Chapter 31
The Big Deal
Radar
While Lance and Ella were outside, I sat with Shea across from Mr. Tremblay. The mood was dark and somber, like we were attending a funeral—we all hated that we had to be here.
And maybe we were attending a funeral, in ways: mine, as a Boston Brawler.
“So you've got a deal in place with Vancouver?” I asked to get the ball rolling.
Mr. Tremblay nodded dourly.
“That's nice. Is it good for you?”
Mr. Tremblay shook his head. “Not quite. Vancouver straight up said they don't have a spot for you. The most they're willing to offer up in return is a couple of B-rate AHL prospects and draft futures. They're confused why you're even being offered up, and suggested we look for a deal elsewhere. ”
“Then why make the deal? Why not another team?”
“Lance is the face of this franchise for the next ten years. We have to keep him happy …”
I gave a shrug. “You'll do what you have to do.”
“This sucks like hell,” Shea said in a burst of rage. “Everyone knows this makes no sense. The team's going to be emotionally gutted when we lose Radar. He is a huge part of this team. Hell, Lance didn't even turn into the player he is today until Radar joined the team and started doing the heavy lifting on his line! And here we are, trying to trade him for a bag of pucks? Fuck this.”
“We've been trying to talk Lance out of it all morning,” Mr. Tremblay told me with a frown, “but he's drawn a line in the sand: it's either you or him, someone has to go. And he wants you as far away from his sister as possible.”
I blew out a heavy breath. “Oof. Well, if it's between me and him, the choice is obvious.”
“Is it?” Shea asked rhetorically. “Because sometimes I wonder. I get it, Lance puts a lot of butts in those seats, and he sells a lot of jerseys for this hockey franchise. But it sure seems like we give these young kids everything they want, not because of what they've accomplished, but based on their 'potential.' Doesn't seem smart to me. Seems more like we're creating an entitled monster that we'll have to deal with later on down the road. You know, back when I broke into this league, no one gave you shit until you accomplished something. You had to earn your keep and prove you could play the game before—”
I cut Shea off with a clap on the back. “Ahh. I'm so glad you gave me one last 'back in my day' rant. I'm gonna miss you, old man.”
“I'm gonna miss you too, bud.” He stood and we hugged. “I told you not to tell him, Radar. I told you to take it to the grave, didn't I?”
“You sure did.”
“Knucklehead. See what happens when you don't listen to the captain?” He gestured at my eye. “Now you've got a real nice shiner.”
“I took my licks last night. Thought I owed it to him.”
“You know, for the sake of the team, I wish you would've taken my advice. But … I'm kind of impressed that you didn't.”
“Yeah?” I asked. “Why's that?”
“You must really like that girl.”
“I do.”
“Does she like you?”
I couldn't help but smile. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Then there's nothing Lance can do about you guys, is there.”
“I'm not letting her go, no matter where I get traded.”
Mr. Tremblay's office door opened, and Ella and Lance stepped in.
“Hey, um, Radar. You mind if we talk in private for a moment?” Lance asked meagerly.
“Sure.”
“Really?” Shea asked. He wasn't so sure that was a good idea, and he started to rise from his chair.
I stopped him. “Don't. We're fine, Shea.”
“No more fighting, guys.”
Lance and I stepped outside into the quiet hall and looked over the empty ice.
“So …” Lance began. “I'll just come out and say it. Ella told me that you said you love her.”
“I do, Lance.”
“We both know that's impossible, Radar. Sounds to me like you're just trying to get laid.”
“I don't blame you for thinking that. I know it's soon. And, yeah, we haven't had a lot of time to get to know each other. But I love being around her. She's so cute and fun and off-the-wall. She's like no other girl I've known. And most importantly … I can already tell. There's just a certain something about her, dude. She doesn't care that I'm some famous athlete. She makes me want to be a better person.”
Lance sighed. “She told me you showed her your collection.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“I thought she should know who I was before we went any further. I wanted her to see it, and see who I was, even if I knew it might be a deal-breaker for her.”
“No … it wasn't a deal-breaker. I think, somehow, you actually scored more points by showing her that.” Lance made a harumph. “Some things I'll never understand.”
I chuckled. “That's what I'm talking about. She makes me feel like I can be myself around her. But I'm sorry it started behind your back, Lance.”
He laughed. “Trust me, that's the only way it would've started, because I wouldn't have let anything happen in front of me.”
“Right. But I'm just trying to say … I get why you're mad. And I'm sorry for how it went down. But I'm not sorry about the way I feel about her. And if you want me off the team, I understand, but I'm not going to let her slip through my fingers. I like this one, Lance. I really like Ella and I will see her again.”
His face twisted as if those words were utterly incomprehensible. To be fair, to a brother, I guess they would be.
“Well, as confusing as it is to hear all that, you're saying the right things, Radar. To her and now to me. So, um, I'm sorry I did the crazy over-protective older brother thing. I could've sworn you were just trying to fuck my little sister for the hell of it and add her panties to the collection.”
“I threw the collection away this morning. I'm done with it.”
“So you're really serious about my sister, then?” he asked, probing my eyes one last time.
“I am, Lance.”
He took a deep breath. “Okay, man. Then fuck the trade.”
A thousand tons dropped from my shoulders. “You're serious?”
“I'm serious, as long as you agree to a couple things,” Lance said. “Don't forget we still live together—and that's not going to change, either. In other words, if you cheat on her, I will find out about it. And not only will I rat you out, I will then proceed to cut your fucking nuts off in your sleep. Understand?”
I laughed. “Understood.”
“Second, I never, ever, ever want to hear you two having sex when she visits. So take her to a hotel, or invest in some quality sound-proofing, or better yet, just don't ever bang when I'm home. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“Good.” He wrapped his arms around me and we hugged. “Then welcome to the family, bud.”
“Thanks, Lance. That means a lot to me.”
The two of us went back into Mr. Tremblay's office. Everyone's eyes were glued to us as we entered, with nervous expressions all around.
“Well?” Shea asked.
“Ah, what the hell,” Lance bellowed. “So Radar wants to date my sister. What's the big deal? Vancouver's offer sucks, anyway.”
“Lance!” Ella cheered. She jumped up and hugged him. He quietly gave her some brotherly words of wisdom, how he would always be there for her, and if I ever treat her wrong, she needed to let him know.
Smiling from ear to ear, Shea shook my hand, and Mr. Tremblay did, too, and both men let me know how happy they were that this whole thing could be peacefully worked out.
And then the room hushed as Ella and I gravitated towards each other. She leaped into my arms and I scooped her off her feet, squeezing her tight in my arms.
I won't lie, part of me was afraid that, even though Lance had just given us his blessing, the sight of me embracing his sister might trigger some hidden rage and send him rushing at me. Thankfully, that didn't happen. Ella stayed right by my side and we clasped each other's hands.
And then we all watched as Mr. Tremblay picked up the phone and made a call. “Hey Jim. Jean-Paul here. Deal fell through on my end. Thanks, catch you later.”
Click.
And a collective sigh of relief went around the room.
“So now what?” Lance asked.
“I gotta get this girl to the airport,” I said with a frown. “You wanna come with us, Lance?”
He looked at his watch. “Argh. Can't.”
Ella rolled her eyes. “Lemme guess: you're meeting Lindsay?”
“Yeah, actually.”
“Next time I visit, you're introducing me to her, okay?”
“Sure.”
Lance and Ella hugged one last time, we hurried through our goodbyes, and then I rushed Ella out to my car to make her flight.