Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Jordy

Stretching my left hamstring, I stare at Wade, who is pulling on his protection gear in preparation for tonight’s game.

“Just fucking ask whatever it is you’re desperate to, Jordy,” he grumbles.

I grin. He’s a grouchy bastard at times.

Moving over to my right I stretch out my other hamstring. “So, how did the Kali thing come about then?” I ask, curiously.

Wade looks over his shoulder at me, avoiding eye contact, as if too shy to share his good news. I’ve never seen him like this before.

“The night you told me I looked at her as if she was already mine and I’d lose her if I didn’t make a move.”

I knew it.

A baritone of congratulations from everyone around the locker room makes Wade finally look up.

“Nice one.”

“Fucking happy for you, man.”

“It’s about damn time.”

“Thanks.” He blushes. Fucking blushes.

“You’re smitten.” I fuck with him a little.

“The man is in love, boys.” Spike, our team captain, starts whooping, while everyone else joins in, cheering because they are happy for Wade. We all are.

“So, when’s the wedding?” I ask above the celebratory shouting, hugs, and back slaps Wade’s receiving.

“I’m thinking the sooner the better. Next year?” he replies with a straight face.

“Holy shit. You’re serious?” I stand to my full height, shaking my legs out before I walk over to him.

He nods as if considering what he’s going to say next. “I fucking love her,” he admits, finally standing taller as if fueled by confidence. “She’s the one.”

I hold my hand out at the same time he does, and we give each other a bro handshake and one-armed hug.

“Can I be your best man?” I ask, slapping his shoulder twice before releasing his hand.

“Obviously. Along with Ezra and Myles.”

I knew he’d want to include his best friends. “The three amigos.”

“The three fuckwits, you mean.” He throws his head back laughing before he stops dead. “Fuck don’t let my plan slip. I’m going to ask her on Christmas Day.”

Eyes wide, I reply, “Holy shit, you’re like a real-life Casanova.”

“I just know she’s the one.”

“She’s beautiful, Wade. And extraordinary.” Perfect for him. I don’t tell him, but I never really liked his ex, Amelia. I always got the impression she never wanted to come to any of the games and wasn’t supportive of his career. She reminded me of Sienna in many ways. I didn’t see it then, but I do now.

“Cheers, Jordy.” Like he knows he’s hit the jackpot, he looks so fucking smug. “I don’t know what she sees in me.”

Spike jumps into the conversation. “You’re hung like a horse. That’s what she sees in you.”

Wade shoves him, making him wobble on his skates and everyone laughs. “Fucking dickhead,” Wade mutters under his breath.

“He’s not wrong,” I interject, messing around with him too. “It’s certainly not because of your sparkling personality or goal-scoring skills.” I grin, and he bursts out laughing again, which is refreshing because he’s been such a miserable bastard this past year.

“Prick,” he mutters, pulling his jersey over his head before he sits on the bench to finish getting ready.

I stomp my skates against the Eagles’ logoed carpet and jump up and down to get the blood pumping.

Pregame nerves make me feel jumpy and restless.

“I’m sorry to hear about what happened to Lola.” If I don’t say something it would be weird.

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to her at length,” Wade replies, tightening his laces. “I will tomorrow, but did she tell you anything last night when you showed up at the house?”

Fuck.

I give him the cliff notes version leaving out the fact she stayed with me. “Just how she caught Graham fucking his store manager, that he keeps calling her, and she was canceling the wedding.”

“Was she upset?”

“Devastated.” But I gave her multiple orgasms to make her feel better.

“I feel like shit that I wasn’t around last night, and she had to stay at a hotel.”

I keep my mouth shut.

She was safe. With me.

He adds, “She never said who helped her today to get her stuff over to my house, but that woman moves fast.”

“She’s nothing but efficient.” I nod in agreement.

Sucking my cock, while squeezing my balls, she figured out how to make me come in record time. I can confirm she is efficient and proficient in the art of giving head.

“It’ll be weird having her stay with me. Nice though.” Wade places his helmet on top of his head and then tugs it down, leaving the chin strap dangling open, unaware of my illicit memories of last night spent between the sheets with his assistant.

Jealousy drives my next question. “I’m guessing you’ll be staying at Kali’s, given she lives across the road.”

