Page 65 of The Game Plan
“I’m pleased you have a new happy memory,” he says.
I think, You’ve given me more than one.
I glance to my laptop and the work I could be doing – working on the next career move in my life – if I weren’t sitting on this hotel rug, just chatting.
And I make the decision to shut it down when I’m ready to get up.
“Carter is being better with me; more professional,” I say. “Since your suggestion of team huddles each day.”
“That’s good. Respect is free.”
My lips quirk up at one side. “I like that. I might coin it.”
“Remember I have a degree in philosophy, Si, there’s a world of philosophizing stuck deep in my hippocampus.”
I chuckle. “Words I’d never expect to hear from Jax Harris. Well, Captain Philosophical and Toothless, I have another work conundrum I’d like to use you as a sounding board for, now that you’ve started giving me advice.”
“Finally, I know what I’ll do after my hockey career ends! Fire away.”
“Next week is the annual gala for the New York youth in sports charities. I always go but it’s a company invitation, so Carl and I have previously gone together and I’m sure he’ll be there. I want to go to support the charities but also network. If I ever do get another business off the ground here somehow, it’s important I’m still seen.”
“So do you go and risk running into Carl, or not go and miss out on the opportunity?”
“Something like that.”
“Well, have you seen the attendee list?” he asks.
“Not something I have access to.”
“If you had, you’d know that I, Captain Philosophical and Toothless, will also be there this year.”
“You will?” I sit up straighter, bending my knees and folding my legs beneath me.
“The players take it on rotation and it’s my turn this year. So why don’t you come as my plus one? Sit with me, which I can guarantee will be nowhere near your ex, then you’re there socially but you can network.”
The idea of being there as his plus one is appealing for so many reasons, not least, I realize, because I could dress up for him and see him in a suit, slink my arm through his as we mingle. On a purely for show basis, obviously.
“There’s one catch, though,” he says.
“Okaaaaay. What is it?”
“My dad and sister will be there… and my mom. Are you ready to meet your mother-in-law, Si?”
Holy. Crap. Am I?
27
OCTOBER
Jax
The State of New York
After speaking with my mom this morning, it would be fair to say I have two paws firmly inside and two paws out of the doghouse.
On the phone, I got, “Jax Harris, you have avoided me for long enough, it’s about time you told me the full story,” and “I don’t understand why you would have denied your only mother the opportunity to celebrate your wedding with you.”
I obviously used her being in California for the preseason, me playing hockey and being on the road for the lack of contact, as opposed to being a twenty-six-year-old man who’s still afraid of his mom.
