Chapter 11 Brody
ELEVEN
brODY
I put three plates on the kitchen island knowing Kali is bringing Olivia up and joining us for dinner. I messaged her after Hannah left my office, asking if she was free to talk about schedules. Co-parenting is the most important part of our relationship, and we’ve done it damn well.
The older Liv gets, the more we both want to be present for those big life moments she’s going to experience. Kali and I sit down together before every school year and plan out transportation. We divide holidays evenly and figure out how often we’re going to shuttle Liv between our two houses.
We have a system. This works, and when something unexpected springs up—like hiring a new figure skating coach after the hockey season is underway—it’s nice to have someone who is flexible and willing to work with me to keep Liv’s life as uninterrupted as possible.
It’ll also nice to know I have an accomplice if I ever need to kick a future significant other’s ass for not treating my daughter the right way down the road.
“We’re here!” Liv calls out, bounding down the hall. She drops her backpack in the middle of the kitchen, racing toward me and the pile of food I have spread out. “Please tell me we’re having tacos tonight.”
“Nice to see you too, kid.” I open the Styrofoam container housing the two dozen street tacos I ordered for us. “Of course we’re having tacos.”
“I’m glad to know you also leave a mess at your dad’s house.” Kali steps over the discarded backpack, nudging it out of the way with her shoe. “I thought it was just me.”
“Don’t go in her bathroom. It’s scary as hell.” I give Kali a quick hug and point to the food. “Grab a plate. There’s something I need to talk to you all about.”
“Oh, no.” Olivia groans. “Did you get fired? Do we have to move to Canada? If you have the option to choose, could you pick California as your next place to coach? I really want to learn how to surf.”
“Why would you go straight into thinking I got fired?” I take three tacos for myself and scoff. “Thanks for having confidence in your old man.”
“The Stars are near the bottom of the standings to start the season.” She hops onto the stool at the island and digs in. “People get fired for less.”
“We’ve played twelve games.”
“And you’ve only won six of them.”
I look at Kali. “When did she turn into such a smart-ass?”
“She’s your daughter.” Kali laughs and takes the plate I offer her. “She’s been this way since she could talk.”
“What secret are you keeping, Dad?”
“First tell us about school,” I say.
“It was fine. My math homework is kicking my ass, and I—”
“Language,” Kali and I say in unison.
“Coming from the guy who got a $20,000 fine because he criticized the referees after his game last week? Is there going to be enough money to pay for my college tuition?”
I scoff.
A $20,000 fine is a drop in the bucket for me, and I know how privileged I am to be able to say that.
The deal I signed after my ELC was guaranteed.
Money was funneled my way for years after my early retirement.
Add in the contract extension with the Stars my agent secured two summers ago, and neither Olivia nor any of my great-great-great-great grandchildren will ever have to worry about money.
I give back when I can. I sponsor youth hockey camps in the city and set up a scholarship fund for local teenagers who want to play the sport in college. Doesn’t feel right to keep it all to myself when there are people out there who need it more than I do.
“You’re going to be fine.” I wipe my mouth with a napkin. “I got some news today.”
“News?” Kali frowns. “Is everything okay?”
“It will be. I found Livvy a skating coach.”
My daughter gasps. “What? You did?”
“Yup.”
“Who had space to bring me on? How much money did you have to pay them? Is this one of those arrangements where you owe someone a kidney down the road?”
“Jesus, Liv.” I glance at Kali. “We need to take social media away from her.”
“Agreed.” She cuts a quick look at our daughter, pursing her lips, then refocuses on me. “That’s great you found someone, Brody.”
“Who is it?” Olivia practically bounces on her stool. “A former Olympian? Someone new in town? Are you sending me to a boarding school in another country?”
“Do you know Grant Everett? Second line left winger on the Stars?”
“Yeah.” She giggles. “He’s cute with his floppy hair.”
“Absolutely not. You’re not allowed to call any of the players on my team cute. Actually—scratch that. You’re not allowed to call anyone cute. Ever.”
“Why not?” Liv presses. “Half the girls in my grade have boyfriends, Dad. It’s going to happen for me at some point too.”
“I’m ignoring everything you just said.” I sigh, defeated, and look at Kali. “Grant has a sister. Her name is—”
“Hannah, duh,” Liv interrupts, taking control of the conversation.
“I know. I’ve told you about her, remember?
She’s so freaking talented. I’ve watched her world championship program close to a hundred times.
Her triple Lutz is the best I’ve ever seen!
And, cooler than that, she’s famous for her body composition. ”
“What does that mean?”
“She’s taller than most skaters,” Olivia gushes. “It gives me hope that one day I’ll be as successful as her.”
My fingers wrap around the counter. I am, unfortunately, very aware of how tall Hannah is. I know how it feels to have her long legs wrapped around my head, and inviting her back into my life was the worst decision I ever could’ve made.
“I see,” I say.
“How the heck did you get Hannah Everett to agree to coach me? How does she even know who you are?”
“Her brother, remember?” I ignore how warm the room feels, distracting myself with the tacos so I don’t have to give any more details. “She was available.”
“She posted that she dropped out of Skate America, and I thought she was injured. I guess not. Oh, my god. Dad,” Liv shrieks.
“This is the best day of my life! When can she start? Where are we going to train? Do you think she’ll let me hold her world championship medal?
I bet she’s even prettier in real life.”
She is, I think bitterly. She’s the prettiest woman in the world.
But… why the hell did she drop out of a competition? Does it have to do with what she was talking about in my office—not being in love with the sport anymore? How skating is losing its magic?
Shit. I hope she’s okay.
“You start next week at the Stars’ training facility. Same days as your previous schedule, and I have no clue about her medal.”
