Page 27 of Lucky Puck

Sabien? His lie about the wedding ring to the Trainer proves his judgment isn’t much better than Brody’s. Brody may have gotten himself into this mess by his questionable decision to drink and bring a stranger to his room the night before the game, but Sabien’s bold and creative lying ability has the potential to make things a gazillion times worse.

I finally respond. “Whatever you say, Brody. You’re the boss.”

His grin sparks him to life momentarily. “I never thought I’d hear you admit that.”

“I suppose I deserve that. But you know my job is to take care of you this weekend as much as anything else, right?”

“Tough job since it’s completely unnecessary.”

I roll my eyes and cough while Sabien laughs.

“Okay, fine. Maybe I wouldn’t have gotten crushed against the boards if I hadn’t… had company last night.”

“No kidding. You were slow more than a couple of steps.”

“It was the end of my shift⁠—”

“Exactly.”

I put up my hands. “Stop. Brody scored the opening goal and played well⁠—”

“Until he didn’t. He played like a forty-year-old by the second period.”

Brody gives Sabien the finger, and Sabe laughs.

Apparently, that’s the end of the discussion.

“Don’t worry so much, Brooks.”

“I’ll be fine after this weekend.”

He gives me a puzzled look, but I don’t elaborate.

I can’t tell him that I really, really need the bonus from this Cavalaro Motors promo deal. Right away. It’s not his problem. I’m the one who’s supposed to worry about his problems, not the other way around.

Besides, I’m doing enough worrying for a whole legion of people. I’m three months behind on my student loan payments since the rent went up on the apartment I’m sharing with my best friend, and my cash flow drought is stressing me more than usual.

The usual stress about my law school loan teetering on default and possibly ruining my credit record was already enough to make me edgy. In the normal scheme of things, a defaulted student loan would be inconvenient, but not the end of the world.

Except in my business, it would mean the end of my career.

Annual financial background checks are routine in the sports representation business ever since the scandal decades ago where a certain superstar hockey player got taken by his agent.

Shaking it off, I reassert my positive energy. None of that will happen to me. I will get my bonus. Brody will kick ass at the commercial shoot tomorrow.

I aim a reassuring smile at Brody. “Let’s make it a priority to get you back to your room as early as possible to sleep.”

“I’m all for that. As soon as I can get this ring off my finger, I’ll sleep like the dead. I don’t like walking around in public with it on. Gives me the heebie-jeebies.”

Sabien laughs.

I don’t laugh with him.

Chapter Twelve

BRODY

Our SUV Limo pulls up to what I figure must be the back entrance of the Venetian to their expo center, past all kinds of signs shouting about the NHL All-Star Extravaganza. As soon as we get out, we’re escorted to an elevator that takes us down a ways to an underground tunnel which brings us directly to a lobby where a crowd of media is waiting for us.