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SIX

declan

“Quit fidgeting,” Willa says. We’re sitting in the stiff plastic seats outside my new coach’s office. I’ve been playing with the platinum band on my finger, spinning it around and around. She grabs my hand and holds it in her small one when I fail to comply.

I look over at my wife. Her lilac hair is down in soft waves that frame her sweet face. Although, she keeps pointing out that I’m the only one that thinks she’s sweet. It’s probably because of the scowl she usually wears around other people.

“What?” she asks when she catches me staring at her. Her blue eyes have small specks of gold in them. I haven’t noticed that before. “You okay, hockey boy?”

“Sorry,” I mumble and shake my head. “I think it just hit me, what you’re doing for me.”

She smiles and nudges my arm with her shoulder. “We would do anything for each other. That’s just how it is.”

She says it so simply. I guess it is that simple because she’s right. We would do absolutely anything for each other. The fact that she’s possibly in real danger makes my chest constrict and my pulse race every time I think about it. When she left my apartment last night after our quick wedding, I stayed up most of the night wondering if I should just retire now so I can stay by her side to protect her. I shot myself down pretty fast because I know she would hate that. It would also have made getting married pointless.

I kiss the back of her hand. “Thank you, Princess.”

Her smile brightens, and she leans her head on my arm. “You’re welcome, hockey boy.”

“Holy shit. You didn’t lie.” Willa’s head snaps up at Diego’s voice. She immediately scowls at him, and I laugh loudly. “You have an actual fiancée.”

“I’m his wife,” Willa says, now fully glaring, which just makes me laugh harder.

“I meant no insult, Mrs. Monroe,” Diego says, smiling and thinking he’s going to charm her. I lean back in my chair to watch the show.

“You may not mean to insult me, but you are insulting my husband by implying he isn’t worthy of a committed, loving relationship. Either that or you’re implying I’m stupid or a gold digger,” Willa says, flames in her eyes. “So, which is it? Who are you insulting?”

Diego’s eyes are wide, and his hands are raised like he’s asking her not to shoot him. I’m grinning like a fool as I pull my wife to my side. I’m six foot two, and Willa is a full foot shorter than me, but I wouldn’t want to go toe to toe with her. Diego seems to be learning that the hard way. His eyes keep darting to me, but I just shrug.

“I really meant no offense. I was just joking with Declan,” Diego says, still looking at me to help him.

“You meant offense. I’m the only one that gets to insult him. Remember that,” Willa says, turning her gaze to me and smiling in a clear dismissal.

“Who says you get to insult me?” I ask playfully. She holds up the copy of our marriage certificate. “Yeah. That’s fair.”

“You married Willa Prince,” Diego says, because the man has no self-preservation skills.

“Do you have something to say about that?” Willa challenges.

“No!” Diego says quickly. “Shattered Halo is my favorite band.” Willa eyes him suspiciously but stays quiet. “You didn’t tell me you knew Willa Prince,” he says to me.

I frown. “You knew about Willa.”

“But I didn’t know she was Willa Prince!” he says, his voice squeaks on her name.

“Are you fangirling right now?” I ask and start laughing again. I look at Willa to see the corners of her mouth twitching. “I’m sure she would’ve autographed your shiny bald spot if you hadn’t started off this entire conversation by insulting her handsome, talented, perfect hockey god of a husband.”

Willa snorts and hits my chest with the back of her hand.

“The woman you were photographed with at the airport was blonde and witnesses said you claimed you were engaged to her,” Diego says because he really wants to die today.

Willa turns to me. “Did you fuck her?” she asks, a fake frown on her face. Diego looks like he’s suddenly about to pee himself. Probably just realizing he caused an issue.

“No. She stuffed me with burgers and left me alone in my bed,” I say. Willa smiles and shakes her head.

“I wear a wig in public. I don’t like being photographed without my permission,” she tells Diego. She’s being marginally nicer, but I can tell she hasn’t decided if she likes him or not.

“Oh. It was you,” he says, releasing a breath.

“Who are you?” she asks him.

“Oh! I’m so sorry. My name is Diego. I’m Declan’s agent.” He holds out his hand to shake hers. She does, but her gaze narrows.

“Are you sure he’s right for the job?” she asks me.

“I did until right now,” I say, earning me a glare from Diego.

“Are you going to be alright for the meeting, Diego?” We all turn to see a man standing in the doorway. Coach Jones is older than my last coach. His hair is fully white, but he’s in shape and has that look in his eyes that tells you he takes no shit. I already like him.

“I’m fine,” he says, adjusting his tie and clearing his throat. His cheeks are red, and he is avoiding looking at me.

I stand and offer my hand. “It’s great to meet you, Coach. This is my wife, Willa.” Willa smiles and shakes his hand.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Monroe.”

