Page 192 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

Thankfully, we don’t have to wait too long to find out what’s happening, because not five minutes later, Rett’s buzzer goes off.

He goes to greet our new additions while I force myself to watch Monroe and Linc—who stole the controller back—battle it out on screen. I try to focus on it, I really do, but I have a suspicion of what’s about to happen, and I don’t fucking like it.

“Hey, man, what’s going on?” Linc asks as Kodie marches into the room like he owns the place. His expression is tight, frustration rolling off him in waves.

The game is paused, and nothing but silence and anticipation fill the air.

“Coach called me. The deal is done, and the news will be dropping in the next hour. Cooper Nash is coming to LA.”

53

SIENNA

“Sienna, could I have a word, please?” Bea calls before disappearing out the back of the salon.

Concern plunks in my stomach. Bea might be my best friend, but I’m pretty sure there’s an ingrained panic button inside all of us when your boss asks for a word.

I quickly follow her and blurt, “What’s wrong?” the second the door closes behind her.

“The Vipers have announced a trade.”

My heart sinks to my feet.

“What?” Shit. That’s why she called me in here. “No. No. Please tell me they haven’t⁠—”

“Shit. No. Calvin is safe.”

All the air rushes from my lungs. “Fucking hell, Bea.” I collapse on the couch and drop my head into my hands. “They’ve signed Nash, haven’t they?”

“Yeah, for Brody and two draft picks.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“How’s Rett feeling?” I ask, trying to ignore the elephant in the room.

“He’s…not looking forward to working with the guy, but he’s okay about it.”

“Calvin?” I ask hesitantly.

She bites the inside of her lips. “I don’t know. They’re all at our apartment, playing on Xbox. Rett said he just got really quiet.”

“Shit,” I hiss. I know his biggest concern has been being traded away from a place and a team he loves. But having to play alongside Nash is going to bring a whole heap of different issues. The guy is a fantastic D-man. But…he’s an asshole. It’s going to change the entire dynamic of the team.

When I glance back up at Bea, I see the same concern in her eyes.

“He’ll be okay,” she assures me. “Hockey players get hurt all the time. If they held grudges over those who caused the injury, none of them would talk.”

I know that, I do. Calvin is a better player than to hold this against Nash. Or at least, I hope I know that. After lying to me about who he was and our connection, I can’t help wondering just how much I really know about Calvin Keller. The boy I knew all those years ago was Vinny Smythson. I shake my head, a pained sigh escaping my lips.

“Maybe you should call him. See how he’s doing.”

Bea knows we’ve been messaging, but I’ve held off on anything more than that.

Maybe she’s right.

Maybe it is time.