Page 33

I’d better bring my A game

Remy

Our last game before Christmas was in Utah, and it was my turn to play backup.

We left in the morning and were back in Austin that night to sleep.

I watched from the bench as Lappy played perfectly for one period before getting sloppy in the second and barely holding on for the win in the third.

It was frustrating. I wanted to play, but I didn’t want him to mess up so that I got called in.

But the little I was even backing him up lowered my shot of another contract.

Lappy muttered in French as he angrily pulled off his pads.

“Hey, you have to let that go. Sometimes games are like that. Shit happens.”

He glared at me.

“Um, merde happener?” My French was merde.

He snorted.

“You sticking around for Christmas?” Maybe if we spent some time together, I might have the chance to help him the way the team wanted. Sophie had told me to invite people, and this might be good for him.

He raised an eyebrow.

I struggled to remember my French. “Noel? Ici, Austin?”

“Non. Quebec. Chez nous.”

Maybe that would help him, some time with his family.

Then there were no practices or games till a home game against Minnesota on the twenty-seventh. I was looking forward to a few days when I didn’t have to stress about hockey, but also to seeing Sophie again.

She’d been busy since she showed up at my place and spent the night.

It had only been four days, and I was missing her.

Not smart. We weren’t building a relationship from two nights together.

She had a life here, and I was a temporary blip.

She’d said casual, and that was the right thing for what was left of my hockey career.

Ollie hadn’t said anything after the charity party, but if Sophie and I were dating, that could change. Dante had scolded me for skipping out, but the charity got a good bid for the photo package that I was going to have to do in the new year.

The problem was that I liked Sophie, more than I had anyone in a long time. I enjoyed spending time with her. The sex was great, but if that wasn’t what she was interested in, I’d still want to have her as a friend.

If I thought about her too much, I got as wound up as I did about Lappy’s game play, so I needed to chill the fuck out before I met her again.

I’d googled gift ideas for luthiers to get some ideas for a present for her.

She hadn’t said no gifts, so I was going for it.

Since I didn’t know what she already had, I picked out a random assortment of luthier consumables, ending up with a box full of odds and ends, like clamps and double-sided tape, syringes and popsicle sticks.

I’d picked things up all over the city, so I’d tried to wrap the box myself and it looked so bad I’d braved the mall and paid to get someone to wrap it up there.

Hanny brought along a gift of a couple of bottles of wine. Beast and I picked him up, since he planned to enjoy himself and order a ride home. The two of us insisted on helping, and Sophie didn’t have the experience to turn us down, so we arrived at the house around noon.

The turkey was already in the oven and she was working on cornbread stuffing.

“That smells amazing.” Hanny sniffed the air as she let us in.

Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her face was flushed from the heat, but her smile lit up her face.

“Really amazing,” I echoed. “Where should we put this stuff?”

Sophie looked from Hanny’s gift bag to mine. “I didn’t know we were doing gifts!”

“I wasn’t raised to arrive empty-handed,” Hanny responded. “Besides, you’ve invited us here. That’s more than enough of a gift.”

I narrowed my eyes. He didn’t need to be quite so charming.

She waved a hand at a doorway. “There’s a tree in there.”

We headed to the lounge, a huge room off the kitchen with a fireplace, two seating areas, and large windows facing the yard.

A big tree was in the corner, lit up. Christmas music played in the background and there was enough pine and ribbon that the room looked like the setting of a Christmas movie.

Beast eyed the tree suspiciously, so I held the leash tight to keep him close.

“This is gorgeous,” Hanny said when we returned to the kitchen.

I tied the dog to a chair in the corner. He looked around, probably for Goober.

Sophie smiled at Hanny. “Cash got someone to decorate the place when he found out I was having people over.”

Hanny and I exchanged glances. In theory we could do the same, but it wouldn’t be worth the bother and expense to us. Cash had money on a completely different scale.

“I’m flattered.” Was Hanny flirting with Soph, or was I just paranoid?

There was a knock at the door. “Oh, that’s Diane. She’s joining us.”

“From String Theory?” I asked. Hanny shot me a look but I ignored him. I might not have a good flirting game, but I had this over him.

“Yeah. Would you mind letting her in? I need to check on the turkey.”

I nodded and made my way to the front door.

“Merry Christmas, Remy,” she said, arms full. “Nice to see you again.”

“Can I help you with that?”

She had two pies in plastic carriers that she pushed into my arms. “Maybe take these to the kitchen?”

“Of course. I’m tempted to sample them, but I’ll behave.”

