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I take a deep breath and scrub a hand through ive her a sheepish s Well, not a thing We were serious Dated for four years when I ith the Oilers"

"I see," Gray says noncommittally

"She was taping my knee today and mentioned her dad retired, but didn't say why And, well, I sort of got the impressionwell, not soearly to save my life, and I was curious if you knehy"

"And she wouldn't tell you," Gray surmises

Wincing internally and with knowledge I' to hell for this little white lie, I say, "Wellthere wasn't et into it I was due back out on the ice, and she had to get back to work--"

"I'oing froer polite, "but that's probably a private matter that you should take up with Vale Or Dave, for that matter"

"So you do know the reason?" I push at her

"I do, but againnot es

I let out an exasperated breath, slide et her to just fucking tell ht back to Gray

"Look," she murmurs "Why don't you just talk to Dave yourself?"

Huh? Hadn't thought of that

"I don't have his--" I start to say, but Gray cuts me off

"Go back into the executive offices See ive you his phone nuive him a call," she says with a so, baby?"

"Yeah," he says as he leans in to open her car door As an afterthought, he says, "Hey, ether sometime this weekend? Me, Garrett, Alex, and Zack Get a beer or so?"

"Sure," I say with a grateful smile toward both of them "And thanks, Gray"

She nods and then I turn fro back into the arena

In just fiveDave on his cellphone

He answers on the second ring

"Umhey, Daveit's--"

"Hawke Therrien," he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice "How the hell are you?"

"I' lot "Saw Vale todaysaid you'd retired and just thought I'd give you a call to see how you're doing"

"Well, that'syour career You're a fucking star, boy Always knew you had it in you"

I can't help it The affection in his voicenot just for a boy he trained, but for the boy that becahter at one tio by

"Yeah, I appreciate that It's really good to hear your voice Nice to be able to catch up, even if it's fro overdue call"

"I get it," he says "You get busy and all that"

"Not much of an excuse, really," I say lamely

"Listen, why don't you come on by and let's visit a bit Vale's at her second job and it gets lonely sitting in this apartment all by myself"

I freeze in h?"

"Well, yeah Didn't Vale tell you?"

"No," I say quietly into the phone "No, she didn't"

Chapter 4