Page 6 of Playing for Keeps (Seattle Hawks Ice Hockey #4)

Jay

Present day

I wake up with a loud yawn, stretching my arms out wide as I French kiss the morning. The cold air licks my bare arms, nothing can mistake the chill of the Washington morning brushing my naked flesh. With a shudder, I quickly tuck them back under the warmth of my comforter.

Fall is here and the cold has crept its way in from the back end of summer. I may have lived in Seattle for a while now, but I still miss the mild year-round Mediterranean climate of San Diego. That year I spent before I moved back to North Dakota has really stuck in my mind over the years.

My hand works its way into my shaggy blonde pile of hair, which, due to my tossing and turning for the better part of the night, is all over the place.

It takes me a second to register my throbbing head, and it’s not from drinking too much.

While I’m not against drinking by any means, I gave the heavy shit up faster than I could blink after that day on the ledge when Billy Jones intervened and possibly saved my life.

The thought of becoming like my mom when she drank terrified me, as did the idea of jumping off a cliff to escape my problems.

The guys I’m close to in the Hawks, where I play center position, think I go on all-night drinking benders, but I’m really a one to two drink wonder. I fill my flask with iced tea half the time.

Despite that, this morning the mariachi band is playing Ranchera loud and clear in my aching head.

I’m half-wondering if it’s to spite me because I stayed up so late with my teammates.

I can almost feel the vibration bouncing off my head as I try to adjust to the morning, stretching out like a starfish in the middle of my king-sized bed in my over-sized apartment.

I glance at the clock on my bedside table, thankful I shut the alarm off because I ain’t going on my usual morning jog today. No freaking way. I have training later down at the stadium since the new season has just begun. That will have to suffice.

I’m the center for the Seattle Hawks now. I was drafted after a year in the USHL straight into the NHL and Seattle has been my home ever since. The guys all say I was drafted right out of high school, and while that’s not entirely accurate, it’s close enough.

It’s then I hear a noise in the kitchen and I stir, lifting my head, casting my eyes toward my bedroom door, which is slightly ajar.

Who the fuck is here?

I live alone. Entirely alone. This isn’t the place I call my regular home, but it’s still an extremely comfortable apartment that came with my last contract so I can be near the stadium.

My real home, the place I own, is a spacious log cabin outside the city in the rural town of Lakebay, Pierce County.

Nestled on the banks of the Bay Lake, the house backs onto the woods with no neighbors in sight as it sits on a large acreage.

I love the rustic and charming feel of it, but still having all the modern conveniences I need.

It’s solely for me. However, I don’t get to visit as often as I’d like to.

Even during our down time, though I did get out there for a couple of weeks before the new season started.

The guys have referred to my apartment in the past as my ‘fuck-boy pad’, which isn’t entirely untrue. This is the place, and the bed, where I usually have a woman in tow. It surprises me that I even woke up alone. Or maybe I didn’t…

I mean, the other side of my bed appears empty this morning, but surely I’d remember if I brought a girl home last night. I scan back to the previous evening’s activities, wondering if someone spiked my drink and why I feel so fucking tired.

And why is someone in my kitchen?

Rap, rap on my door. I bolt upright.

“Huh?” I run my hand through my turbulent hair again as I lift my gaze to the open door; my mystery guest nudging it open. My eyes spring wide, and I rub them with the palms of my hands like that will solve everything.

Is it just me, or are Jade Jones’ sparkling topaz blue shiners staring back at me?

Jade Jones? How the fuck did she get in here?

“What the…” I only realize I’ve spoken out loud when she speaks.

“Jay, are you alright?”

I sigh into the cool morning, pulling the comforter up a little higher while I try to make sense of why my best friend’s little sister is standing in my doorway. I don’t usually care about being modest, but I’m sure she won’t appreciate the morning glory I have going on under here.

Yeah, I’m a morning guy. Always have been.

“I think so… what are you do?—”

Her eyes narrow and her hand moves to her hip in a half-amused, half-defiant kind of look.

One I’m not used to in a girl. Usually I’m rolling a woman over and doing very dirty things, or in most cases, we’ve had our fun and we’re going our separate ways.

