Page 16 of Wanting the Winger

My stoic, grouchy teammate is already walking toward Hallie, the kids in the driveway cheering.

“We’ll finish talking another time,” Carter calls over his shoulder.“Go do what I told you to.”

Fuck.I’d much rather play field hockey with the kids.Actually, I’d prefer lying down and letting the kids beat me with hockey sticks to being nice to Shane.

But for Lainey, I’ll try.

I walk over to Lainey, Shane and Suki, my forced friendly look feeling super weird.It has to look weird.Shane makes me scowl—I can’t help it.

Lainey gives me a quick, frosty glare that hits me right in the chest.

Fuck.I have to be nice to Shane and I’m stone-cold sober.I wait for a break in the conversation and say, “So, Shane, how’s business?It’s your busy season, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, we can hardly keep up.I’ve been working every day, but I shifted some things around so I could come see my wifey-to-be.”

It’s hard to look like you’re smiling casually while grinding your teeth until pain shoots through your jaw.If I had a can of beer in my hand right now, I’d crush it.Full or not.I can’t stand the sound of him calling Lainey his wifey-to-be.

“Oh, that’s right!”Suki smiles brightly.“You’re engaged.Let’s see that ring.”

“You’ll need a microscope to make out the diamond,” I quip.“If you see a speck of dust on it, don’t brush it away because that?—”

Lainey silences me with a murderous look.“Bash, you have five seconds to get out of my sight before I clock you.I mean that with every fiber of my being.”

I turn and go, heading for the closest bar.While I don’t like Lainey being pissed at me, I’m not sorry.Eric told me he was floored when he saw Lainey’s engagement ring, a simple silver band with a fleck of a diamond set into it.

She said it’s perfect for her because when she works in a lab, a bigger diamond would only get in the way.Bullshit.She’s just an apologist for her cheap-ass boyfriend.

I slide onto a stool at the bar next to Isaac, our starting goalie.

“How’s it going?”he asks.

I grunt at him as the bartender approaches.

“I’ll take a double shot of whiskey,” I say.

“And there’s my answer,” Isaac says.

“I don’t feel like talking.”

“Fair enough.”He holds his glass up and I clink mine against his.

“Cheers,” he says.

“Yeah, whatever.”

By evening,I’m a little drunk.I drove us to the cookout in my Jeep Wrangler, and Lainey drives it back to my place.I play loud music so I don’t have to listen to Shane.Lainey’s definitely still angry, and even though I’m a happy drunk, I have to fight my urge to turn off the music and start an argument with her over Shane.

I need to wait until I’m sober.

The top down in my jeep, Lainey’s red hair flies all over in the wind.When we’re stopped at a light, she pulls it back into a ponytail, refusing to look at me.

By the time she pulls into my garage, I’m sure she’s going to take me out back and beat me or something.There’s fire in her eyes and her lips are pressed into a thin line.

She storms into the house, Shane smirking.I want to run him over so fucking bad.Just one time, with my truck.

When I follow Shane into the house, Lainey’s petting Bruce, his tail wagging as he burrows the side of his face against her.

“Go to bed, Bash,” Lainey says.“I’ll feed Bruce and take him out.”

---