Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 97382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Hell, even I know it’s needed.
Louis sits on the counter, watching the drama unfold. Unlike me, Louis has his life together. He’s playing hockey for the Bullies, while studying physical education because when he’s done in the NHL, he wants to be a PE teacher. We’ll go into the draft together, but he’ll go before me. He hasn’t wasted anyone’s time and is ahead of the game.
Hell, in all aspects of life.
His boyfriend, Jennings, leans against the counter, watching everything go down as he snacks on some chips from the bag Louis holds. They’ve been together since the summer before high school, and I couldn’t think of a better guy for my brother. He’s kind, loving, and very supportive of Louis. He’s a music major and met Louis through Avery’s program when Louis was up at their place for hockey. Louis came out a week after meeting Jennings and hasn’t left his side since.
Must be nice to have it all figured out.
I shift my gaze back to my dad and take in his weathered face, the fear and concern in his eyes. He only wants what’s best for me, and all I want is to make him proud. It’s so frustrating because I want to be sure about my decision. This will be my sixth year in college doing dual sports. I should know what I want. Why does it feel like my heart is being ripped in half by the two sports I love? If I’m honest with myself, I’m a better hockey player than I am a quarterback. Is it pride? Do I want the championship so badly that I’ll risk my chance to go pro in the NHL?
Do I even want to go pro?
Yes.
Right?
Fuck, what am I doing?
I let out a long breath as I look between the three men in front of me. I want to be everything they see in me, but what if I’m not? What if the NHL or, hell, the NFL isn’t what I’m supposed to do?
But that doesn’t feel right either.
My gaze falls to where Louis is watching me. He gives me a small smile, one that says he’s here for me just as I’ve always been there for him. I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what he went through, but I can’t help anyone if I don’t help myself. If I don’t figure out what I want for myself.
Jesus, why is this so hard?
Being an adult is trash.
With a gravelly voice, I promise, “I’ll be careful, and Coach knows I want to go pro for hockey, so he’ll take it easy on me.”
But even as the words leave my mouth, they don’t feel right.
Nothing does.
And I think everyone in the room knows it.
CHAPTER
TWO
Ambrosia
The Rowe Report: Episode 1001: Taking Shots with the Adlers.
Ambrosia Mercer: Man, do I have a treat for you! You know him as the league’s best defender of his time. He is a six-time Stanley Cup champ. He was the greatest captain of the Nashville Assassins during his long career of 1,922 games. He is a four-time Norris Trophy winner and has won the gold for Team USA twice in his career. He is a nine-time NHL All-Star, winning the hardest shot for each appearance. He has fourteen postseason appearances and is known for his elite skating, vision, and offensive dominance from the blue line. Plus, he was just inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Listen, everyone loves him, little boys and grown-ass men want to be him, especially when they get a look at his stunning wife.
Elli Adler: I am stunning.
Shea Adler: Utter perfection in my eyes.
Ambrosia Mercer: UGH! Swoon! Y’all, come on, he is Shea Adler. Cue the applause.
Shea Adler: Wow, what an opening.
Elli Adler: My favorite is the applause.
Ambrosia Mercer: I made it myself, but I’m not done.
Elli Adler: Ooh, what’s next?
Ambrosia Mercer: You may know Shea Adler, and his name demands respect, but y’all, let me tell you about Elli Adler.
Shea Adler chuckles, as Elli Adler squeals.
Ambrosia Mercer: Mrs. Elli Adler took over ownership of her beloved Nashville Assassins at the young age of twenty-eight. The Assassins have soared under her leadership, winning eight Cups, and the Luther Arena has been voted best arena in the US fourteen times now. She is known for her gracious heart and motherly love for her players. She started the Elli and Shea Fund, which not only gives hockey equipment to low-income kids, but is now responsible for starting hockey programs in state-run schools. With her help and her guidance, out of the nineteen hundred middle and high schools throughout Tennessee, 1,002 now have thriving hockey programs. While she is done raising her children, who are all huge names in the hockey world, she is still a billet mom for kids wanting to play in the USA. Her heels are as high as her ambitions, she owns the heart of Shea Adler, she is Elli Adler.