Page 9

Chapter Nine

BENJAMIN

~~Levi~

After the incident with Junie, I’m in no mood to go home. I’m physically and emotionally frustrated, mostly with myself. I made this bed, and now I’m lying in it. My fear of being destroyed by someone I care about is warring with my uncontrollable desire for that special someone. I remind myself my feelings for Junie are exactly why I broke it off. If anyone has the power to bring me to my knees, it’s her.

I join my roommates for drinks and lead the charge downing shots. At least I’m within walking distance of my condo, or staggering distance. I’m partying with the guys and flirting with random women—even Doris, the ancient waitress. But we all flirt with Doris, and she loves it. She calls us her boys.

Regardless, I’m not having fun. I’m restless and conflicted. Not a winning combination for a night out. Celeste keeps blowing up my phone, which adds to my bad mood. I ignore her. Instead, I start multiple texts to Junie and abandon every one of them. Just because we kissed earlier doesn’t give me the right to call her as though we’re still hooking up.

With my mood worsening, I decide to leave. Rex, Yuri, and Jaden are playing pool with a group of middle-aged women and having the time of their lives. Shaking my head, I exit the bar, pull my hoodie up to guard against the drizzle, and trudge home. I’m confused, defeated, and tired. So very tired of resisting the very thing I want more than the Cup. Junie.

The entrance to the building is protected by a large, covered area that opens into the lobby and the elevators. I start to open one of the double doors when a figure emerges from the blackness of the night. I jump, startled.

“Where’ve you been?” Celeste rounds on me, claws out and hackles raised. When she’s in what I secretly call demon mode, I avoid her more than I avoid the hockey commissioner.

I grit my teeth and bite my tongue, which is a hard feat to accomplish. She doesn’t dictate what I do and with whom. I don’t answer to her.

“What are you doing lurking outside my condo?”

“I wouldn’t be lurking if you’d call me back. Even better, give me a key.” She winks seductively. “I can make all your dreams come true.”

Fat chance that’ll happen. I’d come home to her stuff moved into my closet.

“You aren’t getting a key. I have two roommates, remember?”

“What does that have to do with it?”

“We have a pact. Only the three of us get keys.”

“You can make an exception for me.”

“No, I can’t. We aren’t dating or even hooking up. Why would I give you a key?”

She pouts, clearly not happy with my rejection, but also not deterred. The woman is relentless.

“Why didn’t you wait in the lobby?”

“That asshole security guard booted me out. He’s seen me before. He knows who I am.”

Clyde most likely does. After all, the Parkers own this building, and a lot of players live within its walls. Celeste has been with most of them, which is no secret, and why she usually pursues the latest crop of rookies every year. The older guys already know her too well. I’d succumbed to her “charms” early in the season. It took me a while to figure her out, but I finally have. I don’t like what I see.

“Did you piss him off?” I know she did. Clyde is easygoing and personable, but he’s also a retired Seattle cop, and he doesn’t tolerate a lot of shit.

“He’s an asshole. You need to talk to Mr. Parker and have him fired.” She’s in full-blown demon mode and ready for battle. I’m not into it. There was a time months ago when her fury turned me on, as mad sex can be hot. Not anymore. Right now, I just want her to leave.

“Just because I’m single doesn’t mean I want to go out with you.” I spit out what’s been on the tip of my tongue for the last several minutes.

“Are you insinuating you don’t like me?” She’s indignant and insulted. I can’t blame her. I’m blunt, but you have to be to get through to her.

“Yeah. Yeah, I am.” Saying those words is liberating. I wait, not sure what comes next. Does she throw a temper tantrum, slap me, chew my ass out, or attempt to cajole me into changing my mind?

She does none of the above. Her face turns to stone. Her eyes are ice cold and lethal in their intensity. For the first time, I realize this woman could be dangerous, but I’m not intimidated.

“Did you have anything to do with the team’s meal plan?”

“Me? I don’t cook. I only advise. Whatever Juniper cooks is her choice, but her lack of experience is showing.”

I nod slowly, but I get it. “You set her up.”

