“Shit, that’s great news!” Or is it? “I mean, it isgreat news, right?”
Miller barked out a laugh. “Fuck yeah! I’m over the moon.But she’s only a few weeks along, so we’re not telling anyone yet. Besidesbeing smart, though, she’s all kinds of stubborn, so don’t let her know Iasked.”
“You got it, dude. Tomorrow’s pretty open. Why don’t I stopby in the afternoon?”
“Perfect! But make up some excuse that doesn’t sound toopathetic. Then shoot me a text and let me know how she’s doing.”
“Happy to.”
“Thanks, man,” Miller said. “I owe you big-time. We’refamily now, and I’ll do the same for you someday. But first you gotta get a girl.”
“Ha! Maybe you can send me one of your castoffs?”
“What, you’re so lame you can’t find your own action? I’msending you jack, dickwad. Not only do I notremember their names, but I deleted all their numbers when Andieand I got together.” He paused a beat. “I remember you used to date that one …”Miller’s fingers snapped in the background. “The blond withlegs that went on for miles. A stripper, right?”
T.J. laughed. “No, she danced for the Mammoth Wild Bunch.You’re thinking of Gillian.”
“Why not look her up? Unless she’smarried with five kids now.”
Gillian. Maybe he should. After all, it hadbeen a while since Julia. Memories of steamy sex with the cheerleader streamedthrough his consciousness. She’d been a fun fuck. Different recollectionssuddenly slammed into him, jarring him. Gillian was nuts. The same crazy thatmade her fun in bed also made her downright psycho. They’d dated for a fewmonths, had a good time, and then she’d become obsessed—marriage, kids, thewhole package—and had gone batshit when he’d remindedher it was a casual thing. Yeah, that hadn’t worked out well for him. She’dgone from batshit to ballistic, and he’d backed waythe hell off. More like he’d run for his life.
“No way. She was my own version of Fatal Attraction.That woman was out of her mind.”
“Most of ‘em are. So work onfinding yourself a good one.”
T.J. let out another laugh. “Andiegot any sisters?”
“Sorry, man. She’s one of a kind.”
The tender inflection in Miller’s voice caught T.J. offguard, and a fresh doubt jabbed at him like a dentist’s pointy tool. Was T.J.missing out?
“Think I’ll get a dog instead,” he replied. “I hear they’reloyal.”
.~* * * ~.
The arena parking lot was nearlyempty when T.J. pulled in. Nelson drove in a moment later, and T.J. gave him achin lift and waited.
“Gentlemen,” a cheerful female voice called. They bothlooked over at the same time to see Serena waving at them. “Ready for your meetand greet today?”
“Yep.” T.J. tried to match her exuberance but fell wayshort.
Nelson chimed in with something polite in his typicalsoft-spoken manner.
They followed her through the labyrinth of hallways into asmall meeting room with tables and chairs set up like a classroom. A box ofblack Sharpies stood between two stacks of jerseys—his and Nelson’s. Shepointed to a different cluster. “Here’s a box of pucks and some silver pens. Iknow it’s a lot, but we need to build a supply since you’re new. Plus, with thesilent auction and benefit you’ll be attending—”
T.J. interrupted. “What’s that?”
She blinked at him as if processing information that wasn’tincluded in her programming. Blink, blink.“It’s a black-tie charity event.”
“Are the players expected to attend?” He already knew theanswer. Of course they were.
“I’m sorry, T.J., I thought I included a schedule in thepacket I handed you that first day. It would’ve been on that.” She darted hereyes to Nelson.
“I saw it,” he offered with a somewhat smug look.
T.J. couldn’t even remember where he’d put the damn packet—whichhe’d never opened. “Thanks, asshole,” T.J. threw at him.
Nelson shrugged. “Anytime.”
“It’s a few months away.” Serena coughed. “Well, um, I’ll beback in a flash, and we’ll be on our way.” She had an inflection that madeeverything sound like a question. If she weren’t smiling so brightly and didn’thave such a nice ass, T.J. would’ve found the habit annoying.
He and Nelson settled in and began signing—more likescrawling. By the time Serena returned with more boxes and bags, he and Nelsonhad built an impressive stack.
“Really?” He narrowed his eyes at the load she carried.
“Don’t worry,” she laughed. “These are just team hats,T-shirts—stuff like that—for you to pass out. They always put smiles on faces.”
T.J. knew the drill. They’d visit the kids in the hospitalhealthy enough to have visitors and hand out gifts while the entire thing wascaptured on video. Then their good deeds would end up on the Blizzard’s websiteand PR clips—maybe even a local news feature—and the community could gush aboutwhat good guys they were. Even a goon like him.
They rode in the silver Escalade and, ahalf hour later, pulled up to a low, square building.A pair of camera operators were waiting for them infront of a sign that read “Spalding Rehab Hospital.”
What the hell was this place? “We’re not going to seekids?” T.J. asked.
His question seemed to fluster Serena. Apparently, whileNelson was the kid who had all the right answers, T.J. was the one who missedthe assignments. She gave an exasperated little sigh, then plastered on asaccharin smile. Yeah, I’m the dumbass of the class. “No, the team didthat last month. Today, you’re visiting some patients recovering from braintrauma, and the hospital wants us to follow a few rules …”
She recited those rules as he and Gage shrugged on theirjerseys and tugged Blizzard ball caps on their heads.
They were shuttled into a reception area, where a hospitalspokeswoman greeted them, thanking them for coming. “We’re not as popular asChildren’s Hospital when it comes to attracting our city’s star athletes, sowe’re especially pleased you chose to come here today.”
T.J. felt a little sheepish. He hadn’t chosen anything—he’djust come along because he was told to. Just doing my job. Shit, thatwas getting old. In that moment, he felt like a sheep following along blindly,pushed here and there by a sheepdog.
The lady’s voice brought him back to the present. “… and you’ll be visiting a group of adults whose abilities tointeract vary …”
Brain injury. Shit! His breathing sped up, and heconcentrated on slowing it down while cold
