Callum, page 13
Penn Navarro’s arrival in Pittsburgh promises to reshape our destiny. I take a second to savor the triumph, knowing that the path to a Cup has just been paved with this bold move.
“Want a drink to celebrate?” Juniper asks. “Or are you hungry? I can heat up something for you.”
“No thanks,” I reply. We cracked champagne at the arena and food was provided all day. “How did your day go? How’s your dad?”
Juniper shoots me a chastising glare. “Callum… this is a huge deal. Getting Navarro and all the other players you wanted. Why aren’t you more excited?”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Because I’m absolutely exhausted from head to toe. I’m sore from hours at a table and my brain feels like mush. It’s too much work to be excited.”
Juniper tosses aside the blanket and scoots onto her knees on the couch cushion next to me. “Turn around. Let me give you a neck massage.”
“You don’t—”
“Turn around,” she demands. I’m not one to turn down a massage, especially one that involves Juniper’s touch. “Take off your shirt.”
“Jesus, Juni.” I sit forward and give her my back. “I’m starting to feel like a piece of meat.”
She pops me on the back of the head. “Just your dress shirt. Leave the undershirt on.”
I wore a suit to work today, as one does when they’re going to be on video calls with agents, other general managers and players. I left my jacket at the office, but the starched dress shirt will hinder a good massage. I unbutton the cuffs first, then the front and shrug it off.
Juniper moves behind me on her knees, her fingers going right to my shoulders where they start a deep, slow undulation into my muscles. I can’t help the groan of satisfaction.
We used to give each other massages all the time. This was usually done fully naked and ten times out of ten, it led to an amazing fuck after. I forbid that thought from going further because this isn’t that kind of massage and truly, I’m so fucking tired I’m not sure I could take advantage of any situation that might present itself.
“You should be really proud of yourself,” Juniper murmurs as her fingers press into the base of my neck. “The sports world tomorrow is going to be stunned with the moves you pulled today.”
Juniper knows what they are because yesterday as we were out and about and then over dinner, she asked a bazillion questions about what I wanted to do. It was a good way for me to go over all the players I wanted to gain and offload, the road map I intended to follow and the pitfalls I hoped to avoid. Juniper about choked on her salmon when I told her the amount we’d be offering for Navarro and then had a dozen more questions about how I was going to afford it.
One of the things I miss most about her is that she was always so fucking interested in me and my career. Even in those few years when I was on the road and she was working back home, our conversations always spent a good deal of time focused on my job and all that it entailed. And I was just as interested in her job too. I was into everything about her and yes, I was a fucking idiot to have let her go.
I lean forward, causing Juniper’s hands to slide free. I shift on the couch to face her. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
Juniper flinches and then sits back on her heels, palms resting on her thighs. She says nothing, but I don’t expect her to.
“I was so focused on my career that I lost sight of the most important thing I had. I naively and maybe narcissistically thought you would just wait for me until I had the dream career all set up. I don’t think I understood how hard that was, and then… well, when we broke up, I pretty much sent you down a horrible path. I’m so sorry, Juni.”
She blinks slowly, as if trying to process my words. Finally, she says, “Thank you for saying that. I don’t think I realized how much I needed that apology until you gave it.”
“I hate that you suffered—”
“No,” she says, her tone razor sharp. “Your apology is for breaking up with me and that’s all I’m accepting. You aren’t responsible for my choice to marry Joshua, just like you’re not responsible for my choice to stay with him.”
“But if I hadn’t—”
She raises her voice and cuts in over me. “Hear me, Callum. I had choices. I could have chosen to wait longer for you, I could have chosen not to marry Joshua, and I sure as shit could have left him the first time he hit me.”
“But your dad—”
“I could have moved my dad to an affordable facility. It wouldn’t have been as nice and I would have had to really stay on top of his treatment, but I could have done it. So don’t kid yourself… I was in the situation with Joshua because I chose to be. Just like I chose to leave him when you gave me the opportunity. So, apology accepted, and let’s move on as friends.”
