Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Lola

Nerves make me wiggle in my seat when I spy Kali walking in my direction.

I haven’t seen her since the night I told her who I was and my connection to Wade.

All I ever wanted Kali to know is that I have good intentions and that I’m trustworthy. I would never do anything to jeopardize Wade’s career. Having grown closer to her, I know she wants the best for Wade too, and would do anything to protect him. If she didn’t believe me I know I wouldn’t still be Wade’s assistant.

Flanked by two security guards, Kali waves to me, wearing the biggest smile, unaware of the effect she has on the crowd who are wolf-whistling and congratulating her about dating Wade.

It’s fascinating watching Kali sign autographs, talking to the fans, and taking selfies. Being an ex-supermodel, she’s accustomed to the limelight.

When she finishes up, she walks, arms outstretched before she gets to me. I stand to greet her. In comparison to her five-foot-ten height, I must look tinier than ever tonight in my sneakers.

While she’s dark, I’m blonde, and in comparison, her hair length falls way below her ass, while mine is shoulder length. We couldn’t be more different if we tried.

The only thing we do have in common is the hockey jerseys we’re wearing with Wade’s name and number on them: Collins, 18.

“I’ve been so worried about you. I would ask if you’re okay, but it’s such a stupid question.” She breaks out of our embrace and drops into her seat, patting mine to tell me to sit. “I’m sorry he cheated on you, Lola.” Kali grabs my hand when I plonk myself down beside her. “You have such a lot going on. Are you okay?”

I love that Kali has only known me for a few months but here she is acting like the mother I never had.

When my dad told me who my biological mother was, I knew why he kept it from me for so long. She’s well-known to everyone because she’s never out of the tabloids and is a truly dreadful human being. Shallow and selfish, the very thought of her makes my stomach coil like a nest of angry vipers.

“I’m actually okay.” I bite my bottom lip, toying with telling her what I discovered this afternoon. “But I have something else to tell you.” I look around, checking none of the fans are within earshot and then I update her on everything about Graham and what he’s been doing.

“Lola.” The sound of my name on her lips sounds a lot like sympathy which makes me feel slightly irritated. It’s my fault for not paying attention, I don’t want or need anyone to feel sorry for me.

“The police informed me that I probably won’t see the money again.”

“Please tell me you changed your passwords and cut him off.”

“Done. I canceled the monthly payment on the rental too.”

Kali throws her hand to her heart. “Thank God, and you can stay at Wade’s indefinitely, Lola. But I think once Wade finds out,” she leans closer and whispers, “that you’re his, you know… he won’t want you to move out.”

If Wade hates me for applying for a job with the Eagles to get closer to him, I may end up alone. I hope that doesn’t happen.

It was like fate when the temporary job I applied for in the administration office turned into being Wade’s assistant.

A dream come true and the perfect opportunity for me to find out what type of person my long-lost brother was. Turns out I had nothing to worry about because Wade is amazing, and someone I wish had been in my life forever.

Kali turns in her seat to face the rink and slings her arm around my shoulder, pulling me into her side. “I know how it feels to be cheated on, so if you ever need to talk to anyone, I’m here for you. Just don’t keep it all in, or it will hurt like hell.”

“I will.” I pat her thigh and thank her. Her ex-husband was a fool to cheat on her, although she’s with Wade now and I’m glad he did or they never would have gotten together.

Fate works in peculiar ways.

Kali sounds mad when she says, “Stealing your money is the slimiest thing to do. I hope the fucker rots in prison.”

“He’s pond scum.”

“He’ll be dead at the bottom of a pond when Wade hears about this,” she says, making me chuckle as the crowd around us grows louder, the arena now close to full.

I don’t want to talk about Graham anymore, he’s practically eaten up my entire day, so I change the subject. “How was LA?”

When Kali removes her arm from around me, I reach down to grab my coffee off the floor. It’s now cold but I drink it anyway.

At the same time, Kali pulls a foil-wrapped burger from her purse. “I’m starving.”

She’s always hungry. I don’t know where she puts it. She never stops eating.

Sipping the cold caffeine, I listen to Kali talking around her food, as she tells me everything about the photoshoot with Calvin Klein that will most likely lead to a huge life-changing contract for Wade and how well the filming went for the TV show he also did while he was out there.

