Page 31 of Breakaway (Nashville Knights Hockey #3)
Chapter Thirty-One
DAX
“ T hat was a great game, gentlemen.” Coach Andrews is standing in the locker room, looking at all of us. “I’m proud of the way we’re playing. We’ve got a tough stretch of games coming up and I want all of us locked in. We’ll do a light practice before heading to Tampa for our last game down here.”
“Thanks, Coach,” everyone echoes.
He heads back to his temporary office as guys hit the showers. I drop down onto the bench, stretching my legs out in front of me.
“That was a good game from you,” Marcus tells me.
“Thanks.” I grab my bag, waiting for the others to head out to the team bus that will take us back to the hotel.
“I know you’re not back out there with us on the first line, but you’re still playing for the team and that’s something Duncan would never do.”
“Got that right,” Noah agrees. “Did you see Detroit got crushed this afternoon?”
“You don’t have to sound so happy about it,” Graham says .
“Sorry.” Noah smiles. “I can’t help it. I hate Duncan and he deserves it.”
“Yeah, I agree,” Jasper says. He’s not paying attention, tapping away on his phone.
“Do you think we could win the Stanley Cup and he would notice?” Noah asks, nudging Graham as we all head to the bus.
“Right now? No.”
We file onto the bus and head back to the hotel north of Miami.
“You guys want to get a drink before we hit the sack?” Bode asks.
“I’m game,” I say.
“We’re in.” Noah and Graham drop into the seats behind me and Bode.
“I’m going to call Harper and check in on the kids and I’ll be there,” Marcus says.
It’s a quick trip back to the hotel at this late hour without much traffic. Marcus and Jasper head upstairs while Bode, Noah, Graham, and I head for the bar.
“Want to do a pitcher of beer?” Bode asks.
“Sure. I’ll get the first round.”
I order our drinks as highlights from tonight’s games play on the screen. Drinks are handed over without any comment as to who he is serving. Thank God, because I don’t want to deal with people tonight.
“Thanks, man.”
Bode takes the glasses and passes them around as I pour.
“You know, we still haven’t cashed in on our bowling win,” Jasper says.
“Does this count?” I ask.
“Fuck, no. We have to do something fun,” he says .
“Glad to know drinks with your boys isn’t fun,” Graham says.
“This is just what I need after that game.” Bode kicks his legs out at the high-top table we’re all crowded around. “I’m ready to get home and sleep in my own bed.”
“Same. I miss Chloe,” I say.
Not that we spend every night together, but I’ve gotten used to seeing her whenever I want. This is the worst part about being a professional hockey player. Being gone for days, sometimes weeks, at a time and only having video calls, the phone, and texts to communicate.
I don’t care if it makes me a sap, but I can’t wait to get home and just hold her in my arms. It’s been a hard few weeks, and she’s the only thing that’s making it worth it.
“One more game,” Jasper says. “I think we can all make it one more game.”
“Are you going to tell us what’s been going on with you?” Noah asks. “Seriously, we tell each other everything.”
“Don’t I know it.” Jasper laughs.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Graham prods.
“Did we really need to know that Dax and Chloe went to a sex club?” He quirks a brow at Noah and Graham.
“Probably not, but hey, it got the ball rolling for them to get together. I’d say we had a big part of that,” Noah says proudly.
“You want to take credit for my relationship?” I sip on my beer. Damn, that really is refreshing after tonight’s game.
“At least some part of it,” Noah reiterates.
“Eh. If you want to, I don’t care,” I say.
“Dax did the hard part.” Bode squeezes my shoulder. “You had a conversation. Like an adult. Something a lot of people don’t know how to do. ”
He swings his gaze to Jasper.
“Ugh. Not back to me again,” he whines.
“Then tell us what we want to know,” Bode almost shouts at him. “You’ve been keeping a secret and we want to know.”
A voice from the TV snags our attention. “Next on Really, Man? we have breaking news out of Detroit. Stay tuned for news on Duncan Fletcher with your host Rhino Wellsley.”
An image of Duncan being hauled away in cuffs flashes across the screen.
“Wait, turn that up,” I call out to the bartender.
“Was he in cuffs?” Marcus asks, his jaw dropping.
“He said Duncan Fletcher, right?” Noah asks.
I smack him on the shoulder. “Obviously I’m sitting right next to you.”
“I wanted to make sure there wasn’t some other Fletcher we were getting him mixed up with. He was getting arrested?” Noah looks giddy. Out of all the guys here, he probably hates him as much as I do for the way he treated his sister.
