6. Nikoli

There isa buzz of anticipation as we take to the ice. The roaring cheers of the crowd fill the arena with energy and excitement. I glide effortlessly, feeling the adrenaline coursing through my veins. As I line up for the face-off, the intensity is palpable. I know where the cameras are, so I turn and focus on one. Anticipating that my grandmother and Willow will be watching the game on TV, I wink when I think the camera is pointed my way.

My position as a defenseman has me facing a medium-sized man for the opposition. The player will be fast and agile. I"ll have to be on my toes. I look across the ice at Rhodes, who blows me a kiss. The asshole. Bradford is in goal, already making obscene gestures to the fans, who are eating it up. Lake and Madden, the wingers, are ready. Dario stretches, then gets into position for the face-off.

The energy in the arena is palpable as the game begins, each player focused and ready to give their all. The puck drops. The sound of skates cutting through the ice fills the arena as we all race towards the puck. Adrenaline pumps through my veins. I feel the weight of the game on my shoulders as I take control of the puck and make a break for the net. The goalie approaches, ready to defend the goal with all his might, but I confidently fake left and skate right, preparing to take my shot and score. The second period was just as smooth as the first, with both teams playing strong defense. The score remains tied as the final minutes of the period wind down.

Going into the third period, we have a four-goal lead. We just need to maintain our lead to secure the win. I"m drenched in sweat at this point, so I lift up the front of my jersey and wipe the sweat off my face. As I drop the jersey, I notice that some of the female fans are staring at my stomach. I give them a mischievous grin before winking and getting my head back into the game. Just in time. Dario gains control of the puck and races down the ice, effortlessly weaving around opposing defenders. Madden gets into position, elbows his way around a defender, and prepares to receive the perfect pass from Dario. With a quick flick of his stick, Madden redirects the puck toward the goal, hoping to score the winning goal for our team. And he does!

The crowd goes wild.

The cheers and applause are deafening as our team celebrates a hard-fought victory on the ice. Dario and Madden give each other a triumphant high-five, knowing that they played a crucial role in securing the victory. The coaches smile proudly and accept handshakes from the opposing coaches.

With an adrenaline rush, I wish the game had been in Boston so I could celebrate with Gran and Willow. I shake my head to get rid of the thought. Gran will be asleep in bed soon, and Willow will be in her room.

The last place I want to go tonight is the team party.

* * *

Music playsin the room as I enter Wyatt Peters" private party. The big boss always tries to be at the games to support us. That"s why he"s respected. He"s one of the good guys. He takes care of the players like they"re people and not just money.

Some of the other team members already look loaded, while Rhodes and I are late arrivals. Lake used a headache as an excuse to miss this. I didn"t want to come. Neither did Rhodes. But here we are. There is a lot of wealth in the room. Potential sponsors and people who like to be part of something.

Before we have a drink in our hands, a well-dressed man in his fifties blocks our way to the bar. He holds out his hand. "Marcus Carter and my daughter Sarah." We shake hands and I nod to acknowledge his daughter.

"Nice to meet you both. Are you friends of the boss?" I ask.

"Who isn't," Carter chuckles. "Excellent game tonight."

"Thanks."

Rhodes grabs my elbow and says, "Excuse us," and steers me through the crowd. I don"t miss the anger on Carter"s face or his daughters" disbelief. "Trust me," Rhodes says. "Don"t get involved with Carter." Glancing behind us before meeting my gaze, he adds, "The man is not someone you want to know. His daughter is manipulative."

I frown. "Does this have something to do with your brothers?"

Rhodes snorts. "Even they won"t touch the guy. He"s pure evil. Rumor says he killed his brother. Nothing has been proven. I don"t know why he would be here."

"I need a beer."

Rhodes snorts and gets us both a drink. "I wish we"d gone straight home."

"You used to like the away games."

"That was before I found Rosie."

I roll my eyes. "She found you, remember?"

He grins. "How could I forget."

I shut up and drink the beer, watching my friends and teammates mingle with the party girls. Some of the guys don"t even look at the girls. I don"t really. I"m still trying to process the fact that I"m not really interested in a quick fuck. I frown and rub my forehead. Willow has got me all tied up. The woman has certainly ruined my sex life.

"What"s it like?" I ask Rhodes. Seeing the confusion on his face, I explain, "Having someone there when you get home? Just having someone to call your own, you know what I mean?" Embarrassed, I feel heat along my cheekbones.

Rhodes doesn"t chuckle or say anything stupid. Instead, he says, "Knowing I"ll see Rosie at home is a wonderful feeling. I miss her when we"re on the road. I didn"t even think it was possible to be happy with all the shit that"s been thrown at me. Rosie too. Her brother is a waste of space. But Rosie," he smiles softly, "she"s like a breath of fresh air." He pauses, searching my face. "If you"re so distracted by Willow, I think it"s time you asked her out, don"t you?"

"She"s twitchy. I think maybe she"s had a bad experience with a guy in the past. I don"t want to rush her." No way am I going to admit to the coffee date we have planned.

"Jesus, Nikoli, you"ve been mooning over this woman for ages. Be a man and ask her out for coffee. Go feed the ducks on Boston Common. It doesn"t have to be dinner at some fancy restaurant." He gives me a disgusted look. "What"s wrong with you?"

"She's important, okay. I don"t want to mess it up."

"There"s nothing to fuck up if you don"t even talk to her."

"I"m talking to her."

He laughs. "When your beautiful grandmother is there." He looks at me. "Speaking of which, how is Martha?"

"She"s fine at the moment. Still ogling the team."

Rhodes throws back his head and laughs. "Your grandmother is one of a kind. I"ll bring Rosie over and visit soon."

"She"d love that."

"Hopefully I"ll meet Willow too. See why you"re being a pussy by not asking her out."

"Shut the fuck up!"

His eyes become fixed on something or someone over my shoulder. I follow his gaze and find Carter"s daughter walking toward us. Her eyes on me.

Rhodes snorts. "I think she"s coming after you."

"Don"t fucking leave me," I hiss like a teenage girl.

"Man up!"

"Fuck you!" My eyes flick to Rhodes as I continue, "She reminds me of that woman in the Transformers movie. You know the one who tried to kick Witwicky"s ass in college in Revenge of the Fallen?" Rhodes gives me a confused look, while I plaster a fake smile on my face, and turn to the woman. "Hi, Sarah."

"Nikoli, is that Russian?" Sarah asks.

"No."

Rhodes chuckles into his beer bottle.

I give him a sideways glance, narrowing my eyes.

"Is that why it"s spelt wrong?"

"I"m out of here." Rhodes bumps into me as he passes. He gives me a grin from behind Sarah.

"That"s how it"s spelled on my birth certificate," I grumble, not wanting to explain the missing letter "a" in my name. I don"t see what the big deal is. Nikoli or Nikolai. Both names sound the same as they roll off the tongue. "Do you always go to business events with your father?" I ask, not really wanting to have a conversation with this girl. I don"t even think it"s because I"m distracted by Willow. There is something about Sarah that is, for lack of a better word, off.

"If I know there are going to be a lot of hot single guys, yeah." She moves closer.

I take a step back. "I"m not single."

"Your friend over there told me you are."

"Well, you"ve been misinformed." I force a wry smile, but from the look on her face, I"m guessing it"s more of a grimace. "I"ll be on my way. Nice to have met you." She"s not happy as I make my way through the partygoers.

I"m just happy to escape.