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CHAPTER TWO

John

Yep, this will be uncomfortable. It’s not like we’ve ever been a couple, but we were close in college.

Maybe too close. I’ve never had deep or meaningful conversations with other women or girlfriends; Becca is the only one.

Even my current longtime on-again, off-again girlfriend cares more about superficial stuff like social media than me.

As long as she’s going viral, she’s happy.

But am I happy? No. After we broke up the last time, my dad made sure that I saw the light, holding one bad deed over my head.

I message Becca again.

You’ll still be on my team in beach volleyball, right?

Still no response.

Worrying over it won’t change her feelings, and I need to catch a plane for a meeting with my agent. He’s working on a deal to get me traded to the eastern side of the country, so I can be closer to my college friends.

With my bags packed for the reunion, I fly to Los Angeles.

My girlfriend Stella and I will leave LAX for the Campus Stallions reunion.

She’s lives in LA and is shooting content for her social feeds.

Stella’s from a wealthy family and would never have to work a day in her life, but she loves being an influencer.

For me, it was fun at first. I have hundreds of thousands of hockey fans who follow me, but she brought me into a world where people could care less about playing a game on ice, preferring sandy beaches and big-city content.

Now, many of her fans follow me too. I’ve even received endorsements because of her.

As the plane taxis to a halt, I recall her saying if she wasn’t an influencer, she would just live off her trust fund, which is probably why I’ve continued to date her. She doesn’t need me or my money.

When I walk into my meeting with my agent, guess who is also here? My dad. I’m thirty years old, and he still feels the need to control my career.

“Dad, didn’t expect to see you.” I go in for a hug, but he sticks his hand out to shake it. Some things never change.

“I’m on my way to a charity golf tournament and thought I’d drop by. It never hurts to have someone who has your best interests at heart in negotiations.”

Ewan Stein, my agent, quirks a brow. He clicks his tongue and says, “I always place John’s success above my commissions.” He shakes my hand and says, “Have a seat.”

It’s a rarity in this field. Several of my teammates have gotten fucked by their agents, but Ewan is genuinely a good man.

Becca would probably love him. Intelligent, handsome, lean, and fit.

She’s always gravitated to the smart ones.

Her motto in college was NO JOCKS, and I didn’t fit that bill.

Becca would say repeatedly, “We can’t. You’re one of my brother’s best friends.

You’re a hockey player. That’s a big double zero in my book.

I can’t do that. It’s not the life I want. ”

My dad sits beside me, stretching his arm as his fingers fold over my shoulder. Squeezing, he says, “Ewan, you’ll get John the longest-term contract for the most money. I’d prefer if he was on the West Coast. Maybe the Vipers.” My dad’s voice is clear and commanding.

“Dad, I want to be east of the Mississippi. It will be easier for me to have a life.”

“Your life is with Stella who lives out here. Plus, I’m here.”

It’s becoming clear he’s more interested in Stella than I am.

She’s someone to hang out with and fulfill other needs, but I can’t stop thinking about Becca.

How she collapsed in my arms over the death of her Mamaw and how good it felt to be the one who could comfort her.

Stella has never needed me, and I’m certain I haven’t ever needed her.

It’s convenient. That’s all, and that may make me a shitty person, but she’s using me too.

“Dad, no. If Stella loves me, she’ll follow me. She can take a selfie from anywhere.”

My dad’s jaw quivers, which means he’s about to explode. The veins bulge from his neck as his face reddens.

Ewan clears his throat. “Gentlemen, the Rattlers insist they don’t want to trade you. John, you led them to the playoffs for the first time in years. You understand why they don’t want to trade you. Plus, you and Corbin Shearer are the darlings of the NHL after the pink hair tribute.”

My cheeks lift as I smile, remembering that day.

Even though we lost the playoffs, it was one of the first times in my professional career that I’ve felt fulfilled.

Becca and Corbin’s grandmother had just passed away and Corbin wanted to honor his Mamaw at the game so we all dyed our hair pink.

Was the feeling the result of being near Becca and consoling her?

We never kissed that week, but after the pizza party, we went out for drinks and ended up at my hotel.

Nothing happened sexually, but the fires burned under the surface.

We talked on the phone for weeks about her divorce.

Her ex-husband had moved out, months earlier and she was lonely in her condo by herself.

I’ve always been in love with Becca and I thought we were just taking it slow since she was trying to regain her identity and I was there listening, consoling and when I was with her, I touched her so she knew I was there for her.

