Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

W e won the game, thank fuck.

I showered after and put my suit back on and ditched the deodorizers. Owen wasn’t going to be at the event and, to be completely honest, I’m getting tired of wearing them. I have to deal with him being my coach. He can deal with me being myself. I’m not even sure why I’ve been such a stickler about wearing them. I guess I thought I was being considerate to Owen disliking my scent. We’re slowly getting closer, maybe I can really be myself from here on out. Not to mention we’ve been on a winning streak.

Nothing would have been worse to have lost and then have to moderate this fundraising event for Phillip.

He’s a good guy and apparently doing better according to his wife and the head of marketing, Liz.

“This was seriously so kind,” Phillip says as I shake his hand.

“It was Sloane’s idea, but I’m happy to help in any way that I can.”

“We appreciate it. Things are looking better; it’s just the bills have been a lot,” Liz says shyly.

Sloane is panning around the room. We’re on a live feed where fans can donate through a link, not to mention the in-person donors at the event who are donating, myself included.

Most of the team is here, including Bram who follows Sloane with his eyes like some sort of predator.

Ethan is dressed up as Finnegan the Fox as he takes pictures with fans and does some general goofing around.

I’m not sure if I fucked up with him the night we moved his dad’s couch, or maybe something is just wrong with me? Maybe I’m the reason why I can’t hold friendships down because it feels like Ethan and Sloane have been slowly keeping their distance.

I suppose I can’t blame them.

But no matter the internal pity party I’m having, I’m not going to slip up. Not even as a very tall, pretty brunette approaches me with a smile.

“Max Connery, right? You played amazing tonight,” she says, a champagne flute perched between her manicured fingernails.

She’s a Beta as far as I can tell, and a year ago I’d be putting the moves on her like no other in an effort to bring her back to my place.

Even though she’s pretty, and seemingly kind, I find it’s not what I’m looking for.

“Thank you. And thank you for coming out tonight to support Liz and Phillip,” I say.

“It’s so great what you’re doing here. Caring for employees outside the team. I really respect what the Foxes have built in New Haven.”

Suddenly, a small redhead with a phone in her hand is in front of me, giving what seems to be a forced smile to the brunette next to me.

“Mind if I steal Max for a minute? We have some fan questions,” Sloane asks, and the woman nods her agreement as Sloane grabs my wrist and drags me to a quieter corner.

“Who was that?” she asks.

I point down at her phone, and she shrugs.

“It’s on mute for a moment. Sorry. We should answer some of these questions. Are you ready?”

“Did I do something to piss you off?” I ask her, and her cheeks redden.

I’m not sure why she’s feeling embarrassed at the simple question.

“It’s a little complicated,” she says. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Max.”

“It feels like I did,” I reply, hating the vulnerability slipping off my tongue.

She takes a step closer to me, and she stills, her eyes going wide as she looks up at me in shock. It looks like she’s about to cry as she rubs the side of her throat but says nothing.

I touch her shoulder. “Sloane, are you okay?”

She shakes her head, and her hand comes up to her face, covering her nose and throat.

“Excuse me. I’ll be right back,” she says as she scurries off to the bathroom.

I watch her leave and give her space. What the hell just happened?

Ethan is in his mascot costume, and I can barely hear him mumbling under the head.

“What?” I ask, and he leans in even closer.

“What happened with Sloane?” he asks.

“I don’t know. We were talking, I was about to go on her live stream, and then she looked like she was going to be sick.”

“I’ll go check on her.”

“Dressed like that?”

“I’ll take the head off,” he says, and I shake my head with a light laugh.

“Me, you, and Sloane, we’re good, right?”

“Yeah, man. I’ll go talk to her,” he says.

I wish I could see his face or hear him better because it definitely doesn’t feel like the three of us are okay. Instead, I just nod, and the Beta wearing the massive fox head makes his way to the bathroom.

The water in my hands doesn’t feel strong enough as I watch Bram Nilsen approach me. Just what I fucking need. More shit from this asshole.

“If you’re coming over here to tell me to stay away from Sloane or how much you hate me, I really don’t want to hear it.”

“Where did she go?” he asks, and I glare at him.

“Probably somewhere to stop you from staring at her all night.”

“She wants my advances. She likes me. It might be hard for you to fathom because you don’t care about anyone but yourself,” Bram says.

I rear back.

“Man, what the fuck are you talking about?”

“It doesn’t matter. Where did Sloane go?”

“The bathroom,” I tell him, wanting him to get away from me.

As far as encounters go with him, this isn’t the worst but probably the most confusing. What does he mean I don’t care about anyone but myself?

I’d leave the event if it weren’t for needing to know Sloane’s okay. Plus, she still may want me to do something on the live stream.

I play it safe by taking a seat next to Ahonen.

“Good game tonight,” he says, and I nod in agreement.

“We keep playing like that, I don’t see why we wouldn’t make the playoffs.”

“Would be brutal not to after last year's big win.”

“Right,” I say, wondering if this is how Owen felt growing up.

I feel like I’m in my brother’s shadow, living up to his expectations, which are sky high.

When Coach Applegate takes the seat at our table, both of us straighten up as the man eyes us both.

He’s no bullshit, a little grumpy, and relatively intimidating.

“Have you seen my daughter?” he asks both of us.

“Think she was headed to the bathroom the last time I saw her,” I say, and Coach grunts.

“You two played well tonight. Keep it up and this season won’t be a wash like everyone expected it would be.”

“Of course, Coach.”

“And, Connery?”

“Yes, sir?” I respond, wanting to sink into the floor right about now.

“Stop letting your brother get in your head. You’re here because this team needs a strong goalie, and you’re it.”

“Sorry?” I say, more confused than apologetic.

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want you talking back to coaching staff or not taking his advice. But grow a fucking backbone,” Coach says before tapping on the table twice and standing up. “I’m headed home. If you see Sloane, let her know I left?”

I nod my head, and Ahonen glances over at me.

“Did Coach just tell you to stop being a pussy?” he asks, and I glance over at the overly nice Canadian, wondering if I’ve ever heard him say that word.

“Did you just say pussy?” I ask him, and he grins.

“I’m kind, but I’m not always a gentleman,” he says with a shrug as he leans back in his seat. “How much longer are we supposed to be here?”

“I’ve got no clue. Where the hell is Sloane?”