Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Renthrow
I knock on the door of Max’s office and hear him yell, “Come in! Unless it’s you, Bobby!”
The door creaks as I stride inside. “What did Bobby do to deserve that?”
“He thinks we should spend all our marketing funds on attracting a former pro-leaguer like Chance to the team.”
“It’s a great idea.”
“It’s a terrible idea.” Max runs his hands through his hair. “We only have one shot at this.”
“One shot?”
His eyes dart away guiltily. “I want to hedge my bets. Chance was lightning in a bottle. If we didn’t go to college together, there’s no way he would have accepted my offer to come to Lucky Falls.
And if he hadn’t fallen in love with April, there’s no way he would have stayed.
I can’t gamble our entire team’s future on those two circumstances happening twice. ”
I stare at Max knowingly. “But you want to.”
“It would be irresponsible.” His eyes dart away, and his voice drops a decibel as if he’s arguing with himself.
I take a seat in the chair across from his desk and lean back. “The Lucky Strikers struggled for years before McLanely joined the team. We kept the same coach and the same players, but our results changed because of him. Imagine what we could do with two McLanelys.”
“Don’t start too, or I’ll add you to the name-and-shame wall.” Max points to a blank wall beyond my head.
“You’re getting mad because you want to do it.”
Max runs his fingers through his hair. “Back in college, I thought I’d be down there with you guys.
” His eyes are drawn to the ice that can be seen beyond the large windows.
“There was nothing I loved more than hockey. Nothing. But circumstances led me here, and now, there’s nothing I love more than this team.
I want to see the Lucky Strikers thrive, and aiming for a hotshot would be for vanity, not strategy. ”
I nod, choosing to let the matter drop. Max has made up his mind, and I admire him for wanting to go the hard route rather than the easy one.
“Hey, Renthrow,” Max says.
I look up.
“Thanks for signing on with us. And for doing the interview.” He points to my suit. “McLanely said he wanted to lay low for a while, and Kinsey, well…with everything going on with his family right now…”
Max doesn’t need to continue. After the Kinseys’ deepest, darkest secret erupted, it shook Lucky Falls to its core. Some townsfolk, especially the ones who were eager to see the prominent family fall, have made a big stink about them.
Max nods. “I promise, I’ll be as flexible as I can. You have my full understanding when it comes to Gordie.”
“I wouldn’t have signed with you if I thought otherwise.”
Our team manager blows out a breath loud enough to rattle the pens on his desk. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s fine. Better than fine.”
“Is the therapist helping a lot?”
“Among other things.”
Max leans forward. “Something good happen?”
“She’s taken to Cordelia Davenport,” I admit.
“Taken to?”
“She got Gordie to come out of her hiding place.”
Max breaks into a jubilant smile and smashes his large hands on the table. “That’s incredible, man.”
“Yeah, I felt like I could breathe for the first time in weeks.”
“How’d she do it?”
“Not even she knows. I walked into the house, and Cordelia was under the table playing puppets with Gordie like it was the most natural thing.”
Max leans back in his chair. He’s built like a tank, and I’m surprised the chair holds steady. “I get why Gordie would fall for Delia. She’s amazing.”
The excitement in Max’s voice stirs up something dark in me. I remember how he and Cordelia were giggling and smiling at each other at the Tuna, and my jaw hardens.
Max gives me a blank look. “What?”
“You and Cordelia seemed close the other night. Is something going on between you two?”
Max barks out a laugh. “What?”
“It’s a simple question, Max.”
Max’s eyes drop to my fist. “Then why do I feel like if I answer the question wrong, you’re flying over the table and punching me in the face?”
“Don’t be dramatic.”
“Who’s the one being dramatic here?”
“Cordelia and I are involved,” I blurt.
Max’s jaw hits the desk.
I glare at him, searching for any signs that he wants to challenge me for Cordelia’s attention.
Max just looks dumbstruck. “Since when?”
My bravado falters. I haven’t thought that far yet. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is she’s mine now.”
I’m leaving out a critical piece of information, but I have no intention of admitting to Max that the relationship between Cordelia and me is fake. He’s too close to our sponsor—who also happens to be Cordelia’s mother. If he slips up in front of her, the entire ruse will be compromised.
I’m making a strategic decision here. That’s all there is to it.
Max’s dumbstruck expression turns into a mischievous grin. “How serious are you two?”
“Very,” I growl.
“Then why’d you brush her off after the play-offs?”
