Page 123 of Fighting Chance
O’Connor chuckles. “Yeah, Ashford, keep your big ass gossipy mouth shut.”
I lean back, gasping in mock horror. “Me? Gossip? No such thing.” Shaking my head, grinning, I turn to Grayson. “Who are they thinking of bringing in though?”
“Rhodes?” O’Connor asks.
“No better than women,” Cindy mutters under her breath.
“And they say we gossip,” Bella adds.
The girls fall into another conversation as Grayson chews, pondering. “I’m not sure Rhodes wants to leave San Francisco. He seems happy there.”
Ellington frowns. “Patrick?”
“Odare?” Valenti scoffs. “As if IceHawks would offer him a contract. He’s a walking nightmare.”
Grayson points his fork at Ellington. “Matteo is right. After the headaches I gave the team they won’t want to touch anyone with a bad PR rep with a ten-foot pole.”
Rubbing my hand along my five o’clock shadow, I muse, “What about Silverton?”
A smile tugs at O’Connor’s lips. “Kai Silverton?”
I nod before facing Grayson, finding his brows high. “If IceHawks aren’t considering him yet they should. His stats this season so far are off the charts.”
“Last year too,” Valenti chimes in.
“He’s a weapon on the ice.”
O’Connor leans back in his chair. “Has he got a family? Any ties to California?”
Grayson shakes his head, laying an arm across the back of Bella’s chair and playing with the ends of her hair. “Not that I know of. He’s a pretty private guy though. I barely see anything about him online.”
I shrug. “Time will tell but maybe speak to Coach and mention Silverton in case they’re not already looking.”
“I’ll bring it up at practice next week.”
Emmy places another bite in her mouth before tipping her head up and looking at me.
I fucking love sausages.
“Hi, pretty girl,” I whisper.
Her nose wrinkles as she laughs, returning her gaze to the food.
Feeling eyes on me, the table continues to chat around me and I turn my head to the side. Layla smiles up at me, mouthing,Sausages.
I can’t help but laugh and mirror back,Sausages.
Chapter 25
Layla
LAYLA
did you tell my mom she could watch Emmy tonight with Allie?
KIERAN
of course I did