As friends.
The thought of just being Juniper’s friend pales in comparison to what we had. Even the type of friends we are now could never measure up to the deep bond we once had outside of romance and intimacy. She was the one person I could talk to about anything, no matter how inconsequential. No matter how important.
Reaching out, I take her hand from her lap and pull it to my mouth. I kiss the back of it and set it back down. “Thanks for the massage. I’m going to bed.”
Juniper smiles and watches silently as I push up from the couch and head toward the master suite. I feel loads lighter having given my apology and yet I feel more unsettled now than I did before she touched me.
She tells me she had choices and won’t let me accept full blame for how her life turned out. Juniper seems to be at peace with everything and she’s going to move on with her life. She’ll seek a new happiness for herself, and it just makes me wonder… could I be a part of it?
Do I even want to be?
If I dig deep, I already know the answer to that.
CHAPTER 18
Juniper
Even though Callum signed Penn Navarro to the Titans and made several other important trades and acquisitions that have the hockey world abuzz, he’s still elbow-deep in work each day. We’ve settled into an easy camaraderie and my life is calming down somewhat. We’re in this two-week waiting period for Joshua to respond to my attorney, my dad is doing as well as can be expected with the bonus that I get to see him every day, and I have a mostly stress-free life.
I never realized how bad I had it until these days when I open my eyes first thing in the morning and don’t have that crushing weight on my chest, wondering what the day might bring.
This year, the Fourth of July falls on a Tuesday and Brienne Norcross is hosting a party for the players and their significant others. Callum didn’t ask but told me I’d be attending with him, and I was so pleased I didn’t even think to protest. I’m eager to reconnect with the four women I met last week and I’m excited about expanding my social circle, something denied to me for so very long.
Callum wouldn’t tell me where the party was or what was so special about it, but he did say, “Make sure you bring a light jacket and prepare to be amazed.”
The light jacket is a mystery since it’s still in the mid-seventies as we close in on eight p.m. Callum pulls into a parking lot and I can see the Monongahela River down below and the city of Pittsburgh before us. The sun hangs low in the sky, making the reflective buildings glow in pinks, oranges and blues.
I’m guessing the fireworks might go off behind the city and this vantage point is indeed a nice place to watch from. But when we exit the car, Callum takes my hand and leads me toward a building. I don’t think to pull away from him because even though this is a little odd for us to hold hands, I also remember a time in my life when this was the most natural thing in the world.
Moreover, I like the feeling again.
There’s an elevator inside and four people are waiting for it. I can tell two of them are hockey players just by their size. Callum introduces me to Stone Dumelin and his fiancée, Harlow, as well as Hendrix Bateman and his girlfriend, Stevie. There’s no time to engage in anything but quick hellos as the elevator doors open and soon we’re descending. When we reach the bottom, I’m surprised to see we’re at the river’s edge. Nearby are docks with moored boats of all sizes.
“We’re going on a boat ride,” I exclaim, now understanding why Callum told me to bring a jacket as it will be a little cooler on the river.
Hendrix snorts. “Not a boat. A yacht.”
“Is it the same yacht that Boone took Lilly on for their first date?” Stevie asks with a bright smile.
“Not the same boat,” Callum says as he takes my hand again, and it’s clear he knows exactly what Brienne has planned but he’s not going to say more. I see that devilish glint in his eyes.
“But we are going on a boat,” says Harlow, stating the obvious given that we’re on the docks but pressing Callum for more info. “The question remains, what kind of boat? Maybe she rented out the Gateway Clipper.”
Stone laughs. “No way. She probably had a special boat built.”
Harlow scoffs but I notice Callum’s mouth quirks.
“Brienne would be just as happy sitting on a rowboat in the middle of the water if she had the people she cared about around her,” Harlow says.
“But we’re not all going to fit in a rowboat,” Callum points out with a laugh.
