He leaned back.“Which is?”
“Mia.”
Fitch cocked his head.“Even though she turned you down?”
“So many things have gone wrong for her that she’s always waiting for another shoe to drop.If I can’t figure out how to change her mind any other way, I’ll get a trade to the West Coast or retire.But I hope like hell I can come up with something before that.I’m open to suggestions.”
His brows shot up, “You’re really willing to take a trade to somewhere closer to her?”
I nodded.“Not much I wouldn’t do for her.”
“Even give up hockey?”
There was no hesitation.“Even give up hockey.”
He shook his head.“I admire your dedication.I was in a similar place with my ex, where I had to choose between her and hockey, but hockey won.”
He hadn’t felt about his wife the way I did about Mia, then.“Don’t say anything to Cooper.He’s already wound up tight.He doesn’t need more things to worry about.”
Fitch chuckled.“Yeah, I can tell.I’ll keep it between us.Are you okay to wait till next offseason?”
I sighed.“Maybe having a year is good.Her situation is complicated, so it gives me time to figure out how to handle it.”Because so far, I had no ideas beyond being on hand for her when she needed something.Could I do that without expressing my opinion about her family and how they were using her?
“I hope it works out for you.But I also hope we stay on the same team.”
“It would be nice.”
Fitch set down his empty beer bottle.“Have you told your agent?”
I shook my head.“Nah.Don’t want to give him a heart attack.”
“So this could really be your last season?With the Blaze, or playing hockey at all?”
I nodded.
“Then we damned well better make the best of it.”
Chapter29
Starting a Cult
Justin
The cottage Cooperhad scored in July, when demand for cottages was highest, belonged to an athlete, name withheld, who’d obviously been successful.The place was huge, including five bedrooms and a complete workout center in an outbuilding.There was a great room large enough for the fifteen of us he’d convinced to come, plus a huge outdoor seating area overlooking the lake.
There were tents on the lawn—not little two-man Cub Scout ones, but big ones on raised platforms.They were large enough for two queen-sized beds, along with easy chairs and dressers.These were for the overflow players who didn’t fit in the house.
Luke Walker and I were sharing one.
Coop explained to me before camp started.“Some of the guys weren’t sure about this, so I didn’t want to tell them they were staying in tents because they might not come.And Petey—I want him sleeping in the house so he doesn’t wander around the property naked.”
Our Russian goalie was more often naked than not in the locker room.“No problem.”Being in the tent was kind of nice—these were luxe enough for comfort, but they also had that relaxing feeling that came from being outside.
Cooper slapped my shoulder.“I knew I could count on you—and Walker is eager enough that he’d sleep on the floor.I’ve put you with him so you can make sure he’s doing okay and doesn’t get overlooked.”
I nodded.“Of course.”
Cooper turned his megawatt smile on me.“I want this team to be tight.As tight as possible.Hanny is coming.Do you remember Larry Han, played in Austin last season?He just signed with the team.There are a few guys who couldn’t make it, and the team might still bring in someone new, but this should be the core.We have the talent.We just need to take it to the next level.”