“Probably, yeah. But I don’t want to leave Lola alone for the next few nights. She could probably use a friend.”

Hell knows what excuse Lola will tell him if she’s coming over to my place tonight, but I can’t think about that now. I have a game to win and it won’t be an easy one.

I let out a loud yawn and do a shit job of covering it up.

“You tired already, old man?” Wade grins.

“Spent the night fuck… I mean, I…” I almost slip up.

Wade’s eyes bug out. “You spent the night with a girl? How did this happen?”

“No, that’s not what I was about to say.” I vehemently deny his question and change my story. “I was going to say, I spent the night fucking painting.” It’s a shitty cover up.

“You’re painting again? That’s great.” He’s the only person I told about my creative block, which I've found not only frustrating but has also made me question my talent.

“Yeah.” I don’t tell him I almost filled an entire sketchbook as well as starting a new canvas this afternoon, all thanks to his assistant.

“I should commission you to do one for Kali.” Wade picks up his hockey stick and inspects the tape.

“Any ideas what that would look like or do I have free reign?”

“I trust you.”

I break out in a sweat. He really shouldn’t trust me, especially around his assistant.

Drawing an invisible circle with my hips, left and then right, I smirk watching Wade do the same thing he does before every game. He picks up the photo of him and the woman who raised him out of his cubby, mutters something, kisses it, then puts it back.

I’m superstitious like all of the guys, and I do always kiss my stick and the ice before every game. Something I've done since my first NHL game.

When Sienna did make an appearance at games, I would always make sure I kissed her too as part of my pregame ritual, but I can’t exactly kiss Lola in front of everyone now, can I?

One because she’s not my girl, two because she’s Wade’s assistant, and three, she’s an Eagles employee.

Fuck my life.

Connor, our new goalie, slaps me on the back. He’s a good guy, far nicer than Zane Edwards, our last goalie who got suspended a few weeks ago by his father who just happens to be the owner of the team.

“Home & Away for dinner and drinks after the game?” Connor asks.

“Not tonight. I have plans.”

“Since when?” Wade questions suspiciously, knowing I go out with the team after every game.

“Since my creative mojo returned. I have a date with a paintbrush.” I feel fucking terrible lying to him.

“And his hand,” always the joker, Spike interjects. “Do you jerk off when you finish a painting to celebrate?”

“And add the jizz to the paint?” Connor adds.

I screw my face up in disgust. “What is wrong with you two knuckleheads?”

“I changed my mind. I don’t want anything painted by you.” Wade shudders.

“I’m telling both your wives you drank each other’s piss from your skates last weekend.” I point my stick at Spike then Connor and they both hold their hands up in surrender.

“See, two can play the stupid make shit up game.” I give them both a smug smile, making them mirror my gestures because we all secretly enjoy fucking with each other.

“No jizz in the paint. Got it.” Spike walks past me, shoulders back, and slips into leader mode. “Right, boys, let’s do this shit.”

Wade and I walk over to join the team to listen to one of Spike’s legendary pep talks. He’s fucking epic at rounding us up and injecting enough confidence to make you feel like you can fly.

“Did you see Lola when she arrived earlier?” Wade asks, concern written all over his face.

“Yeah. I think she’d been crying.” Her eyes were red, and her cheeks were all puffy again and all I wanted to do was hold her in my arms to make her feel better.

“I’m not good when girls cry.” Wade groans, running his hand down his face.

“Ice cream always helps. Make sure you have plenty in the freezer.”

“Why?”

“So, she can eat her feelings.”

“I never would have thought of that.” Wade lifts his head as if he’s thinking about my suggestion. “That’s a great idea. I’ll pick some up after the game.”

“Check with her first. She might have plans tonight.”

He waggles his pointer finger at me. “True. Good point. I’m shit at this stuff with girls. I never had a sister.”

“I have two and trust me, they love ice cream, especially during breakups.”

“Lucia and Sofia still eating you out of house and home?” he chuckles.

“Almost every fucking night.” Except for last night, because I double-locked the door, something I never do, but the last thing I wanted was my sisters walking in while I was eating Lola out on the kitchen island. I need to remember to do the same tonight.

“Well, if that’s what they do, I’m kind of glad I don’t have a sister.”

“Yeah, you’re lucky,” I say, not meaning a word of it.