Isn’t that what she wanted? Someone to pay attention to her?

I guess not. The next week, she left me a voicemail.

“John, thank you for helping me through the most difficult time of my life. Divorcing Dennis was never in my plans, and Mamaw passing away before I had kids was… is devastating. You listened. You let me cry on your make-believe shoulder. You make me feel things that I cannot let myself feel. I can’t trust my emotions right now, and long distance is not something I can do.

Please don’t call me. But thank you for being my friend when I needed one. ”

A few days later, Stella shows back up on my doorstep.

It didn’t work out with the professional baseball player she hooked up with.

Turns out he has three children by three different women and asked Stella if she wanted children.

And everyone knows Stella would never do anything to hinder her flat-toned stomach.

And he didn’t like the fact that she was with my dad more than necessary.

In the beginning, my relationship with Stella was exciting, but now, it’s a carefully constructed shell for the media and my father.

Releasing a heavy breath, I ease my back down on the chair and run my fingers over my jaw. “I guess that’s a compliment that the Rattlers feel that way about me.”

“It is. And over the years, you’ve never been seen as the golden boy. And now you are. They want to sign you to an extension. It adds three years onto your contract and eight million a year. They want you to be the face of the franchise.”

This information makes me lean forward. I need to think about twenty-four million dollars.

“I’ll mull it over during my vacation. Practice starts soon, and I plan on enjoying my time with my old teammates and best friends.”

My dad presses his lips together and pushes himself to his feet. “Ewan, keep working on the LA angle. John needs to be on a higher profile team so he can get more endorsements. He can get millions in endorsements plus a contract that’s equitable on the West Coast.”

I roll my eyes. How have I put up with him all these years?

“Thanks, Ewan. You’ve given me a tremendous amount to think about. I need to figure out what I want.”

When I glance at my dad and the three-time Stanley Cup Champion, he adds, “We’ll talk it over, but I think you can do much better for an athlete of John’s quality.

You said it yourself; he’s made himself a golden boy, and every hockey team needs one.

If you can’t get what I want done, then I’ll be his damn agent. ”

The meeting ends on a disastrous note, and every muscle in my body hurts from tensing up while my dad exerts his power in the hockey world.

Dad lives off his former fame with speaking engagements and endorsements, but he also has a gambling problem and sometimes, I can't help but wonder if he's scheming to have Ewan drop me just to claim a percentage of my income.

“Son, you have a limited number of high-earning years to last you the rest of your life. It’s imperative that you get on the West Coast where you can make the most money. Plus, you’ll be closer to your old man.”

Yeah, that’s what I’m trying to avoid.

“I know, but it’s not a big deal to get a regular job after my career. I do have other interests.”

“Like what?”

I shrug. “I don’t know, like coaching. Becoming a chef. Starting a foundation.”

“To be a coach? With your temper? And what was the last thing you cooked? A hamburger? Are you telling me, with all the money I’ve poured into hockey, you want to flip burgers at a fast-food chain because to my knowledge, you don’t know how to sear salmon or poach eggs.”

My insides burn with hatred for my dad. I didn’t always feel this way. When he got me out of trouble at my first college, I felt relieved, but now I realize it wasn’t for me—it was for him .

Instead of arguing, I slap my arms around him. “I know you want the best for me. I’ll think about the offer from the Rattlers and if Ewan comes up with another option, I’ll weigh it. But Dad, this is my life. Twenty-four million dollars is nothing to scoff at. It’s a raise of five million a year.”

“It’s my name and reputation, remember that.”

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It’s always about him.

“Our name. Basilio is our name.”

He clutches me tighter, not in a loving way but to make sure I know he’s the one in control.

He’s done it to me all my life. Go to college where he wants and look what happened there.

Transferring to the Kentucky Stallions was the best thing I was ever forced to do.

My dad had no control in that situation.

I had to find someone to take me. Did my dad’s name help? Sure.

“Have a good time with Stella. Maybe it’s time for you to pop the question,” he says as he pushes back from me. He reaches into his pocket and hands me a white velvet box.

“What’s this?”

“A ring. Ask Stella to marry you on this trip.”

My brows pinch. “No.” Who the fuck does he think he is?

“John, I don’t think it’s a good time to argue with me.”

If the ring wasn’t worth at least ten grand, I’d throw it in the trash, but since it is, I shove it in my pocket. Debating my dad would lead to nothing good, so I walk away.

He yells, “Stella deserves a man.”