Page 84 of Scoring Chances
Debatable. Considering my current predicament.
“Catherine here got her MD while raising Joshy and paying her own way through medical school. She knows that hustle,” Oliver says, with admiration.
“That’s very inspiring. I’m paying my way too.”
“Admirable. Let’s hope this one here doesn’t derail your plans,” she leans forward and squeezes Joshua’s shoulder.
“I’m not worried,” I say with confidence.
“A woman that know what she wants. That’s good,” Catherine praises.
“Oh she knows what she wants,” Joshua says, holding back a smirk. I glare at him and look back at the kids. Parker and Maddie are passed out. Cole is staring at me like he has a million questions.
After that phone call… I’m sure he does.
I don’t think he knew that Joshua was leaving. And now that he knows–and that I’m not planning on coming with him. It looks like he’s putting together all the pieces.
He covers his face with his hoodie and turns toward the window.
That’s when I know… there’s about to be a meltdown.
Chapter 23
Joshua
“Here we go,” Coach Murray says, leading me up to the press area at Space City Arena. Our home turf.
Well, not mine. Not anymore.
We both take our seats at the front of the room. There are cameras and reporters filling every spot in the room. Since the news broke over the weekend, I’ve done my best to ignore making any comments.
I focused on Mom and Oliver. And this morning I dropped them both off at the airport. They were so happy to get to spend time with me. And to meet my girlfriend. Who after they left, has yet to say a word to me.
Okay, I know she’s not my actual girlfriend but after an entire weekend of pretending to be all about me. She just shutdown. Keeping her distance and focusing solely on the kids.
Which is her job–I know that. I’d just like a little credit here that I’m busting my ass to try to make this the best situation for everybody involved. Despite it being a very shitty one.
“Riley Jost with SportsNet,” a man rises from the right corner. “Coach Murray, can you tell us why of all the players on the roster you’d get rid of a player that is carrying this team in assists? As you know, he has one of the highest assist averages in the league. That’s a team player if I’ve ever seen one. Why the trade?”
Thank you, random reporter dude. See? He gets it. I feel so seen.
Coach grabs his mic and drags it closer to him. “You know that’s not how these deals work, Riley. GMs make trades. These kinds of things happen months in advance. Sometimes way before the playoffs are even considered. So are we sad to see Hicks go? Absolutely. He's a hell of player. But it’s just as much out of my hands as it’s out of his in this particular case. Next question.”
Ouch, Coach. I’ll miss you too. Jeez.
A woman rises from her seat, “Shirley with the Houston Pulse. Mr. Hicks, how do you anticipate this move to Georgia to pan out?”
I clear my throat, “I can only hope for the best, Shirley. The Heatwave was my first time. And the Thunderhawks won’t be my last. I’ll just have to adjust to new personalities. New coaches. It may take some getting used to but I’m sure it’ll all be for the best.”
“Mr. Hicks,” a gentleman from the very back of the room stands. “How does this move affect your most recent venture into the realm of instant fatherhood?”
Oh, shit. That wasn’t on the docket to discuss.
There are gasps all around the room. I look at Rina in the back of the room, mouthing “no comment.” And making an X with her arms.
“Um… well…” Ah, hell. Here goes nothing. “I love it. Yeah, it was more unexpected than the trade. I could kind of sense the trade happening but fatherhood… yeah, that I didn’t see coming at all.”
The room seems to take interest in my personal life, because about six reporters all stand to their feet shouting out questions.