Chapter 27

Jensen

I was on my way to the arena a few days later when my phone rang, and my sister’s name flashed on the screen.

“Hey,” I said as I answered.

“Jensen Bang.” Her tone was snippy but also laced with humor. “I have a bone to pick with you!”

“Oh, what now?” I pretended to complain. “What’d I do?”

“You have a girlfriend and I’m the last to know?”

“I wouldn’t say you’re the last to know,” I protested. “I mean, we just formalized it like, day before yesterday.”

“Uh huh. And I had to find out from Mom.”

“Well, what do you want to know?”

She snorted. “Everything?”

“I don’t think you want to know everything. I mean, the nipple clamps I just ordered?—”

“I’m going to strangle you!” she yelled, laughing.

“You said everything.”

“Dammit, Jensen.”

“Did Mom tell you who she is?”

“She did.” Her voice softened. “I remember when the accident happened. Is she okay? Mom says she’s gorgeous, but still in some pain.”

“Yeah. The pain comes and goes, but she’s amazing. Smart and beautiful and resilient.”

“And she loves video games.”

“She does.”

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

“I’ll be bringing her home to Minnesota this summer, for sure.” I paused. “What about you? Anything going on?”

“Ah, you know. Just work work work.”

“Whipping all their skating skills into shape?”

She was a skating coach at a Division One university in New York.

“Yup. And you’re next. You’re looking a little slow out there, big brother. We need to get you on the ice in the off-season.”

“Yes, coach.”

Annie had been an Olympic figure skater before an injury ended her career, so there was a reason she’d become a skating coach. She’d helped me more than once over the years.

“Team’s struggling this season, huh?” Her tone softened. “I’ve been watching and you guys really look tired.”

“Tell me about it. The locker room is a disaster, and morale is non-existent. Coach has lost control, but the powers that be refuse to acknowledge it. It’s a tough situation.”

“You considering asking for a trade?”

“Not yet. We just got the news that the new owner won the court case, so she’ll be taking over at some point. I don’t think she can do a worse job than the current management team, so I’m going to wait it out. Especially now that I have Bailey. I don’t want to get traded if I don’t have to. We’re still pretty new, so I don’t know how she’d react to me asking her to move.”

“Mom said she’s not working in Hollywood anymore, so why wouldn’t she? Make sure she’s all in, Jensen. Before you fall for her. This is part of the life if you’re dating a professional athlete.” My sister tended to be the voice of reason when it came to relationships. At least, when it came to her brothers. She was less forthcoming about her own life. It probably wasn’t prudent to bring that up, though.

“I know, sis. I know. That’s why I’m not actively seeking a trade. We need a little more time together before we get to that point.”

She muttered something under her breath.

“I’m good, Annie. Really. You’re going to like her. You’ll see.”

“You Jake, and King are giving Mom a Cupid complex. You know that, right?”

I laughed. “I already knew Bailey. Mom just came along to chaperone our first date since we were both a little nervous about meeting someone we’d found online.”

“Are you happy?” she asked bluntly.

“Very.”

“Then I am too. And I can’t wait to meet her. Anyway, I have to run. I’ll be watching tonight!”

“Love you, sis.”

“Love you too!”

She disconnected, and I smiled.

I couldn’t imagine a world without my big, crazy family.

And I could only hope Bailey would come to love and appreciate them too.

It was hard to concentrate on hockey, knowing Bailey was in the arena.

Mostly, I was worried.

Worried she was okay.

Worried someone would recognize her and she would panic.

Worried she’d leave before coming back to the lounge after the game.

Worried she wouldn’t like my friends or they wouldn’t like her.

I knew it was ridiculous, but she’d sounded nervous when I’d spoken to her earlier, and Manny and Lucia hadn’t been available to come with her.

“So, are we finally going to meet Bailey?” Ivan asked me as we changed into our street clothes after we’d showered.

“She’s here,” I said, nodding.

“Maybe she can be our good luck charm now,” he quipped after the game.

We’d gotten our first shutout of the season, beating the team from Edmonton 4-0.

“I don’t know that she’ll be at every game,” I hedged, “but let’s not jinx anything.” I grabbed my bag, ducking away from the press, and headed for the lounge. Part of me was afraid she wouldn’t be there, that she’d left without saying anything, but I saw her the moment I turned the corner. She was talking to one of my teammates’ wives, a petite blond named Sherry, and they seemed to be having a good time.

“Hey, babe.” I leaned over to kiss her, and she looked up with a smile.

“Hi. Great game.”

