Page 51 of Off the Stick
“I’m sure that’s really hard to manage, especially with two young kids.”
“Which is precisely why I’m so glad to have another WAG with a child.Most of the other players’ partners are young and still into clubbing every night.”She waves a dismissive hand in the air.“Not to imply you’re old, but at least you and I can get the girls together and have playdates.”
As if on cue, the girls squeal in playful delight, drawing our attention over to the living room.They are happy and content with each other, and my heart expands with the knowledge we’ve both made new friends.
“Absolutely.Just one correction, though.I’m not a WAG; I only work for the team.”
Helena snickers.“If you say so.”
25
Dane
“Helena mentioned both she and Elise had a great time with Halle and Lennon today,” Nils says in his typical low-key, no-nonsense tone as we hit the locker room post-game.
We’re celebrating a big W tonight against Boston, zipping it up in the final period, two to zero.Both of our team goals were scored by Thorny, with his first goal made straight off the faceoff not even twenty seconds into the game.It was a glorious play, with an easy-breezy flip of the puck into the net around the goalie’s stick.
The second goal was an assist from me to Thorny.I set it up with a quick pass from the right, with a double screen in front of the net by Rossco and Lyons.Oli let go of a bomb from up top, the perfect laser goal that kept us in the lead the entire game.
We’re still early in the season, but the more Ws we can stack up, the better.It feels like this year our team is really gelling like no other.We have some strong, key players—me included—and no one is out for his own glory.It’s truly a team effort.
I scrub a towel over my wet hair and turn toward Nils with a grin.
“Yeah, those two are easy to like, man.And thank Helena again for doing me that solid.That was cool of her.”I cast him a glance.“Especially after that thing with her sister.”
A few months ago, right around the playoffs and through the beginning of our summer, Helena’s younger sister, Karolina, came over from Norway to visit the family.She’d of course attended a few of our end-of-season games and we ended up meeting one night at a post-game party held over at Brewer’s house.
One thing led to another, and Karolina wound up coming home with me.We had a fantastic night together.The next morning, however, Karolina started making plans for us to hang out again during her trip, which was not on my agenda.I’d made it clear from the beginning that our hookup was a one-time thing, and she wasn’t happy with me when I hurriedly ushered her out of the house, wishing her a good rest of her visit.
Based on the looks I now get from Helena, she must have heard a different story from her sister and I get the feeling she formed an unfavorable opinion about me after that.
The thing that confused me was how Karolina could have misunderstood my intentions.I’m not a guy who toys with women’s hearts.I may not be high on the emotional intelligence scale—something my younger sister, a business psychology major, has accused me of before—but I’m not an asshole who aims at hurting a woman.
I always try to let women know my rules from the very beginning.The rules are there to ensure we both had a good time together—preferably naked—and then go our merry ways.To help keep feelings from getting mixed up and entangled together.No tears of goodbye.No frustration and fights when a call or text doesn’t come through after a long road trip.And absolutely zero emotions.
I pull on a clean shirt over my head, tug a pair of jeans up my legs, and tuck the T-shirt hem into my waistband.Then I run a hand through damp hair and turn to notice Nils is ready to go.He throws his used towels in the bin at the end of the bench and stares at me like he’s trying to figure me out.
“You going to tell me about your involvement with this woman and her kid?”
Something flares to life inside me—a protective instinct over my connection with Halle and Lenni.Unfortunately, Halle doesn’t want this out in the open yet.While I respect her reservations even though I don’t completely understand the reasons for them, I’m not at liberty to spill the tea to anyone right now.I promised Halle, for Lenni’s sake, to not let it slip that I’m her biological father.
Until Lennon knows the truth, it can’t be shared publicly.
Putting on my poker face, I keep my tone casual and give the same spiel I’ve given everyone else, hoping he can’t read through me.
“I’ve known Halle since I played in juniors.She just moved here for the job as one of the team’s analysts, so she doesn’t really know anyone, and asked for my help.So, I helped.”I shrug a shoulder nonchalantly.
Nils rubs his bearded chin and stares at me with an assessing gaze.
“Hmm… okay.Just seems out of character for you.”
I wrinkle my nose at his shade.I may sleep around a lot, but that doesn’t mean I won’t step out on a limb to help my friends.
“Dude, I’m not a total self-centered prick.She’s my friend and needed my help.End of story.”
Nils lets out a disbelieving snicker, one brow quirked skyward.“Sure, Ax.Go ahead and tell yourself that.”He levels me with his blue eyes.“I know how you operate.You don’t do friends with a woman.It’s impossible.”
He’s not wrong.I probably couldn’t name one unless I go back in time to the second grade.I’ve had girls’ attention almost all my life and it gained momentum when I started playing hockey.Hockey players are viewed as hometown heroes in Canada.Right or wrong, we wear badges of honor for being athletic and good at the sport.Let’s face it, that level of admiration has a profound impact on one’s inflated self-esteem.
