Luca (Chicago Blaze 2)

And then, after I’ve cried all the tears I have, I get up and go into the bathroom to shower. When I flip on the light and look at my reflection in the mirror, there’s snot on my face and my eyes are swollen.

Been here, done this. Many times. Mechanically, I turn the shower handle and step in, letting the hot water run over my hair and down my back.

And then I cry some more.

This is what I get for sleeping. I’ll be more careful next time.Chapter TwelveLuca

Two months laterThe laughter of a Minion sounds on my phone, and my agent Denny gives me an amused look.

“Cora,” I explain. “She set different tone alerts for each of the kids when they text me.”

I look down at my screen and see a picture from Jack. It’s his end-of-the-year report card—three As and four Bs. My eyes get a little watery.

The kid’s been busting his ass studying every night for these grades. Math doesn’t come easy to him.

“Excuse me,” I say to Denny.

I type out a message to my nephew.

Me: KICKASS!!!! I’m really proud of you, bud!

Jack: Thanks I got a B- in math!

Me: You did great! We’ll celebrate when I get back home.

Jack: When are you coming home?

Me: I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.

Jack: I miss you.

Me: I miss you too. I miss all of you guys. Are you having fun with Sheila?

Jack: She is taking us out for pizza tonight!

Me: Sweet. Hey, I have to go, I’m in a meeting.

Jack: Can you Facetime later?

Me: Yep, gimme an hour and we can.

Jack: Ok!

Sliding my phone back into my pocket, I turn my attention back to Denny.

“Sorry, had to catch up with Jack.”

“Hey, no worries. How’s it going with the kids?”

I shrug. “Pretty good, I think. The nice thing about not knowing what the hell I’m doing is not knowing if I’m screwing it up.”

“We’ve got a couple standing offers from magazines and sports blogs to do a profile and photo spread about you and the kids. It’d be great exposure.”

“No way, I want the kids to stay out of the spotlight.”

“Okay, then let’s talk about these offers.” Denny looks down at the legal pad in front of him on his desk.

The hockey season is now officially over, and we’re having our annual post-season sit down at Denny’s office to discuss where I am in my contract and to go over endorsement deals.

Other than the times the Blaze are playing the Chargers, visits to Denny’s office are the only time I come to New York City. And the best thing about this trip is that I’ll get to see Abby tonight.

We’ve only gotten one more evening together since deciding to make this a regular thing, and that was almost a month ago. All I’ve had since then are the sporadic sexy or random texts we exchange.

And damn, is Abby good at sexting. I’ve turned down two offers from women for sex since I last saw Abby because they just didn’t compare to her. Her confidence and intensity, with the hint of vulnerability she occasionally lets me see, have me hooked.

“Sexual performance enhancer?” Denny looks up from his legal pad at me.

I turn my train of thought back to the meeting. “Sorry, what?”

“You’ve got an endorsement offer from the maker of a male performance enhancer.”

I scowl. “Fuck that. I don’t want people thinking I use that shit.”

“Just checking, it’s a good offer.”

“Next.”

“There’s a company rolling out a new line of home boxing equipment that wants you to be a spokesman.”

That doesn’t sound too bad. “Maybe. I’d be willing to try out their stuff and see if I like it first. You know I don’t rep anything I don’t actually use.”

Denny writes down a few notes on his pad and continues down the list. “Luxury car ad?”

“Do I get a car if I do it?”

“Never hurts to ask.”

“I’d consider it.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket with a text notification and I pull it out to view the message.

Abby: Sorry, my meeting ran late. How about 7 at the Waldorf bar?

Denny notices me reading the message and says, “I’ll grab us some coffee.”

I write back.

Me: Not having me over to your place?

Abby: You’ll like the Waldorf better…

Me: As long as you’re there, I don’t care where we go.

Abby: My next meeting is there. I’ll order you a Guinness if I get there first.

Me: What color are your panties? So I can fantasize this afternoon.

Abby: What panties…?

Me: Oh hell. Can you do lunch instead of dinner???

Abby: Ha, I wish…see you tonight. Xoxo

Me: See you then, gorgeous.Denny walks back into the room and passes me a cup of coffee.

“Thanks, man. Sorry about that. Had to finalize plans for later.”

“Got a date?”

“Yeah, sorta.”

My agent grins. “I’m not saying you need a performance enhancer, but would it really be so bad to get a free lifetime supply?”