Page 30 of Playoff
I nodded. I didn’t even have to say I wasn’t feeling well. By the time we'd bundled up and called for a ride, any heat in my cheeks was covered by our leaving.
How was I going to make sure Denny kept his mouth shut?
Chapter 13
Are you surprised?
Alek
* * *
I'd been feeling good after getting the first star of the game and was happy to join my new teammates for drinks to celebrate. Netting the winner in my first game with the team? Felt incredible. Until we walked in and I saw her.
My first reaction—Yes! I’d regretted not getting her name and number, because I was interested in hooking up again. That night, I’d been afraid of how she’d respond if she knew I was Alek Denbrowski, newest member of the Toronto Blaze. But if she had access to the news, she’d know who I was by now. She hadn’t told anyone, it seemed, since there was no gossip. If she was ready for some private, no-strings fun… But then reality cross-checked me. Hard.
Despite her talk about not liking hockey, she was with the players. My new teammates. And she obviously wasn’t a bunny. She wasn’t dressed like one, and she wasn’t trying to get any of the guys’ attention. She was part of the group, which meant she was attached to someone here…
Damn it, she was leaning in tight to JJ. That was her guy. Fuck. If she told him… That would be a disaster. The guy would never forgive me hooking up with his partner. No one on the team would. I might as well hang up my skates. But why would she tell him? She was the one who’d been cheating. JJ already had a cheating scandal splashed over the sports pages with his ex-wife. What kind of bitch did she have to be to do that to a guy a second time?
But as my interaction with Weasel had taught me, people weren’t always logical in these situations.
When she fled to the bathroom, I followed her. I needed to know what she planned because this could mess me up so bad. Was she going to confess all to him now that I’d shown up? Keep it a secret? I’d vote for the secret option.
I was the new guy. JJ was established, and if word got out that I’d fucked his girlfriend— They weren’t married, were they? That would make it whole realms of worse. There hadn’t been a ring, but rings came off.
When she came out of the ladies, she looked upset enough. At least there was no ring when I checked her hand, and if she had one, she’d be wearing it with JJ around. So, not married or engaged. It was still a shitty thing to do to a guy. But as much as I wanted to rip into her, this wasn’t the place. Too many people around.
I was pretty sure she hadn’t engineered the encounter. That hadn't been like any pickup I'd ever experienced. I was the instigator. A pretty woman, eyeing up a glass of bourbon like it was the holy grail. When I spoke to her, she’d talked about her client. Who'd bring up a dead woman to try to seduce someone?
She probably was telling the truth about not recognizing me—I looked different with the lack of hair. But still, to cuckold someone? That was fucking low.
I had her phone number now, and we’d get this straightened out.
After she made her escape, I passed up what the bunnies in the hall offered. I was going to have to ask for fucking ID before I got off with anyone again.
When I got back to the table, JJ and his girl were gone. I sat down by Fitch, who at least I knew beyond a couple of practices and one game.
“JJ left?” I asked, as if I didn’t have an idea why.
Fitch shot me a glance. “Are you surprised?”
Fuck, what did he know? “What do you mean?”
“He’s not a social guy at the best of times. You and the Johnsons have some friction between you, so he wasn’t likely to stick around.”
The Johnsons. He called them that, together. Were they married after all? Why wasn’t she wearing a ring?
Outwardly, I shrugged. Not admitting anything. “You noticed.”
“You two going to be able to work together?”
Depended on if the Mrs. got a guilty conscience. If she kept quiet… We could work through the other stuff, probably. “We talked. It’s not something personal between us. Family history thing.”
“I hope so, since we’re living in the same building.”
What the—? I’d forgotten that part. How could I manage to avoid any contact with JJ’s wife when we lived in the same building?
“Do you run into them often?” They’d better not share dinner invites all the time. Or live next door. Maybe moving in with Fitch was a nonstarter.
