Page 18 of Hot Damn
“Not sure what help I’ll be but I’ll try.” Again, my inclination is to not get involved but I need to. Especially now the world knows about Whit. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.” Alcott waves as he heads down the corridor toward his office and I wait until he’s behind his door before pushing into the locker room.
I’ve spent eighteen years protecting Whit, protecting myself, and now, with her on the cusp of adulthood, I’m going to have to learn to be more open. More friendly. More involved in life outside of hockey and home.
“Hey, Bex. Ready to head over to the arena?”
I glance up to find Noah Hubert dressed, hair wet fromhis recent shower. Looking down at my skates, I bring my gaze back up and raise an eyebrow.
“Right. No. Not ready. I’ll wait in the lounge.” He smiles sheepishly as he passes me. He’s young. Good on the ice but green off it. He’ll get there. Being twenty and finding yourself playing for a national team is daunting, and overwhelming at times.
“I’ll be quick,” I say to his back.
He waves in acknowledgment as he pushes out the door. Turning back to the locker room, I see the team is all still here. Most are showered and getting in their street clothes. The only one beside myself who isn’t either showered or in one is Mikel.
The scowl on his face should scare people away. His perpetual grumpiness does what the frown doesn’t. I’ve been training with the guy, playing alongside him, for a few weeks now and I still can’t work out if he’s pissed to be here, pissed in general, or missing home.
The last would be understandable. He’s playing in the US for the first time in his short life.
At twenty-four he’s not that young but he’s not old either. He’s seasoned, played for the professional league in Europe, so it’s not that being here is much different to what he’s used to.
Well, except for the whole speaking English thing.
“Mikel. You good?”
I get a nod before he shoves to his feet and starts to strip. “I don’t want to talk to person.”
“It’s not that bad. She’s just going to ask you some questions but more in a conversation way than an interview.”
“You be there?” The pleading in his gaze has me answering before thinking.
“Yes.” I’d planned to talk to Cami and get out of there but with Alcott’s words about connecting with my team better echoing in my head, I realize staying while Noah and Mikel do their thing with Cami is the best thing to do. “I’ll stick around the whole time.”
He grunts, snatches up a towel, and heads for the showers.
Shaking my head, I walk to my locker and sit. I’ve got one skate unlaced, the second half undone when Branton sits next to me. He’s quiet as I get my second skate undone and pull both off. Looking up I ask, “Need something?”
“No. Just wanted to say I know what it’s like to want to protect a child with your life. I don’t think you did a bad thing hiding your daughter from the world.”
“I didn’t hide her. That was never my intention.” Except it was. Because if anyone found out about her mother, if someone dug deep enough, they’d find the trail and the trail leads to a time in my life I buried along with the woman who birthed my daughter.
“I get that. I didn’t mean to imply you were being sneaky or anything.” He scrubs a hand over his head. “Shit. This isn’t coming out right.”
“Why don’t you keep going and maybe we can work it out between us.”
“I just want you to know I have your back. You need to keep to yourself, keep Whitney from the public eye, I’ll do—we’ll do”—he indicates the men around us—“whatever you and she need to feel comfortable.”
“At this point I can’t keep her out of the public eye. Both Oakley and that reporter, Cami, thought it would be best if we got in front of any possible bad press by doing last night’s interview. I’m sure there will be more in the future. I’m not dumb enough to think that ten minutes of conversation will satisfy everyone.”
“Blake explained about the videos they want us all to do. What did they call it… A conversation with a Rogue?”
“Yeah, that’s what they called mine and Coach’s. It fits with promoting the team.”
“It does. And Cami knows her shit, so you’re in good hands there. We all are.”
“Hope so.”
“You are. Cami would never do anything to make the team or anyone associated with it look bad.”
