Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
I have two messages. The first one is from my accountant’s office.
“Hi, Mr. Lundgren, it’s Nadia, one of Jim’s assistants. He wanted me to let you know your mom’s bank account dropped below the threshold you set to trigger a manual transfer. Jim had me move ten thousand into it, so I wanted to let you know that. Call us if you need anything further.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, my elbows on my knees. I don’t want my mother worrying about money. As far as my family knows, I’m living the dream right now, making great money.
In reality, I can’t afford to turn down any contract I’m offered, even if I have to play for the worst team in the league. My sister’s care and my mom’s expenses are my responsibility, so I have to make whatever money I make last a long time.
Mom’s frugal, but she’s been spending more traveling back and forth between her home and the facility Elin is at in Berlin. I have money transferred into her account monthly, and this is the first time she’s fallen below the minimum balance I set with my accountant’s office.
The second voicemail is from my mom, and it’s in Swedish. She’s congratulating me on our win, even though it’s almost five a.m. there. She’s never missed watching one of my games online with the internet-connected TV I had set up in her home. One day, I’ll get her to one in person, but she’s never been comfortable being that far from Elin since Elin’s injury.
I leave the locker room alone, my hair still damp from the shower. The team’s PR people didn’t ask me to be available for postgame interviews, which is both good and bad.
Bad, because it means I wasn’t one of the best players tonight. Good, because I’m not in a good frame of mind to be interviewed.
“Magnus.”
I turn to see Carter jogging toward me, dressed in a black suit and a pale-blue tie. He always gets asked for postgame interviews, so I’m not sure what he’s doing chasing me down.
“What’s up?” I ask when he reaches me.
“You okay?”
My shoulders slump with a sigh. “Yeah. I just wasn’t up for Isaac’s shit tonight.”
“I get it. I know you must be stressed.”
I shrug. “It’s a big waiting game.”
He puts a hand on my shoulder. “You’re going to get a great offer. I don’t know what team it will be with, but you’ve played at a high level this season. People have noticed.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
“I actually needed to catch you anyway, not just because of the Isaac thing. Are you free next Saturday night?”
My smile is wry. “If I’m not playing or practicing, I’m always free.”
“Would you be interested in going to a fundraiser for the Crush Foundation? Suki is a cochair and we’re taking a big group of friends.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“Good. It always looks good when players show up to that stuff. We always have a good time. It’s a bunch of couples, you, and Jules’s sister Blair. That okay?”
“Of course. Blair seems great.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll text you the details. You got a tux?”
“Yeah. Just let me know where and when.”
My tux has gotten too tight in the shoulders with all the rehab, but I can get a new one in time for next Saturday. Putting my best foot forward with the team’s front office people and Hudson McClain is worth the investment.
“See you tomorrow,” Carter says over his shoulder as he walks away.
“See you, man.”
5
Blair
* * *
All the graphic wound photos I studied paid off. I got a ninety-five on my exam, and I’m celebrating by spending all of Saturday doing fun things with my kids.
We started the day with donuts at our favorite local place, then painted pottery and went indoor golfing with Jules. For lunch, we went to a noodle place, and then we got the groceries we needed to make pizza for dinner and have movie night this evening.
“We just watched Star Wars,” Eli argues to Coop. “Let’s watch The Iron Giant.”
“I love The Iron Giant,” I say, even though the ending makes me cry every time we watch it.
“Okay,” Coop agrees. “As long as I get the big popcorn bowl.”
“You guys can’t watch The Iron Giant without me!” Jules calls from the living room.
“You could be here with us and our many blankets,” I remind her.
“I don’t think Noel would be pleased if I dropped out of the event. And I love these things anyway. Anything I can wear a gown to is a yes.”
I wrinkle my nose. “You enjoy that. I’m about to change into my Tom and Jerry flannel pants.”
“Actually, no you’re not.”
I walk to the edge of the kitchen, where I can peek at her from around the corner. She’s in the middle of the living room, a garment bag in her hand.