I almost cry again when Kali recounts the romantic moment she told Wade she loves him and he said it back, all of which was captured on camera at the photoshoot. I’m so happy for them both.

“I think he’ll ask you to marry him,” I state, sounding more confident than I have about anything. I start to perk up as the caffeine hits my bloodstream.

“You think?” Kali’s cheeks turn pink, and I can’t help but notice the way she rubs her ring finger.

“I feel it in my bones.” Although my judgment has jumped over a cliff and is currently being eaten by sharks, so I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.

The arena comes alive with excitement as a countdown appears on the overhead displays. “Here we go.” Kali claps her hands. “I never watched hockey before I took this job and now, I love it.”

“Same,” I agree, and we both burst out laughing.

“We’re puck sluts.” Kali throws her hands in the air, whooping and cheering, while I cover my face from embarrassment because it’s so out of character for her.

Love does funny things to people.

“I’m not with her.” I raise my hand in the air and point at Kali, talking to no one in particular.

“I’m the only puck slut out of the two of us,” she mutters out the side of her mouth. “I’m the one sleeping with a player.”

I shift in my seat, unsettled at her comment. I’m grateful that the lights have plummeted us into darkness.

“This is a great burger.” Kali moans. “Hockey players have great stamina. Wade can go all night.”

I make a fake gagging noise, although I’m smiling. “Oh, shut up, that’s my brother you’re talking about,” I whisper shout in her ear.

With her voice full of humor, Kali counters, leaning into my side, “I’m just saying, you should maybe try it for yourself. Hockey players are, well, just wow. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Okay, stop talking.”

The first note of “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC plays through the arena speakers and yellow and blue lights dart around the ice, causing the fans to go nuts as the lights flash in time with the thunderous heavy double beat of the drum.

“Are you squirming?” She laughs, shouting over the music.

“Like a fish out of water, now shut up.” I’m smiling when I reply, diverting her away from conversations about her having sex with my brother. “Anyway, I work for the Eagles and the players are strictly off-limits.”

“It never stopped Wade and me. We couldn’t if we tried. I love him.”

“Okay that’s cute, but will you stop with the sexual references?” I smile knowing she’s trying to get me back on the wagon, or is it the pony? God knows. Whatever it is, she doesn’t know I’m already back on it.

“I’m just pointing out that you will return to your regular day job and manage your own businesses, and won’t be employed by the Eagles when the season ends.” She pauses. “Every single player is fair game for you when the off season begins.”

She’s made a great point.

Kali adds, “You know what they say about breakups, Lola?”

“What do they say?” She’s clearly giddy with love tonight, I think I like this silly side of Kali she never shows.

“The only way to get over someone is to get under someone else.”

I turn to look at her through the dimmed lighting. “What happened to the professional, sophisticated, reserved Kali Roth I’ve come to know?”

“I’m sorry.” She apologizes, giggling like a schoolgirl. Yup, she’s definitely high on love.

For a fleeting moment, I remember what love felt like.

But now I know everything between Graham and me was a lie.

It wasn’t love.

For him, it was greed.

“Wade clearly fucked all sense of self and manners out of you at the same time,” I reply deadpan.

“He really did.” We both burst into fits of giggles again turning our attention to the rink.

Music louder now, the Jumbotron flashes footage of the Eagles’ winning goals and triumphs one after the other in time with the music.

It gives me goosebumps, and a sense of pride knowing I have a brother who is part of this championship team. The entire arena is electric and buzzing with energy, and so am I.

I’m also grateful and happy that for the next couple of hours, I can forget about the circus that is my life.

One after the other each player enters the rink as they are announced. When Wade skates out and does his lap of honor, Kali and I go crazy, yelling and hollering his name.

“Go get ‘em, baby,” Kali shouts at the top of her lungs when he blows her a kiss and then waves at me.

“Go, Wade,” I shout.

Kali tracks his every move as he does tricks with the puck and skates fast around the ice.

I put on a fake high-pitched voice bringing her thoughts to life. “I love him. My boyfriend is pure perfection.”

She covers her face in embarrassment. “Is it that obvious?”

“The hearts in your eyes say it all.”

