Chapter 27
27
Preston
I ’ve barely been home long enough to show Elle around when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Pulling it out, I see Tommy’s name on the screen.
“Hey, ah, my agent is calling,” I tell her. “Do you mind?”
“No, of course not. Answer it!” Elle says encouragingly.
When I still hesitate, Maya says, “Take your call, Pres. I’ll keep Elle company.”
Elle nods her head in agreement, so I tell her, “I’ll make it quick” before heading out the front door.
“Hey, Tommy. What’s up?”
“Good news,” he says.
“What?”
“I have an offer with your name on it. You need to sign ASAP, today if possible.”
He’s crazy if he thinks I’m going to make a decision this huge in a matter of hours.
“Which team?”
“The Grizzlies.”
“California?” I exclaim, then remember why I’m talking to him outside, to keep Maya from overhearing. “I can’t go to California. That’s literally on the other side of the country!”
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Tommy replies. “I suggest you sign this baby now, tonight, before shit goes sideways in the next championship game.”
“I’m not…I hope I won’t get ejected from any game, but I can’t sign tonight. I need some time to think.”
“If you don’t sign with the Grizzlies then the only hockey you’ll be playing is a pick-up game with old men on a frozen lake.”
“So, you still haven’t heard anything from the Warhawks?”
“Not a peep. And I don’t expect to either. If they wanted to keep you, they would’ve already made an offer.”
“Right. Fuck.”
“So, it’s Cali or bust, my man. Well, there has been some chatter from one another team.”
“Which team?”
“The only one who can’t exactly let it get out that they want a player from the team about to beat them out for the championship trophy.”
“The Bobcats want me?” I say in disbelief.
“Don’t worry. I’ve made it clear that you would never play on the same team as Riley. He’s a lock with them for at least three more years since he’s already got his eight-year contract on their books. Grizzlies are offering significantly more money than you would get out of the Bobcats, anyway.”
Playing in Greensboro while it has serious downfalls, like having to put up with Christian Riley’s sorry ass every damn day, also has it perks. At least one. Elle. But can I afford to take a pay cut? Not if I have to find another place to live while keeping up this house if Maya and Finley stay here.
Besides, Elle and I just met. We barely know each other. Moving just to be near her and taking a slash in my pay would be crazy long-term.
“So, it’s looking like I’m going to have to move to California.”
“That’s what I thought. I’ll send you the contract tonight. Think fast and don’t tell anyone about it until the ink is dry. They could change their minds if you drag your feet.”
“I’ll read over it and give you an answer as soon as I can,” I assure him. “But I doubt if it’ll be before the end of the week.”
Tommy makes a groan of annoyance. “The sooner the better, Preston. I don’t think I can stress that enough. One mistake in the finals and you can kiss this opportunity goodbye.”
“Yeah. I understand,” I reply.
I know he’s right. I would be a fool not to sign an offer tonight when my options are so limited. But leaving Maya and Finley in D.C., being so far from Elle, I don’t want to think about either of those things right now.
Elle
“So, I’m glad things aren’t weird between us, after last night when we met and because of Christian,” I tell Maya while Preston has stepped outside to talk to his agent.
“Of course not. I don’t waste my time on thinking about that jerk anymore.”
“Were you together long?” I ask.
“We only dated a few times. Nothing serious, but I thought I was special.”
“I know the feeling. He apparently has that effect on women.”
“Yeah, and I found out the hard way. His first reaction to me telling him I was pregnant was to ask if I had been screwing around with any frat boys on campus.” She rolls her eyes. “He was my first. The only guy I’ve ever been with.”
“Ever?” I repeat, since it sounds like she means even now he’s the only one.
“Dating as a single mother isn’t easy. Or maybe I’m just too scared to put myself out there again and get hurt.”
“I’m sorry he hurt you, and that you have to raise Finley without his support.”
“It’s fine. Preston is twice the man Christian is. My brother is the only person I’ve ever been able to count on.”
“He’s a good man. I’m really glad that I met him, even if it was under unusual circumstances.”
“I’m glad you two met. It’s nice to have a female to talk to around here. I hang out with some of the other moms at Finley’s preschool sometimes, mostly at kids’ birthday parties or school events, but they’re nothing like me. They’re older with husbands and careers, while I don’t have either. I don’t have anything in common with them except a son, and I think they look down on me for being single. As if only married couples should have the right to have children. Finley is my entire world. I wouldn’t change a thing about my life, despite what those snobs all think.”
