Page 58 of Slapshot
“Well, all I’m saying is that if you expect us to believe that an athlete like you would be interested in someone like her, then clearly something else is going on. I don’t like deception and I’d hate to think you were using her.”
I’d never understood what I did to make her hate me. There must have been a time when I was little that she’d acted like a proper mother, but I didn’t remember it. Maybe she’d taken one look at me after birth and decided I was a lost cause.
“That’s enough.”
His voice was low but powerful as he looked around the table.
“None of you appreciate this woman, and I’m not going to let her sit here and listen to you belittle her anymore.”
“You’re telling me you’re not just pretending to date her? Yeah, right.” Georgia sniffed, doing a double take as she noticed the look on Weston’s face.
“There’s nothing pretend about how I feel for Blair. You don’t deserve her. None of you. We’re leaving now, and Blair will decide if she ever speaks to any of you again. In case you can’t tell, I’ll be advising her against it unless you pull your heads out of your asses. Weston, it was genuinely nice to meet you.”
Cian’s hand was gentle as he pulled me out of my seat and escorted me through the house and out to his truck.
We pulled away from the old Victorian building with a squeal of tires and turned toward home. There was no sound in the cab except for the white noise of the tires on the road for several miles, both of us stuck in our own heads as we processed the scene we just left. I glanced at his profile, so proud, still so full of righteous fury and felt a bubbling in my chest.
It forced its way out of my throat in a laugh that took both of us by surprise. Once the dam broke, we were both lost, to the point Cian pulled over to avoid colliding with a parked car.
“Oh, my God. That was so freaking dope! I can’t believe you scolded my whole family. You’re amazing.”
His cheeks were ruddy as he turned to face me.
“I don’t even know why I’m laughing right now. I was so mad. I wanted to punch your mom, and I’d never hit a woman.”
“She’s an asshole.” I sighed.
“They all are.”
“Well, not Weston. He seemed genuinely appalled at their behavior. I don’t know why he’s spending time with Georgia, but good luck to him. He’ll need it.”
Cian reached across and threaded his fingers through mine.
“I didn’t know about the Duckie thing.”
Of course he didn’t. Cian didn’t have a mean bone in his body, and that was why it hit different.
“I know. I don’t mind when you call me that.”
He grunted, squeezing my hand in acknowledgment before he changed the subject to more important things.
“Coffee?”
“Hell yes. We deserve it.”
Cian
I survivedmy forced rest period, despite having to sit out three away games in a row, which meant Blair traveled with the team while I was stuck at home. My first game back, we beat Calgary at home and had a quiet celebration afterward. Just the two of us.
Blair’s family hadn’t tried to reach out, thank God. I’d meant what I said, and I tensed up, ready for action anytime her phone rang.
Tonight, she was leaving her phone at home, though, because the Aces were having their Christmas party, and I’d convinced Blair to go as my date.
Officially.
No more bullshit friends with benefits.
She was already at Oscar and Mia’s getting ready while I got some bits and pieces sorted for our own private Christmas party the following week. I loved how easily my friends had accepted her into our little chosen family, and I knew that Mia loved Blair for Blair, not just who she was to me. She’d threatened me with bodily harm if I fucked things up the week before and all but told me Blair would get her in the breakup, and by extension Oscar. I knew she was joking, kind of, but it still reminded me how important it was for me to get this right.
