Page 9 of How We End

“Julian?Is that his name?”I wondered what a Julian looked like.

“Yeah.Julian Silver.Please, Wyatt.You are our last hope.The Las Vegas Desert Coyotes’ empire depends on you.”

“Some would say he looks good naked?”Maybe I could try enjoying sex for once.Maybe that would make my life feel fuller.Or something.

“Yeah, the internet says he does.”Anders winked.“He’s here tonight if you want to judge for yourself.”

“No.That’s not how this works.”I pulled out a black card from my handbag, not sure what would come of this.There was nothing on the card but numbers.One was a phone number; the other a code to get to Margo.“If he is serious, give him this.He’ll need to pay the deposit.Half now, the other half the night of.Submit a clean record of health.No STDs.No drugs.And agree to a criminal background check.”

“Is there a friends and family discount?”Anders asked, taking the card.

“Are you shitting me right now?”

“No.How much for four hours?And remember, we are hockey players.We don’t make the big bucks.”

“Are you negotiating for him?”I couldn’t decide if I should be impressed by their friendship or feel insulted that Anders was negotiating with me.

“Yeah.He won’t agree with twenty.But four?”

“No.”I reached for the card.

“Come on, Wyatt, be a team player.This city needs a cup.And he really needs to get laid.How about seven?I’ll pay the other two.”

I closed my eyes, regretting ever agreeing to this.“Five, and he pays it all.I’m not having your sister think you and I are fucking.”

“Deal.”Anders stuck out his hand.“Don’t tell him about the price.And make sure he believes you’re enjoying yourself.”

“I know how to do my job.”I shook his hand.“But Anders, this is the one and only time I do one of your friends.Do you understand?And don’t tell him my name.”

“Boy Scout’s honor.”He held up three fingers and gave me a bright smile.“You will not regret this.”He pulled me into a hug.

“He better look good naked.”

BlueLine Podcast

Henderson, NV

Recorded October 15

“It doesn’t matter that he had a hundred-point season then.He hasn’t had one since he’s been in Vegas.”

“Come on, Matt, you can’t put this all on Silver.Vegas hasn’t given him a team that can give him a hundred-point season.LA gave him a team.He had Shaw and Host.Both big d-men.And Blais.The chemistry those four had has not been replicated by Vegas.I think now with Blais as his center and Cole on that first line, we’ll see what Silver is really made of.”

“He’s made up of an AARP card and the blue plate special at Denny’s.Julian Silver is going to be thirty-five at the end of this season.He’s injury prone, which was one of the reasons LA got rid of him?—”

“LA had to trade him because Payton Hulton couldn’t keep it in his pants.”

“Bullshit, Tom.This whole shitshow with Hulton didn’t start until Silver was traded.”

“That’s not what my lovely and very smart wife thinks.”

“She’s listening, isn’t she?Leave the gossip to her show.LA was smart.If Vegas was, they’d be looking to offload him come July 1.”

CHAPTERFIVE

WYATT

October 18