Page 14

14

T he friends and family game was usually a blowout, and this one was no exception. TU crushed. I saw Kenzie sitting next to Avery and Marco when we started warm-ups, but I had to put her out of my mind to focus on the game.

To my surprise, I had trouble doing that. Every time I skated back to the bench, I caught sight of her again, swimming in her jersey, eating nachos, and laughing with my friends. When I scored on a power play, my eyes searched her out, and I found her jumping up and down screaming. It was… nice.

No one had ever come to a game just for me. My mom had sent nannies and her assistants, and my dad had sent his apologies for missing again. None of them wanted to see me play.

When I’d demanded Kenzie show up to my games, I’d been messing around, but damn if it didn’t feel good to have her there, even under duress. By the end of the game, I’d gotten all in my head about my reaction.

I wasn’t supposed to care—I’d made the deal with myself years ago to only play for me, not for my fucked up family.

The buzzer sounded without the other team scoring, and all I wanted to do was rush to Kenzie in the stands. Bad fucking idea. In the role of her boyfriend, I could easily get away with it, but I didn’t trust myself not to take advantage of the situation.

I wanted her attention. I wanted her excitement. I wanted to kiss her again. Instead, I did my best Gavin imitation—offering cheers to the guys as they headed to the locker room and cataloguing critiques to go over later. When Cole took off without even showering, I yanked my mind away from the idea of throwing all my gear in my bag and chasing down Kenzie. She’d be waiting with Avery. It wouldn’t take much to find her.

No. We were doing this so I could prove I was ready to be captain. A leader. Abandoning my team for a girl didn’t seem like the right choice. I showered, chatted with some of the d-men and the sophomore who’d scored his first goal tonight, then cornered Coach in his office as everyone else left.

I knocked on the doorframe without crossing the threshold. “Coach, you got a minute?”

He looked up from his paperwork, and his brows drew together. “Something wrong?”

“No, but I wanted to talk about Rafe.”

Coach set his pen down and leaned back in his chair, letting out a loud squeal. “Go ahead.”

“I think he needs more ice time. He was quick tonight, and his instincts were spot on.”

His poker face didn’t change. “Against an exhibition team.”

I took a step forward, shaking my head. “He’s the same in practice, but he doesn’t get many chances to sharpen his skills on better opponents. A lot of us are graduating this year. We need to make sure we’re building the next championship team to pass on the legacy.”

Coach stared at me for a long beat, long enough for me to wonder if I’d overstepped again, then he gave me a sharp nod. “I’ll take a look at Rafe on Monday.”

I wanted to cheer, but I kept it contained and gave him a restrained smile. “Bet. Have a good night.”

“Night, Tanner.” He turned his attention back to the papers on his desk, and I strutted to my locker.

Coach didn’t usually take my advice, but in his defense, my advice was usually some form of a joke. In this case, I knew I was right. We’d had some transfers this year to replace Gavin and others who’d left, so some of the younger players weren’t getting the same dedicated attention we’d gotten as underclassmen.

When Coach started this program, he was building it from scratch, but now we had a reputation which got the interest of players from other schools. I didn’t want transfers like Kane to fuck with what we’d built.

Rafe had rough edges, but he was clearly talented and he had a good attitude. With a little work, he could be leading this team. As long as Coach noticed.

The whole way home I thought about ways we could incorporate the younger guys more during the season without blowing our chances for a repeat visit to the Frozen Four. As usual, Mase was nowhere to be seen, but Cole was in the kitchen when I got there.

“Hey, did you talk to Kenzie?” he asked.

His question pulled me up short. “No. Why?”

He pulled a sports drink out of the fridge and leaned against the door. “She was waiting. Avery and I offered her a ride, but she said she’d get one with you.”

Fuck. She hadn’t called or texted. I checked my phone to be sure, but nothing from Kenzie. Six calls from Gram though. One crisis at a time.

“I didn’t know,” I told Cole with an embarrassing amount of panic in my voice.

He opened his drink and took a swig before patting my shoulder. “Don’t worry. I told her you had to meet with Coach, and you’d be a while. She still refused a ride, so we waited with her while she called a car.”

Relief made me lean against the couch. “How did you know I stopped to talk to Coach?”

“I didn’t, but good to know I wasn’t lying.”

“I’m surprised your face didn’t suddenly combust. Hey, what are you up to tonight?”

He raised a brow. “I’m spending it with my girlfriend, who is currently upstairs waiting for me.”

I was hoping to use him to avoid calling Gram, but the implication that I should also be spending post-game time with my girlfriend was strong. After dealing with the emotional fallout of having a cheering section, I couldn’t be trusted to spend time alone with her. Who knew what I’d end up admitting?