We follow him into his office. Diego, being the idiot he is, takes one of the two available seats. So I take the other and pull Willa into my lap. She comes willingly and wraps her arm around my neck. I kiss her cheek. I really missed the comfort of having her close after all the years we spent apart. Even before I signed with the NHL, we only saw each other over the summer, but for whatever reason, we’ve always been comfortable with each other.

Coach Jones stares at the casual display and smiles. “Do you know why you were asked to attend this meeting, Mrs. Monroe?”

“Please call me Willa,” she says, still smiling. I think I like it more when she scowls at other men. “Can I speak candidly?”

“I’d rather you did,” Coach says, returning her smile. Okay, I don’t like that either. Who knew getting married, even if it is a farce, would make me possessive?

“Declan has spent a lot of his life thinking with his dick,” she says casually. I make a sound of surprise, but that doesn’t stop her. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. I know more about his antics than anyone else.” She’s not wrong. “But he’s been working on himself, and I promise that part of his life is over.”

“What made you decide to make a change?” Coach asks me.

I look at Willa and see pain in her eyes. I know she’s thinking of the same night I am. “I made her cry.” Willa lowers her gaze, not wanting me to see whatever emotions are on her face.

“That’s it?” Coach asks skeptically.

“Willa doesn’t cry. Making her cry cut my heart to shreds. I knew I would do everything in my power to make sure it wouldn’t happen again.” My words are for her as much as they are for my new coach. I hug her tightly to my chest.

“You married her to get her to stop crying? Please tell me you got a prenup,” Diego says. Willa shoots up from my lap before I can stop her.

“I’ve had about enough of you. All you do is insult my husband and now you’re insulting me. You’re supposed to be his advocate, not his bully,” she says in that eerily calm way she does that’s scary as fuck.

Coach clears his throat and pushes a paper in my direction. “Sign this and then I suggest you find someone else to represent you that will have your best interests in mind.” I sign the paper quickly and stand, pulling Willa back to my side.

I shake Coach’s offered hand and thank him. “You’re not fired, Diego. Because contrary to what happened in here, I do think you have my best interest in mind. You just really need to get your shit together around my wife.”

I pull Willa out of the office and away from Diego before he can protest. Once we’re away from everyone, I pull her into my arms and spin. She laughs while holding me tightly. “We did it,” she whispers in my ear.

“You did it, Princess. I said nothing in there.” I put her down and check my watch. “I only have a few minutes until I need to be in the locker room.”

“That’s fine. I need to go meet with Jon.”

I frown. “Who the fuck is Jon?” Willa just laughs at me.

“My manager. The rest of the band will be there too. We’ve had a lot of brand deals coming in and requests for interviews. Then there’s the whole tour rescheduling thing.”

“Right. I knew that.”

“I’ll see you tonight. We can eat your boring healthy food since you’ll officially be in season and maybe watch Where the Heart is ?” She smiles up at me in a way she knows I won’t say no to. I groan and act put out, anyway.

“Again?” It’s her favorite movie. She’s made me watch it with her over FaceTime a bunch over the years. We’d always talk about which snack foods we’d name future children. My favorite so far is Cheese Puff. Willa’s is Pizza Roll. “Fine,” I relent, just like she knew I would.

Her phone vibrates in her hand, and she glances at it. “Shoot. I’m going to be late.” She hugs me quickly and runs for the parking lot. I watch her go, noticing, not for the first time, how great of an ass she has.

“She’s a fuckable little thing.” I turn, grabbing the collar of the man who just spoke and shoving him into the wall.

“What the fuck did you just say about my wife?” I growl in his face. He lifts his hands in a placating gesture and laughs.

“Just calling as I see it, new guy.”

“Stop hitting on people’s wives, Cameron.” I turn to see Gideon Banks, Captain of the Bruisers, center, and my line mate, assuming I make first line. “I apologize. Martinez likes to test out the new guys.”

“I like your aggression. We can be friends,” the guy I’m still holding against the wall says. I let him go and back up. Cameron Martinez is smiling at me a little psychotically. He’s on the defensive line and one of the best there ever was. And I just had him pinned to the wall like an asshole. Great first day so far.

“I didn’t ask to be friends,” I say, questioning his sanity.

“It’s decided,” he says and then just walks away.

“It’s easier just to accept it,” Banks says, coming to stand next to me. “You’re married to the drummer from Shattered Halo?”

I tense and look at him. He’s about my height, but with a slimmer build. He has blond hair and brown eyes that seem kind enough. But I should have asked Willa to wear her wig to the meeting. I didn’t realize how many people would see her, and she wanted to keep this out of the press until they figure out for certain who tried to kidnap Harlow.

