Page 28 of Puck King
“Really?” I shouldn’t have been surprised. Hell, I’d expected there to be a few more surprises down the road.
“I didn’t want to tell you because I need you to make it to the playoffs.”
I narrowed my lips and was about to give her a piece of my mind, but she held up her index finger to stop me. “I’m telling you because I know that you would never do that. No matter how much you like or dislike this woman, you are a competitor; a warrior; a winner. I know that you’re going to lead the team to the playoffs. I can already see a change in the camaraderie on the ice.”
Thankful she had interrupted me, I nodded. She was right. I would never intentionally bring less than one hundred percent to the ice. Up until recently, it had been happening by accident. “I can see the change too.”
“The guys like the new health team, and they say that Alison’s really good. Although that Hollie is a little too starstruck for my liking.”
“Alison is good at her job.” I glanced at the wide rounded staircase, wondering when my dad was going to join our meeting. He was already five minutes late, which was unlike him. “Both of them,” I added. “Hey, Everleigh, I was pissed at first, but I think that you’re right. This is the right move for the team. Hopefully the paparazzi will start leaving us alone.”
“Oh, I doubt that.” She rubbed at her lipstick mark on the teacup with a napkin and then pulled a tube out of her purse to reapply. “But you’re going to give them enough appearances, ones where we control the narrative, that they’re going to at least stop harassing the rest of the Thunder.”
Of course Everleigh had thought this through better than I had. The press were probably going to get hungrier now that Colton King was running around with his physiotherapist. “And what narrative is that?”
She snapped the cap on the tube and dropped it into her designer bag. “That Colton King has finally grown up and is settling down with a real woman.” She locked her eyes with mine. “An average, ordinary woman.”
My eyes darted to the cover of the magazine. The woman smiling back at me in the photo looked anything but ordinary. The crinkles at the corners of her eyes told me that she smiled with joy, and her crazy hair didn't look so crazy to me anymore. It looked like a powerful mane.
I knew that Everleigh was studying my reaction, so I didn’t say anything. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of a response. But in the small moments that Alison and I had shared, I had learned a few things about her – the biggest being that she was far from ordinary. Everleigh’s critique sounded cruel, and my immediate response was to defend Alison.
Everleigh and I were close, but we’d spent our entire lives competing with each other. I knew that she’d chosen Alison to annoy me, but the joke was on her. If I had to spend half a year with a woman, only someone like Alison would be able to make it manageable. If I pissed Everleigh off, who knows what her next move might be, especially now that she had this power hold over me. Hell, she could even trade me to one of the teams I hated, like Toronto, our biggest rival.
“Where’s Dad?” I checked my Rolex one more time, starting to wonder if we should check on the old man.
“Oh, he’s away on business.” Everleigh stood and put on her tweed jacket.
“But…I came all the way out here.”
Everleigh’s red lips smirked. “I wanted to go for a ride, and I knew you wouldn’t come all this way just to give me an in-person update. I like watching you squirm.”
“I was stuck in traffic for over an hour just to get out of the city.” Hiding my frustration was getting harder by the second.
“That’s why I took the helicopter.” Everleigh tucked her helmet under her arm and turned on her heel. “You could always join me for a ride. You know, make the drive out here worth it.”
“Dammit, Everleigh.” I slapped my hand on the side table. I would’ve used my fist, but didn’t want to risk breaking the rose-patterned china, my mom’s favorite. “I’ve got shit to do.”
She looked at her phone before sliding it into her handbag. “According to your schedule, all you have to do today is work out, prepare for your away game, and take your girlfriend out for a casual dinner. You don’t have a fancy dinner date planned until we’re back from playing Los Angeles. Have you decided where you’re taking her?”
“None of your business.” This time the growl came out.
“Actually, it is. And you should be thankful I’m letting you pick the place.” She walked away. “Just let me know so I can be sure that you’re photographed there. You can always leave through the back.” She paused in the opening of the French doors. “Actually, yes...” her voice sounded excited, “leave through the back, that would be a great strategic move.”
“I’m glad my life is so entertaining to you.” I shoved my arms into my jacket, already calculating how long it was going to take me to drive back to the city during rush hour.
Everleigh opened the door. “That’s your own fault, not mine. And Colton…you should go for a ride. It’s a great way to clear your head.”
“I’ll pass,” I grumbled.
Everleigh knew that I hadn’t ridden since I’d been thrown off my favorite horse, Roger. That was the name I’d given him. Officially, he had a snooty, expensive name – Rambling Rex Regum. But she simply shrugged and left me in the dining room to finish my coffee.
Instead of leaving, I waited for Everleigh to head into the show ring where she liked the ride in the winter, and then slipped into the barn.
“Hey buddy.”
Roger whinnied and nodded his sleek black head as I approached. “How are you doing?” I stroked his nose and pulled some sugar cubes from my pocket. His whiskers tickled my palm as he gently took the treats from my hand. His dark eyes, with their heavy lashes, seemed to stare into my soul. “I miss you too.” I threaded my hand into his mane and rested my forehead against his neck. His breathing calmed a little and so did mine.
“Thanks, Pal.” I gave him another pat. “I needed a visit with you. I’ll come more often, I promise.”
