Page 13 of Her Goal
My face screws up. “He and I had an angel and devil situation.”
“Should I ask which was which?”
“He said angel and devil, not witch,” Liam mutters.
I grunt. “You sound a lot like Beau.”
Redd says, “And Vohn. Though they’ve both been using their words more lately.”
“I blame love,” Hayden singsongs.
They all laugh.
In theory, I wouldn’t object to being married like these guys are, but I’ve seen the end of the road and it’s that relationships don’t last. They inevitably fall apart. But like everything else in my life, I strive to defy the odds and re-stack the deck I’ve been dealt. To make it work. Leah must’ve done the same if she’s a team insider. She always loved hockey, so it’s no surprise that she’d wind up with a player. I feel a faint buzz inside like I’m breathing the air during a lightning storm.
Pierre goes quiet, reading something in the yearbook.
This intrusion into my life makes me feel twitchy in addition to itchy. It’s not like I have anything to hide, but after a lifetime of having the strange men my mother dated and my brother’s meddling friends in our home, I built up my walls and put a security code on the door, only allowing me entry. It’s a lair-hobbit-hole situation.
“Okay, enough of this trip down memory lane.” I move to grab the yearbook, but I’m up against a defenseman.
Pierre says, “My high school was so small, we didn’t have a yearbook. Let me live vicariously through you.” He pauses. “Though, maybe not this part.”
He reads aloud the letter from my secret adversary in the back of the yearbook. “Ouch. That’s harsh.”
Hayden says, “Definitely not a love note.”
“What did you do to make this person hate you so much?” Redd asks.
I close the book and stash it under the couch cushion. “Never found out who it was.”
“So somewhere out there, you have a secret adversary?” Micah asks.
Liam balks. “Is that a thing?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. It is what it is.”
“Don’t you mean was, past tense?” Jack asks.
“They email me periodically.”
Nervous laughter filters around the room.
“Your secret adversary emails you?” Hayden asks.
“And you don’t block them?” Grady asks as if ready to body block anyone who crosses one of his teammates. Glad the D has my back.
Their expressions hold many questions. Before I can explain, a clatter comes from the kitchen. Besides, I didn’t want these veritable strangers to know someone out there despises me—though I’ve come to think of it in an oddly endearing way, considering they still reach out with hateful notes even after all these years.
Reminded of the strange noises early this morning, I rush toward the sound in the kitchen.
Liam says, “It’s okay. Like the pro goalie he is, Beau saved the cake.”
I rub my hand down my face. I mentioned that I’ve invested in real estate and still own each property. However, I never had guests over. I was the king of the castle … but these knights have stormed the palace.
To be fair, they brought grub and with a toast, they congratulate me on joining the team and pass out slices of Bundt cake for dessert. Liam, the captain, says a few words and everyone cheers. It’s definitely a brotherhood and a lot different from the slow simmering animosity between my twin and me.
Eventually, almost everyone filters out except Coach Badaszek. He remains on the couch chatting with Vohn, Pierre, and Liam. It looks serious and I don’t want to interrupt. I’m about to go clean up in the kitchen—I cannot fathom the mess they made—when everyone except the coach abruptly gets to their feet, thanks me for my hospitality, and then leaves.
