Page 8 of Balance

She sighs and stalks away, sitting right beside Lillian. I wonder how someone so young already went through such a hard break up, Lillian that is.

She didn’t go into specifics, but she did mention she doesn’t talk to her family. Which is just sad. A young woman, clear across the country, with no support.

I take one last look at them before I stalk to the kitchen to grab a water bottle and my keys. Maybe I shouldn't have been so picky over these last few weeks. I just tossed this poor young woman into the viper's pit and didn't really get to know her aside from the file that the nanny service sent me on her.

If only they updated the files with photos.

I sigh as I jump into my truck and back out of the driveway, heading straight to the rink. Fingers crossed that there are no damn reporters or paparazzi around.

My lovely ex has been seen in Paris, Munich, and the Netherlands with her new man, and now our separation and subsequent divorce has been leaked.

Luckily I’ve been able to stay home for the past two weeks. Avery wasn’t happy about missing the last week of summer camp, but I dealt with her wrath to keep her safe. I just pray that when she starts school none of the little shits in her class open their mouths.

I parked in the lot about twenty minutes after I left my street, grabbed my bags from the bed of the truck, and raced through the doors. The locker room is empty when I emerge and I groan.

Fuck. Me. I’m late.

I suit up in my gear, tie up my skates, and drop my helmet over my head. My stick is in my hand as I rush to get to the ice, seeing the coaches in the middle of a huddle with all of the guys… I glance around, making sure Daniel isn’t here and let out a sigh of relief. He’s someone I donotwant to have a conversation with today.

“Bale! Glad you can join us, even our resident fuck up is here on time,” Coach Williams calls out and points to where he wants me to skate to, sending a quick glance to our captain, James.“As I was saying, we’re going to train as hard as we can. I know there were a few of you who were in here over the last few months, staying in shape, and getting ready for the preseason. We also have three rookies joining us. We started with ten at the beginning of training camp, and we’ll see how these three mesh. Daniel will make the final call. Be nice, boys.” He skates to the wall and calls out our drills. I toss my stick onto a bench and then get back in formation, already panting and sweating.

Fuck my life. I should have just built the gym, or I could have taken the kids here with me over the last several weeks. I’m going to regret this tonight and in the morning. And then I’ll be back here again.

“Grab your shit and I want the first line against the second. Rookies and third line, stay close and watch.” I glance over to the three new men and notice how fucking young they look compared to most of us. Shit, is that really how I looked when I was picked up?

I clap James’s back and get into position in the middle of him and Logan, nodding to the rest of the guys.

Coach Williams drops the puck and Alexi swiftly gains possession, fucking twisting away from all of us. Nolan[6]’s watching the puck like a hawk, guarding the goal as if it’s his treasure trove.

That’s how it should be.

James shoves Alexi into the wall, shooting the puck to Logan and I skate to the other goal, waiting for him to pass it to me. Logan’s open, I breathe in the icy air as I watch, holding my breath. Logan nods and slams it to me, and I turn and swipe it towards the goal, barely feeling it when one of the other guys shoves me.

Luckily I’m able to catch myself before I fall flat on my ass. Asshole.

Porter blocks my shot, and then Coach calls us to end the game.

“Good. Keep playing. First to score plays against the third line, and so on. Rookies, you’re sitting out today, watch the guys, and getting a feel for the camaraderie. Tomorrow I’ll be subbing you in.”

He blows the whistle and we line back up, starting from the top.

___________

It’s five o’clock by the time I pull into my garage. Nolan and Landon tried begging me to go out with them but with it only being Lillian’s first day, I wanted to make sure she's getting settled.

Plus I’m starving, fucking exhausted, and I can barely stand on my own two feet. I’m not in my twenties anymore.

James rushed back home to his fiancée and new babies, so I guess I was the pity pick anyway. Maybe next week.

I step through the door and stalk to the kitchen, frowning when it’s so damn silent. It smells amazing though, like pizza.

Tomato sauce, garlic, and cheese.

My stomach growls and I check the fridge and microwave, then finally the oven to see a full, lonely pizza in there, just waiting for me to devour it.

I don’t know if she only made one, so I frown and close the door. I check the playroom and the bedrooms before doing the smart thing and looking in the backyard.

I step up to the sliding glass door in the living room and place my hands in my pockets. They’re playing tag. Lillian is actually running around, laughing, chasing, and playing with them.

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