Page 18 of Breaking Through the Doubt (Espen Jetties #4)

18

COREY

“Thank you for staying,” I said to Emilio as I finished up the last bit of cleaning on my station. “I owe you one.”

He clasped his hand on the back of my shoulder and squeezed. “No, you don’t. You deserve to have a night to yourself. When was the last time you took off for a date?”

“It’s not exactly a date.” I tossed the leftover ink cups into the trash and wiped down the table. “I’m going to watch the game; not like I’ll actually get to spend one-on-one time with him.”

“Riiight. You’re telling me that after the game, you’re going to go home with the rest of the crowd?”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do after the game, but I’m not going to assume I’m going home with him. I just won’t say no if he asks.”

The simple thought of going home with Leslie sent a wave of heat through me. Memories of the last time we’d had the chance to be together had played on repeat in my dreams for the last week. The weight of him in my mouth, the taste of him on my tongue. It was all so much, yet not enough at the same time.

“Somebody’s getting lucky tonight,” Emilio said in a teasing singsong voice.

I laughed. “Wouldn’t mind it one bit.”

He walked around behind me. “Then get your ass out the door and go get ready.”

I continued laughing as Emilio kept giving light shoves to my back until I reached the reception desk.

“All right. I’m going. I’m going.” I stepped behind the reception desk. Emilio followed me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, getting ready to lead me to the front door. “I have to get my keys before I can go anywhere.”

The bell chimed and I looked up to see Emilio’s next appointment walking in the door. He glanced over at me. “You promise to get your ass out of here without me needing to push you if I go and help my client?”

“Cross my heart,” I said, giving him a mock salute.

“Dick.” He chuckled. He started in the direction where his next appointment had taken a seat while they waited. He led the guy toward the stations. As he passed me, he said, “Have fun tonight.” He leaned a little closer. “And make sure you get some.”

Emilio darted off before I could say anything more. I grabbed my keys from the drawer of the reception desk and yelled bye to Karli and Lila, who were in Lila’s station, then stepped out the door into the darkening fall day.

The air was cool, verging on cold. It was early and the sky was almost dark, making it clear the crisp days of fall would be behind us soon, leaving us only with the frigid days of winter. Something I could wait for.

I climbed into my SUV and immediately called my dad. It had been a while since we had the chance to catch up. He knew I was busy with the shop and never made me feel guilty for putting everything I had into building my business, even if it meant we had less time to spend together than before. But it had been longer than normal, with most of my free time going to spending time with Leslie.

“Hello?” It always made me laugh that my dad would answer his phone without looking at the caller ID. Then I remembered why he did that and sobered up pretty quickly.

“Hey, Dad, how are things going?”

“Corey! It’s been a bit. Things are good. Been doing odd jobs around the apartment complex to keep busy.”

Dad was never good at sitting around when he wasn’t working. As a kid, we were always going different places. Most didn’t cost a lot of money, since we didn’t have much. But a trip to the beach, or the free local zoo used to make my day. Anything to spend extra time with my dad.

“That’s good. I know you don’t like lazing around. We could grab a late dinner one night.”

“Yeah. I can do that. Were you thinking here or out somewhere?”

“How about we go out. We can go somewhere near the shop. This way you’re not waiting even later for me to drive to you.”

“All right. Let me know when and where.”

“I will. How is everything else?”

“Good. Good. I’ve seen you on social media a lot lately.”

I had a feeling this part of the conversation was coming. He was rightfully worried about the impact of being with Leslie would have on my business. He mentioned it every time I talked to him.

“I know, Dad. And you’ll probably see more tonight while I’m at the game. I don’t let it bother me. Being with Leslie is more important than worrying about who’s taking a picture of me.”

“Except it does matter. What happens if it doesn’t work out? What happens to all the new clients you said it brought in?”

I turned into the parking lot of my apartment complex. “It’s just like anything that brings a new client in. Once they’re through the door, it’s my job to make them want to come back. If we do shitty work, they won’t return. If we do excellent work, they’ll come back no matter who I might be dating.”

Dad sighed. “I’m sorry. I worry about you.”

“I know, and I love you for it.” All my life, he’d been the only one who worried about me all the time. “I just pulled up to my building and need to get ready to head over to the arena. I’ll see you later this week.”

“Love you too. I’ll see you then.”

I disconnected the call and jumped out of the car. There was very little time for me to shower and get to the arena in time for the game.