“That sounds awful. Maybe they’re just jealous of you.”
“Yeah, right,” she says with a soft laugh.
“Seriously, Maya. You’re young and beautiful without any restraints, other than raising a son. You don’t have to go to a job you hate, or deal with marital issues, cheating husbands, or whatever else. You’re lucky enough to have a sweet boy, while they’re all probably raising hellions.”
“Thanks, Elle. I never really thought about it that way. I shouldn’t envy them, not when they’re probably not happy. I am, though.”
“That’s good.”
“I get lonely sometimes, but I’m always happy to get out of bed every morning to spend as much time as possible with my amazing son and my super talented brother.”
“That’s all that really matters,” I agree with a smile.
“Soo,” she drawls. “What’s going to happen with you and Preston after the last championship game?”
Shrugging, I tell her the truth. “I don’t know yet. Preston is still waiting to hear about whether his contract will be extended. That’s probably what he’s talking to his agent about now, so until he knows for sure…”
Maya holds up her palm to stop me. “Wait, what? Are you saying that Preston’s contract with the Warhawks is in limbo?”
Oh crap.
“You…you didn’t know he hasn’t received a contract extension yet? Shit. I’m so sorry, Maya. I shouldn’t have mentioned that. Please don’t tell him. He’ll be furious.”
“Why didn’t he tell me?” she huffs. “This affects my life too!”
“I’m sure there’s a good reason. He probably didn’t want to worry you until he knew for sure if he has to relocate.”
“Preston!” Maya jumps up from the sofa and yells so loudly I wince but follow her.
Apparently, she was so loud he could even hear her from outside because Preston appears in the doorway a moment later, his phone still in his hand, looking back and forth between us with concern. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t know that Maya didn’t know,” I tell him.
“Didn’t know what?” he asks, eyes skimming from me to his sister.
“We might be moving ? How could you keep this from me?” Maya exclaims, hands braced on her hips.
Preston throws his head back and curses at the ceiling before responding to his furious sister. “I didn’t want you to stress. But I’m starting to realize that secrets make everything ten times worse. I should’ve told you. I know that.” He pauses for a long moment, looking toward the door, then back to his sister. “Everything is still up in the air right now. I have to go to the team that wants me. As soon as I have more information, I’ll share it with you.”
“You better!”
“But just because I may have to move doesn’t mean you and Finley have to, you know. You could both stay here in the house. I could come visit as often as possible.”
Scoffing, she says, “I don’t want to have to decide between uprooting my son or losing my brother!”
“You’re not going to lose me.”
Maya paces away from the foyer, then right back. “Do you…do you not want us to move with you this time?”
“What? Of course, I want you and Finley to go wherever I go, but I can’t expect you to leave this place, not when Finley’s enjoying school and making friends.”
Maya’s eyes glisten when she says, “You know he would be devastated if you left us.”
I feel like I’m intruding on what should’ve been a private conversation. Since I’m still in between the two, I press my back to the wall to try to disappear as much as possible.
“You think I don’t know that? Fu…fudge,” he growls, catching himself before the f-bomb even though Finley’s at school. “None of this is what I wanted, but it’s out of my control! I hate it as much as you do.”
“When? When will you know?” Maya asks, folding her arms over her chest.
“Soon, hopefully,” he tells her. “Tommy says I would be stupid not to accept an offer in case I screw up in a game and the team changes their minds.”
“How…why…why can’t you stay in D.C. with the Warhawks?” she asks.
“Because they don’t want to keep me on the team. I don’t get along great with my teammates or the coaches. They would rather pass and move on from me.”
“Then they’re a bunch of freaking jerks!”
“Yes, they are.”
“We’ve only been here for three years. I thought…” She shakes her head and says, “I know things change often in the pros, but I thought we would stay a little longer.”
“I know. I did too. I’m sorry.”
“And I’m sorry for opening this can of worms,” I whisper to them. “Should I go?”
“No,” they both respond when they turn to toward me. Maya shakes her head and says, “It’s not your fault my brother likes to keep secrets, to put all the burden on himself instead of letting others share it.”
“She’s right,” Preston says, reaching for my hand and pressing a kiss to the top of it, as if letting me know we’re okay. “It’s for the best that Maya’s all caught up with where things stand. Now we can figure it out together.”
I’m not sure if I’m included in the together, and I don’t ask.
As much as it sucks, waiting and seeing what happens between me and Preston after the finals are over is all I feel like I can do at the moment, too.