Chapter 37 Ren
REN
Idon’t want to let her out of my sight for fear she’ll disappear in a wisp of smoke. Or worse, I’ll wake up and realize it’s all just been a dream. The best dream of my life. Gone like a fart in the wind.
Nah. That’s Skadi. I swear she’s laughing at me when I make a face at her. But that does confirm she needs to go outside.
I’m looking around for the leash, but I don’t see it.
Maybe Darby didn’t bring one last night?
Or more likely, Skadi hid it in that pile of blankets on the floor.
She might refuse to go out with me without it, or worse, she might run off.
Though I’m pretty sure the dog won’t get more than a few steps away from her owner.
Me neither, Skadi.
Testing her, I move closer to the door and put my hand on the doorknob. She stands up, shakes herself, fluffing up her fur, and trots over to me.
“I can take her,” Darby says, a little breathless as she hops down off the counter and starts my way.
“You’re not dressed, and I am.”
“Your hair’s still wet.”
Flashing a grin at her, I grab a beanie off the hook by the door and slip outside.
Skadi bounds over the plowed edges of the driveway into the deeper snow and then moves to sniff and investigate all the shrubs and trees.
I watch her a few minutes to make sure she’s happy to stay fairly close, and then I pull out my phone to call my agent.
Sherri managed my professional hockey career and then transitioned into more of an advisor role once I left the team. If she doesn’t know something, she knows who to put me in touch with. Like when I was interested in establishing myself in the music industry.
“S?ren! It’s so good to hear from you, even on a Saturday morning.”
Laughing, I wince, though I pay her a nice fat salary for situations just like this. “Sorry, I forgot what day it is. At least it’s not early, right?”
“It’s early enough for you. How’d that lawyer I referred you to work out?”
The attorney who helped set up the original working partnership between the four of us for the band, trademark, and copyrights of all the songs and videos, retired.
As issues increase with Doyle, I needed someone new to help me negotiate a possible buyout.
Because I’ve got way too many plans he’s just not ready to hear yet.
“Jenny’s been great, thank you. I wondered if you could put me in touch with a travel agent to help me book something nice in Vegas. ”
“How nice?”
“The best that allows a dog.”
“When?”
“For tomorrow.”
“Hmmm, that might be quite a challenge.” I hear her typing in the background. “But you know I always love a good challenge.”
“I didn’t mean for you to look it up yourself.”
She laughs. “I’m not, don’t worry. It’s called networking. Give them a few minutes to respond to my query. Oh, by the way, I caught the live show last night. Who’s your new friend?”
“That’s something else I wanted to talk to you about. But we’ll probably need Jenny and the accountants involved too. Her name’s Darby, and I want to add her to everything.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Don’t tell me you’re finally settling down?”
“If she’ll have me. I want everything lined up so it’s easy for her to sign if she agrees.”
“Everything?”
“Everything.”
“I’ll set up a consult with Jenny to get the ball rolling. Does this month work for you?”
“No, let’s do it after the holidays. But she can start writing up the proposal now. I want her listed as my primary beneficiary with full access to my accounts, titles, deeds.”
“What about the LLCs and trust?”
“Yep. Though I’d like to reserve a portion for Alyssa too.”
“I recommend we meet with Jenny first, draw everything up, and then she can have a sit-down meeting with Darby and explain everything to her.”
“That sounds great.”
“We’ll need her full legal name to draw up the paperwork.”
“Let’s pause on that, only because I’m going to be wrestling Henrik for the right to marry her.”
“Oh. Oh, my.” Sherri laughs. “Sell tickets. You’ll make a killing.”
“Don’t go giving me ideas for future Ice shows.”
“Yes! That would be fantastic. How does a fountain-view suite at The Bellagio sound for your stay in Vegas tomorrow?”
“Sounds good. I’m not sure how many nights yet. Book through next Friday if it’s open.”
“It’ll cost you.”
“I can afford it.”
She laughs again. She knows my bottom line. “Not in money, though yeah, it’s not cheap. The concierge wants a signature and picture with the Gustafson Hotshot.”
“I can do that. I may even have some spare jerseys still lying around.”
“Oh, yes, that would be perfect. Do you need flights booked?”
“Nope, Leland’s got that covered. Though a rental car would be nice.”
“I’m assuming he’ll fly you into the smaller North Las Vegas Airport, then. What time are you expecting to land?”
“We’re leaving at ten tomorrow, and Leland said about three hours.”
“Got it. I’ll have your usual waiting there for you.”
“You’re the best, Sherri. Thank you.”
“My pleasure, S?ren. Keep me posted on the Darby wrestling situation. I want to be the first to know who wins. Beyond the three of you, of course.” She hesitates a moment, then adds quickly, “I’m so happy for you. Truly. I know how hard… Well. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”
Far from it. In all honesty, Henrik will kick my worthless ass with both hands tied behind his back, but I’m still going to try. “Thanks, Sherri. I’ll let you know what she decides. Though it wouldn’t hurt for you to make an offering to the snow gods in my name.”
“It hasn’t snowed in ages here in Phoenix, but I’ll give it a shot.”