Page 30 of Shot on Goal at a Second Chance
“I thought you’d be excited. Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“Yes…maybe.” I drag a hand through my hair. “I don’t know.”
The silence draws out until Chase lets out a soft whistle. “It’s her, isn’t it?”
I clear my throat. “Yeah.”
“Well, as your agent, you should jump on this before the offer goes away. They’re literally making a spot for you on this one. And you’ll be closer to Laney.”
No point in mentioning that my niece has no plans to stay in Connecticut, which takes some pressure off of me. So this is really about me and what I want.
“And as my best friend?”
“Second chances don’t come around that often.” He doesn’t say anything else, doesn’t explain what that means, and he doesn’t tell me what I should do.
He doesn’t have to because I already know.
I want Rebecca.
“Give me some time to think about it?”
“Yeah, sure, man. No problem. I’ll send the offer so you can at least put eyes on it.” He pauses. “So, you two are getting serious, then.”
“Maybe.” I want to say yes—I really do. But until Rebecca says she’s in this for real, I’m not about to jinx it by jumping ahead of things. Guess some of those hockey superstitions still stuck with me.
“You know, she might see my pretty face when I come visit and decide to go with a sure thing.”
“As if,” I growl.
He chuckles. “Call me by the end of the week.”
“Will do.”
I open my contacts and call Laney. We always talk about big life decisions together, and I’m ninety-nine percent positive she’ll tell me she’s fine with my staying in Florida. But it’s still important that I include her in this decision.
“Hi, Uncle Zach. What’s up?”
I grin at her words because she sounds just like I did a moment ago when Chase called. Laney’s the closest thing to the daughter I never intended to have. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss my sister, but raising Laney like my own was the good that arose from out of a horrible situation.
“ESPN came back with an offer.”
She squeals so loud I have to pull the phone away from my ear. “That’s great! I’m so happy for you.”
“How would you feel about me staying in Florida?”
“Wait, what? Didn’t you just say ESPN—your mother ship—offered you a job?”
I chuckle at her analogy. “They did.”
“Does this have something to do with thatold friendyou had dinner with the other night?”
“Maybe.”
“Uncle Zach…”
“Yeah?”
She lets out a sigh that reminds me of when she was little. “Don’t you think it’s time you had another woman in your life besides me?”
