Rocket had nowhere to go. He stood on the edge of a cliff, the ground beneath his heels crumbling. Suddenly two hands hit his chest, sending him flying backward. Rocket plunged into the abyss below, his fingers clawing at the air, his arms waving desperately. Above, he could see Connor on the edge, laughing and holding a huge boulder. Connor threw the boulder after Rocket, who kept falling faster and faster. But the boulder was faster still.
Rocket looked over his shoulder. He was about to hit the ground. When he turned back, the boulder was there. It—
“Bryan! Breakfast is ready.”
Rocket sat up with a start. He was in a strange bedroom. Why?
Devin peered in. “My mom wanted me to wake you up. We’re eating.”
The beanbag fell off the bed onto the floor. An incredible feeling of relief washed over Rocket. No Connor. No boulder. “Devin, you saved my life. I was falling to my death in a canyon, and a huge boulder was about to crush me. One more second and I was a goner.”
Devin gave him an odd look. “I’ve read that stress and anxiety can affect our dreams,” he said. “The falling dream is common for people who are facing a lot of stress and feel like things are out of their control. Maybe there’s a connection between your dream and this being the last day of training camp?”
“Um, maybe,” Rocket said.
“Anyway, you should probably get going. Dad says we’re leaving soon.”
“No problem. I’ll hustle.”
Devin left. Rocket hopped out of bed and raced to the shower.
Devin was right. Rocket was totally nervous about today. Last day of training camp — D-Day. The coaches were making cuts to get down to twenty-eight players for the exhibition season.
Rocket showered quickly and towelled off. He knew worrying wouldn’t help; he just didn’t know how to stop. What if he didn’t make the cut? Would they keep him as a reserve player in case they wanted to call him up later? Could he still get on a Junior A team for this season? And if he did make it, then what about his mom and Maddy? They’d be stuck in that neighbourhood for the next few years, and Maddy would have to watch out for Connor and the Brigade on her own. But if he didn’t make it, he’d never get his family out of there …
That boulder felt real enough right now — the stress was beyond intense.
His worries still racing through his head, Rocket got dressed and went upstairs.
Strohler was at the table with Kimberly and Devin, the receiver in his ear glowing blue.
“We can’t stop an NHL team from drafting Aaron,” Strohler was saying. “To a certain extent it depends on the luck of the draw. If Aaron goes number one, and I think he will, then whoever wins the lottery will take him. But that’s where I can help. I’ll get him the best contract and set up tons of endorsements. In a year or two, you’ll all be set for life.”
Rocket sat next to Devin.
“Yes, Chris, you’re totally right,” Strohler said, rolling his eyes. “That’s why we need to get him an offer sheet when he’s an RFA …”
“What’s he saying?” Kimberly said to Devin. She handed him a plate of eggs, bacon and toast.
“He’s talking to Cash’s dad about the NHL draft,” he said.
Strohler pushed his empty glass toward Kimberly and tapped his earpiece. “I swear I’m going to kill that guy. He calls me ten times a day with questions — and then never shuts up. Brutal. Life’s really fair. He knows nothing about hockey. He’s as dumb as a bag of hammers, and this idiot’s kid is going to make millions of dollars. Go figure. My kid can’t even skate.”
Devin adjusted his headphones.
Strohler shoved his glass closer to Kimberly who was pouring the boys juice. “Am I invisible? Some OJ?”
She pushed the carton to him. He grunted and poured it himself.
“What happened to Cash last night?” Strohler said to Rocket. “Why didn’t he come over?”
“Yeah, sorry. He said he had something … something to do with his parents, I think,” Rocket said.
That was a stupid thing to say. What if Strohler asked? Too late now.
“Doesn’t matter,” Strohler said. “I came up with a better plan, sheer genius. I invited the team over for a party tonight — the guys that make it, of course, with parents and billets. That’ll get Gold on my side, and he’s in tight with Cash’s parents. The boys will go swimming and hit the hot tub. I might even score another client or two while I’m at it.”
Kimberly put her coffee mug down. “Was I going to be told about this?”
“Relax. Had to make an executive decision. I need more time with Chris and Dawn. I’m so close, I can taste it. Seriously. This party will put me over the top.”
He pointed his fork at Devin. “Get me every piece of information on Jamie Gold you can find. I mean everything. I want to know when that idiot was toilet trained. I’m serious, Devin, and do it right this time.” He put his fork down. “I still can’t believe Gold made the NHL. I was three times the player he was — no wait, four times — and five times tougher. We even had a fight, I think, back in Junior A. I totally whipped his butt. The guy was useless. Ridiculous I didn’t get called up. Then that stupid suspension … I should’ve sued the league.”
“That was so many years ago,” Kimberly said.