“How would I do that?” She’s all fake innocence and syrupy sweetness, which makes me more suspicious. I’m on the right track.

“You’re the one who suggested variety instead of routine meals.”

She smirks and shrugs. “Like I said, I merely advise. If she’d done her research, she’d know what a hockey team needs to maintain their bodies during the season.”

“You need to leave. Now.”

Anger flashes across her face, and I swear steam is coming out her ears. So much for the ice princess. She’s pissed now. “You’re going to pay for this.”

“For what? Seeing you for who and what you are?”

She raises her hand and slaps my face hard. Caught off guard, I stagger back a few steps. Instinctively, I bring my hand up to rub my stinging cheek.

“Feel better?” I know I’m poking the beast, but I’m a jerk like that. Besides, this one’s for Junie.

Celeste’s eyes narrow, and her lips curl with what I can only describe as malice. I’ve never seen this side of her, but I’ve heard about it from other guys. Once she gets her claws into a man, she doesn’t like to let go. My teammates warned me, but hardheaded guy that I am, I didn’t listen at first.

“Fuck you,” she roars like a lioness. I don’t react, which makes her angrier. “Fuck you,” she repeats.

“Better fucking myself than you.”

I’m done with this conversation. I pull on the main door and enter. I half expect her to follow me, but she stays outside, fuming.

“Everything okay, Mr. Widmer?” Clyde cocks a brow. He knows everything isn’t okay.

“It will be.” I start toward the elevator and stop. “And Clyde, she’s not allowed in this building to see me. I’m not interested.”

“Sure thing. It’d be my pleasure to boot her ass one more time.”

“I’m sure it would.”

“Are there any hockey players left she hasn’t alienated?”

“She’s pretty much run through the current team until a new crop of rookies comes in.”

“Good, I’ll get a reprieve.”

“Thanks, man. I’m sorry for the hassle.”

“Hey, not a problem. She’s not the only nasty one. You boys seem to know how to pick ’em.”

“Yeah, I guess we do. Well, good night, Clyde.”

He gives me a mock salute before turning back to the detective novel he’s reading.

Once I’m in my apartment, I slump onto the large sectional, lean my head back, and close my eyes. Relief washes over me. I hadn’t realized until just now how much stress that woman had put me under.

I fish my phone out of the pocket on my hoodie and call Junie. The phone rings several times and is about to go to voicemail when she picks up.

“Hi.” She sounds out of breath. Panic slices through me. I might’ve interrupted her and—and who? What guy would she be with? A teammate? A staff person? Or someone I don’t know?

“Hey, I—I—” I stammer, not sure what to say. In fact, I don’t know why I called her.

“Levi, is everything okay?”

I clear my throat, gather my wits, and respond, “Yeah, I know Celeste set you up.”

“How do you know?”

“She essentially told me without telling me.”

“I see.”

“You knew. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I don’t want to blame everyone else for my mistakes. I made the final decision.”

“I think we should go to Rose about this or Coach. We’re in the playoffs, and she’s playing games that erase what little edge we might have over our opponents.”

“No.”

“No?” I’m a little taken aback. “Why not tell them what she’s up to?”

“I’m not going to be the reason she’s fired. I’ll let her hang herself.”

“You’re a better person than she is or I am.” My brain races ahead with devious thoughts about how I can help put that noose around Celeste’s neck.

“You just figured that out?” Her joyous laughter is food for my soul. A weird noise interrupts her laughter. I listen closely. She’s not alone.

“Is someone there?” Trepidation makes me go cold inside.

“Benjamin.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll let you go.”

“Thanks. Nice talking to you, Levi.” Her tone reverts to the businesslike tone she’s been using on me since she got the job at the SHAC.

I hang up the phone. I’d been this close to telling her I made a big mistake. Shit. That would’ve been embarrassing considering she had company. Benjamin. Who the fuck is Benjamin? I rack my brain trying to place whether or not I know a guy by that name. Definitely not a teammate. Not a staff person either.

She must’ve met him somewhere else, which means she has a life I know nothing about, and that really bothers me way more than it should.