“What am I doing here?” she finishes for me, her blue eyes twinkling as she tucks a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

“I didn’t mean that.. I…” I shake my head when I come up short. Of course, I do mean that. I don’t remember a damned thing. I quickly rack my brain…

Fuck. She’s back in town after not seeing her for a few months, I know that much.

It was right after the Stanley Cup finals when she was here last. I chagrin at the memory because I inadvertently tried to pick her up at that bar after not seeing her for several years.

I still can’t believe I didn’t realize then who she was.

But it had been a long time since I’d seen her, and the bar was very dark that night.

High school memories for me aren’t the best, even if Jade and I were pretty cool back then.

She was smart and helped me a lot when I was staying at their house for finals.

It used to annoy Tanner a lot, but I had to keep my grades up and Billy made sure I didn’t crumble.

His wife, Ellen, did too, but Jade was the one in my final year that really pulled out all stops.

It was never a romantic thing, well, except for one night when we had a moment, but she was only sixteen.

One thing is for sure… she has only gotten cuter over the last decade.

“We were going out today,” she prompts, like I’m mentally challenged. “You gave me your spare key and told me to come wake you up since you don’t have training until later.”

I’m half sitting now, feeling like a fucking dumbass as last night comes flooding back to me.

We met up with my teammates, Tyler, and his girlfriend, Cindy, Taylor and Emmerson as well as Ashton and Maddison for pizza and drinks downtown.

Jade met them when she was last in Seattle at one of my favorite places; The Italian Spot.

That was when Ty and Cindy were celebrating their relationship being out in the open, after months of sneaking around trying to avoid the tabloids. Ty has been in the press just as much as I have in the past, and not always for the right reasons. Cindy is our coach, Clive Carter’s daughter.

And while last night was reminiscent of the one a few months ago; a great night with all the guys and their partners, it wasn’t that crazy… was it?

“I think I’m trying to get rid of a hangover I didn’t know I had.”

Jade laughs softly and edges a little farther into the room. She’s game coming in here, I’ll give her that.

There’s no way my teammates would ever enter my room. Ty, who happens to be the captain of the Hawks and now one of my best friends, loves to joke that you never know who or what could be found in my room with me. Rude? Maybe. But probably true all the same.

“Must have been that glass of red and the two tequila shots, Jay.”

I scrunch my brow in confusion. “That’s it?” When did I become such a lightweight?

“Yeah. But we all stayed up pretty late, you were giving me some half assed attempt at a dancing lesson.”

Hmm. Maybe I was more drunk than I thought last night.

Now I’m just plain tired. I recall she wanted to take a couple of dance lessons while she’s here for her brother’s upcoming wedding we’re both attending, but not much else.

“I guess red wine is never a good thing for me. I’m sorry, I guess I slept in and I’m having a mild dose of amnesia.

Maybe the last crazy season is catching up with me now the new one has started.

” We won the Stanley Cup a few months back in June, it was one heck of a season, too.

It took countless knocks, bruises, concussions and an insane traveling schedule to get there. But we did it.

We had a break for a couple of months before pre-season training started up in September, with a few charity games and exhibition games here and there.

“Luckily, I brought you some breakfast.”

My face crinkles a smile upon hearing that.

Jade has always been a sweetheart. She’s a little more feisty now than she was back then, but I like it.

I guess she’s grown tougher over the years.

Jade was a delicate little thing back in school.

I always wanted to protect her from the world, and the people in it.

She’s the kind of woman that would knock me into shape, and probably one of the few who could.

“Now that sounds good.” I stifle another yawn as I stretch my arms out.

“I’ll make some coffee,” she says as my eyes briefly flick down to her mouth. I watch her teeth indent her bottom lip as she lingers in the doorway. It’s like she’s thinking something, and then wondering whether or not to convey it out loud.

“Something on your mind, Kiddo?”

She shakes her head, letting it roll off her. “Nope. Just get up and get dressed.”

I throw the comforter back without thinking. Then I halt, mid-way from getting up. Thankfully, I’m wearing boxers.

She quickly shields her eyes and shrieks. “Woah, woah, slow down, tiger! I didn’t come around here to meet JJ Junior.”

I swipe a hand across my face, unable to contain my laughter, which comes out in a sputter. I sink back into my pillows, pulling the comforter back over my body.

Fuck she’s funny.

JJ Junior?