I roll my eyes to the ceiling. I’m really starting to regret the decision I made to ignore Cordelia that night. If I’d just played along with her from the get-go, Max wouldn’t be looking at me like he knows something I don’t.
“Answer the question I asked, Max.”
“You want to know what I think about Cordelia?”
“Not really. I just need to make it clear that whatever you think about her should be kept to yourself from now on.”
“I think she’s pretty.”
“I think you meant ‘extremely beautiful,’” I correct him. “And I said I don’t want to hear it.”
“She seems like a cool person, if a little on the cold side. Sometimes, she can be a bit scary with all the leather and the bike…”
“She relaxes with the people she’s close to,” I snap. “And women who smile all the time for absolutely no reason are the scary ones. And what the heck is wrong with leather and bikes?”
Max is laughing his head off.
“What’s so funny?” I grumble.
“I’m just messing with you. I’m not interested in her.”
That ticks me off too. “Why not?”
If Max smiles any harder, his face might tear in half. “Bro, you’re offended that I don’t like her now?”
I blink. He’s right. Isn’t that what I wanted?
“All I’m saying is, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m way too busy to be thinking of dating right now.”
“Then what was that at the Tuna?”
“That night, I was extra friendly with her because she’s the daughter of our sponsor. That’s all. It was purely business on my end.” Max wipes his eyes that had misted up from laughing so hard. “You’re down bad. Between you, Kinsey, and McLanely, I wonder who’ll tie the knot first.”
“It won’t be me,” I say firmly. “I’m never getting married again.”
His brows climb at my firm declaration, but before he can ask me anything more, the door kicks open.
“Mahoney!” Theilan’s voice thunders as he stomps into the office.
Three-quarters of the team barge in with him, and they all look furious.
Watson stands a little behind Theilan, his arms folded over his chest and his eyes narrowed.
“Guys.” Max shoots to his feet. “What are you doing here? Our meeting isn’t for another hour.”
“We heard,” Theilan hisses. His voice is hot enough to melt the ice straight out of the stadium. “You’re kicking us off the team?”
Max winces.
I rise to my feet, hoping to calm things down. “No one’s getting kicked off the team, Theilan. The Lucky Strikers is evolving, and there will be a fair competition to—”
“I don’t want a lecture from one of the ‘chosen ones’!” Theilan snaps.
I frown, but it’s not like he’s wrong. I understand what he feels. If my place on the team I love was jeopardised, I’d snap and bite at everyone too.
Max extends a hand to the team. “Guys, I’m sorry you weren’t able to hear it from me. But I had to make a decision. The Lucky Strikers got this far on camaraderie and love of the sport. But only the best of the best get to go with us to the next level.”
I turn back to give Max an “are you serious” look. If that’s the speech he’s been cooking up for weeks, it needs some serious improvement.
Theilan’s face turns a peculiar shade of red. “I’ve given my all to this team.” He stretches his shirt. “You think I was messing around here? I’ve skipped classes, got kicked out by my dad, and had to repeat a semester because I chose hockey over everything else.”
“We’ve all given up something to be here!” Watson yells, stabbing his finger at the ground.
“Guys, just hear me out,” Max says, his face strained.
“Forget it!” Theilan yells. He takes his jersey off and slams it on the ground. “I’m done.”
Max stumbles back, dumbstruck.
“What do you mean ‘done’?” I demand.
“I don’t want to be part of a team that stabs people in the back,” Theilan spits.
“That’s not what’s happening.” I approach the guys. “Just hear him out.”
But the grumbling rises.
More dirty looks are flung my way.
“Guys, I truly want you all on the team. If you attend the scouting tournament—”
“Screw you, Max!” Theilan storms out.
The rest of the team follows him.
I grab Watson’s arm before he can leave. “Watson, wait a minute.”
“I’ve always respected you, Renthrow,” he says in a raspy voice.
“You were like the dad of the team.” He stops and squeezes his eyes shut.
“I get why McLanely would do this. And Kinsey, well, he’s always been about himself.
But you?” Watson’s eyes fill with hurt and disappointment.
“Guess I was wrong about you all along.”
“Watson!”
The goalie stomps out of the room, and the door slams shut behind him.
Max runs a hand down his face, his eyes on the floor. “Well…that went well.”
“Maybe they’ll come back.”
“They’re not coming back.”
“You’re probably right.”
Max sinks into the desk and nearly upends it, but it manages to hold steady.
I walk over to our manager. “Now what?”
“Now…” Max falters, “we mourn the team I just destroyed.”