* * *

I pulled up to the arena and showed the gate attendant the parking pass Leslie had given me. The attendant directed me to the left, where I was waved into the Preferred Parking area. I’d always parked in the lot across the street, never having the opportunity to park so close.

When I found a space in the section, I turned off my car and waited for a moment. Leslie had warned me that more attention might be on me now that my picture had been linked to his online. I steeled myself for people to notice me. It happened often because of my tattoos and piercings, but most of the time, they never had the balls to come up to me. Not unless it was to admire my work.

This was completely different. I’d seen the brazen way Leslie’s fans had gone up to him. Asked for autographs, or even followed him down the street. How would they react to me? Our pictures had been in The Espen Gazette , the biggest gossip paper in the city.

I pushed open the car door. If they wanted to take my picture, they were more than welcome to. There was nothing I needed to hide from the world. I was a successful businessman in the city.

I walked to the doors of the arena and couldn’t help but notice the increase of eyes on me and the whispers that followed. I ignored it all. If there was something Leslie wanted the media to know, it was up to him to tell them.

The seat for the game was in the lower level. It had surprised me to find out that by lower level, it meant practically on the ice right behind the plexiglass barriers, and next to the home goal where I could watch every move Leslie made.

I took my seat and waited for the game to begin. I was glad I got there early, so I had the opportunity to watch the team come out onto the ice for warm-ups. My eyes connected with Leslie’s the moment he stepped out onto the ice without his helmet on.

He skated toward me and gave a light rap on the barrier as he skated past. The moment did not go unnoticed by the crowd or the cameras. The game hadn’t yet started on the TV, but when I looked up, there was my face on the Jumbotron, smiling as Leslie skated by.

The voices around me picked up and I heard the distinct chatter of “Corey” and “Dating.” They meant nothing to me as I focused on the man who was quickly becoming my entire world. After a little bit of skating around and passing the puck between the players, the team members went back to the locker room for the team introductions.

The moment they called Leslie’s name, I couldn’t stop my eyes from following him as he took his position in the goal. Helmet on, his entire being focused on the puck sitting in the ref’s hand. I watched as the puck dropped and the game began.

I’d watched plenty of hockey from my couch at home, even a game or two from the upper-level stands, but nothing could compare to the excitement of sitting practically on the ice. The way the players would fly into the boards, colliding together, fighting for their chance to get the puck. Even more exciting was watching Leslie protect the goal.

Back and forth, the puck slid down the ice. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. The two teams battled it out. It wasn’t until the third period when the right wingman, Hayes, was able to get the puck across the goal line. The crowd went wild. What a rush it was to be swept up in the excitement.

The celebrations continued as the crowd made their way from their seats, up the stairs, and out of the arena. Leslie had asked me to wait for him. He needed time for post-game interviews and changing. When I reached the top of the stairs, there was a security guard waiting for me.

“Mr. Mancini?”

“That’s me. Did I do something?”

He shook his head. “No, sir. I’ve been asked to take you to where you can wait comfortably for Mr. Knoxton.”

I nodded and let him lead me to an elevator. When we arrived, he opened a private room that was practically empty. Across the room was a woman. I had seen her before, but I couldn’t place where.

Not wanting to make an ass of myself, I sat on the opposite side of the room and played on my phone while I waited for Leslie. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine waiting here. I figured I’d sit in my car until he came out.

“I’m glad you made it.”

My head snapped up the minute I heard his smooth voice. I stood and shoved my phone into my pocket. A smile lifted the corner of my lips as I watched Leslie saunter over to me. The happiness from winning the game radiated from every inch of his body.

His hair was still damp from his shower. I walked over and wrapped my arms around his waist and let him capture my lips in a steaming kiss.

“Missed you too,” I said when our lips parted.

A clearing throat grabbed my attention. Leslie rolled his eyes and turned to face the woman and the player who had joined her.

“Need something, Nordin?”

“Just waiting for you to introduce us.”

I heard Leslie mutter, “Fucker” under his breath before wrapping his arm around my waist and leading me to where they stood.

“This is Corey. Corey, this is the pain in my ass, Noah Nordin, and his beautiful wife, Emily.”

I reached out a hand to Noah, who put his in mine. “It’s nice to meet you,” I said acknowledging both of them.

“Finally—” Noah started when his wife elbowed him in the ribs. “It’s so nice to meet you. We’ve heard a lot about you.”

“And that will have to do because we’re getting out of here.” Leslie winked at Emily. “We’ll see you another time.”