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The interview begins via a video call, and I get the first question.
“You’re the man everyone is looking at to turn things around for the team this year. How does that pressure feel?”
I tap my ankle, a telltale sign that I’m nervous. “Of course there’s pressure, but I’m confident I can contribute to the team, along with everyone else, and earn us a better result this year.”
“Especially with the guys to your left. They’re calling you the Trifecta.”
I look at Jagger, who points at himself, obviously the one who coined the phrase.
“We’re definitely a force to be reckoned with, but there are a lot of talented players in the league. At the end of last season, we jived on the ice, so we’ll continue to build on that this season.”
He directs a few questions to Henry and Tweetie, and they both give the regular PR-approved answers. It’s all about fulfilling your role on the team. How there isn’t any drama between teammates. How we’re poised to do well this year.
“We heard that you all live in the same building,” the interviewer says.
Henry chuckles. “Yeah. We do.”
“And that your fans have coined it The Nest?”
Henry and I look at Tweetie, and he raises his hand. “I did. It was The Den back when the Grizzlie players lived there, so it’s only fair we take it over.”
Henry groans.
“Henry, you’re a single dad, right?” he asks.
He nods. “I am.”
“How’s that work living with Mr. Heartbreaker?”
I roll my eyes, and Jagger points at me to cut it out. I fucking hate that nickname.
Henry laughs and glances at me. “He’s not too much of a heartbreaker these days.”
“Or ever,” I grumble.
Jagger glares at me, but I’m not going to sit here and let them take shots at the kind of person I am.
“Yeah, he’s got—” Tweetie starts in.
“How about we keep this to hockey?” I say.
The interviewer clears his throat and glances off screen. Fuck this entire thing. Why do they have to get involved in my personal life?
“Sorry, but we gotta ask the hard questions the fans want answers to. You understand, right, Rowan?”
I look at Jagger. If looks could kill, I wouldn’t be alive to answer the guy. “Yeah, all good.”
“Well, in other news, I assume you’ve heard the rumors?” the interviewer asks.
Jagger pulls out his phone and stares at it. He never has his phone out during our interviews. He’s always there to keep us on task and make sure to shake his head if we veer in the wrong direction.
“What rumors?” Henry sighs because it’s usually some shit we can’t confirm.
“You’ve got a new goalie.”
We all look at Jagger. He holds up his phone, smiling.
“It’s been reported that Conor Nilsen has been traded to the Chicago Falcons, though we’re waiting for confirmation on that,” the interviewer says.
