“Because this is a big night for my boys. I don’t want you distracted by meeting Thomas. The only thing you should be doing is talking to this agent. What’s his name by the way?”
“Her.”
Mom’s eyebrows shoot up at that.
“You chose a female agent?”
“She seemed the best fit.”
“Hmmm….” Mom glances from one to the other. “Is that the only reason? I assumed you’d both pick a man.”
“Coach gave us three names. One I didn’t like. The one I did like, he joined an agency that has been in the news for all the wrong reasons and Gretchen owns her own agency with good reviews. She only handles hockey players from what I can see and I know all the names. They got good deals. She seemed the best fit. And she personally knows Coach. He volunteered to pick her up from the airport. He did say to tell you thank you for providing the home cooked meal. His wife is taking care of her sick aunt or something.”
“Anything for my kids.” Mom gives us a warm smile. “I need to go change. Jonathan, you’re in charge of making sure the rolls don’t burn. Collin, don’t let him forget them.”
“You can count on me.”
She laughs and goes upstairs.
“Coach just texted.” Collin turns serious. “He’ll be here in a few minutes. Are we sure this is who we want?”
“You tell me. You looked at everyone’s websites and Googled them same as me.”
“She specializes in hockey players.”
“Or she just can’t get any big time clients from the NFL, NBA, or the MLB.”
He frowns. “I didn’t think about that.”
“I didn’t until just now either.”
“Let’s not get lost in the weeds. She specializes. It said so on her website.”
“And her clients got good deals,” I remind him as much as I do myself. I’m already second guessing my choice, but I force my doubts aside. I can’t prejudge her ability just because she’s a woman in a predominately male profession.
Collin nods and checks the rolls. He loves Mom’s rolls. I saw him eat an entire pan of them over the summer. She makes her own honey butter and he growls anytime someone tries to move the container away from him. I hope he doesn’t do that with Gretchen.
“Coach knows people, right? I mean he used to play in the NHL so we trust his judgment when it comes to agents don’t we?” Collin sounds as worried and second guessy as I am right now.
“We trust Coach. He wouldn’t steer us wrong.” I keep telling myself that at least. I wish Daisy was here, but she got called in to work. I told her I’d come pick her up after her shift. I don’t want her anywhere by herself. She promptly said she could drive herself and I agreed, but I told her I was showing up anyway and I’d just follow her home to make sure she made it safely. Girl actually rolled her eyes at me. But she agreed to let me drop her off and pick her up. Win for me. I have some of the guys keeping eyes on her and they agreed to eat at where she works instead of at the place we normally eat. The team takes care of its own. Daisy is mine and therefore, the team looks out for her.
“How’s our girl?” Collin asks.
“Working.”
“Was it a good idea for her to work as upset as she is?”
“You want to tell her she needs to stay home?”
His eyes widened. “Uh, no. No, I don’t.”
Collin’s look of horror sums it up nicely. Daisy might be upset and vulnerable right now, but she’s still a firecracker who will tell you off in a heartbeat.
There’s a knock at the door and we both go still. They’re here. Our lives are about to change forever. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes, say a prayer and then go answer the door.
Coach is standing beside a woman in her early thirties. She’s got brown hair that’s put in some kind of messy bun and she’s wearing jeans and a nice blouse. I kinda expected a business suit honestly. And killer heals.
“Sorry about the clothes. I came straight from the airport and flew in from California. I tend to dress comfortable when I’m on long flights.”
