Off the Record (Off #3)(45)

Linc is talking on the phone right now. He got the call about ten minutes ago and he stepped away for some privacy. The look on his face is grave and I hope everything is okay back home. He drags his hand through his hair, an action I’ve come to recognize as frustration. He did it two nights ago as we sat at the dining room table and played Rummy. I beat him hand after hand and I thought he’d pull his hair out at some point.

They finally call us to board, and Linc walks behind me as we make our way to our seats. He’s still on the phone and I can hear snippets of what he is saying.

“Well, get on the phone with Barry and see if the rumor is true.”

“Yeah, I get that this could go down quickly.”

“No...I mean...what can I do. It’s not my decision, is it?”

“Fine, call me tomorrow and give me an update.”

Linc puts his phone in his pocket and we take our seats. He’s sitting near the window and looking out. I can feel tension radiating off of his body, and while I don’t want to care...I can’t help but do.

Taking his hand in mine, I ask, “Is everything okay?”

He turns slowly to look at me. He glances down at my fingers laced with his, and then back to me. “This has to be off the record, okay?”

“Of course,” I assure him.

“That was my agent. He says there is a rumor floating around that New York wants to trade me to open up room under the salary cap.” His voice sounds dejected and although I’ve tried hard to keep the temperature low on my heart, I can feel it starting to melt a bit for him.

“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what that really means, but I can tell that you’re not liking that.”

He sighs, and there goes the hand raking through his hair. The other hand squeezes mine, as if the contact is reassuring to him. “It’s part of being a professional athlete. You get traded. I just hate the thought of leaving my dad and Nix.”

“Where would you go?”

“Apparently they approached the Phoenix Coyotes and are willing to take some prime draft picks for the trade.”

“Is it a done deal?”

“Not yet. The teams are just talking now. I’ll know more in a few days.”

“How does that affect you? I mean, outside of having to move to away from your family?”

Linc shrugs his shoulders. “It doesn’t really. I mean...I’ll miss my teammates like crazy. But my contract stays the same. Phoenix will have to pay the contract out as is.”

“I’m sorry,” I say. I want to take him in my arms and hold him, but the airplane isn’t conducive to that. “I know what it’s like to move away from your loved ones.”

Linc squeezes my hand and then releases it. “Yeah. I know you do. Look...I’m going to try to get a few hours of sleep.”

“Sure. I’ll wake you up when we’re getting ready to land.”

He doesn’t respond but just leans his head back into the seat. With his eyes closed, he looks so peaceful. But I know peace is not what he’s feeling right now.





I really didn’t have any intention of sleeping on the plane, but I just didn’t want to engage in any further conversation about the potential trade. So I played possum...closed my eyes, and pretended to sleep.

Letting my mind run the gamut of possibilities, I realized that moving to Phoenix would be painful. My dad was getting on in years and I didn’t want to be separated by almost an entire continent. I also didn’t want to be separated from Nix. It had been brutal when he was in Afghanistan.

And weirdly...I didn’t like the thought of being away from Ever. I know I screwed up with her by voicing my feelings while we were dancing last night. But shit...she’s consuming me and I can’t help the way I feel. Apparently, I just need to be a little more circumspect about the situation. I backpedaled, and she accepted said backpedaling.

Here’s the thing...we could be perfect together. I know it. She just has to quit living in the past and stop making decisions based on her experiences. And I know that’s easier said than done. The most I can do is continue to f*ck her silly and show her that I’m a good guy. That I would not hurt her the way she has been hurt in the past.

We’ve arrived at Ever’s childhood home and it’s straight out of Southern Living. I know this only because Emily has those magazines stacked all over Nix’s house. And that’s the only reason I know that...enough said!

The house is a huge, two-story Victorian with white trim and a massive wrap-around porch. Even though it’s almost 1:00am, the house is glowing with lights. I can feel the excitement radiating off of Ever as she leaps out of the car and runs up to the front door. It opens and I watch as a woman, who looks exactly like Ever, opens her arms. My chest aches and expands as I see Ever step into her mother’s embrace.

I walk up the porch steps and I can hear Ever’s mom say, “There’s my baby-girl.” The hug seems to go on for an eternity but knowing the way Ever feels about her mom, it’s probably not long enough for her.

Finally, Ever steps back to introduce us. “Mom...this is Linc Caldwell. Linc...this is my mom, Samantha Montgomery.”

I stick my hand out in greeting but Samantha Montgomery reaches up and pulls me down into a hug. “It’s so nice to meet you, Linc. And please...call me Sam.”