“The girls at school are going to be so jealous.” Olivia finishes her food in record time. “Permission to be excused so I can text my friends and give them the good news? Please, please, please?”
“Half an hour,” I tell her. “Then homework.”
“Deal.” She squeals and jumps off the stool, stopping to give me a tight hug. “Thank you, Dad. This means so much to me.”
I don’t have a chance to hug her back. She’s too busy sprinting down the hall, nose buried in her phone. Her bedroom door closes, and Kali laughs.
“Okay. Wow. You just snagged top spot for Dad of the Year,” she tells me. “But you would’ve landed there without hiring her dream skating coach.”
“Thanks, Kal.” I dip my chin and point to the fridge. “Want some wine? Or a beer?”
“I shouldn’t. Bryant and I have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow. Three years of trying to have a second kid, and nothing yet.”
“Water it is then.” I fill up two glasses and slide one her way. “I’ll join you in solidarity.”
“Thanks.” She smiles and leans her elbows on the island. “So are you going to tell me why you were blushing a few minutes ago?”
“I have no clue what you’re talking about. I got sunburned over the weekend.”
“Sunburned? In November? Makes sense.” She smirks, then takes a sip of her water. “You wanted to talk about schedules?”
“Yeah. Hannah is able to keep the same days for Olivia’s training. I offered the Stars’ facility because it’s available, but I know it’s farther from you than her usual rink.”
“We’ll figure it out. I haven’t seen Liv that excited about something in months.”
“If the travel gets to be too much on the days when you have her, I’ll see if we can work out a few sessions at locations closer to your place.”
“It’s going to be fine, Brody. Really. We’ve made this work for years. A change in plans isn’t going to be the end of the world. How the heck did you even pull this off?”
“I asked the guys if they had any recommendations.” I shrug and put Olivia’s empty plate in the sink. “Grant said his sister might be available to help, and she was. Sounds like she’s taking a break from her career? I don’t know. We didn’t talk specifics.”
“Let me know how much she charges and I’ll pay half.”
“Fuck no. Put that money toward redecorating the nursery you’re going to use when your little one comes.”
“If,” Kali corrects.
“When,” I answer.
“Brody Saunders is optimistic for once?” She grins. “There must be something in the air. The reason you were blushing earlier, perhaps? Is there a woman in the picture?”
“Don’t push it. You know I don’t date.”
“Who said anything about dating? I’m sure half the city would throw themselves at your feet given the chance. A night of passion with the mysterious pro hockey coach? The line would stretch all the way to Meridian Hill Park.”
“My hand works just fine.”
“You’re disgusting. Don’t ever say that to me again.
” Kali makes a face. “Are you going to tell me why you’re so adverse to having a personal relationship with someone?
I know we had our whole accidental pregnancy thing—no complaints here, by the way—but you’ve never really given off playboy vibes.
You’re not secretly against monogamy, are you? ”
“No.” I lean against the counter and shrug again. “I’m busy. Not sure when I have time to date in between being on the road and a parent.”
“Your players make time.”
“They’re younger than me. And there’s also the stupid reason.”
“Oh?” Her eyes twinkle. “Do tell.”
“I realize what I’m about to say sounds very narcissistic, but I don’t mean it that way.
” I pause, crossing my arms. “When I met you, you didn’t know who I was.
When you found out, you didn’t care. I was Brody Saunders, the hockey player.
Nowadays, whenever I meet a woman, they tell me what a big fan they are.
How much they love the team, then there’s usually a sexual innuendo in there about big sticks or nice pucks.
” Kali stifles a laugh, and I rub the back of my neck.
“I prefer keeping to myself. I always have. But if I’m going to be with someone, I want them to like Brody Saunders, the hockey coach. Not the hockey coach, Brody Saunders.”
“Oh my god. You’re a fucking romantic!”
“Shut up,” I mumble. “I’m not. Like I said, I’m content with my life exactly as it is. I don’t like change. I don’t like disruptions to my routines, and dating is a big disruption. Leave me alone, dammit.”
“Fine. I’ll let you be, but only because I know you want to be wooed.
” She drags her finger through a spot of condensation, her mood turning serious.
“Are you, um, okay with keeping Olivia until you head to New York? I’m not sure how I’m going to feel after my appointment. Last time I cried for twelve hours.”
“Shit, Kal. Of course I’m okay with her being here a few extra days. You and Bryant will call me if you need anything?”
“You know, you’re not making it easy for me to tell all my single girlfriends who ask what kind of father you are that you’re a piece of trash.” She slides off her stool and stands. “Why can’t you be this nice to the general public?”
My lips twitch. “Because they don’t deserve it. I like making people work for my respect. This kind of behavior is reserved for a very select group, and you happen to be part of it.”
“Aren’t I the luckiest girl in the world.” Kali grins and gives me a quick hug. “Thanks for making this parenting thing a damn breeze, Saunders.”
“Right back at you, Collins.”
After Kali leaves, I clean up the kitchen and walk down the hall, pressing my ear to Olivia’s door. She’s talking to someone on the phone and I smile, moving to the other side of the condo where my room is. Closing the door behind me, I pull up my text thread with Hannah.
Me
Hey. I let Olivia know you’re her new coach, and she’s ecstatic. Apologies in advance for any fangirling she might do.
H.E.
Is that why two dozen teenagers just followed me on social media? I’m feeling really cool right now.
I fight off a smile and fire back a response.
Me
I’ll have her at the rink on Monday afternoon.
H.E.
I can’t wait!
Me
We’ll talk pay then too.
H.E.
I’d do this for free.
Me
Not happening. Have a good night.
H.E.
You too, GC!
I toss my phone on my towel and stand under the hot water, stupidly optimistic for the second time tonight.
Friends.
I can be a friend.
Piece of fucking cake.