Page 25 of On Thin Ice (Calgary Mounties #1)
Chapter Twenty-Four
NEED TO BACK OFF
Lincoln
When Mom arranged to come last weekend, I thought it had been a well thought out plan to time their flight home with my flight for our next road trip. What I hadn’t factored in at the time was that I might want some alone time with my ‘fake’ girlfriend, who is now my fuck buddy… I think…
Because we haven’t had any alone time to actually discuss what we are now.
So instead of making out with Adele as soon as the apartment was empty, I hopped on a plane for a three-day road trip. And when I get back, it will still be another two days before I get to see her, because she left two days after me for a three-day tour to Banff.
“I don’t think I ever fully appreciated how difficult it is for you and Kylie to spend time together during the season,” I grumble to Seth as we climb the stairs into the bus.
We’ve just finished our second game of the trip, beating Toronto three to one.
Normally after a win, I feel energized and ready to party.
But tonight, all I want to do is get back to the hotel and video call Adele once she’s finished with her tour group for the night.
When did I become this guy? I’m not even mad about it, either.
“It’s not ideal, no. But it kind of makes the time we do get together feel even better, if that makes sense?” Seth slides into a seat halfway down the bus.
I fling myself down in the seat across the aisle from him. “I guess. But we barely got any time together over the weekend and now I still have to wait for her to get home.”
Seth shakes his head before giving me a bemused look.
“I have no real advice. It sucked for us too, in the beginning. But we’ve found a balance.
Although Kylie doesn’t do the number of trips that Adele does, so it’s probably a bit harder for you guys.
Not that it’s that big of a deal, right?
Because you guys are just sleeping together? ”
I groan and let my head fall back against the top of the seat, avoiding answering him.
Dean slides into the seat in front of me. “What’s up? Trouble in paradise already?” he asks.
Thankfully, it seems as though he missed Seth’s comment about Adele and I only sleeping together.
I glare at him. “No. Unless you count wanting to spend more time with her as trouble. Which I don’t, for the record.”
He snorts and shakes his head. “Pussy-whipped.”
“You just wish it was you,” I retort.
He shrugs. “Yeah, but I’d be fine with time apart. You’re acting like you’ve been apart for weeks, not just a couple of days.”
I don’t bother replying, scowling before the vibrating phone in my pocket distracts me.
Addie
Good game. I’ll be back in my room in about half an hour if you want to talk.
Lincoln
Sure. Just on the bus now on the way back to the hotel.
Addie
Keep your suit on. I want to check you out.
I snort before remembering where I am, looking up to see Dean rolling his eyes while Seth just looks amused. I should probably be more concerned about how everyone is making fun of me, but I’m too busy concentrating on Adele.
Lincoln
I thought you wanted to see my abs?
Addie
I didn’t say you’d be keeping the suit on once we’re talking.
Jesus, now this twenty-minute bus ride is going to feel even fucking longer.
Once we arrive at the hotel, I have to keep myself from shoving my teammates aside to get off the bus and sprint to my room. Instead, I force myself to wait as they take their sweet time gathering their things.
“Are you coming out for drinks, O’Malley?” Riley asks, pulling his headphones down to rest around his neck.
“Nah, he’s got a hot date with his phone and his hand,” Dean replies with a smirk.
Riley raises an eyebrow. “Um… Okay?”
I roll my eyes. “Ignore the comedian over there. I’m catching up with Adele. But I might come out after. Are you guys just going to the hotel bar or somewhere else? ”
Riley shrugs. “We’ll start there and then see where we end up.”
“Cool. I’ll let you know later.”
We finally make it off the bus, and I wind my way through the lobby towards the bank of elevators at the back, while most of the other’s head into the bar.
Alistair appears out of nowhere, blocking my path.
The general manager and I have always had a slightly rocky working relationship.
But since the whole sex tape issue, he’s been downright unpleasant towards me, making numerous remarks about how I’m lucky that the team’s lawyers were able to squash the release of the tape, but he’s watching me very closely.
“What’s the rush, O’Malley? Off to film more inappropriate videos and destroy the team’s name?”
I bite back a retort, reminding myself that this guy has my career in the palm of his hand.
Fucking hell.
I look around to see if anyone else heard him, but it’s just the two of us in the lobby. Which shouldn’t surprise me, because he never says this shit to me when there could be potential witnesses to his harassment.
I grit my teeth as I meet his eye. “No sir. Just heading up to my room to talk to my girlfriend.”
He huffs. “What self-respecting woman would ever be seen with someone with such a sordid reputation? Or is this all just an act to try and stay with the team?”
I rub my temple, doing my best to tamp down the anger rising within me.
“Look, you need to back off. The team lawyers dealt with the video and the media hasn’t gotten wind of it, so the team’s precious reputation is intact.
This is hardly the first time that a player has been caught with their pants down. ”
His little smirk has me itching to punch him in the face. “ Yes, but none of them were filmed in quite such a compromising situation, were they?”
For fuck’s sake.
“Hey, he and his wife solicited me, not the other way around. So, I’ll say it again, back off, or I’ll raise a complaint with HR. I don’t want to have this conversation again.”
He continues to smirk at me, and I’m seconds away from throwing my career away and wiping it right off his face when Coach Stephens walks up, inserting himself between us.
“Everything okay over here?” Stephens asks, and I can tell from the dangerous glint in his eye that he’s at least aware of the hard time Alistair has been giving me.
“Yep, just checking O’Malley and I are on the same page when it comes to his time with the team and how he represents the Mounties name.”
Something inside of me snaps, and I see red, drawing myself to my full height and glaring down at the arrogant little prick. “You know what? Fuck-”
“Lincoln,” Stephens says, giving me a hard look before turning back to Alistair.
“How about you go and get us some drinks, Alistair. I’ll have a chat with O’Malley.”
He waits, not breaking eye contact with the general manager as he stares him down. While Alistair is his boss, Stephens is an institution with the Mounties, and no one messes with him. Plus, he knows he can’t say anything more with a witness to his bullshit.
Alistair nods and heads for the bar, while I stay beside Stephens, quietly seething.
“What was that all about?” Stephens turns to look at me, and I shrug.
“He was just giving me a hard time about the stuff with the tape. Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Look, O’Malley, you know I like you, but you can’t piss him off. Not if you want to stay on the team. He has the power to make or break your entire career, and you don’t want to go giving him any more ammo.”
I clench my jaw and nod, anger simmering deep just beneath the surface.
He claps a hand on my shoulder and turns to head into the bar. I stalk towards the elevators, bashing the arrow pointing up while I bite back my anger.
Five minutes ago, I was in a great mood, looking forward to talking to Adele after another win, and now I’m ready to set something on fire.