We meander along a boardwalk where the boats go from small to progressively larger. Lots of people are out and about, boarding watercraft in preparation to cruise on the river. I’m still not clear where the fireworks will be, but I have no doubt that since Brienne Norcross is putting on this event, we will have one of the best seats in the house.
Up ahead, we see more of the Titans and I recognize Ava standing next to a very handsome man who, although I haven’t met him, I’ve seen his face in the news. The head coach, Cannon West.
Ava waves, prompting me to tug away from Callum. I walk a little faster toward her and she gives me a warm hug.
“I’m so glad you came,” she says as we break apart.
“Me too.”
Callum is soon by my side and we chat as more people arrive. Some of the players I recognize from my research of the team and media posts, but I’m introduced to a lot of people that I can’t possibly keep straight. There’s no particular boat where we’re waiting, but a young man stands before an empty gangway. A sign to his left reads Titans Cruise to indicate we’re in the right place. The excitement builds because of the mystery and until Brienne shows up, we have no clue what’s in store.
Someone suddenly calls out, “There she is.”
We look around and people start pointing toward the water. It’s then that I see the most unusual boat imaginable. It’s not a yacht like I’d envisioned, all sleek lines and rising tall out of the water with two or three decks. Instead, it’s low and squat, at least a hundred and twenty feet long and quite wide. The center portion is covered in domed glass so that when you stand inside, you can see all around you. It’s like someone took one of the glass conservatories that Callum and I visited last week and plopped it on a boat.
The setting sun glistens off the large paned windows held together with thin braces of metal. On the front deck stands Brienne Norcross along with her fiancé Drake McGinn with three adorable little boys waving at us.
Callum steps in closer to me. “Pretty cool, huh?”
“I didn’t even know such a thing existed.”
“It didn’t. Brienne had it built.”
“Just for this holiday?” I ask in awe.
Callum shakes his head and laughs. “She’s not frivolous like that, but she did have it built for river outings. It’s owned by Norcross Holdings and I imagine all of her executives will use it to schmooze clients and such. But for tonight, the Titans will be using it for a maiden voyage to watch the fireworks.”
The boat pulls in and crew members jump off to tie it securely before leveraging a gangplank. The gate is opened and we all pour onto the amazing glass vessel.
When we step onto the deck, Brienne gives Callum a warm hug and Drake shakes his hand.
Without waiting for an introduction, Brienne steps into me and takes both my hands. She’s exquisite with her pale blond hair pulled into a short ponytail at the nape of her neck. She’s wearing white jeans, tennis shoes and a navy-blue T-shirt with the American flag across the chest. “I am very pleased to meet you,” she says warmly. “I’ve heard so much about you from not only Callum but from Ava, Danica, Jenna and Sophie. I can’t wait to spend some girl time with you but you should consider me a resource here in the city, and if you need anything, do not hesitate to ask.”
I’m taken aback—in a good way—by her warmth and generosity. “You’re very kind. Callum has provided well for me and my father. And thank you for letting me come to your party.”
Brienne shoots me a wink. “I’m going to be at our inaugural tea party that you ladies planned last week. I heard all about it and I’m in charge of scones.”
It’s both weird and captivating that this powerhouse of a woman can run a multibillion-dollar empire and get excited about making scones for a spontaneous idea to have a monthly tea party.
Brienne squeezes my hands before releasing them. “You two head on in. There’s food and an open bar. Once we’re all boarded, our captain will take us out onto the river.”
“And where will the fireworks display be?” I ask.
Brienne grins and tosses her head toward the rivers’ confluence. “Right on the water. They’ll be set off from barges. It’s going to be spectacular.”
Callum’s hand comes to my back, ready to lead me inside. “Guess it doesn’t matter where we stand… we’ll have a great view.”
“That was the whole idea behind this vessel.” Brienne laughs. “Granted, I wasn’t envisioning fireworks but rather being able to see the beauty of the skyline from the water. Still, I think we’re all in for a treat tonight.”
