Page 154 of Face Off
Alan Hartwell has the same fiery red hair and green eyes. The same long arms and long legs, and the same snarky smile I can spot from a mile away.
When we park in the driveway of an old craftsman with a covered porch and big windows, I jump out of the driver’s seat and follow Emmy toward the wheelchair ramp that leads to the front door. She bends down to hug her dad, and I hang back so they can have a moment together.
“Hi, Dad,” she says.
“There’s my girl.” He runs his fingers through her hair, and when she pulls away, she wipes her eyes. His attention darts over to me. “And who is this?”
“Hi, sir.” I step closer and extend a hand for him to shake. “I’m Maverick. It’s great to meet you. Emmy has told me a lot about you.”
“Has she?” Alan looks over at his daughter and grins. “I haven’t heard a thing about you.”
“Did you pay him to say that?” I ask, and Emmy smirks.
“A hundred bucks.”
“Good god, Red. You could’ve bought me dinner with that.”
“Says the twelve-million-dollar man.”
Alan bats my hand away and pulls me into the same hug he gave Emmy. “It’s nice to meet you, son. Thank you for making the drive to see me.”
“Who doesn’t love Michigan in February?” I ask.
“I’d offer to give you a tour, but we’re on a time crunch,” Emmy says.
“Next time I’m going to have you show me this bar where you ate your pizza and sipped on chocolate milk.” I glance at Alan. “And I agree with you on theJurassic Parkdebate, sir.”
“I like him already.”
“You’re going to be up front Dad, and I’ll sit in the back. The van isn’t as nice as Maverick’s Mercedes, but he drives it just fine.”
“A Mercedes?” Alan asks. “What model?”
“A G-Wagon. It’s not very practical for the city, but I bought it with my first paycheck when I was young and stupid and didn’t have a financial adviser. I don’t want to part with it now.”
“That’s a nice car. I never had anything that fancy, but I did have a bright red Mazda Miata back in the day. I loved to zip around in that thing.”
“I have no clue what any of these cars are,” Emmy says.
“I’m disappointed. Stick with me, Red, and I’ll teach you.” I check my phone and gesture to the car. “Do we want to get going? I don’t mean to rush us, but you know Coach is going to be pissed if we’re late for the bus.”
“Shoot, yeah.” Emmy looks at Alan. “Do you need anything from inside, Dad? I can grab it.”
“I have a bag on the kitchen table if you don’t mind getting it and locking up,” he says. “And the plastic bag with my medication on the counter.”
“Want a hand?” I ask, and she nods.
“That would be great. Thanks.” She kisses her dad’s cheek and leads me into the entryway. “Welcome to teenage Emmy’s home.”
“I like it.” I smile at the tall plant in the corner and the pictures on the wall. “How long did you live here?”
“A couple years in high school, and he’s been here ever since. It’s been remodeled since his injury. I was only making seventy thousand dollars when I was in the ECHL, so this contract with the Stars has been really helpful in planning out some long-term adjustments I’d like to make. I’ve also thought about buying a new house that’s accommodating to what he needs, but I’m not sure I can get him to part with this place. It’s finally home to him.”
I rub a hand over my chest.
I’d like a home one day. A place where you feel the years of memories. No matter how much money I throw at an interior designer to make it more comfortable, my apartment has never been like that.
I feel it when I go to Maven and Dallas’s place, though. There’s love and warmth and all the shit that comes with feeling happy and settled, andfuck, I want that.
