Chapter 9
VAUGHN
JUNE
Staring up from the paper lying on the conference table, I watch the three men before me in their suits.
One is a lawyer, the other my own, and they both sit mute in their years of experience.
They only interrupt when legal clarity is needed.
Then there is Declan Dash, my friend’s uncle and the owner of the Spinners who has been quietly pushing his case for the past year.
He wears a subtle wry grin with triumph as he says all the right things.
My eyes dart down to the contract that I’ve already read over with my lawyer during the past few days, then back up to Declan who is patiently waiting.
He picks up a pen and wiggles it between his fingers. “What do you say? Is the offer appealing?”
I lean back in my chair, surprised that he made the effort to fly down to Florida to speak to me.
Since my last season ended, I’ve received offers for various roles.
Yet here I am with the only one that caught my interest. The wheels have been in motion since last month, but now we need to cement it all down in ink if I choose.
“Should I be thanking the GM you just fired?” I joke to lighten the mood.
Declan wobbles his head slightly. “Well, probably. I mean, I’ve been wanting to shake up the team for a while now.
Just so happens he made that easier when the Spinners were out mid-playoffs because of a bad trade this year, so we chose not to renew his contract.
And after next season, the head coach has got to go, as I don’t like his methods to train the team.
You made it clear that you are not eyeing any coaching position.
I heard the rumors, I know Phoenix asked. ”
“You’re right. I want a bit more of a mix, working with the scouts and coaches, getting a chance to add a little of the business side into things.”
Declan splays his hands out. “And me.” I chuckle softly.
“You and I will have daily contact. You’ll be up in my box at every game and talk to the press.
I believe you are exactly who we need to shake things up.
I want a man who knows hockey from the other side, and I've seen other teams hire young fresh blood, often with no hockey knowledge, and it's a success. We will need to throw you in the deep end to talk with our scouts about draft picks, and you’ll play a key role in forming our new team strategy. It will take more than one season to completely reshape things, which is why a four-year contract is on the table, with every intention to extend.”
A deep inhale hits me. This would be a great move. And working with Declan would be a good match. He is the type of owner who wants to be involved, as he himself used to play, and I’m the guy who wants to be the spider in the web to see through all lenses of the sport.
It’s a no-brainer.
“Any way you could add Florida weather to the agreement?” My mouth tilts up, and my joke earns a chuckle from the gentlemen in the room.
“No, but you would be heading to Lake Spark during the off-season, so the next few months will feel like you never left a tropical paradise,” Declan counters.
I huff a laugh. “Don’t fill me up with lies. We all know summer in Illinois is not exactly predictable. Besides, the off-season is arguably just as busy for a GM, as a draft is fast approaching. Not to mention that players are at development camps. I’ll need to hit the ground running.”
“I can’t deny that, but lucky for you, we’ll get moving fast and have you in Lake Spark within two weeks. Besides, we have a great realtor that works with the team, I’m sure they can find you a not-so-humble abode that will be ideal for winter and summer.”
I pause for a second as the paper is taunting me.
Lake Spark.
It does have charm. It also has Isla. The woman who made it clear back at Christmas that we absolutely will be keeping to our agreement of having only one night, only for her to let me take her again weeks later.
She’s hot and cold. In fact, for a split second, I could have sworn that she didn’t quite want to see me again. That situation might be tricky.
However, the seven-figure salary before me is persuasive. This is a no-brainer, even if it means I’ll need to forfeit my Caribbean holiday that I thought of taking next month to unwind.
Truthfully, I don’t need Declan pulling out the stops. We wouldn’t be here if we were still in negotiations.
Quickly I glance to my lawyer who gives me an assuring nod. There is no more stalling.
“I get to keep the pen, right?” I smile.
Ease hits Declan’s face, and our lawyers even crack a smile.
Declan reaches over the table to hand me the pen. “I’ll even buy you a set.”
I quickly sign my initials on each page then add my signature on the last page next to where Declan already signed.
As I slam the pen down, our lawyers are already shaking hands, and Declan stands to button his suit jacket and circles around the table to shake my hand.
His other hand lands on my shoulder. “I’m excited for this.
I’ll be sure that someone from the team contacts you right away to sort out the logistics of the move.
We need you up there as soon as possible.
Of course, my wife will be expecting you over for dinner.
My nephew will be thrilled, that is, if he doesn’t sign with another team for next season. ”
“If we give him a good offer then maybe he will stay,” I say. I already need to think like a manager.
Declan chuckles. “I’ll stay out of that one.
” He leans down to look at the signed contract and then slides it to his lawyer.
“We should get a bottle of champagne in here before I need to fly back. My daughter has a ballet class where the parents can watch. She’s only three but watching her wobble around is the cutest.”
I only nod because I can’t exactly picture it.
“There is one matter that we might need to discuss. As much as I’m sure grown men can be professional, uh, Briggs Chase does absolutely hate me,” I point out.
It only causes Declan to grin. “He does. But he is going to have to suck it up. Besides, I’m not sure he will be sticking around.
I know contract talks might be difficult with him, as he is an unrestricted agent now, plus maybe he has gotten softer lately since his personal life has had so many changes. ”
That piques my interest. “Oh? Everything okay?”
“For sure, just his personal life is occupied with his girlfriend and sister. Plus, he lives in Lake Spark, and you can’t not be happy when you live in Lake Spark.”
I laugh because his small-town pride is a far cry from his days as bonafide bachelor, with his city penthouse.
“Be sure to send me a welcome basket,” I joke.
Someone opens the door to the meeting room and brings in champagne on ice with flutes.
“That can be arranged.”
It hits me that I’m going to move to Lake Spark.
Sitting on the private plane a few days later, I trace the button on my phone near Isla’s name.