“Shh!” I shush them as the intro music comes on.
“I’m Rhino Wellsley, and welcome to Really, Man?
Thanks for joining us tonight. In a sting earlier this evening, Detroit hockey stars Duncan Fletcher and Chad Orman were arrested after being implicated in an illegal gambling ring.
Dozens were arrested as Detroit police were on scene after an anonymous source tipped them off.
While we don’t know everything that’s going on, we have received word that documents show that both players allegedly threw games in order to win bets.
Really, man?” Rhino asks. “Detroit is at the bottom of the league and you couldn’t try to win in your favor? ”
A video is now playing of Duncan shouting at the camera as he’s being hauled away in a police car.
“I’ve been under a lot of stress. It’s not my fault!” he cries.
“Holy shit,” I mutter.
“We’ll have more as news breaks, but I’ve been doing some digging into both players.”
Images of Duncan and Chad’s social media accounts come up on the screen. Parties. Women. Nothing even remotely related to hockey.
Rhino points at the images. “Now, these aren’t their ‘official’ accounts.
We had to go digging to find these, but it looks like Duncan has been partying with women for the last few years.
And for those that don’t remember, he gave an interview about his fiancée cheating on him.
Really? Really? It looks like he rubbed off on his teammate, because these two have been doing nothing but partying and making the rounds through Detroit. Really?”
“We need shots.” Bode darts over to the bar and orders them for us.
“I can’t believe this.”
Shock doesn’t even begin to cover it. Was Duncan trying to get in the team’s good graces because this is what he was doing off the ice?
A shot is pushed into my hand and I take it without thinking.
Why the hell have I been so worried about breaking out of Duncan’s shadow when that’s the kind of person he is? I know I’m a good player and an even better man.
“You know, when I was hoping Duncan would get what was coming to him, this isn’t what I had in mind,” Noah says.
“Betting against your team?” I shake my head. “I mean, who does that? ”
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out as the guys continue discussing the news.
Chloe
Are you seeing this?
Dax
I can’t believe it
Me either
Betting against the team?
God, what a dick
Seriously
Who does that
Does this mean we’re done with him?
I hope so
I’m going to reach out and see if he needs anything
This is why I love you
Opening a new text thread, I type in Duncan’s name and fire off a message.
Dax
Look, I know we don’t always see eye to eye on a lot of things, but if you need anything, I’m here for you
Duncan
Fuck you
If you weren’t such a damn Goody Two-shoes, I wouldn’t be in this situation
How the hell is this my fault?
If I didn’t have to live up to your name, I’d be fine
Sorry, this is all you
You’re the big brother and the family favorite
I’m not taking the heat about this for you
Then fuck off
I’ve tried to be the bigger person, Duncan, but I’m done
Done with the way you treat me, treat Chloe
I’m over it
If you really need my help, I’m here for you, but it doesn’t seem like you do
I flip my phone around and show the guys what Duncan said.
“What a fucking asshole,” Jasper says. “He thinks this is because of you? What warped sense of self does he have that you’re the cause of all of his problems?”
“I don’t know, but if this means I’m done, I can’t complain.”
“Still sucks to lose a brother,” Marcus says.
I shake my head. “I have you guys. That’s all that matters.”
“Aww.” Noah leans over, giving me a noogie. “You love us.”
“Get off.” I push him off of me. “Are you twelve?”
Marcus tips his beer in our direction. “This is what you get when you say we’re your brothers.”
“I regret it already.”
“No, you don’t. You love us,” Bode says. “We love you too.”
“Aren’t you guys supposed to be hockey players?” The bartender comes up from behind us, startling me.
“We’re in touch with our feelings. You should try it,” Jasper bites out.
He rolls his eyes. “Last call. Need anything?”
“One more round of shots,” I say.
The ticker at the bottom of the screen has news of Duncan’s arrest flying across as the lead headline between the night’s scores.
I hate to feel a sense of relief at my brother’s downfall, but now it seems like my life is finally my own.
Mine and Chloe’s.
No more living in Duncan’s shadow. Having to worry about what he’ll say or do that will affect us.
I don’t know how my parents will feel about this, but I’m sure they’ll be on Duncan’s side and blame me like he did.
I don’t care. I have Chloe. Chloe is all I need. I have Chloe, these guys that have become my family, and hockey .
Now I need to make sure that Chloe gets her dream.
Charms by Chloe.
I’ll make it happen if it’s the last thing I do.