She removes her hands from her face. “I don’t care. Wade is everything.” She swoons on a blissed-out sigh.

“He is,” I admit as I watch him move like art on ice.

“Oh, there’s Jordy.” Kali points to him kissing the ice as part of his pre-game ritual, before stepping onto it, and the fans go crazy because everyone loves Jordy. He’s professional, hardworking, and never causes any drama on or off the ice. He’s consistently rock-steady and trustworthy.

Skating past us, he looks up and winks at me.

“Who caught Jordy’s eye?” Kali asks while looking at me. I feign innocence and look behind me pretending to search for someone in the crowd who caught his attention and Kali mirrors my action.

“I don’t see anyone,” I say, because there’s no one there. It was me he was winking at.

I look back at the rink to discover Jordy standing at the boards and beckoning me to him.

“Jordy wants you.” Kali elbows me in the ribs.

I pretend to be shocked and point at my chest. “Me?” I mouth, Jordy replies with a nod.

“What does he want?” Her voice rises an octave in curiosity.

“He mentioned to me earlier that he was organizing a party for his sisters’ birthday.” I think on my feet. “Maybe he decided to let me help him like I suggested.”

“And he needs to tell you that now?” Kali gapes, obviously shocked by his timing.

“I know, he could have waited.” I’m doing a shitty job of sounding convincing.

“Well, go see what he wants.” Kali points to the stairs leading down to the boards. “What’s gotten into him tonight? He looks royally pissed off.”

Usually full of smiles, his mouth is twisted and thin-lipped as he shoots me a hard, cold-eyed stare, and I see what she means.

A tornado of butterflies takes flight in my belly as I stand and walk down the five small steps to the boards. He points for me to move where there is a gap in the plexiglass.

Skating next to me along the boards at the same time I walk along the other side, I feel the intense heat of Jordy’s stare with every step.

“Hey, Wingman,” I say when there is no barrier between us, twisting my fingers together.

“Teacup.” He nods.

“Why do you call me Teacup?” I ask, ignoring his sour look. It’s something I meant to ask him last night.

“Because you are pretty and dainty, like a fine teacup.”

“Oh.” I shift from side to side, struggling to stand still, then lift my foot like a flamingo, realize what I’m doing, then put it back down again.

My heart hammers with joy.

Holy shit, I think I’m swooning.

“What the fuck are you wearing?” He scowls harder than before, dropping his focus to Wade’s number on my arm, and I take a moment to look down at myself.

“A hockey jersey,” I state the obvious.

“You’re wearing the wrong fucking number and name, baby. Next time you come to my game, make sure you’re wearing my jersey.”

Possessive much?

My jaw drops open at his ridiculous request. “I can’t wear your jersey. People might put two and two together.”

Like he’s unhappy with my response, he grinds his teeth, making his jaw tic. “You’ll pay for that later, Teacup. My hand is itching to spank your ass.”

My pussy clenches in response to his threat.

There must be something wrong with me.

I have a massive problem.

A Jordy-sized one.

And the thought of him spanking me sounds like something I might enjoy.

He pushes off the boards to join his team.

And I swear my jaw drops open even wider when I realize the obvious.

Is he jealous?

He looks back over his shoulder, then taps his number twenty-three on his arm, confirming my suspicion… Yup, he’s jealous.

In shock, I stand rooted to the spot for longer than I should before walking back to my seat.

“What the hell was that about?” Kali stares at the side of my face, burning a hole in it.

“He chose a color theme for the party.”

“Yeah?”

“Yellow and blue.” I bend the truth.

“Ah, is that why he was pointing at his arm?”

“Yeah. Imagine choosing your team colors for your sisters’ party?” I exaggerate.

“Those hockey players are something else.” Kali shakes her head.

“They really are.”

As well as sweet, protective, and jealous, in a good way.

“I wish the game was already over,” I say out loud not meaning to.

“Really?”

“Yeah.” I run my hands down my yoga pants nervously. “I have plans. I’m meeting up with my friend.” A friend who wants to spank me. “I won’t be staying at Wade’s tonight.”

“Great idea, go out and have some fun, Lola. You deserve it. Staying in and being a good girl never pays off.”

“Oh, I plan on being bad.”

Very, very bad.

Bad enough to be spanked.