“I really need that to stay a secret. She’s not exactly safe right now,” I admit, hoping a guy that’s good enough of a person to be chosen as captain can understand.

He nods. “I heard about Callahan’s wife.”

“You’re a fan too?” I ask. I mean, I knew they were famous, but I didn’t realize how hard it would be to be married to someone so recognizable and keep it quiet. It’s been one day, and I’m already failing miserably.

“Sure. I’m from Bangor, which makes Shattered Halo basically hometown royalty. People still talk about what happened to Ezra Irons. I don’t blame you for wanting to keep her close.”

I nod, my eyes still on the spot where I last saw Willa even though she’s probably halfway to her meeting by now.

“Did Martinez recognize her?”

“He may have. I’ll have a chat with him.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Come on. Let’s get you introduced to the rest of the team, and then you can show us what you’ve got.” I smile and follow him to the locker rooms.

“You’re one fast motherfucker,” Banks jokes, taking the spot next to me on the locker room bench. Practice went great. I gelled really well with Banks and Anatoly Ivanov, who make up the offensive first line. Boston’s right winger retired last season, so the spot is wide open for me to grab. There are a few guys on the second line and farm team that are less than happy with how quickly I claimed that spot. Unfortunately for them, I’m really fucking good at hockey. Coach hasn’t made it official, but after that practice, I’m not worried.

“It’s why they pay me so much,” I joke back.

“You’re getting us the cup this year, new friend,” Martinez says in a way that makes it sound like a threat.

“I’ll do my best,” I say and laugh.

“You will get us the cup,” Martinez repeats as he unlaces his skates.

“Uh. Sure thing,” I say. He nods, seeming satisfied.

I quickly get undressed and showered so I can get back to my apartment. Banks laughs while watching me struggle to get my wet legs into jeans.

“I remember the honeymoon phase.”

“You’re married?” I ask. Willa and I might not be in the honeymoon phase, but she’s still my best friend. I missed her like crazy, and I’m about to miss her again when official games start. So I want to get in as much time as I can.

“I am. Have been for six years now,” he says proudly. “Is Willa going to be able to come to any of our games?”

“I’m not sure. We were going over schedules last night. It would’ve been easier for her if,” I stop and look around at the other guys in the room with us. One of them is married to an actress and another to a model. It’s not like they don’t get the need for privacy, but I also won’t risk letting them know about Willa yet. “If that thing didn’t happen to reschedule everything.”

Banks nods. “If she decides to and she wants to hide with the fans, that’s where my wife usually sits. She likes being close to the action instead of with the other WAGs.”

“That’s probably where she’d want to be, so I’ll take you up on that once I figure out everything. She used to tell me to get my ass in gear when I was still on the second line. Once she called me after a playoff game loss and laid into me about hogging the puck.”

Banks laughs. “You’ve got a keeper.”

I smile. “That I do.”

He pats my shoulder. “Great first day. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I grab my stuff and dig my phone out of my bag as I make my way out of the locker room.

Princess

How was your first practice? Was everyone wowed by your stick skills?

I’m running a little late. The meeting is still going on. I don’t know how.

Actually, I do.

Practice was great. I made a friend against my will. That’s a new one for me.

What’s keeping you from me?

I’m going to need you to explain that one later. We’re finishing up rescheduling the last leg of the tour, and I may have fought for weird dates so that I could go to some of your games. But I couldn’t tell anyone why.

I’m smiling at my phone like an idiot. I forgot how great it feels to have Willa in my corner. Not that she hasn’t always been there, but it’s the first time in years she’s fighting to come cheer me on. My parents retired early thanks to my paychecks. Now they’re traveling all over the world and rarely come to see me play anymore. It’ll be nice to have someone there for me again.

You could just tell them.

I slide into my car and wait for her reply.

Not yet. I need to figure out how to tell them without blowing everything up.

I frown.

You think they won’t like me?

Honestly, I think you and Cal will be best friends, but everything is fragile right now, and I’m scared of rocking the boat.

I get it.

I don’t. It’s not like I’m some random guy. I’ve been in her life for most of it. I doubt they’d even be that surprised. But considering she’s doing this for me so I can retire how I want to, I keep my thoughts to myself.

Soon. I promise.

I think Jon is either ready to wrap up or the vein in his head exploded. Either way, I should be out of here soon.

See you soon, Princess.

I think about her the whole drive back to my apartment. I never meant to add more stress to her life. I honestly thought I’d just move into her house and be around her friends all the time. But I need to accept her caution because she knows them better than I do.

I’ve never really met them. I was there for her mom’s funeral, but I was ten, and I don’t remember much other than how sad Willa was. I probably met the others, but maybe I didn’t.

Fake marriage is hard when you actually care about your wife.