Page 30 of Fair Play
“Then why are we walking this way?” I ask.
“I figured you’d drive me back to my car.” She pauses. “Your car.”
“Yourcar,” I say firmly. “For now anyway. But I’m not holding ownership over your head. Bodi’s paying the insurance so as far as I’m concerned, it’s yours.”
“I’m going to pay the insurance,” she says. “Now that I don’t have to pay rent, I can afford it.”
“Are you not looking for an apartment?” I ask curiously. Although I don’t mind having her around, my understanding was that the arrangement was temporary.
She stops walking and looks at me. “Didn’t Bodi talk to you? I decided I’m going to stay until the end of the season. Depending on whether or not you make the playoffs, that could be less than two months. And since neither of you know what’s happening for next season, or the off-season for that matter, we’re not going to make any decisions or changes until then.”
Huh. Bodi never said a word. I’m not mad about it, but he and I are going to have a conversation about communication.
She misunderstands my hesitation and frowns. “Do you…not want me there?” she whispers, a flash of hurt in her pretty eyes.
“No, it’s not that.” I quickly shake my head. “I’m just annoyed that Bodi didn’t say anything. We agreed that it was temporary because there’s a good chance I won’t be here another season. My days are numbered.”
“Are they? Why?”
“It’s complicated.”
“I’m about to have a college degree,” she says dryly. “I could probably muddle through if you explain it to me.”
“Smartass.” We start walking again. “I’m thirty-five. Like we talked about earlier, I don’t have the best reputation around the league. And the general culture in hockey is moving away from guys like me.”
“Guys like you?”
“Enforcers. Goons. Shit disturbers. I don’t score a lot of goals.”
“Neither do goalies but the teams can’t function without them.”
“It’s a little different for me. Between my age and lack of production, I don’t know if anyone is going to want me. The Phantoms needed a layer of toughness this year going into the playoffs, but beyond that? Who knows.”
“You can fight for a place on the team. For at least one more year. Right?”
“I can. I will. But there are no guarantees. I could have a great post-season and still get traded because another team wants me and makes the Phantoms an offer they can’t refuse.”
“You’re right—it is complicated.” She seems thoughtful. “I would hate for you to leave.”
And for some reason, despite how much I’ve always disliked my hometown, I would hate it too.
Chapter 11
Billie
I think I’m having a panic attack.
Rome and I are sitting on a bench outside the skate rental place and it’s a little hard to breathe.
Dammit.
I don’t know what I’m afraid of.
It’s not like I’m going to do a triple axel and potentially fall on my face. I might fall but Rome is here. And he promised to make sure I don’t.
There’s nothing to be afraid of.
So why am I shaking?
