Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Rhonda

Rhonda pulled into the parking lot of the Ice Centre, the moonlight glinting off the man-made plowed snowbanks that lined the edges. It was mid-December, the kind of cold that bit through your coat and made you wish for the warmth of a fire and a hot drink. She stepped out of her car, her breath puffing out in clouds, and pulled her scarf tighter around her neck.

Tonight, she wasn't there for practice but for the annual white elephant party. It was a tradition, one that felt especially poignant this year. In so many ways, her life had shifted, and Rhonda was beginning to feel more settled in herself than she ever had before. Every routine moment seemed brand new.

Things with Jordan hadn’t been perfect since Lethbridge, but that almost made it more so. If something happened and she tightened up, didn’t talk to him for a couple of days, he was right there when she was ready. She had gone to the tire shop, but she wouldn’t let him pay for even a snack in the vending machine. She did, however, allow him to buy her dinner. Twice.

Since Sunday, they’d been texting and calling every day, but she’d shown up early for this white elephant party for one reason and one reason only.

Rhonda scanned the parking lot. No truck. She thought about waiting in the parking lot, but Kelty had just pulled in and spotted her. She waved, and Rhonda joined her to walk into the lobby where they were meeting everyone after practice.

"Hey, you two!" Emma called out and ran toward them. Apparently everyone was early. "I'm so glad you could make it."

Rhonda gave her a hug. “You promised there'd be rum and eggnog."

Emma laughed, and when Rhonda looked over her shoulder, the prompt attendance suddenly made sense. Delia Melise was standing next to Jack, who was in an animated discussion with Fly. Rhonda had only met Fly once. Used to be the captain of the Snowballs before Sean.

Jenna ran up and yanked her attention from the celebrities. “I have to talk to you.” She pulled her away from the group.

“I thought Delia was still on tour?” Rhonda hissed.

Jenna nodded. “She is. They just flew in for today, and then I think Jack has a game in Oregon or something. She’s heading out to New York.” She stopped next to the windows and whirled, her eyes gleaming.

“Jenna—”

“We have a baby.”

Rhonda’s heart dropped into her pelvis. “What?”

“She’s sixteen months?—”

“Fostering?”

Jenna shook her head, her eyes glassy. “Adoption. We finalize the paperwork Monday.”

“What?” Rhonda shrieked, and Jenna motioned for her to keep her voice down.

“I know! Thankfully I already had the nursery set up from the last time?—”

“When? When do you get her?”

Jenna shook out her hands. “Christmas Eve.”

Rhonda pulled Jenna into a hug so tight, she might’ve bruised her ribs. “I’m so happy for you.” Jenna squeezed tighter, and as Rhonda pulled back, she caught movement at the other end of the lobby. The doors opened. Jenna stepped back, and Rhonda’s already racing heart kicked up another notch.

Jordan was the first of his teammates to step through the door, his dark hair curling out from under his backwards baseball cap. He laughed at something one of his teammates said. Not Chubs or Cam. Those were the only two she knew.

Jordan strode across the lobby with his bag slung over his shoulder. The muscles in his arms flexed with each step, and she wanted to scold him for only wearing a T-shirt.

Until he looked up.

He did a double take and his steps slowed for the briefest of seconds. Then he dropped his eyes and kept walking toward the stairs. She turned her head and saw the Snowballs ascending, fresh from the showers. Country and Ryan led the pack with Tyler and Sean close behind.

Rhonda's pulse rushed in her ears. This had happened once before. Back then, the idea of the Snowballs seeing her with Jordan felt like a death sentence. But now? She was going to have to tell them at some point because quitting Jordan wasn’t an option.

Her heart fluttered like a moth around a porchlight as she put a hand on Jenna’s shoulder. “Hold this? I promise I’ll explain.” Jenna gave her a puzzled look as Rhonda handed her the gift she’d been holding. Rhonda jogged forward, bolting faster across the lobby until she could reach out for Jordan’s hand.

He turned in surprise, and she threw her arms around his neck and his bag slipped from his arm, nearly knocking her sideways. He quickly dropped it as she pulled his lips down to hers.

And then she was floating. The warmth of his skin. The familiar scent of his cologne. The softness of his lips, and the rough stubble on his jaw.

A shockwave ripped through her as his hands pressed into her lower back. His mouth was minty, his tongue cool as he flicked it over her lips.

