Chapter 26
Connor
Connor was on a high after such a big win.
When Daisy came into the locker room with the rest of the press, he had to restrain himself from ravishing her then and there.
He’d settled for a chaste kiss. She looked so professional.
Watching one of her dreams come true right in front of his eyes was as satisfying as scoring the game-winning goal had been.
He’d considered throwing her over his shoulder and taking her home, but Roxie had a point. He stunk. For the things he wanted to do to Daisy, he couldn’t smell. So he told her to wait in the family room and rushed through his shower, anxious about leaving her alone with the WAGs.
He had his bag flung over his shoulder and was jogging down the hall toward her when Coach called his name. Fuck. Coach Bree had a habit of pulling a player aside after every game, and it hadn’t been Connor’s turn in a while. He halted his movement.
“What’s up, Coach?” he asked.
“Let’s talk in my office.”
Connor decided to push his luck, this once. “Can it wait? My girl is waiting.”
Coach’s expression was blank as he said, “Nope, it’s time sensitive. I’m sure she can wait a few more minutes.”
Connor sighed and followed his coach in the opposite direction. When they got to Coach’s office, the general manager was already there, waiting for them, and Connor’s stomach dropped.
The manager stood at their arrival. “Ah, Mr. Greene. Beautiful game tonight. You’ve really pulled yourself together.”
Alarm bells sounded so loud in Connor’s head he missed every cue telling him to sit.
Both older men were sitting, relaxed, and he stood by the door, his feet rooted to the spot.
His breathing quickened, his heart rate elevated, and if someone didn’t reassure him soon, he was going to start hyperventilating.
“Tell me,” he ground out.
“Well,” the GM hedged. “I have good news, and I have bad news.”
Connor stared in the coach’s direction, begging him with his eyes for this not to be what he thought. He hadn’t checked his phone to know whether his agent had tried to call him. Coach wouldn’t look at him.
He took two steps forward, collapsing into a vacant armchair. “Fuck.”
“The bad news,” the GM continued, “is that you have been traded. And you need to leave tonight. Your new team expects you there for tomorrow’s game.”
Connor’s ears rang, his vision narrowing.
Traded. All that work for nothing. For eight years he’d given everything to the Freeze.
Sure, he’d had a rough year, but he’d turned it around.
He’d done everything they asked of him and was willing to sign a team-friendly deal.
What was he going to do? What was Sarah going to do without him?
His own voice sounded far away when he asked, “And what’s the good news?”
“The good news is you’ll be going to Nashville.”
Fucking Nashville. As far from Seattle as you could get, both in distance and in values.
The one consolation was that Nashville had Casey and Evan.
Back again with his best friends. He should be relieved.
Even a little excited. Instead, he was hollow.
His body detached from his mind as he gathered his things and drove to the airport to catch his flight.
He stared unseeing at his phone when he boarded the plane. It didn’t occur to him that he was supposed to babysit in the morning until they were on the runway. Ignoring the rules, he typed out a quick text to Sarah.
Got traded to Nashville. I can’t babysit in the morning. Sorry. This sucks. Call you when I’m settled. Love you.
His agent’s name crossed his screen over, and over, and over until he shut the stupid brick off.