14. Wren

14

WREN

Blue's Words

Blog Entry #3:

Mr. Hockey is an asshole.

That is all.

T oday was a new day.

At least, I hoped it would be after the night I had argued with Mal. I knew he was an asshole, I just didn't realize how worse he'd gotten. Initially I was bombarded with an array of emotions when he stormed in on Trevor and I. I wasn't prepared for him.

And I wasn't prepared for all the emotions that came along with it.

"I don't know if I can do this," I admitted over the phone to Kate. Standing in a vacant corner of the Orchids' arena, I was contemplating Mal's words.

I don't want you here, Doe.

I wouldn't have believed him if it weren't for the use of that nickname.

He was being honest, despite how badly it had hurt. Tortured eyes and all, Mal truly wanted nothing to do with me.

And for some reason, it bothered me.

"The worst part's over, Wren. He knows you're there, now you just have to get on his good side and somehow convince him."

Rolling my eyes, it was easier said than done.

"There's no getting on his good side, trust me," I rumbled.

"That's not true. If anyone has the ability, it's you."

I laughed.

I might be the last person on earth who had a chance of getting on his good side.

"You're just saying that." I huffed, letting out a long breath of air that had been trapped inside my lungs. "Maybe he's right. Maybe I should just listen to him and leave. The man wants nothing to do with me, and if I'm being completely honest, he might just be a lost cause."

Maybe I'd be saving Greg and Shelia from more pain anyway. It was obvious he didn't want to face his past, and by being here, away from everyone, he could pretend it never existed.

Like Hayes never existed.

Like I never did.

"You only spoke once with him, Wren. Of course he had that reaction when he saw you; he never grieved properly and by seeing you, he's finally facing what he left behind all those years ago."

My eyes closed painfully.

I knew she was right, but of course I avoided the truth. To know that he didn't want any of us in his life, I could accept. But knowing that if I left, he'd never truly heal, I couldn't.

"He needs you, Wren," she whispered. "Hayes needs you."

My throat pulsated with a cry that never escaped. Instead, I let a single tear fall because the realization of it all hit me.

Hayes needs me to help him.

Greg and Shelia need me to help him.

For a moment, I couldn't find the words to say. Back and forth I went with convincing myself I could do this and finally, I reluctantly agreed.

"You're right," I mumbled.

"I know I'm right." She chuckled.

Eventually we had hung up and a few hours later, I found myself in the company of the Orchids' left winger, goalie, and captain. After taking a break from their practice, I asked if I could make some short videos of them for the team's TikTok and they all thankfully agreed.

All of them being tall and uniquely attractive, I tried my best to contain my nerves.

"So, what's your name again?" With my camera in hand, I peered up from the screen and caught the friendly smile of Vince, the Orchids' captain. When he took his helmet off, I was embarrassed to say I had trouble looking away.

He was beautiful.

Almost too beautiful with long mousy hair and a killer smile, but unfortunately, it did nothing for me.

"Wren," I answered politely.

I had just finished a short, get-to-know-me video with Kyle, and now I was ready for Vince.

"Do you mind if we stand over there?" I motioned my hand closer to the ice where a few other players were skating around, practicing drills. "It just looks like there's better light."

"Yeah, of course." He raked a hand through his damp hair, slicking back the strands that had fallen in his face.

Nodding, he followed me down to an open spot where I had him stand with his back to the glass.

"This okay?"

He was broad like Mal, but that was about as much as they had in common. To this day, I've never come across anyone that looked like him. He was built like a giant.

"Yea… Well, um, can you maybe take a few steps to the right?"

Once he did and I found that the lighting was better, I held up my camera.

"My hair look all right? I wasn't sure whether you would want it kept up or down." Vince chuckled while his grin radiated throughout the stadium.

"Oh, yeah, it looks fine like that."

My cheeks went hot.

I couldn't help it, though. I went from conversing with my eighty-year-old neighbor to now surrounded by alpha-type hockey men on the daily. As long as I was here, I didn't think I'd ever stop blushing.

"Okay, so are you ready?" I questioned. "I'm just going to ask you some basic questions like I did with Kyle. Nothing too crazy."

"Ready as I'll ever be."

My eyes caught a flash of a player zooming by behind Vince. They were gone before I could see who it was, so when I was ready and focused, I pressed record.

"Who do we have here with us today?"

"Vincent Kennedy the Third." He smiled into the camera. Already I knew this video would go viral.

"What position do you play?"

With another cocky-like grin, he answered. "Center."

"And what's your go-to meal before a game?"

His mouth twitched.

"Hmm, I'll have to go with a slice of pepperoni pizza and breadsticks from Al's Pizza."

Pizza sounded so good right now.

"Ever been there?" he asked, but in doing so, ruined the video.

Inwardly I sighed and tilted my head to the side in annoyance as I stopped the video.

"No, I have not."

He grinned.

"Well, if you're not busy…"

Before Vince could even finish what he was saying, a huge body collided into the glass behind him, causing Vince to jump at least two feet in the air.

"Jesus fuck!" he swore, causing an amused smile to lift on my face, but as my eyes drifted toward the glass, I was met with piercing eyes that were staring me down with an intensity that rocked me to my core.

"Villareal? What the fuck are you doing?" Vince shouted, but Mal barely acknowledged him. Instead he shook his head no in my direction as if he had heard what Vince was going to ask me.

It infuriated me thinking that this was how it was going to be. Him sabotaging every little second I spent with one of his teammates.

It didn't make sense for him to be so… possessive, but I didn't expect any less from Mal.

With one last heavy glance at me, he shot Vince a glare before darting off in the opposite direction on the ice, leaving both Vince and I more confused than ever.

"Why the fuck did he do that?"

Because he's an irrationally possessive, protective asshole, that's why.