Page 30 of Keeping Kyle

Kyle grinned at me as the lights dimmed around the enormous fountain, signaling the show start. “I should’ve expected that kind of answer from a techie. I like it.”

He held my gaze even as the show started. Anticipation burst from my chest.

Was he going to kiss me?

He squeezed my hand a couple of times and then jerked his toward the fountain. “Check it out. It’s starting.”

Probably for the best, but damn, a kiss would’ve been incredible. What would he taste like? How did he kiss?

I wanted to know.

SEVENTEEN

KYLE

WE ARRIVED back home with a road record of 1-1-1. That road performance exceeded our norm, and we wanted to bring that momentum into our next home game. We had a couple of days before that happened, so I settled back into the home routine.

The time with Austin in Vegas topped the highlight reel from the trip. After the fountain, we’d walked, occasionally wandered into hotels neither of us had been in to see if there was anything interesting, and, best of all, we’d talked a lot. We knew a ton more about each other, and I wanted to keep things going.

As I drove to Austin’s office, hoping to steal him for the afternoon, the music I played cut out with a phone call. I grinned at the name on the display.

“G! Good to hear from you, man. Where are you today?”

“Hey, K. I’m home but headed out this afternoon. I can tell I got you in the car. This a good time?”

Wow. He sounded far more serious than usual. “Yeah. Trying to hijack Austin to go teach hockey moves to some kids.”

“Oh, nice. Another date so soon after his drop-in move. That’s very cool.”

“So, what’s up? I can tell you’ve got something on your mind.”

“Just wanted to see how you are doing.”

“Okay, that’s random.”

“Oh man, you haven’t seen it.”

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, trying to steel myself for whatever he knew that I didn’t. “Tell me. I’m sure whatever it is I’d rather hear about it from you.”

“There’s a story on the trade rumors site about what’s expected within the next couple of weeks. And, well…”

Shit. The talk had seemed to die out recently, but that must’ve been the quiet before the storm.

“And they’re right more often than not.” I couldn’t hold back a sigh as dread formed a big, throbbing ball in the pit of my stomach. “That sucks so hard. I’m glad you told me though. If it’s out there, some of these kids may ask about it, and now I won’t be blindsided.”

“Have you talked to the coaches or management? Let them know you’re really committed to staying in Detroit.”

“My agent and I both have. And why the hell hasn’t Candace called? It’s her job to look out for stuff like this. Is it still sounding like Phoenix?”

“Yup. You and Helton to Phoenix in trade for Billington coming to Detroit.”

Banging on the steering wheel did not quell my aggravation. After the coaching session, I’d have to talk to Candace to get more info.

“I have to ask, are you prepared to leave? You and Mamma P have talked, right?”

“Yeah.” G and Bobby always checked on me with big stuff like this. “When I first found out the possibility, I let her know.”

“And she was good?” G’s voice betrayed that he knew the answer. Of course he did because he knew my family.