Page 62 of Roughing
NEXT BEST THING
~~Briggs~~
Another road trip.
This one was a week long.
We flew out that morning and arrived in Toronto. Today was our travel day and tomorrow we’d play a game.
I hated leaving Michella so soon after we’d established an official relationship, but those were the requirements of the job.
The team dinner that night was abuzz with the news that Portland PD had officially announced a serial killer was roaming the streets near the Puck.
Guys were calling their significant others and begging them to be careful. I did the same, but Michella didn’t answer. Instead, she texted me to let me know she was okay but working late with Carla. She’d call me later. I was relieved she was with Carla as that woman was a hard-ass, and Michella would be safe with her.
Trent sat down in the chair next to me that’d been recently vacated by Jarrett. “Do you have any way to reach Heidi?”
“No, but I can ask Michella.”
“If you wouldn’t mind. I’m worried about her.”
I studied his face for a moment. He did look worried, way too worried for a guy who’d never even gone out with Heidi. Who was I to judge? Michella and I had had a weird, off-and-on thing for quite a long while until recently.
I didn’t know how much he knew about Heidi’s former profession, and it wasn’t my place to tell him, but I wanted to ease his worry.
“Heidi should be fine. She goes to cosmetology school and is home before dark. I haven’t known her to go out in the evenings unless she’s with Michella or Leila or one of her other friends or working at the Puck.”
Trent squirmed and glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “She’s not doingthatanymore, right?”
Thathad to refer to hooking. I had my answer. He did know. “That’s my understanding.” My curiosity got the best of me. “Does her former career bother you any?”
“No, should it?”
“Not my business to say.” I studied him closely. As far as I could tell, his answer was a hundred-percent truthful.
“I’m not the jealous, possessive type.”
“Like me?” I joked. Because I was just that type or had been. Maybe.
“Since we haven’t dated, I wouldn’t know.”
I snorted out a laugh.
“A few weeks ago, I never thought I’d say this, but you’re all right.”
“Thanks. Just trying to keep my inner dickhead under wraps.”
“I bet that’s tough.”
“You have no idea.”
“This team isn’t so bad. The facilities are first rate, the staff and coaches are positive and encouraging, and management has a long-term plan. We might hate the short-term results, but I believe this team is built for long-term success. All we need are a few more pieces. We’ve been gifted an experience very few guys have. Everything is a first for this organization. First goal. First hat trick. First win. First everything. We’re writing history here.”
“Yeah.” I stared at him in cynical wonder yet had to admit I hadn’t spent much time thinking about the historical aspect of a new team.
I glanced up as Dash sat down next to us with a plateful of food from the team buffet. “Is this a private conversation?”
“No, not at all,” Trent said.
