Page 21 of Power Play
That earns me a smack on the chest with the back of her hand and a smile.
"You're notthatold. If I open your wallet and find an AARP card, though, I'm outta here."
I growl before giving her a rough shove.
"We were young and foolish. She'd been my high school girlfriend before I went pro, and I always wanted to be that guy who could balance hockey and a family. And I wanted to be with a girl who was with me before I blew up, you know?"
She nods, and there's a little more sadness there than I expected.
"So naturally, I won my first big NHL contract, proposed, held a huge wedding, and then a year later, she was pregnant. I was ecstatic. Except, the minute we got married, something between us changed. I don't know if it was the money, the fame, or now that she had me locked down she didn't have to try anymore? She got snippy and sarcastic. We'd fight and the minute I'd think about ending it she would come back crying and begging. I put up with it, thinking she was just a bored housewife and maybe having a kid would give her some purpose in life." Another sardonic snort. "I know, I know, babies don't fix anything, they make everything harder."
I sigh. I'm slightly embarrassed by the second half of my story, and I worry she'll see me differently. Lose respect for me. But, it's just one night. If she does see me differently, it doesn't matter. Tomorrow, we go back to being Coach Ward and Lacey, the PT.
"It's really the same story a lot of men have - came home early from a game one night to find her in bed, with my best friend. Turns out it wasn't even my baby."
A tiny gasp sounds next to me, and I turn to find Lacey's green eyes wide, her pretty pink lips open.
"That bitch."
A louder laugh comes from me now. I don't know what I expected her response to be, but little sweet Lacey doesn't seem to have a bad thing to say about anyone. Douche-bro was the most cutting thing I'd ever heard her say, so hearing her appalled in my defense is freaking adorable.
I shrug. I thought I was in love with my ex, but when I found her cheating, I'd felt more embarrassed than heartbroken. I did beat the shit out of my best friend, though.
"By then I was already a big deal in the NHL, so my dream of finding someone who loved me for me and not for the lifestyle I could give them, and building a big family with them, was gone."
"Oh, I'm sure that's not true. I'm sure you could find someone, somewhere, who doesn't watch hockey."
"And who doesn't want my fat wallet?"
A quick blush stained her cheeks but she doesn't look shy. "Sure, someone who only wants your fat cock."
I laugh so loudly the sound vibrates off of the walls and the person in the room next to the headboard actually bangs on the wall to get me to shut up. It's three AM.
This woman shocks me. She's quiet and hardworking, but gives as good as she gets. I've seen her nervous and shy during the interview. I've seen her stern and sarcastic, giving Jonesy every ounce of sass hedeserves. I've seen her bright and smiling, and I've seen her darken and withdrawn.
I want to see every aspect of her. I want to know everything about this woman I had so easily dismissed.
"As you can imagine, after Jaqueline, I had a hard time trusting anyone. The minute a woman came on to me, I assumed it was for either one of two reasons: bragging rights, or banging her way into my wallet. It's hard to trust any woman that approaches me, let alone respect them." I shrug. "Eventually, I just gave up."
Lacey looks up at me with those deep forest green eyes, and a weight, or sadness I've rarely seen shimmering across them. She looks like she's worn the weight of the world on her shoulders. She looks decades older than her twenty-seven years.
"I get it. There's a reason I insist on only one night." I wait for her to explain, but she chews on the inside of her mouth. I can see the war happening inside her head. "I don't date. I can't date. I... I've had too many bad experiences that I just gave up, too."
I can tell that's the most I'm going to get out of her tonight. She has demons. And her demons recognize mine. We're two broken souls who have decided it's easier to build walls around our hearts than to risk getting them broken again.
I spin her so she was pinned under me and proceed to give her three more orgasms as my way of saying 'thanks' - for what, though, I'm not sure. For the one night? For the easy friendship? For making me laugh louder than I have in years?
Or for being the only person who has seen the real me, Scott Ward, in maybe my entire life?
I have her phone number, for work reasons, but she was clear about her boundary. For whatever reason, Lacey can be mine for only one night. I'm already convincing myself that maybe there's a way.
She's different. Strong and guarded, but with a warmth she didn’t even seem to know she had. She seems like the first woman I've met who is three dimensional when I've only met two dimensional women. For a man who thought he’d seen it all, she's a puzzle I want to solve.
I shower, rub one out while the scent of her lingers on my skin, and get into the athletic gear I wear during travel days.
I drag my suitcase behind me as I walk into the hotel restaurant. Some of the team and staff are already down here, shuffling around like zombies. I don't blame them. I'm feeling every year of my age for these early morning flights.
Lacey and Tracey are sitting with Ben and a few of the other players. She looks tired, but a warm blush and soft smile coat Lacey's cheeks when she notices me. She gives me the briefest of glances, so as not to raise suspicion. I want to play with her, I want to push her, make her squirm.
