Chapter 10

10

Faust

I've checked my phone ten times already.

This isn't like me.

I love watching film. I can study games for hours on end.

But right now…

"Something wrong over there, Faust? You have a hot date waiting for you?"

That's Chuck Canyon, the goalies' coach.

I'm supposed to be setting the example for everyone on the team.

Not just the goalies, but everyone else.

In reality though, it's just me and three other goalies in the room.

Our backup goalie - Hendy Leary.

And two minor league goalies who have been written up as the next stars in the league.

Hearing that shit makes my jaw clench.

These guys don't look old enough to fucking drive.

But I have to admit - they are damn good at the position.

"Faust, tell the others what this shutout streak means to you," Coach Canyon says.

I keep a mean look on my face and look at the young goalies. "It means absolutely nothing."

"Why is that?"

"This is about being a team. Talk to me about the wins. Then I'll tell you the truth. Personal streaks mean shit. If you chase them, you'll let your team down."

The meeting thankfully ends a short while after that.

I'm the first to stand but the last to leave the room.

"Want to hit the ice?" Coach Canyon asks with a grin.

"I'd love to see what they've got, Coach, but I'm on a deadline here with something," I say.

"Hot date, huh?"

"Not quite. Let Leary run them for a bit. He's earned it. He's a damn good backup goalie. You know, part of me wants him to start next game. Just to ease up the shutout streak bullshit."

Coach Canyon throws his head back and laughs. "You know that'll never happen. You're headline news, Faust. Attention is good for everyone. Even if you hate it. The tradeoff for those big fat paychecks you get."

He playfully hits me on the shoulder with a clipboard and leaves the room.

That's when I send out some texts. And I wait.

For me to call a meeting with the guys means something bad is going on.

Last time I did this, we had just lost eleven games in a row. We were the laughingstock of the league. By the end of the meeting, Dax had a bloody nose, Colver and Rhett were going punch for punch, and Ben and Turner were eating popcorn, watching the fights unfold.

We did go out and win five straight after that.

Dax arrives first.

He looks around.

"No good, huh?"

"Just sit down so I can talk," I say.

Ben, Rhett, and Turner are next.

"Where's Colver?" I ask.

"Hanging with the baby," Rhett says.

I swallow hard. "That's good. I guess. I need him here."

"What's the emergency?" Turner asks.

"Is this about Leary?" Ben asks. "Heard you might want him to start next game."

"Fuck that," Dax says. "You're the legend, Faust. Don't you dare give up-"

"This is personal," I say. "Where the hell is Colver?"

"Right here," Colver says as he walks into the room. "This better be good. My family is waiting for me."

"I want you guys to hear this from me," I say. "Not sure how it'll play out, if it all."

"This sounds serious," Turner says. "Are you sick or something, man?"

"Would explain the mood swings," Dax says.

"Dude," Ben says to Dax. "Don't be like that right now."

"I'm not sick," I call out. I run a hand through my hair. "Shit. This is getting out of hand already. Just let me find the words."

"I don't have time," Colver says. "I'm done with hockey for the night. I want to go be a father now."

I point right at Colver. "Yes! That. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Oh, shit," Dax says. "Faust fathered Colver's baby!"

They all chuckle.

"I have a son," I say.

The room goes silent.

I nod. "That's right. I have… a son. I just found out."

"Are you being serious?" Dax asks.

"No reason for me to lie about this."

"Who?" Colver says.

"It's a complicated thing," I say. "I had a one-night stand years ago. She got pregnant and never told me until now. Not sure why yet. It's all… new…"

"Whoa," Ben says. "Faust. Man. I don't know what to say."

"Yeah, that sounds intense," Rhett says.

"I'm not looking for advice," I say. "I wanted to tell you guys. In case something happens. You guys are like… family… to me…"

"Aw, man," Dax says. "The angry goalie has a heart!"

They all laugh.

"Why didn't she tell you sooner?" Turner asks.

"I don't know," I say. "I just said that I don't know. It's complicated."

"What do you mean by that, Faust?" Colver asks. "It's no secret that you keep your personal life quiet. You make woman sign contracts to sleep with you. Did something happen there?"

"No," I say. "She's… she was my girlfriend's best friend."

Another round of pure shock goes through the room.

"Holy shit," Dax says.

"Ouch," Ben adds.

"Complicated," I say through gritted teeth.

"You had a girlfriend?" Turner asks. "I'm assuming that's over now? Did she find out…?"

"She died," I say. "She died before I could end things. Okay? And the night after the funeral I slept with her best friend. It's more than just that, but I'm not talking about it. Bottom line is that she got pregnant. And I have a son."