“You brought us luck.”

“Someone needed to,” Sherry said, rolling her eyes.

Ivan only waited a few seconds before coming over and joining us.

“I am Ivan Rochenko,” he said in his faintly accented voice.

“I’m Bailey.” She shook his hand politely. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“All wonderful things, yes?”

She laughed. “Absolutely.”

“You look so familiar,” Sherry mused. “I swear I know you from somewhere.”

Bailey’s cheeks turned pink. “I don’t know,” she murmured. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

Ivan’s eyes widened slightly, but luckily, he kept his mouth shut.

The room had started to fill up with the rest of the team, so it began to get loud, and Sherry was distracted by her husband’s arrival.

“You ready to get out of here?” I asked Bailey.

“I’m fine,” she said. “I’m having fun.”

I clapped my hand over my heart in a playful and dramatic motion. “Really? You’re out of the house and enjoying yourself?”

“You hush!” She pretended to swing one of her crutches at me.

“We should go out,” Ivan suggested. “Margaritas and tacos?”

“I could eat,” I admitted.

Bailey looked hesitant but she didn’t say no, which was a good sign.

“Where are we going, Big Bang?” Sherry’s husband, Marty Nadeau, asked me.

“We were thinking tacos and margaritas,” I replied.

“So, Pepe’s?” he asked.

“Oh, the food is good,” Bailey said. “I haven’t been there in a long time but I used to go a lot.”

“You sure you’re up for it?” I asked her. “How’s the hip?”

“Did you tweak your hip?” Marty interjected. “That’s always painful. Make sure you alternate heat and ice. Trust me on this. I am the king of bad hips, and it’s a life saver.”

“We use this stuff called Devil Paste,” Sherry said. “It’s truly magical. Give me your number and I’ll send you the link. It’s made such a difference for Marty.”

“Oh, I, uh—” It was obvious to me that Bailey was fumbling for an excuse not to give out her number but before I could step in and deflect, Tim and Eddie Barrowman approached us.

“We are honored to have a true celebrity among us tonight,” Tim said, extending his hand to Bailey. “Timothy Barrowman.”

Bailey froze and I instinctively moved closer to her.

“Are you here with Big Bang?” Eddie asked, grinning at me. “Why didn’t you tell us you were dating Bailey Walker?”

“Bailey Walker!” Sherry threw up her hands. “Of course. How could I not realize it was you?”

“Look at you!” Tim clapped me on the back like we were buddies or something and it took a lot of self-control not to throat-punch him.

I desperately wanted to do something to get Bailey out of here, but things were moving faster than I could intervene.

“We’re still new,” I said, when I realized they were all looking at me. “Tonight’s her first time at a game.”

“Well, it’s the perfect opportunity to invite you to our charity fundraiser next week. It’s for the new children’s hospital in Burbank. Having you on the guest list will totally increase ticket sales.”

“My name isn’t really a draw anymore,” she said quietly. “And I don’t want to take attention away from the children.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m getting on the phone with the event coordinator right now.” Tim hurried away, phone at his ear, and Bailey stared at me with wide, panicked eyes.

“Oh, we’ll need to get tickets,” Sherry said to her husband, who nodded.

“It’ll be great,” another player named Evan Laurenz added. “By the way, hi. I’m Evan.” He held out his hand to Bailey.

Fuck.

This was a nightmare.

To her credit, Bailey seemed to realize that there was no way out of this, so the panic in her eyes morphed into a bright, warm smile. As if she wasn’t completely freaking out. I could tell by the nervous way she dug her fingers into the fabric of my slacks, but everything else about her appeared calm and relaxed.

No wonder she’d been such a successful actress.

“Bailey needs to sit down,” I said firmly, after everyone had asked her a billion questions that she fielded expertly. “And guys, it would mean a lot to us if you could respect our privacy. The relationship is new, so we don’t need the whole world up in our business. Please.”

“I don’t think you’ll be able to keep it under wraps long,” Sherry murmured, glancing toward the door. “There’s press out in the hallway.”

“I can distract them.” Ivan winked at me as he headed out into the hall, and we could hear him calling out to a member of the press corps we all knew.

“Time to go?” I asked Bailey.

She nodded. “Yes. Thanks.”

“It was nice to meet you, Bailey.” Sherry smiled at her. “I hope to see you again. Big Bang is a good guy.”

Bailey gazed up at me, something soft and vulnerable in her eyes. “Yes, he is. And thanks, Sherry. It was nice to meet you too.”

I honestly hoped she meant it.

About both Sherry and me.