Diane laughed. “They’re my grandmother’s recipe, so they’re good, but you should wait. Sophie’s worked hard at planning the day.”

“I won’t mess things up for her,” I promised.

“Good man.”

I brought the pies to the kitchen. While I’d answered the door, Sophie had put Hanny to work peeling potatoes, and once the pies were set down she passed another peeler to me.

Diane came in free of presents. She’d removed her cape and was wearing flowing pants and a brightly colored print shirt. She looked festive, more so than Hanny and I in our sedate sweaters.

“Diane, this is Larry Han, my friend and teammate.”

Hanny flashed a grin at her. “Nice to meet you, Diane. You’re a luthier too?”

Diane waved a hand. “Yes. But no shop talk today, guitars or hockey. This smells wonderful, Sophie. Since you’ve already got a couple of sous chefs, I’ll open the wine and keep morale up.”

Beast growled and Diane jumped. “Beast is here?”

“You’ve met the monster?” Hanny asked.

“He’s been at the shop. I can’t wait to see him with Goober.”

“Goober?” Hanny looked around.

“Goober is Sophie’s cat. I’ve heard he and Beast have a…special relationship.”

Hanny side-eyed me, but didn’t comment.

We finished preparing the vegetables, Hanny and Diane carrying most of the conversation including explaining the budding friendship between the cat and dog.

We were enjoying our wine when Sophie’s brother entered the kitchen.

I recognized him from pictures even I’d been unable to miss back when his band and their music had been everywhere.

Behind him was a blonde, looking like she’d just stepped off a runway.

She was wearing a tight dress that showed off her considerable assets and both Hanny and I took a moment to appreciate them.

But it was just a pretty package. I preferred to look at Sophie.

She wasn’t technically as beautiful, but I had no desire to spend time with the other woman when Sophie was around.

I liked her, too much. If I kept it under control, maybe we could enjoy what time we had together. Have some casual but incredible sex, and then I’d be gone. I shook my head, not wanting to think about it now, while I was still here.

“Hello, Diane,” Cash said.

“Hello again, Cash. Who’s your friend?”

“This is Trinity from LA.”

“Season’s greetings,” Diane said politely.

Trinity ignored the older woman, and stared at Hanny and me.

“Oh, this is Remy and Hanny. Cash and Trinity,” Sophie said.

“Nice to meet you. I’m a fan.” Hanny grinned at Cash.

“I’m a fan of yours too. I’m actually the one who got Ollie into hockey—been a lover of the sport forever. I played as a kid, got Ollie to try it as well, and then…” He shrugged.

I couldn’t feel sorry for him after the success he had in music, but it was nice to know I’d done something he’d been unable to.

Hanny frowned, then his brow cleared. “Ollie? Oh, Otts. I mean, Coach Trent.” Hanny put on a serious voice to say the last words.

Cash tilted his head. “His hockey nickname is Otts? He never shared that. Why do you call him Otts?”

Hanny grinned. “I played with a guy who was on his junior team, so I got the details. He made the mistake of sharing that his full name is Oliver Theodore Trent. O-T-T. It sounded pretentious, so of course he became Otts.”

“I am definitely bringing that up when I see him later. And what about you guys? What do they call you?”

“My last name is Han, so I’m Hanny. This guy’s name is Daniel Rempel, so he’s Remy.”

Cash leaned on the counter. “If I’d played, what would my name be? Something with Cash or Williams?”

“Willy?” Diane suggested. Everyone laughed.

Trinity studied Hanny and me. “You’re hockey players?”

Hanny gave her a big smile. “Yes, ma’am. With the Austin Aces. Have you been to a game?”

“Not yet.” She was still studying Hanny.

“You can look up how much they make on the internet, honey.” Diane’s voice caught everyone’s attention.

Cash laughed, but Trinity ignored her. She smiled at Cash. “We should go.”

He sighed. “Yeah. Haven’t seen Dad or Ollie for a while, so I’d better show up. Nice to meet you, Hanny and Remy. Merry Christmas, Diane.”

When Cash and Trinity had left, Hanny asked Diane, “Do you think she’s going to look up my salary for real?”

“Absolutely.” Diane swirled the wine in her glass.

“That’s a little judgmental.”

“Cash always brings home the gold diggers.”

“Diane!”

“Sophie, you know it’s true. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone, so he hooks up with women who want to use his money and reputation. Then he can drop them without feeling guilty.”

Sophie’s brow furrowed as she considered. “You think that’s what he does?”