I made the house look good, tried to do laundry and make his bed as objectively as I would with normal clients, and got a message just before noon that he’d be away most of the day.He told me I might as well head on out.
Free time.I should be happy.But I wasn’t.
Chapter18
Don’t Punch Anyone
Justin
The timing sucked.Mia thought I was upset about her ex, but that wasn’t it.My agent had a couple of hours in Vancouver on a layover and wanted to meet.If he was in town, I definitely was interested in any news he had.Cooper was close to the Blaze management, and they usually listened to him, but they could tell him things were fine and I’d still find myself traded July first.Joel would be more objective.
I was afraid if Mia came, he’d see that our relationship wasn’t that of client and care worker who’d only met recently.He knew the team had someone helping me and reporting back, but I hadn’t told him about the issues I’d had.
Joel met me in one of Vancouver’s better restaurants.He wasn’t cheap, but he’d been a rock during the Sharleen fiasco, so I didn’t begrudge him his cut of my pay.
He stood when I got to the table.“Justin!I guess shaking hands is out.”He reached out for the awkward bro hug.I thumped his back with my left hand and tried not to bang him with the cast.Add shaking hands to the list of things I missed with this injury.
I ordered a club sandwich and fries, something I thought I could manipulate with my left hand and avoid cutlery.He got a salad and sparkling water.Despite being well into his fifties, he was still in good shape.He’d played hockey in college, never drafted, but he understood the sport.
He settled into his chair.“I hear your recovery is going well.”
I raised my eyebrows.“You do?”
He smirked.“I talked with the Blaze before coming this way.”
Maybe this was less of a fortuitous stopover and more of a serious meeting.I rubbed my cast over my thigh.“Are they worried?”
He rocked a hand back and forth.“You didn’t tell me about the problems you had with your aides and privacy concerns, but at least that seems to be going well now.”I nodded.“The reports from the medical people are fine.Your aide confirms you’re doing everything you’re supposed to.It’s what’s in your head that concerns them, but you’re keeping up with your therapy sessions.”
I grimaced.“One bad moment lasts forever.”
He waved his hand, palm up.“After Sharleen, this cannot be news to you.But on the bright side, more people are interested in you slugging Denbrowski than in your divorce right now.”
When my marriage blew up, I could blame Sharleen.But the thing with Alek?That was all me.“I’m working to make sure nothing interesting happens in the future.I swear.”
Joel leaned back in his seat.“You’re not blowing smoke up my ass, are you?”
I shook my head.“I’ve been dealing with my parents.The Ponzi thing had ripples that haven’t quite settled.”
“Like your sister with Denbrowski?”
“Is that news out now?”
“Yep.That’s now the reason everyone assumes you slugged him.People understand that better.Have you had any encounters with reporters?”
“A couple of ‘no comment, leave the property’ ones.I haven’t been going out much.”
“Less likely to get in trouble that way.”
I wasn’t sure that was true, but I let it pass.“Any trade news?”There was still five weeks before anything could happen, but rumors always got out.
Our server arrived with our food then, so Joel didn’t respond for a few moments.“Cooper has been talking to team management.Some people are on board, but a few think it’s time to start a rebuild.So far, I think the balance is tilted in his favor.That said, they’re going to have to make some changes or the fans will be upset.”
I grimaced.“What kind of changes?”
“Word is Denny won’t be re-signed—they’ll stick with Ducky.”
Jess had already told me that.