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)
“Okay, thanks.”
I hang up the receiver, then go over to the two large suitcases I brought my stuff in when I got here. There’s not much to choose from, but I find a gray T-shirt and black shorts.
It’s not great attire for January in Cleveland, but at least it’s clean. Fuck the Grand Madison Hotel. I can’t wait to get out of here.
After a quick shower, I see a missed call from Art. I call him back, putting him on speaker while I get dressed.
“Hey, Magnus, how are you?”
“Not bad. You?”
“Living the dream. My wife’s pregnant again.”
“Congrats, man.”
“Thanks. We already have three and planned on being done, but I seem to have very resilient sperm. Anyway, great road trip. Two goals and an assist over three games is excellent.”
“Thanks. Have you heard anything else from Seattle?”
“They want to know if you’re serious. They’re thinking three years, four million a year, and a signing bonus the GM called meaningful.”
“Shit ... wow.”
I gape at the shitty brown rectangle wall art, trying to find any other words. Cleveland is paying me two million this year, which seems like a lot, but after taxes and Art’s cut, I only end up with half that much. And if Elin needs to spend years at the Berlin facility, which we just don’t know at this point, I need to save every penny I can now so I can keep paying for it even after I retire.
“That’s their opener.” I hear the thud of the small rubber ball Art bounces off his office wall during phone calls. “We’ll counter when the time comes.”
If I can stay healthy this year and keep playing well, my mom and Elin should be set financially. I’ll spend a little over a hundred thousand helping them this year, and I thought I might have to make the money from this year last forever. But a contract will come with protections.
“I don’t know what to say. Thank you, Art.”
“What do you think? Want to ride it and see what happens? Or should I approach Cleveland?”
Seattle can’t formally make me an offer for next year and beyond yet. So I don’t want to jump at them just yet, even though this is great news.
I run a hand through my hair, glancing at my watch. “No, let’s see if they come to you. I like this team a lot, but I don’t know if there’s a first-line spot for me.”
“Okay, let’s sit on it.”
“I have to go. Let me know if you hear anything else.”
“You got it, boss.”
I push the button to end the call, smiling. I could call my mom about this, but she wouldn’t understand. My family thinks I’m a big US hockey star, and they don’t know how desperately I need a good contract offer.
It’s not even a sure thing. I shouldn’t get too attached to the numbers Art mentioned because it’s not a formal offer. The road trip I’m coming off was a grind, though. My shoulder ached, but I couldn’t let anyone see it. Even telling Cleveland’s trainers could start a rumor that leaves our locker room and kills my chances of a deal elsewhere.
Bash and Silas both got the flu while we were on the road. Silas puked on the plane and the smell lingered in the air for the whole trip. Our game against Denver was extra chippy and I’m still sore from the fighting.
I can forget all that shit tonight, though. I call in a pizza order and leave the hotel, thinking about Blair. She’s been on my mind every day since I last saw her.
There’s a line I can’t cross with her. Nothing physical. Not when I’m most likely making a big move in a few months. But we can be friends. I can hang out with her and her kids instead of rotting alone in my hotel room.
I don’t know what kind of pizza they like, so I got a cheese, a sausage, a pepperoni, and a supreme. I park in her driveway and grab the pizzas, Coop running out the front door to greet me.
“Monopoly night!” he yells, grinning.
“Whoa, dude. You lost a tooth.”
There’s a hole where one of his front lower teeth used to be.
“The tooth fairy left me a dollar and a new toothbrush. She said I need to eat less sugar.”
“You talked to her?”
“No, she left me a note.”
Blair’s waiting at the front door, ruffling Coop’s hair as he runs in and saying, “Stop going outside with no shoes; it’s freezing.”
I look down at my legs and give her a sheepish look. “In my defense, my laundry got mixed up and shorts and T-shirts are the only clean clothes I have.”
“Do you have laundry? You can do it here if you want.”
“Thanks, but I don’t. I think the hotel gave someone else my clean clothes and I have theirs.”