Maybe I should text or give a warning. They are announcing my new role tomorrow to the press.
If she really doesn’t want to see me, then she’s going to have a hard time avoiding me.
Plus, maybe I want to see her. She occasionally lingers in my thoughts.
More than she should since that night of comfort sex in my car.
I shake off the idea of texting her and glance out the window to see corn fields, which has mostly been what I’ve seen for the last hour.
Luckily, as we approach the private airport near Lake Spark, the view begins to change.
More greenery, tall pines, winding roads amongst small hills, and an emerald lake in the far-off distance.
Tucking my phone away, I get ready for landing.
This is my new adventure.
The landing is smooth, and when I disembark from the plane, I’m instantly greeted by Declan standing on the tarmac next to Connor.
“Welcome!” he calls out while Connor grins broadly.
“Where’s my fruit basket?” I tease as I step down the stairs.
When I get to the bottom, I greet him with a handshake and give Connor a side hug.
“I’m not supposed to know why you’re here, but I have connections,” Connor jokes.
“I would love to say I planned to stand here and wait for you, but I’m going to Detroit for a meeting and need my plane once they refuel,” Declan clarifies but still grins.
“And since I’m here to drop him off, then I’ll drive you into town.
The Spinners are trying to go as green as possible.
” Connor smiles tightly while his eyes bug out and indicate the plane behind me.
“So, no need to drag another car here.” His sarcasm is underlying at how ridiculous this policy seems.
“Sounds like a plan.” I’ll get my rental car later, as they will deliver it to the Dizzy Duck Inn in town until I have a new house.
“Alright, a winning team here we come.” Declan claps his hands together before he picks up his laptop bag. “Don’t forget to hit up Jolly Joe’s, everyone needs their coffee with an overly-food-colored jellybean.” He does a little fist pump in the air.
Connor gently nudges my arm. “Ignore him. He’s hyped up on coffee from Jolly Joe’s, and it has mystical powers on people.” He scans the area. “Ah, I see that someone is bringing your luggage to my car. Let’s get out of here. You must be hungry. We can grab some food at Catch 22 if you want.”
“I guess I could eat.”
We begin to walk toward his SUV, the latest model. “I would have picked you up in my Jag but figured you had luggage.”
“It’s cool,” I promise.
Sliding into the front seat, I quickly see a message from my brother.
Stone
Enjoy small-town life with a big career. The perfect balance. What are we missing in that equation? ;) Good luck, Brother!
I’ll text him back later. It will be nice having a shorter flight time and more flight options to see him. It was one of the reasons this move was more tempting. As we drive away from the airport, I feel content that it’s the right choice.
“Whether I stay with the Spinners or not, I think you made a good decision.” Connor must have read my mind as he focuses on the road.
“Thanks, buddy. How is married life treating ya?”
“Fucking fantastic. No complaints. Hadley is the best. Then again, we’ve known one another almost our whole lives. It’s just now we dirtied it up a bit.”
I sputter a laugh because that is something he would say. “And your good friend Briggs?”
Connor grimaces. “We told him the news earlier today to warn him. He’ll get over it. Besides, he has enough happening in his private life to keep occupied from killing you.”
Huh, he is the second person to say that Briggs has stuff going on.
“I guess my uncle has you jumping right in, but if the weather holds up, then we should do a ride out on the lake. My dad always has his boat out for the season.”
“Nothing like Florida water, but I’ll give it a go,” I respond.
Looking out the window, I’m trying now to count the ridiculous signs on the road. I’ve now counted a sign warning for deer, another sign for ducks crossing, and a sign cautioning for, I think, raccoons. Do they even make a sign for that?
“We don’t have great seafood up here. But I think we beat out Florida when it comes to hot dogs and pie season. We have some skills in that department,” Connor justifies. “How is the house search going?”
“The real estate agent that the team uses is like a shark. Already had a few options sent to me last night,” I explain.
“You need to give me the name of the agent. Isla has been trying to find a new place to no avail, trying to buy instead of rent. Even had a successful offer on the table for a new house the other week, but the seller pulled out. There is absolutely nothing on the market. Then again, she isn’t the guy who just pocketed a solid seven figures. ”
Interest inflames in me. “Isla wants to move?”
“Yeah, for so many reasons. She’s been looking since February,” he mentions.
“In Lake Spark?” I shouldn’t really care, but maybe the idea of running into her is more enticing than it should be.
“Uh-huh.” Just then a call comes in on his Bluetooth, with Hadley’s name appearing on the dashboard screen. “Sorry, I should take this.”
“Of course, happy wife, happy life.”
He sidelines his eyes to me with a smug smirk before answering. “Hey, Sprinkles.” Damn, that’s a little sappy.
“Connor.” I hear Hadley’s voice. “I need you to come right away to the hospital.”
Fear hits Connor as he grips the steering wheel. “Wait, what? What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I just need you to come right away. Can you do that for me?” She sounds upset.
I mouth yes to Connor, assuring him that we can take a detour.
“I can be there in ten minutes, okay?”
“Hurry.”
Ten minutes later we are running into the hospital and up two floors to find Hadley standing by a room, pacing the hall. She immediately runs into Connor’s arms.
“Hey, it’s okay. What’s going on?” he asks as he holds her tight and rubs her back.
She gently pulls back. “It’s Isla.”
Instantly, my body tenses, and my eyes shoot to the door to Isla’s room. Hadley notices me, and her face is indescribable, as if she is surprised that I’m here and equally worried.
“Oh, hey, Vaughn… didn’t realize you would be here.”
Connor interjects. “I mentioned this morning he will be our new GM, I picked him up from the airport.”
“Right.” Her T is tight.
I can’t figure out why she is acting odd, but I can’t focus on that. Not when I know Isla is on the other side of the door.