Chapter One
ETHAN
Seven Years Later
“This is your last fucking chance, man. Don’t ruin it.” Chad grumbles next to me, then picks up his pace.
I roll my eyes, not that he can see behind my sunglasses.
As if I don’t know the stakes. Everything is riding on this moment, but I’m this close to telling him to shove it and walk in alone.
Our contract is coming up next month; there’s no telling if either of us will even want to renew it.
We’ve been at each other’s throats for a while, and I’m more than ready to hire a new manager and start fresh.
The truth is, I need him—for now. He’s a pain in my ass. Unfortunately, he’s also good at his job. After everything that’s happened over the last couple of years, I don’t exactly have teams lining up with offers.
“The Wolves are done with you.” Chad pauses before we enter the building. “You know that, right? Let’s not blow your one shot here. This is a last chance effort.”
I clench my jaw, but don’t answer. There’s nothing left to say.
It’s not lost on me, the double meaning of his words.
My entire future is riding on this. The head coach of the Wolves basically told me I was at the end of my line with the team.
Fuck, even my teammates seemed done with me. Not that I could blame them.
I’ve been screwing up for a while. Failing and falling in all the areas I’d usually excelled in. Life had picked me up in its tornado, flung me around, and made me hit everywhere I shouldn’t.
This is my last chance. Possibly the last team I will ever play for.
If this doesn’t work, it will be like the last seven years never mattered.
I quit college during my junior year, because of an offer to play pro.
If I’d been smart, I would’ve finished and then tried.
I’d been in a rut at the time and needed something good to happen, so I grabbed on with both hands and never looked back.
It’s been six years of playing professional hockey, and I’ve been screwing it up for a good chunk of that time. I know I still have a few amazing years in me. A better player, teammate, and man. I’m only twenty-seven. This has to work.
I’ll show them, all of them.
I’ll prove I belong here.
The fact that the general manager of the Lonestar Bobcats agreed to take this meeting is a miracle. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this work. I simply need the chance to prove it.
“With your record, there won’t be much up for negotiation.” He mumbles as we approach the reception desk.
The rectangular desk is a lacquered brown with the team’s logo displayed on the front. It’s backlit with the same shade of orange they use in the stadium for games. I haven’t been back in that stadium in a while, but I remember it all the same.
My favorite memories of being there are when I was still in high school and we didn’t have a game of our own. Fun weekends with friends piled up into a vehicle or two to make the hour drive to Lubbock and turn it into a night out.
An older woman in her mid-sixties looks up with a smile. “Miller?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I reply softly, keeping the edge out of my voice.
“If y’all want to have a seat, I’ll let them know y’all are here.” She picks up the phone and we make our way over to the waiting area.
Chad and I sit in silence as we wait, both scrolling on our phones. After seeing another article of “Bad Boy Miller”, I lock the screen and shove my phone deep into my pocket.
Is There Any Saving Miller’s Career?
Bad Boy Miller Strikes Again!
There’s something new every day, regardless of if I warranted the news or not.
The truth is, I don’t need saving—I need a fucking chance.
A fresh start to prove myself. I’m not like the articles make me out to be.
I’ve simply been the scapegoat for so long, I don’t know how to dig myself out of that position.
A few more minutes pass before someone escorts us up an elevator and down a long hallway that smells like fresh paint and determination. The meeting room is huge—dark polished table, leather chairs, and nearly a dozen men and women sit around the table.
Fuck.
Big crowd. This could be good or bad, but I like my chances.
Surely, if they weren’t honestly considering me, they wouldn’t care to have this many people take the meeting. Even Chad seems taken back. They’ve got to be heavily considering it.
“Let’s get straight to the point.” An older gentleman with a full gray beard leans back in his seat. “You need a team and we could use a player with your skills. The offer isn’t much, but it’s serious.”
I swallow and nod, keeping my expression neutral.
“I’m sure we can come to some sort of arrangement,” Chad says as he slides into a seat and starts scanning over the paperwork.
“If I may,” I start. “I’m willing to put in the work. It doesn’t matter what the contract says.” I mean every word. “Whatever it takes.”
One of the women across the table smiles at me. “That’s good to hear. We want to help rebrand your image. I think having you be a part of the Lonestar Bobcats franchise isn’t what anyone is expecting, but they don’t know your roots like we do.”
Chad glances between the woman and me.
“It’ll be good to be back home.”
“Exactly.” Her smile grows. “I’m Veronica, Director of Public Relations here for the Bobcats. Our goalie speaks very highly of you and says the articles are probably making things worse.”