“Right. Of course.” My first instinct was to send Cole upstairs with a flirty message for Avery—it was how our relationship worked—but suddenly, I wasn’t so eager to flirt with her. Kenzie was sensitive after Kane’s cheating, and I didn’t want to give her any reason not to trust me. Especially when I’d never legitimately hit on Avery. Not after the first time anyway.

She was perfect for Cole, and she’d probably de-ball me for trying.

Cole gave me a confused glance, then headed toward the stairs. “I’m sure Mase is free if you’re looking for non-female company.”

I huffed out a laugh. “You know the rules. If Mase wants social time, he comes up here. We do not invade his basement lair unless the house is on fire or Sunny escaped again.”

Cole shuddered halfway up the steps. “We need to put a bell on Sunny. Or a leash. Mase might actually murder us if we accidentally let his duck out again.”

I nodded solemnly. “Yes, his duck is the largest of my concerns about Mase.”

He sent me an arched look over his shoulder. “If you’re worried, you could go talk to him.”

“So could you.”

Cole pointed to his bedroom door. “Suuper busy right now. Besides, he seems fine again after everyone invaded the house last weekend. He even volunteered to get groceries this week.”

I scowled. “Is that why we only have weird organic bread and four different juices?”

“You are also capable of grocery shopping. Do you need anything else?”

I appreciated his willingness to ask, and if I answered yes, he’d keep Avery waiting longer. Time to grow some balls and call my grandmother.

“Nah, man. Enjoy your night.”

“I’m locking my door,” he muttered, closing it behind him.

A fair warning since I tended to barge in. I’d have to do something later to really thank Cole for the save. If I’d known Kenzie was waiting for me, I wouldn’t have taken so long. My boyfriend skills were fucking rusty. Was this a flowers offense? Should I call her?

I sighed and dropped onto the couch. Gram first. It was late on the east coast, but judging by the six calls, I’d guess she was still up.

“Hey Gram. I saw you called.”

She sniffed. “I expect you to answer when I call you directly.”

“You called me directly in the middle of a hockey game, when my phone is secured in my locker on the other side of the arena.”

“I don’t want to hear excuses. I’ve had some disturbing news this evening.”

I sat up, suddenly worried. Gram seemed like she’d live forever, but she had to be close to seventy-five. “Are you okay?”

“Not me, though I appreciate your concern. An upstart young company is developing a competing drug to one we’re about to put on the market. I can’t give you details, but it’s in our best interest to nip this in the bud.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Gram always used “we” when talking about the company, as if I worked there with her. There wasn’t any point in correcting her. It would only start a fight about hockey, and she was already on edge from my missed calls due to the game.

“What do you want me to do about it?”

“I’ve set up a meeting with the CEO in mid-November. They’re based in Dallas, so I’m flying in to have dinner with him and his daughter. He’s very family oriented, big into hockey. You’re coming with me.”

Warning bells started clanging in the back of my head. “What are you hoping to accomplish at dinner?”

“I’m planning to buy his company, install him in a powerless position with us, and bury the research.”

“And what’s my role?”

“I need you to romance his daughter. He’ll be more amenable to a low offer if he trusts us. If you can find out anything that could potentially help us force a sale, even better.”

Did Gram even hear herself? She sounded like an evil villain.

I closed my eyes against the sudden pounding in my head. “I’m not romancing anyone, especially not for corporate espionage purposes. Besides, I have a girlfriend.”

Disdain coated her voice. “It won’t last. Like the others.”

My fingers tightened on the phone. She didn’t know anything about my relationship with Kenzie, but she dismissed it all the same. “She’s not like the others. I’m done with one-night stands.”

Gram tsked. “I’m not interested in your sex life.”

“Unless it benefits you?”

“I’m not suggesting you seduce the girl at the dinner table. I want you to charm her into a harmless crush. She has sway over her father. If she’s feeling positively toward us, he will as well.”

“I’m not even sure if I’ll be free for this dinner. I have a grueling schedule.”

“It’s on a Sunday night. Even I know you don’t play hockey on Sundays.”

The familiar frustration from talking to Gram had me itching to do something reckless to prove this wasn’t my future. Too bad those urges had led to my current predicament of having to prove myself to my team.

Gram couldn’t force me to do anything, but she was a pro at making someone’s life hell. Usually, I could convince her to take a different path. I must be off tonight. She’d never let this go unless I spoke in her language.

“How about a counteroffer?”

“I’m listening.”

“I’ll come to the dinner, but I’m bringing my girlfriend. We’ll play nice and show this guy that we’re one big happy family. You can work the grandmother angle.”

