Page 18 of Playing for Keeps (Seattle Hawks Ice Hockey #4)

Jay

“Finally got hold of you,” Tanner says when I call him back after dropping Jade at the botanical gardens. “I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”

A sharp pang of guilt washes over me because, for one, I have secretly been putting a bit of distance between kissing and groping Jade at the bar that night and talking to Tanner.

I guess in my mind, avoiding the facts and ensuring some space between it all would make it better somehow.

And two, I should have called him the other day when he first texted me.

“Sorry, things have been a little hectic here.”

“I see you guys have come in stronger than ever from winning The Cup.”

“Yup. Coach wouldn’t have it any other way. All eyes are on us after our win.”

“It was an epic victory,” Tanner concedes.

“Let’s hope we can replicate it this season without injury.”

“The game in Vegas will be epic.”

It’s right before the wedding and everyone will be there. “There’s no love lost between us and Vegas Heat.”

“True.” He pauses. “So, my sister has been hanging out with you while she’s been there, by the sounds of it?”

If there’s any suspicion at all on his part of any wrongdoing between us, he doesn’t show it.

I’m sure it’s the last thing he’d be thinking.

“Yeah, kinda. She’s a superb cook,” I say.

No point lying about that, but also not adding that she made me breakfast. I don’t want it to sound weird.

“I don’t know about these dance lessons, though. ”

“A little late in the game to be worrying about that,” Tanner says. “Deb hauled my ass to dance lessons months ago for our bridal waltz.”

“Fuck, really? That sounds intense.”

“Tell me about it,” he sighs.

“I guess you are the ones getting hitched, so all eyes will be on you.”

“As long as I don’t trip over my own feet, I should be okay.”

I laugh. “Well, I’ve no idea what Jade has planned for us, but I guess as the maid of honor and best man, she wanted us to put our best foot forward just for you guys.”

“You know Jade,” he laughs.

“Don’t I ever. Determined little thing when she wants something.”

“Well, don’t let her boss you around too much. The last thing you want is to twist an ankle or something right before the game and the wedding.”

I laugh at the idea of me even attempting to put a dance routine together.

Though a part of me is intrigued because I’ve always been good at anything I put my mind to.

I will ensure this will be no different, no matter what I say.

“I’ll be careful. I’m looking forward to coming out there,” I say.

“Nevada will be a definite change of pace.” Of course, we played plenty in Vegas last year when we beat Vegas Heat in the playoffs, and won the Stanley Cup, but I haven’t spent much time there.

“It’s gonna be epic,” he says. “You should see how much Luca has grown, too.”

Ah. My favorite little guy. I can’t help but smile at hearing his son’s name. He’s the sweetest little thing, and he loves his Uncle JJ. “I’m looking forward to seeing you all, especially my favorite little man.”

“He’ll be beside himself. Deb and I are looking forward to seeing you, too.”

“Thanks man.”

“Well, good luck with this afternoon, just remember you’re the one that’s supposed to lead, so our dance instructor keeps telling me, anyway.”

I laugh. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Give Jade a hug for me. She’s been a bit down lately, hopefully Beth is helping her take her mind off things.”

My eyebrows pull together as I drive into the stadium, navigating my way to my regular parking spot. I’m listening to Tanner on speaker phone. “What things?”

“With that asshole, Aaron.”

My face drops hearing her ex’s name. I don’t know much about the guy, but already I sense I don’t like him. “Yeah, she mentioned she broke up with someone. I didn’t think it was overly serious, she kinda down played it.”

“Have you heard of Aaron Carson?”

“No, but he already sounds like a schmuck.”

“Yeah, well, he’s a huge one. He’s some up-and-coming basketball dick for the South Bay Lakers, in the G League. In my opinion he shacked up with Jade way too fast, and I don’t think Jade is telling us the full story of how they broke up.”

I balk at the screen in my car, even though I can’t see Tanner. “Uh, what?” Nope. She never mentioned any of that.

“Okay, so I’m guessing she didn’t tell you anything.”

“Why the hell would she tell me?”

“You two have always had that common ground I guess, after—” His long pause isn’t lost on me, but one thing I’ve always been able to do is fill in the gaps.

“After your parents thought I was gonna jump off that cliff?” I hate going back to that time in my mind, not one of my finest moments in time.

“Jay, they don’t think that.”

“Well, I wouldn’t blame them if they did. I half thought about it, but I had too much to lose, even back then, when I had nothing except your family and a USHL team contract dangling in the wind.”

“You’ve done well for yourself,” he says, and I can tell in his voice he really means it.

“Is that what you called me up to say?” I chuckle, trying to hide the lump in my throat this conversation is giving me. It isn’t what I expected to be talking about with him.

“No, but we haven’t talked in a while.”

I’ll miss his official bachelor party due to my schedule, but we’ll have a day or two before the wedding to hang out. It sucks I have no chance between games to catch up until right before the big day, but I know he understands.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be there soon, have you heard from Ben?”

“I called him up the other day, he’s doing good. He and his missus were having a few issues, but he’s okay now.”

Ben’s married with two kids, and I haven’t seen him since my last visit East a couple of years back, though we do text from time to time.

“Fuck, those times were good,” I muse.

“I think Ben’s mom missed you more than him when you came back from your first rookie year to visit.”

I splay a hand over my face as I switch the ignition off. “Nah, I think she just appreciated the fact I did the dishes when I stayed with them.” The past makes me shift a little uncomfortably in my seat. It always does.

None of them know, except Ben, that his mom’s assistant and friend, Tricia, and I did more than we should that visit.

Again, I wasn’t even drunk, but I’d had a couple of beers one night after a barbecue at Ben’s place for some of us guys to catch up.

I helped clear up when everyone was gone, and one thing almost led to another.

Tricia was a full-blown hottie that I’d just met that very night.

She looked after herself and was fit and bubbly.

Okay, she was ten years older than me… and fuck, maybe it wasn’t right, but at the time I wasn’t thinking about anyone but myself.

As usual, there I was, being a selfish asshole, getting it on at their house.

Luckily, we never got caught, well, not by Ben’s parents.

And I sure as shit felt weird being around Ben since that night. I don’t know what would have happened if his parents ever found out I almost had sex with her in their house with Tricia.

“Are you sure about that? His mom’s assistant, Tricia, sure talks about you highly.”

I laugh it off. “She does? Maybe she remembers how I put on my best manners at Ben’s parents’ place.

” Okay, that’s a stretch of the truth. So I wasn’t very well mannered when I hoisted Tricia up onto the bathroom counter and would’ve gone at it right then and there if Ben hadn’t accidentally walked in.

Jesus fucking Christ. If those walls could talk.

It makes me feel like a bit of an asshole for Ben’s sake. And I guess in a lot of respects, I am one.

“Well, everyone liked you, man. You were the most popular guy in school, for real.”

I smile. “You sure you’re not getting all weird on me?”

He laughs. “Just telling it like it is. Now, don’t break a leg dancing with my sis ok, we need you both in top form for the wedding.”

“Got it,” I laugh. “Wish me luck.”