31. Chapter Thirty-One #2
"You've got something I don't have anymore," Josh says. "Time. A future. Cameron taught you tomorrow isn't promised. Taylor taught me. So, what are you going to do with today?"
He picks up his towel. Just walks out of the gym.
Nobody says anything for a long moment.
Then Liam clears his throat. "He's right. We're all right. Stop waiting, Kevin."
Aiden nods. "Go talk to Carl. Make this happen."
I look at both of them, then I turn and stare at the door Josh just walked through.
Damn. Liam's right. They're right.
All of them.
Cameron didn't get his tomorrow with Emma. Josh lost his with Taylor. Liam threw his away with Quinn. Aiden can't even explain what happened between him and Caela.
But I've got this puck. I've got Sarah and our baby and a clear shot at the net.
Time to take it.
I shower fast, dress faster. Jeans, Stampede hoodie, sneakers. Not exactly business casual, but Carl's seen worse.
My phone buzzes as I'm heading out.
Ranger’s Mom
How was practice?
Good. You get everything you needed from the rescue?
Ranger’s Mom
Yeah. Paperwork's done. Working from your place this afternoon if that's okay?
More than okay. I've got some stuff to handle at the arena — be home later.
Ranger’s Mom
Everything alright?
Yeah. Just some Ranger business stuff with Paige. Brand deal logistics.
Not a lie. I do need to check in with Paige about the next Super PawMart event. Sarah's been stretched thin with the rescue and the pregnancy, and I want to make sure we're not overloading her schedule.
Ranger’s Mom
Tell Paige I said hi.
And Kevin?
Yeah?
Ranger’s Mom
I love you.
And that's it. I'm gone.
Every time she says it, it hits me the same way.
I hope it always does. I plan to be this gone over her for the rest of my life.
I love you too, baby. See you later this afternoon.
I pocket my phone and head toward the offices.
The route to the team offices is down a long hallway lined with team photos and notable hardware the franchise has won over the years.
During game days it's packed with staff and media.
On afternoons without games ahead, it's quiet — just the hum of fluorescent lights and the occasional echo of voices from offices.
Paige's office is on the second floor, tucked between PR and player services. I'm halfway up the stairs when I see him.
Carl Franks. Coming out of a meeting room, phone to his ear, looking exactly like a GM with a thousand problems to solve.
Our eyes meet.
He nods. I nod back.
He turns toward his office.
Now or never.
"Carl," I call out. "You got a minute?"
He lowers his phone. "St. Clair. What's up?"
My heart's pounding like I'm the third guy up for a shootout. Everything's riding on this. "I need to talk to you about something. It's important."
He studies me for a second, probably trying to gauge if this is about ice time or contract stuff or something else entirely.
"Walk with me," he says finally. "I've got five minutes before my next call."
Five minutes. I can work with that.
We head toward his office. It's a corner suite with windows overlooking the practice rink. It's intimidating as hell, which is probably the point.
Carl gestures to the chairs across from his desk but he doesn't sit. He stays standing, checking his watch.
Five minutes. Right.
"So," Carl says. "What's on your mind?"
This is it.
No backing out now.
"I need to tell you something," I start. "And I'm coming to you first because I don't want this to become a story before you hear it from me."
His eyebrows go up slightly. "I'm listening."
I take a breath. "Sarah Townsend from Lone Star Paws, the dog rescue, and I are together. Have been for a while. And she's pregnant. We're having a baby this summer. Right after we win the Cup, of course."
Carl's expression doesn't change. He's too good at this — too many years of dealing with players and their personal lives to react visibly.
"Congratulations," he says finally, with an emerging smile. "Sarah seems great. She does good work with Paige and also with the Foundation."
"She does. And I'm telling you this because it's going to come out eventually. Media, social media, whatever. I wanted you to hear it from me first. Wanted to handle it the right way."
"I appreciate that." He leans against his desk. "But Kevin, I'm guessing there's more to this conversation than just giving me a heads-up."
Smart man.
"There is." I meet his eyes. "I want to stay in Austin, Carl. Long-term. This is home now. For me, for Sarah, for our family. And I'm willing to work with you on the money or whatever it is going to take to make it happen."
There it is. I’ve put all of my cards down on the table.
"Your agent know you're here?"
"Not yet. But he will."
"This isn't how it's usually done, Kevin. Dave should be—"
"I know. But I needed you to hear this from me. This isn't about playing teams against each other or driving up my value. This is about staying somewhere that matters. Building a life with someone who matters, in a place that matters."
Carl crosses his arms. "You know we've got cap issues. Callahan's contract is massive. I've got another deal for McCrae around the corner and Matty's been playing well on his one-year deal. I'm going to have to make it work for him next year. But we don't have unlimited space."
"I know. And I'm not asking for what Vegas or Vancouver might wave around. Just something in the fair-market range — six-and-a-half, seven AAV — and a chance to raise my kid in the city where Sarah and I have built our life and she's built her non-profit."
He studies me for a long moment. "I can't promise anything, Kevin. You know that. I have to talk to ownership. Have to look at the numbers. Maybe we stretch it over six or seven years instead of four. That helps the cap hit. It’s not easy, but maybe we can find room. I’ll have to see what Dave’s willing to do. "
"I understand."
"But—" He straightens up. "I appreciate you coming to me. Shows character. You're serious about this. That’s important to me."
It's not a yes. But it's not a no either.
"So, what happens now?" I ask.
"Now you call your agent and tell him what you just did. Then you let him do his job." Carl checks his watch again. "And Kevin? Keep playing the way you've been playing. Make it easy for me to justify keeping you."
"Yes sir."
I stand. We shake hands.
"Congratulations again," Carl says, and this time, he’s definitely smiling. "On the baby. That's big news."
"Thank you."
I walk out of his office, heart still pounding, but feeling lighter than I have in weeks.
Now I pull out my phone as I head to the parking lot. Dave answers on the second ring.
"Kevin. What's up?"
"You were right. It's a girl."
Silence. "What?"
"Last time we talked, you said when a guy's this fixated on staying somewhere, it's usually family, legal issues, or a woman.
You were right. It's a girl." I unlock my truck, climb in.
"Sarah Townsend. Runs Lone Star Paws, the charity of the year for the team.
I'm on the board, but you know that. We're together.
And she's pregnant. Due right after the playoffs. "
Silence. Dave's recalculating his whole strategy, all the conversations he’s had for months.
"You’re serious?"
"Totally serious, Dave. And I just left Carl's office. Told him everything. Asked him to make me an offer because I want to stay in Austin and raise my family here."
"You did what?"
"I know that's not how it's supposed to work.
I know you had a strategy. But I needed him to hear it from me first." I start the engine.
"So now it's your turn to work your agent magic and make this happen.
Get creative. Stretch the deal out. Tell 'em we'll take incentives.
Whatever we need to come to the table with. Because I'm not going anywhere."
Dave's quiet for a long moment. Then he laughs. Like honestly laughs at me…and how he’d read the situation correctly from the beginning.
Smart agent.
"Alright, Sunshine. Let me see what I can do."
We hang up.
I pull out of the parking lot, then remember I told Sarah I was meeting with Paige about Ranger logistics. Better actually do that before I get home.
I dial Paige as I'm driving.
I sit at the light, waiting for it to turn green, staring at the arena in my rearview mirror as the phone rings.
Today, when I didn’t see it coming, the guys gave me a different kind of assist. I took the shot.
Now I just have to wait and see if it goes in.