“Andrew?” I can’t help but smile. “We were best friends growing up.” I knew he got traded a few years ago, I didn’t realize he still thought so highly of me. I’m going to owe him one.
Before the Wolves, I was with the Bears. The Bears played the Bobcats, but that was before Andrew joined them. I’d been traded to the Wolves around that same time. I haven’t played with or against Andrew Miles since high school, when we played together.
I haven’t talked to him in years, so it doesn’t make sense that he would stick up for me. What was in it for him?
“He’s a real go getter, Andrew. Our team already has a plan on how to help your image, starting immediately. We’ll go over the plan once the contract is signed.” Veronica sits back.
“It’s a standard, simple one-year contract,” Chad speaks up and slides the papers over to me. “It’s not what you’re used to, but I think it’ll be good for you.”
“We need to fill seats.” Marcus Jones speaks up.
He doesn’t need to introduce himself. I’d recognize the owner of the team anywhere.
Marcus bought the team three years ago. Most of the team has been turned over since then.
It wasn’t just players and coaches, most of the staff around here is new.
He’s making changes the world doesn’t understand, myself included.
“You’re right.” Marcus glances from me to Chad.
“A standard one-year contract, no bells or whistles.” His gaze meets mine.
“Let’s see what you can do, and we’ll consider a better offer on the next one.
” The corner of his mouth tilts into half of a smile.
“You’re not done playing on the ice. We both know that.
Let’s prove it to the rest of the world. ”
“Yes, sir.” I nod in agreement.
“You have four months to get your affairs in order. The news of this trade is going to stay between the people in this room until then.”
“May I ask why it’s a secret?” It doesn’t make sense to me.
When pro players are traded and moves are being made, it’s front page news. If my trade is a secret—for now—what other secrets do they have up their sleeve?
“We’ve been making changes that will make more sense at the end of summer when we share with the entire team. It’ll be right before the season start. It will be a show to remember. Do we have a deal?” Marcus narrows his eyes on me.
“Just tell me where to sign.” I swallow.
“Good man.” He nods.
Chad slides the paper over and starts pointing out where to sign and initial. Everyone stays silent as I sign where I need to, then Chad, followed by Marcus before it’s passed off to the officials for copying and record keeping.
“Now that the pesky NDA is also signed.” Veronica slides a folder in front of me and opens it up to reveal a different Lonestar Bobcats logo. “We’re shaking things up and want to share a couple of those changes with you.”
I don’t know what I was expecting to see when she opened the folder. Maybe a list of ideas to change my image. Definitely not the blue and pink logo in front of me. This is hockey. Why is it pink?
“I know what you’re thinking.” She laughs.
“Why pink? It’s not the primary color, but it’s part of a new image.
” She moves a few of the papers in front of me to reveal more images.
There are mockups of the new jerseys for the team as well as the stadium and main office.
“Everything is already in the works and we’re on time to reveal the new look at the end of August to really ramp up the interest in the new season.
” She moves to the next page that shows a calendar.
“This particular piece of paper you can take with you if you’d like, we’ll also have a copy of it emailed to you.
These are the important dates coming up starting at the beginning of August. We’ll be updating team photos, both collectively and individually, in the new uniforms.”
“Yeah, okay.” I nod as I take it all in.
“We want you to keep a low profile for the next three months before we let a source of ours let out a leak that you’re moving back to Texas.
” Veronica continues, “The first team bonding is going to be a publicized volunteer moment. Shortly after that, we’ll be announcing the Lonestar Bobcats Foundation, that is focused on giving back to our local community and around West Texas.
Now, I realize this is a lot of information.
So we can put a pause on this. Let’s do some weekly video conferences or calls until you’re moved and settled back here to keep you informed and on track. Yeah?”
I nod. “That sounds great.”
The meeting is over quicker than I expected. Although, I’m not sure what all I expected. We all shake hands and then Chad and I are leaving the building and walking to the rental car.
“Ethan, I think we both know what’s happening here.” He speaks up. “I’ll help you get things in order over the next couple of months, but we both know this management relationship has run past its course.”
I wasn’t expecting to have this conversation today, so it catches me slightly off guard. “You’re right.”
“I can help suggest a few people. I’m sure the Bobcats have some people in house that can help for a while too.” Chad opens the door and slides into the driver seat.
I take a minute to look at the building. The old team logo across the front of the building is faded in the afternoon sun. This is when everything changes. I know when I come back here, everything will be different. I only hope it will be the good kind.