I find myself glancing at Colver a lot.

He's the only one who could semi relate to my situation.

Dax stands up. "Hey. Congrats, Faust. I mean, yeah, this sounds really fucking complicated. But you have a son. You're a dad. That's… awesome. He's not a baby though…"

I shake my head. "That's all I want to say for now."

I go to leave the room and Turner blocks my path.

"We should celebrate," he says.

"I'm not drinking and I don't want to look at strippers," I say.

"He's a family man now," Dax calls out. "He can't do that stuff!"

The guys have a laugh at my expense.

"Congrats, man!" Dax yells. "We can't wait to meet the kid!"

I shut the door and walk through the corporate smelling hallway.

I'm going to hit the gym, eat, and then go check on my son.

And make sure Shelby is packing up to move in next door to me.

The call came in just as I was finishing up at the gym.

I'm not going to lie, it kind of made me smile a little.

Shelby went off on the guys I hired to move her out of her apartment. She refused to let them into her apartment. She called them names and threatened them.

‘She said she was going to take my little dick between her thumb and pointer fingers, squeeze and pop it like a blueberry. I will not be spoken to like that.'

It's good to know Shelby has a fiery side to her these days.

Back when I first met her she wasn't exactly shy but she really never stood up for herself much either.

Well, at least when it came to Amy.

I chase that name away and quickly make my way back to Shelby's apartment.

In the parking lot I see Bobby exiting the building. As soon as he sees me, he freezes up and shows me his hands.

"Any music?" I ask him.

"No," Bobby says. "I used my headphones. Actually sounds much better that way."

He lets out a nervous laugh and then runs to his car.

I enter the building and when I arrive to Shelby's door I'm greeted by her best friend ( the new best friend… the old best friend was my girlfriend and she's dead ).

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Wow," I say. "You're small and angry, aren't you?"

"You think you can show up and just control her life?"

"Ah, there's been some girl talk going on, huh?"

"I'd punch you right now if I wasn't afraid of hurting my hand. And I don't think my husband could take you in a fight either. He's a sexy man though."

"Good for him," I say. "Where is my son?"

"He's in his room, playing with some toys. It's almost bedtime."

"Perfect," I say.

"She's been drinking wine since you left. She called me. She told me what happened. You think you're something special, don't you?"

My jaw tightens. "She leaves me a note that I have a son. The kid is, what, six years old now? I think I have every right to be really pissed off. I could just walk away, you know? I could make this very bad for her too. But the second I looked into her eyes all I wanted was a chance to see what it feels like."

"Shit," Shelby's friend whispers. "You're really smooth. And really sexy. And you smell expensive."

"Right now I feel like I owe nobody a thing. I keep showing up, you know? I showed up to meet her. I showed up here to meet my son. And now I'm back once more."

Shelby's best friend looks up at me. "You think ripping a child out of his home without warning is a smart move?"

My jaw tightens.

"Think about it," Shelby's best friend says. "No matter what, this place is home to Oakley."

"Are you leaving now?" I ask.

"You're a dick," she says. "My husband might not be able to take you in a fight, but I can promise you that if you hurt Shelby or Oakley, I will hurt you."

Now I'm in the apartment.

The place feels like it's a ten by ten space.

Shelby looks right at me from the kitchen, holding a bottle of wine.

I'm not sure this is the smartest thing to be doing with a kid in the next room.

I'm not here to judge.

I walk right into the kitchen, Shelby's best friend at my side.

"I told him off for you," she says to Shelby.

"Can we be alone?" I ask Shelby.

Shelby nods. "Love you, Dani. I have to take care of this."

"Remember what I said," Dani says to me.

She then offers me a punch to the arm.

As Dani walks away, I step closer to Shelby.

"What?" Shelby snaps at me. "Huh? What? Something you want to say to me?" She wiggles the bottle of wine. "Go ahead, Faust. Use this against me. I wish I never left you that note. I wish I never-"

I carefully grab her mouth. I would never hurt her. Ever. But I need to make my point, which right now is to get her to shut up for a second so I can talk.

Dani closes the door behind her and I'm now alone with Shelby.

Her blue eyes are glossy, a mix of wine and emotion.

She's fucking stunning. Fucking beautiful. The only woman I've ever encountered that could make my heart race.

And, yes, that includes Amy…

"I'm going to go put our son to bed," I say in a low voice. "And then we're going to talk."

She looks surprised by what I've just said.

In my life there have been a lot of promises I've fucked up on.

A whole lot.

Yet for some reason when it came to Shelby… that's the promise that hurts the most.

I lean down and gently brush my lips against her right cheek.

A million memories flood my mind.

But first, I need to take care of my son.