We say our goodbyes and Callum leads me inside. There’s a gorgeous buffet of all-American Fourth of July food including hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue, potato salad and apple pie. Large silver tubs hold beer and hard seltzers as well as soda and water for the kids.
“Let’s get something to eat and grab a table. We can decide whether to stay inside or go out when the fireworks start.”
We load plates and Callum grabs two beers for us. We sit at a table with Coach West and Ava and are joined by a handful of the single players. For the next forty minutes, we eat, drink and laugh. The interior of the glass boat is spacious with enough tables to seat everyone but only half take advantage of them, the others preferring to stand out on the deck as they hold their plates.
I end up meeting more people than I can ever hope to remember and when the boat begins a slow glide into the middle of the river, everyone is excited. The sun has set, the sky a dusky purple. Over a loudspeaker, a deep male voice says, “The fireworks will begin in about fifteen minutes, but if everyone could come into the interior, Brienne Norcross has a few words.”
It doesn’t take long for everyone to congregate under the glass structure, filling the large space shoulder to shoulder. Brienne stands in the middle, and so she can be seen, someone places a chair before her, and Drake offers support as she climbs onto it. He keeps a steady hand on her hip and she rests one on his shoulder.
She doesn’t have a microphone, but her voice rings clear across the crowd. “Thank you, everyone, for coming. I know we’re missing a handful of people tonight as folks who are wiser than us are off on beautiful vacations this summer. But they are with us in spirit. I had this boat built for business purposes, but tonight I wanted to use it so our team could be together on this very important holiday to our nation. I’m just so happy to have you all here and you know I’m proud of each and every one of you. For all of the resilience, grit and determination you have shown this past year and a half, I want you to know there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. I want to tell you to eat, drink and enjoy the rest of the evening, particularly the amazing fireworks. But before we do that, I want to address one important thing.” And here, Brienne takes a pause and looks around the room before locking eyes with someone. “Coen… can you come up here? Tillie as well.”
I rise to my tiptoes to see Coen Highsmith and his wife, Tillie, walking through the crowd toward Brienne. I met them briefly just a bit ago. Brienne hops off the chair and positions herself between the two of them, looking around at the crowd of Titans and their loved ones. “I know the news was shocking last week that Coen’s leaving us and yes, we’re going to throw a hell of a going-away party for him. Technically, he’s not even a Titan anymore if you believe the ink on the contract papers, and I’m going to have a hard time thinking of him as a Viper.” Brienne tips her head up to look at Coen. “You are the absolute epitome of what this team is about. Our success is owed in such a big part to you and thank you is not enough. We’ll miss you so very desperately next year and while I want to wish you all the best of luck with the Vipers, I still hope we kick your ass when we meet up.”
Everybody laughs but Brienne continues. “Aside from you being an amazing Titan and member of this team, my heart is so warmed by the fact that you’re giving up part of your dreams so that Tillie can pursue hers. I hope everyone in this room takes that to heart because Coen’s generosity and commitment to love is what really matters. And for that reason, I do wish you all the luck and success in the world. Everyone, please raise a glass with me and let’s congratulate Coen and Tillie as they embark on this new adventure without us.”
Everyone lifts their glasses or bottles, but no one is cheering their well wishes. Instead, murmured cheers and good luck ripple through the crowd. The sadness is palpable as Brienne hugs Coen and Tillie and then other players move in.
Callum bends down to murmur in my ear. “Losing him will be tough.”
“I can feel the distress. I even see it on Coen’s and Tillie’s faces.”
“It wasn’t an easy decision. He has so much loyalty to this team, but Coen will be the first to tell you he wouldn’t have come back to hockey without Tillie changing the way he viewed things. This worked out well for everyone in the end. Coen keeps playing and Tillie gets a shot at a dream she didn’t even know was possible.”