“Not for me,” Strohler said. “I’ll show them who Carl Strohler is when I’m the biggest hockey agent on the planet. You wait. It starts with OHL players. Soon I’ll have a bunch of NHLers on my roster. Then I’ll expand to Europe and Russia. I predict Russian players are going to make a huge comeback in the NHL, and I’m going to cash in on it.”
As Strohler went on about the money he would make, a new worry popped into Rocket’s head. What if he got cut today? He couldn’t be here for the party. It would be a total humiliation. His appetite disappeared.
“Would you like more juice?” Kimberly asked Rocket and Devin.
They held out their glasses.
“I’ve taken care of everything for tonight,” Strohler was saying. “The caterer should be here to set up the food by five, and I told Gold to have the team come for seven. You just need to make sure the house is in order.”
“I’ll be at work until six today,” Kimberly said.
“I think you can close your clothing store a couple hours early,” Strohler said. “This is important.”
“So is my store. Since you quit working for my father, I’m the only one earning money.”
Strohler snorted. “I sign Cash, and the money you make from that store will be petty cash. Don’t you worry about that. This is my chance. They cheated me out of millions as a player, but they can’t stop me now. I’m on my way up, and no one’s stopping me.” He stuffed half a fried egg into his mouth.
“Can you do me a favour?” Strohler said to Kimberly, still chewing. “Buy some Diet Coke for the party. Apparently, that’s all Chris drinks, and he drinks it by the bucket. He’s like an addict. Get ten bottles.”
Strohler reached for the orange juice. “So tell me, Bryan, you got any feel for what Cash is thinking on the agent front?”
The daily question.
“I think he’s real close to making a decision,” Rocket said.
Not true, but he figured that would satisfy him.
“He must’ve said something more specific.”
“We usually talk hockey — strategy, the lines and plays …”
“Here’s what you got to do,” Strohler cut in. He didn’t say it like Rocket had a choice. “Tell Cash he’d be stupid not to sign with me. Tell him that I have all the contacts, that I understand tax law, contracts and marketing and that he’ll make tons of money with me. Build me up. Okay?”
“I’ll try.”
Strohler suddenly stood up. “We leave in seven minutes. Be ready.” He tapped his earpiece. “Strohler, talk to me,” he said, and he went to the hallway to take the call.
“So what’s on for today?” Kimberly asked Devin.
Devin glanced into the hallway. “I think we’re watching the tryout,” he said.
“Maybe tonight, at the party, you can show the boys some of your games?” she said. “That might be fun.”
“I doubt it,” Devin said, looking down at the table. He seemed even less happy about the party than Rocket and Kimberly.
“The guys would love to play,” Rocket said, hoping to cheer Devin up. “They game all the time. They’ll be into it.”
Devin just shrugged.
Strohler popped his head in. “I want to get there a little early,” he said. “Devin, can you hurry for once in your life? You’re still in your pajamas. You going to a sleepover or a hockey rink? Come on.”
Suddenly, Devin’s head was bobbing up and down to a beat Rocket couldn’t hear.
Strohler threw his hands in the air. “That kid is deaf, I tell you. I’m going to throw those stupid headphones out. He never hears a word I say. Kimberly, can you get him ready?”
Devin got up and walked out.
Strohler slapped his Bluetooth receiver on. “Strohler, talk to me. Yeah. I’m looking at signing three potential first-rounders. Prepare the contracts like I told you, and we can change them if we need to …”
“Good luck today,” Kimberly said to Rocket.
“Thanks,” Rocket said, “and thanks for breakfast. That was great. I’ll just brush my teeth, and I’ll be ready.”
Rocket went to the stairs. He heard a sound to his right and looked down the hall. Devin was standing against the wall, his arms crossed. Rocket looked over his shoulder. Strohler had gone back into the kitchen.
Rocket headed over. He could understand why a guy like Devin might not want to hang out with a bunch of guys like Cash, Hoffer and Gruny.
“Hey, Devin. Don’t worry about the party,” Rocket said. “It won’t be a big deal. Like I said, most of the guys will game, or they’ll be all over the swimming pool.”
Devin just looked at him.
Rocket tried again. “Or, maybe you could hang at a friend’s house tonight? Clear out until the guys are gone?”
“Friends? Yeah, maybe. Doesn’t matter,” Devin muttered.
Rocket wasn’t making any headway, and he needed to get ready.
“Okay. Well. just an idea. See you in a sec.”
He headed back down the hall.
“I have you at sixty-seven percent to make the team,” Devin called out to him. “You need to have a big scrimmage today.”
Rocket turned back. “Thanks. I plan to.”
“Hurry up!” Strohler yelled.
Rocket raced downstairs to the bathroom.
This had to be the best hockey day of his life. Every pass perfect. Every check hard. Every shot delivered.
Sixty-seven was a high number — but it wasn’t a hundred!