not any more impressed than they’d been by my brief apology.
My career was sinking into the black waters of a stormy sea. I had to do more to rescue this sinking ship.
“Coach, Mr. Calhoun, it’s hard for me to express myself with words. I’d rather show by my actions how I’ve learned from this experience. I met with the two men who were injured in the fray and apologized and covered their medical bills. I’ve spent multiple weeks in a cabin in the woods, just me and my conscience, while I overhauled my attitude and my future. I took playing in the NHL for granted. In my overconfident rookie way, I honestly didn’t think about the consequences of my actions. Now I do. I realize how much I’ve struggled to get this far, and I’m not going to destroy my career and my team’s chances winning a Cup with another immature stunt. I let you down. I let my teammates down. And I let myself down. I hope you’ll see it in your hearts to give me another chance to prove myself.”
I waited, hoping my sincere expression of regret would prove my case.
Gorst and Calhoun exchanged glances, as if they’d already made a decision before I’d set foot in the building.
“One more chance, Kaden. That’s it. Every member of this team is valuable until they do something harmful. We won’t be having this conversation again.” Calhoun’s steely eyes drilled into mine.
“Thank you. You won’t regret this.” I nodded and stood when they did. I shook both their hands, as did Bobby, then we both ducked out of the conference room. They didn’t follow us.
“They’d already made their decision,” Bobby noted in that superior, know-it-all tone he often took with his rookie clients. I bit my tongue. Bobby might be arrogant, obnoxious, and pushy, but he was one of the best, and I was fortunate to be represented by him.
I shrugged and said nothing, trying to maintain an air of professionalism, when all I wanted to do was dance down the hallway to the elevators.
I was back on the team, and I would not disappoint them a second time.
The guys were waiting for me when I got back to the condo. The four of us were part of a larger group we’d christened the Puck Brothers at the beginning of the season. We were the rookies on the team, Axel, Easton, Steele, and me.
Three pairs of eyes turned toward me and waited for the word.
“I’m on the team.” I grinned broadly as they surrounded me, slapping me on the back and giving me bro hugs.
“So how did it go?” Steele asked as we gathered around the kitchen counter and popped the tops off beers in celebration.
“I groveled, begged for forgiveness, and promised I’d be a good boy. They just stared at me. I really thought I was getting the boot. They let me stew for a while before telling me I was staying on the team, but I won’t get a second chance.”
“I guess your partying days are over,” Easton mused. He’d already hung up his man-whore ways in exchange for the love of his life and two children. I secretly envied him. I’d never pictured myself as a family man, especially not in my early twenties, but Easton wore it well. Not one of us pitied him for being tied down. Honestly, I think we all eventually wanted what he had, whether it was in the near or distant future. Sadly, I didn’t know if I’d ever find another person as special as Lanie.
Steele had this bad habit of reading people’s minds. “Did you ever find your mystery woman?”
“No.” My answer was short and blunt, and Steele wasn’t letting me off that easily.
“Did you look for her? Did she disappear into the wind?”
“I, uh, I hired a PI just this morning.”
Three sets of eyebrows shot upward in surprise. They’d assumed I’d get over her and move on. They didn’t know me as well as they thought they did. Hell, if someone had told me a year ago I’d be obsessed with one woman, I wouldn’t have believed it either.
“I could’ve helped track her down,” Steele sniffed as if insulted I hadn’t thought to ask him.
Now three pairs of eyes swung toward him.
“What the fuck are you? A CIA operative?” Easton said grouchily. Steele was quiet, a neat freak, and he knew a lot about weird stuff, like forensics and stuff spies would know.
“Nah,” he said, not offering any explanation. I