours.”
Destiny whistles low. “Damn. Okay, respect.”
We reach the office door, and she ushers me inside. She flips her hair like she didn’t just get the benched/boarded combo platter. “Guess I’ll see you around.”
I offer a polite nod. “Only if you’re not watching.”
She snorts, and I hear her heels echoing behind me as I glance around.
The room where I’ve been deposited is small enough that I’m guessing it’s a private office. The guy sitting at the desk chuckles as he gets to his feet and holds out a hand. “Well, well, well,Bowen Murphy is here at last. Are you having woman issues? Already? You work fast.”
I grimace as I accept his handshake. “Not really. The issue is that I don’t do relationships.”
“Ah.” The man nods. “I feel you. Destiny can be a bit much. But Dante likes her so…”
I cock my head. “You’re single?” I stare pointedly at his left hand, where a wedding band shines pale gold against his Vegas tan. If this guy is telling me he cheats on his wife, we might have a problem. I’m a bit of a slut, but I’m not a dick.
My parents have been married forever, and I mean forever—like, still holding hands and finishing each other’s sentences kind of forever. I grew up watching what real love looks like. I just… don’t think that’s in the cards for me. Not with the lifestyle. Not with the distractions. Maybe after I retire or something. So yeah, I do hookups. I play it clean, clear, and consensual. And I don’t mess with people who mess with that.
He laughs at my expression. “No, happily married, but when I was your age, I thought I didn’t do relationships either. This was back in the day when I played with your dad, before joining the Venom. Nice to see you again. You’re a lot bigger than I remember.”
“Oh.” I answer his smile with one of my own and squeeze his hand. “You’re Briggs Sawyer. Don’t know why I didn’t put that together. I know your brother.”
“Seems like everybody knows Shep.” Briggs waves me into a chair, and I sit down across from him. “Always doing his whole ‘Shep Flare’ routine that screams ‘I peaked in the minors.’”
“From what I’ve heard, he’s kind of volunteered himself as the Slammers’ unofficial secondary mascot. Shows up at every game with his wife and kids.” Before I was born, even before my dad joined the NHL, he and Briggs played on a cruddy little AHL team up in northern Minnesota named the SorrowvilleSlammers. Notthatcruddy, I guess, since a handful of their players ended up going pro.
Briggs smiles warmly. “I knew your dad. He was hockey royalty. A legend. You have his eyes, kid.”
Briggs reaches for the stack of papers I still need to sign. “Let’s get this wrapped up, and I can give you a tour. We’re going to do a big announcement tomorrow but let me be the first one to welcome you to the Venom.” He beams at me. “I pushed for the boss to sign you, you know. He’s all about bringing in a second generation of Venom players, but I figured we need some fresh blood, too. I remember how good your dad was. I hear you’ve been following in his footsteps.”
My smile slips. “I got my contract because of my dad?”
Great. Another thing I didn’t choose.
Briggs looks me up and down, then bursts out laughing. “No way, kid. I’ve watched your films. Iknow your namebecause of your dad, but Dante wouldn’t have signed you if he didn’t like your style.”
“Dante?” I cock my head. “You mean Sergio?” Sergio Giovanetti owns the team now, after his father, Dante, retired.
Briggs dips his head. “Uh, yeah, that’s totally what I meant.”
Okay, there’s a story there. Dante’s retired but still lurking. Noted. I’ll have to ask for the details later. In the meantime, something he said earlier is nagging at me. “Briggs… can I call you Briggs?” He nods, and I continue. “About what you were saying earlier. Would you mind finishing that thought?”
“About what?” Briggs scratches his jaw. “About leaving Minnesota? I would have stayed, but there was no escaping the huggles.”
I groan. Dad has a signature move where he kind of grabs you and holds you and starts humming, and you want to fight him on it, but it just feels sonice. I loved getting them when I was a kid, but it got old in high school. It’s still a whole thing.When Declyn Murphy leaves this earth, I think he’s going to be remembered more for the huggle than his Hall of Fame hockey career.
Briggs chortles at my expression. “Just kidding. I loved Sorrowville, but damn, it’s small. Dante called me with an offer, my shot at the big dance, and that was that.”
