Page 4 of Hockey Player Seeking Fan (Billionaires Seeking Wives Club #2)

I hear some of the guys walking into the shower and laughing about something.

I smile as they rib each other and talk about our next game.

Even though I’m not as in love with the game as I used to be, I do like being on a team.

I like feeling like I’m part of something bigger than me.

We have a shared goal. We want to become the number one hockey team in the NHL.

And this season, we have a good shot, if we can all remain focused.

I sigh as I shampoo my hair and then grab my towel.

I rub my face dry and grab my phone to see if I have any other missed calls or texts.

I notice I have three from Melissa, a girl I’d gone on a couple of dates with, but wasn’t really feeling it.

I have another missed call from my buddy, Jason, who I went to high school with, who was hoping for me to fund another new business idea that he had.

I see I have another missed call from Selena, a sweet girl I’d met just the week before at a museum and spent an hour talking about the artist Edward Hopper with.

I tell myself that I’m gonna give Selena a call, maybe take her out on a date.

It’s been a while since I’ve gotten laid, and she seemed sweet, though I tried not to date sweet. Sweet meant feelings got involved, sweet meant tears, sweet meant her wanting promises for a future I was not willing to give. Maybe I wouldn’t call Selena after all.

My phone rings as I step back into the locker room. It’s my buddy Wes. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“Hey, where are you?”

“I’m at the gym, but I am just about to put on my clothes and head out. Did you figure out where you wanted to meet tonight?”

“Not yet. But would you mind terribly if?—”

“Let me guess, you want to know if Sabrina can join us?” Sabrina is his new love, and while she’s beautiful and sweet, I’m still shocked he has finally settled down.

“Do you mind?”

“Nah, that’s cool.”

“I think my sister might be joining, as well.”

“Your sister?” I burst out laughing then, as I knew she hated me. I’d accidentally thrown a drink on her a couple of weeks ago, and she still hated me for it. His sister, Erica, was pretty—really pretty. But as one of my best friend’s sisters, I knew she was off-limits. “Does she know I’m coming?”

“I don’t know if she knows that you’re coming,” Wes says with a tone of amusement. “But you and I already had plans, then Sabrina wanted Erica and me to hang out, as well, so I figured I would kill two birds with one stone.”

“That’s fine. Is Miles still coming?”

“Yeah, he’s going to meet us there.”

“Do you mind if my buddy Elliott comes? He is new to the team, new to New York, and trying to figure out the town and his life,” I add as an aside.

“Not a problem. Want to meet at Bumblebee in forty-five minutes?”

“Sounds good. “Do you know if they have food? I’m actually quite hungry, as well. I think I want to get a bite.”

“Yup, they have bar food. I mean, we can go to dinner somewhere else if you want.”

“Nah, it’s okay. Bar food works. I will see you there.”

“See you there.”

I open my locker and start pulling on my clothes. Elliott saunters down and stands next to me, staring at me with a goofy-ass grin on his face. I don’t say anything.

“Fuck yeah,” he says finally, grinning. I can tell he’s dying to share his news with me.

“What’s going on?”

“So, I just texted that chick I was telling you about.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And I think she’s totally down to bang. Like tonight.” He grins at me and waggles his tongue. “Like, totally.”

“Um, okay.”

“You know theater girls; they’re freaky.”

I just stare at him. “I don’t know this girl. So, I don’t really want to speak about your relationship with her.”

“I’m gonna play it cool, I don’t want her to think I’m a dog. I mean, my mom would not appreciate me just hitting and quitting it.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear you’re thinking about your mom before taking this woman on a date and using her for sex.”

“Nah, man, I would never do that.” He looks taken aback. “I’m like, a perfect gentleman. I mean, she doesn’t know my real name, but I wanted her to like me for me and not wanna go to the tabloids. I don’t want someone just with me because I’m a hockey player and rich, you know?”

“What do you mean she doesn’t know your real name?” I frown.

“I told her my name’s Darren.” He starts laughing. “Cool, right?”

“Darren?” I just stare at him and shake my head. Elliott is not famous enough to have to give false names. “Don’t you think that’s kind of douchey?” I ask him.

“I mean, I don’t want any gold diggers. You know how it is. Women will come out of the woodwork if they think you’ve got a couple of pennies to rub together. I’m just trying to be cautious.”

“I get it,” I say. And it was true, I did.

I’ve had plenty of women who were only after me because they thought I represented potential future child support or alimony.

And then I think about Wes. My friend is a billionaire.

And Sabrina, his now-girlfriend, had created a personal ad in the newspaper, saying that he was seeking a wife.

This was before they got together, of course, but the number of women who attempted to contact him for the position…

well, it was laughable. I didn’t even know there were that many women in New York.

“I get it,” I say again. “Well, my friend and I are going to be meeting up at Bumblebee later, and his sister and her best friend will also be there.”

“They cute?”

“They’re okay. His sister’s a little uptight, and my friend is dating the other one.” My comment is a bit of a lie. Both women are gorgeous, but I’m not going to tell desperate-to-get-laid Elliott that.

“Whatevs. Cool. I’ll grab my suit, drop it off at home, and then I’ll meet you at Bumblebee.

I’ll hit up theater girl and see if she’s interested in going for a late-night slice of pizza or ice cream or whatever after drinks.

Maybe I’ll show her my apartment. You know how these women love to see a fly view.

And my view is pretty fly.” I just stare at him as he chuckles.

“Hmm.”

“I only met her once, but I mean, I’m not trying to just dick her down, you know. I do want to be a gentleman. That’s how my mama raised me.”

“Think about if you were to tell your mom the story of meeting this woman and taking her out on a date. What would she think?”

“I see you, pops.”

“I’m not that much older than you, Elliott.” I shake my head and laugh.

“I know, but you’re definitely wiser than me.” His eyes crinkle. “I appreciate you being straight with me, though. Not many men would do that. You’re all right, Tyler Kane.”

“Thank you. I’m gonna head out of here, and maybe I’ll see you later.”

“Yup, peace,” he says. I grab my bag and head out of the locker room.

I head out into the cool, cold streets. I melt into the crowds and make my way down the busy street.

Even though I am famous, here in New York City, people don’t stop and bother me.

And that’s what I love about it. Here, I am no one.

I’m just me. The hockey player who secretly loves art and wonders if he’ll ever be able to break the Kane curse of bad marriages.