“She’s good,” he says to Cooper, who looks over at him.
“But,” I say, “if you sign with me.” I look at both of them. “I only give you two passes.”
“What does that mean?” Cooper asks, sitting back.
“It means you can fuck up twice,” I say. “You shouldn’t fuck up at all. But you’re young, and well …”
“She’s talking about the girls,” Matthew says.
“Not just the girls. The partying, the travel, the fame. NHL is another level. It’s like a rock star going from playing small venues to selling out stadiums. Shit will be thrown at you.” The kid is going to be thrown in the lion's den no matter what family they come from. It’s like taking a kid to Disney for the first time. The lights, the people, the attractions. You want to run in every single direction.
“Shit you should stay away from,” Matthew cuts in. “Don’t follow in my shoes.” I don’t know the full details of what happened, but he came out swinging and slowly dwindled.
“You get two passes, and on the third one, I walk away,” I say.
“Just like that?” he asks, shocked at my bluntness.
“Just like that.” I sit up, putting my hands on the table. “I can’t stand by if you aren’t going to be the one fighting for you.”
“I want to be the best,” he finally says. “I know my grandfather is the leader on every single record. I know so is my dad. But I want to be better. I want to be the one kids want to be like.”
“Then let me help you,” I say. “It’d be an honor to be by your side.”
“I want it,” Cooper says, looking at his dad. “What do you think?”
“I’m not going to decide for you, son,” Matthew says. “This is all you. You worked hard to be where you are. You did all this on your own.” Cooper nods his head. “Now if you’re asking my opinion.” He looks at me when he talks. “If you want the best, she’s the best. There is no mistake about it. You can ask your uncles.” I laugh.
“He is on the top of the list,” I say of Justin, who is looking for a new agent. I don’t tell them that I’m meeting with him tomorrow afternoon, and if that all works out, I’ll be signing him and Evan also.
“I’ve had a chance to work with her. She’s made me say not very nice things to her,” Matthew admits, and I laugh.
“I’m shocked.” I wink at Cooper. “Not really,” I whisper. “It makes me feel even better when they go toe-to-toe with me because I usually win.” Cooper smiles and looks down. “Listen, no one is going to put pressure on you. Take the night, take the weekend. Talk to your father, your uncles.” I start to get up. “Listen to your gut, Cooper.” He nods at me. “Your father has my number.”
Matthew nods at me a silent thank you for not beating down his throat for an answer. I grab my jacket and put it on. “I’m here until Sunday.” I grab my purse.
“Let me walk you out,” Matthew says, leading me down the hallway.
“Thank you,” he says quietly, and I look at him. “For telling him the truth.” I just look at him.
“I’m not going to name names, but I met with someone today, and they promised him he would be the next big thing. They almost said that they are going to deliver him leprechauns and glitter farts.” I laugh as we stop in front of the elevators, and I press the button to go down. “But you told him that he’s going to go to the last-place team, and it’ll be a while before he ever wins a Cup.”
“Reality,” I say. “Think about it. Six hundred and ninety players are in the NHL, and only twenty-three players win a ring every year. Some of the best players in the league never win a Cup,” I say, and he knows.
The ping of the elevator makes me look up, and I come face-to-face with Nico. His face as shocked as mine as he steps out of the elevator. “Fancy meeting you here,” he says, looking at me. His smile forms on his lips, and my stomach does a flip and then sinks. My mouth becomes dry while my palms sweat. My heart starts to beat so fast it echoes in my ears.
Last night, we shared our first kiss—the most amazing kiss I’ve ever had in my life. He left the box a minute after Francis appeared with the girls. I wanted to throat punch my brother for interrupting us, but instead, I pretended to watch the game. I can’t even tell you if anyone scored during the game.
I stayed until the second period and then snuck out without telling him anything. I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I’m still not ready to talk about it. I thought I would have the weekend to run through it in my head. I was even staying two days longer than I needed to, just to keep from being tempted to pick up the phone and call him.
“I was meeting with Cooper Grant,” I say and hold my arm out to stop the elevator doors from closing and leaving me in this awkward place. “My car is waiting,” I lie through my teeth, and I can swear his eyes narrow a bit, calling me out on the lie. “Matthew, thank you so much for taking the time to sit with me.”
“Thank you, Becca, for everything,” he says, and I smile at them both and walk into the elevator.
“See you soon, Becca,” Nico says, and I’m not sure if he’s asking me or telling me. His eyes stare straight into mine as the elevator doors close.
Chapter 12
Nico
“See you soon, Becca.” I watch the elevator doors close, and everything in me screams to go after her. Instead, I go with my gut and let her get away. For now.
I’ve been trying to get in touch with her all fucking day. I’ve called, and it’s gone to voice mail. I’ve sent texts, and it’s been radio fucking silence. When I went to find her after the game, the box was dark and empty. I stood there in the exact place where I kissed her for the first time. Anyone could have seen us, but I didn’t give a shit, which is very unlike me. I don’t give anyone anything when it comes to my private life because it’s the only thing that’s mine, and no one has a say in it. “Matthew,” I say, turning to him. “Thank you for meeting with me.”
“Of course,” he says, turning around, going toward the conference room. “This is different, isn’t it?”
I laugh. “Well, neither of us wants anything from the other person, so I guess it is very different.” I’ve been in the game long enough to know that you always want Matthew Grant on your side and you don’t fuck with him. Matthew was the one who alerted me about Ralph. For that, I will always owe him.
The meeting lasts a whole two hours. Only when I’m in the elevator and pressing the lobby button do I take out my phone and see that she still hasn’t called or texted me. The doors open, and I walk across the lobby, calling Lizzie.
“Well, look who it is.” She answers the phone, and I stop walking when I hear her giggle. “Were your ears ringing?”
“No, why?” I ask.
“I’m having lunch with Laurene, and she was telling me how she’s been texting you, and you haven’t replied.” She’s texted me four times, the last text letting me know she was coming back home from Europe.