Then he tensed, and the reality of where they were and who was standing in the lobby rushed back in. She hadn’t asked him. She’d only been thinking about herself—about how she was okay giving away their secret. She hadn’t even thought to find out if he was.

Rhonda pulled back, her lips tingling. “I’m sorry. I?—”

Jordan kissed her again, drawing the breath from her lungs. When she pulled back a second time, he watched her, his eyes dark and hooded. She ran her fingernails over his chin.

“You know what this means?” He asked, his voice low and rough.

Her lips twitched as she nodded. “I know exactly what this means."

Jordan’s eyes seemed to liquify. "I didn’t know you’d be here.”

“I wanted to surprise you. Preferably in the parking lot.” She shrugged, her cheeks starting to flush. “Have a good practice?”

Jordan reluctantly let go of her and picked up his bag. “Not sure I’ll be able to focus, but I’ll try.” He winked, then walked on toward the stares.

Rhonda watched him go, then turned to find every pair of eyes in the lobby trained on her. Her confidence from seconds before waned, so she did what she’d done so well for thirty years of her life and pretended nothing happened. She slapped on a smile and walked back to Jenna, plucking her gift from her friend’s hand.

Jenna gaped at her. “Ummm . . . “

“Later.” Rhonda linked her arm in Jenna’s and started toward the exit.

They walked across the street to One Place and found a central table to sit at. The whole pub had been booked out for them, so there wouldn’t be any real competition, but she still wanted a good view of the gift opening.

The others filtered in, and Rhonda busied herself with bringing over pitchers of beer and plates and napkins for the pizza that was about to come out of the brick oven. Jenna watched her like a hawk, but once Country and the other guys were there, they didn’t have a moment to hash this out alone. And it was going to take a good hashing.

They piled the gifts on a table in the corner and all drew a number out of Darcy’s hat. He got the first pick, which was arguably the worst, so nobody accused him of cheating.

Darcy chose a purple bedazzled bag, then sat back on his stool and pulled out the tissue paper. He reached in and pulled out a large rubber phallus, purple and sparkly, with a suction cup base.

Laughter erupted around the table.

Tyler raised his voice. “Okay, who raided Brett’s bathroom.”

Brett flipped him the bird.

Number two, Curtis’s wife Sasha picked a medium sized box. Inside she found a pillow with the words “Open for Sex” on one side and “Don’t Ask” on the other. She clutched it to her chest, kicking her feet with glee.

The pillow got stolen almost immediately. Darcy changed his grip on the dildo every round in the hopes of making it look more appealing to the masses.

Rhonda just about died when Anne opened up a pair of boxer briefs with the words “I licked it so it’s mine” across the front, and then all laughter died when Fly opened up a set of custom shot glasses decorated with the Pucks Deep logo.

Tina’s eyes shot to hers. Rhonda waved it off. It didn’t need to be a big deal and?—

“I think Rhonda needs those,” Darcy quipped.

Rhonda’s blood turned to ice. “Excuse me?”

He held out his hands. “Not like it’s a secret anymore. Everyone saw your tongue down his throat.”

Anne cleared her throat. “Okay?—”

“No.” Rhonda drew a deep breath and grinned. “I can take a joke. Better than Darcy can take purple sparkles.”

The group erupted, and she poured herself another beer. But then Sean spoke up from the end of the table. "I just hope you’re being careful."

Rhonda's jaw clenched. She exhaled and counted to three to make sure she wasn’t going to rip him a new one, then stood and held up a hand. "Alright, let’s just get this over with.”

Everyone quieted.

This was not how she’d intended to rip off the Band-Aid, but here went nothing. "First of all, I love you all. You know that, right?" She waited for nods. “And I know you all probably think I'm certifiably insane to be seeing Jordan." She paused, looking around the table. "You all think Pucks Deep players are a bunch of assholes and you hate Jordan?”

“We don’t hate—” Suraj started, then stopped when he saw Rhonda’s eyes flashing.

She pointed at Sean. “You hated Tyler at first. When he started dating Emma.” Then she pointed at Jenna. “You hated Country. For like, a minute before you remembered you had a lady boner for him for thirteen years.”

Country snorted, and Tyler looked a little smug.

“All I’m saying,” Rhonda continued, “is that when you get to know someone, they’re usually pretty great.” She sat back on her stool and held up her slip of paper with the number nine. “Jordan’s great. I was into him before I ever knew he was on Pucks Deep, and I almost didn’t do anything about it because he was. He’s my boyfriend. Get over it and hand me those damn shot glasses.”