torso, frowning down at the thick Bakersfield Lightning logo.
Not that the Lighting was a bad team, far from it. But it had been two, no three, seasons since I’d played with them. Technically my last team had been the Ontario Reign. I’d played half a season for them before getting injured. They’d finished last in the AHL, just like their parent club, the LA Kings, had in the NHL. I like to think it was because I hadn’t been playing, but truthfully, I’d spent a lot of time in a suit as a healthy scratch watching the guys lose from the press box.
“I know it’s not the most recent team jersey, but you played for them for three seasons. It’s the one most people remember you from,” Ryan said in a tone of tried patience.
I tugged at the jersey, trying to get it to fit the way it used to.
“Everything okay?”
“It’s a little looser in the shoulders than I remember.”
Ryan gave me a little half-smile and squeezed my bicep. “It’s okay, babe. No one expects you to be in the same shape you were while you were playing.”
Ouch. Jesus, Ryan. I mean, sure, I wasn’t at the top of my form anymore, but that was only to be expected after being injured and retiring at the end of last season, but it wasn’t as if I’d developed a beer belly and chicken legs. I still worked out daily and still fit in my clothes. Most normal people weren’t going to keep up the brutal exercise routine and strict diet of a professional athlete. “So, what am I supposed to be doing tomorrow?”
“You just smile and look pretty, babe. Sign some autographs, kiss some babies. Pose for photos. And play nice with Symanski when we’re golfing.”
“Who’s this guy again?” I asked. Ryan had been muttering something about additional investors and opportunities we couldn’t pass up, and I hadn’t pressed for more details.
“He’s an investor,” Ryan said.
“Well, that sounds nice and vague.”
“You’ll like him,” Ryan promised. “He’s got big plans for this place.”
“Uh-huh,” I said, pulling the jersey over my head. “And how much is it going to cost me?”
“Takes money to make money, babe,” he said. “Trust me. This guy is legit. I checked him out.”
Ryan was always looking for the next big break. My unwillingness to go along with his plans was one of the things keeping us from being together. He thought I was boring. I thought he was reckless with money, particularly with my money.
“Let’s go get lunch and I’ll show you what he showed me,” Ryan said.
“I just got here. I have work to do. Besides, I thought you had plans.”
He scowled at the top of my desk and started moving things around. Sliding the stapler to the right, jogging a stack of papers. “They fell through,” he said to the accompaniment of pens clicking against the bottom of the coffee mug I used as a pen holder.
“You got stood up,” I said unkindly. “Not my problem anymore. We’re on a break, remember?”
He stood up, shoved his hands in his pockets, and looked at me with a disappointed expression. “I didn’t think that meant we weren’t friends anymore.” He sighed, his shoulders slumped. “I guess if that’s what you need, it’s okay. I get it. I’ll find someone else to take my place tomorrow.” He turned to go.
“Ryan, wait.” I grabbed his arm. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re golfing tomorrow, I never said I didn’t want you there.”
“I just thought…” His voice trailed off as he looked at my hand wrapped around his bicep and then looked away.
“No. It’s fine.” I checked the clock. It was ten-thirty. I was the boss, no one was going to say anything if I slipped out, but they might need me. We were short-staffed and there wasn’t anybody to cover my phone for me when I was gone. I really should get an office manager or an assistant or something. “I can get a quick coffee if you want.”
He gave me a broad smile. He really was good looking. “That would be great. Thanks, Eric.”
I shook my head. “But you’re buying. And I want a venti.”
He laughed. “No problem. You can even have whipped cream since you’re not watching your figure anymore.” He laughed. I didn’t, but I followed him anyway, the door swinging slowly closed with a sigh behind us.
5 Carson
The house we’d rented for the boys was an old two-story house with dirty white vinyl siding on the bottom half