Silence for a second, then a scratching noise as she took notes. “It could work,” she mused. “You have your father’s charm.”

Gram wasn’t wrong. Dad could sell anything, when he put in actual effort. Which was almost never. Everyone said I took after him, but the last thing I wanted was to become my father.

My voice hardened. “This is my final offer. Take it or have dinner on your own.”

She gave a satisfied hum. “You’ll make a strong asset to the company. We have a deal. I’ll have Hannah send you the information. Make sure your girlfriend is prepared. If she becomes a hindrance, I will have her removed.”

Gram hung up before I could respond. No sappy declarations of love for her. Was it any wonder my attitude toward relationships was fucked? Mom believed in protecting herself by staying single, Dad wanted to try every dish at the buffet, and Gram used relationships to further her own goals.

Here I was doing all three.

I opened my eyes to stare at the ceiling. There had to be a better way.

A giggle drifted down the stairs, reminding me I wasn’t alone in the house. I could invade Cole’s private time, go downstairs to harass Mase, or find another option. Briefly, I considered duck-napping Sunny and taking her for a joyride, but Mase had made his opinion clear after the last time I’d taken her to the duck pond behind our house.

No more field trips.

I should go find Kenzie.

The thought came out of nowhere—or maybe from deep inside me where I buried it earlier during the game. I could convince her to go for a joyride, maybe check off another item on her list, maybe get her to stay the night in my big bed.

No. I wasn’t going to use her to cure my restlessness. Better for her to stay out of my arm’s reach tonight, but I could still text her. I owed her an apology anyway—and I needed to ask her a favor.

It hadn’t occurred to me she might not want to go on a quasi-date with my grandmother and her potential business partners, but I knew what motivated her. Queso and spite.

The thought brought me out of my anxiety spiral and made me smile. She’d get plenty of spite if she came with me, and I could promise queso after since Gram would no doubt pick a fancy restaurant with tiny portions and no flavor.

Me: You up?

She didn’t answer right away, and the disappointment made me reconsider my options. I could go by her place and tap on her window. It gave stalker vibes, but she might find it cute. She also might call the cops.

Right as I started wondering how I’d find her window, my phone buzzed.

Wifey: Yeah, sorry. Showering.

My mind ran with the image, picturing her naked with water streaking down her soft skin. I was instantly hard as a rock and grateful I hadn’t driven over there. No good came from peeping naked sorority girls through their windows. That path led directly to jail time.

Me: I’m sorry about earlier, after the game. I didn’t realize you’d be waiting.

Wifey: Not a big deal, but thank you for your apology.

The curt response wasn’t setting my hopes too high.

Me: It won’t happen again.

Wifey: I’ll hold you to that.

Me: Did you have fun at least?

Wifey: Yeah, it was fun. Avery is a little scary, but Marco is hilarious.

Me: I have a favor to ask.

Wifey: I’m not sending you nudes.

Me: Not what I had in mind, but not a bad idea. I need you to come with me to Dallas for dinner with my grandmother and two of her potential business partners.

Wifey: When?

Me: A Sunday night in mid-November.

Wifey: Count me in. I love a free meal. Wait, someone else is paying, right?

I laughed. She didn’t even need the spite. Her easy acceptance warmed me in a way I didn’t want to analyze too closely.

Me: My Gram is paying. I’m driving. All you have to do is prove I’m taken so she stops trying to pair me off as a bonus in a business arrangement.

Wifey: [laughing emoji] Poor you. Are you too pretty for the open market?

Me: You know I am. The only one good enough for me is you.

I don’t know why I wrote the last sentence, but it was too late to take it back. The message was already marked as read. After the stress of the game, Coach, and Gram, I’d relaxed the second I started chatting with Kenzie.

Irrationally, my day got better when I talked to her. Until I scared her away with stupid shit.

Wifey: Good thing you have me then.

Out of all the responses running through my head, I hadn’t expected her to roll with my comment. I should end the conversation now, but the reckless urge from earlier surged forward to take control.

Me: What’s next on your list?

I knew what I was hoping she’d say, but the vagueness gave her the opportunity to pick something mundane. Three dots came and went as I watched, which told me she was still on the fence about my suggestion.

We hadn’t discussed it, and we probably should. I’d surprised myself with how quickly I’d jumped on the idea of list-based sex games, but crossing the line with Kenzie felt different than with every other woman. The list gave me the excuse not to dive too deeply into the reason why.

Wifey: Come meet me after your game next Friday, and we’ll see. Good night, Reece.

Excitement heated my blood. Friday couldn’t come fast enough.

Me: Night, wifey.

She sent me a series of increasingly offensive emojis, and I laughed all the way up to my room.