Page 17

Chapter 17

Eoghan

T he locker room blared A-Ok from the sound system. I could hear it from the tunnel with the headphones on so I could hear the post-game interview questions.

I swore I would never get used to such loud music, but it was a sign that they were all hyped by clinching a spot in the Stanley Cup final thanks to my goal.

I should be happier since I wanted the Cup, but I just sealed another two weeks of hockey in Vancouver. Despite drawing new ties to Vancouver thanks to Emmy, I still wanted to be with my pack back home.

Getting into the locker room, I didn't really engage with anyone and just stripped out of my sweaty stuff so I could douse myself in the shower and then the baths. I slipped in a pair of foam earplugs just to dampen the music so I wasn't cranky.

It was so much fun being a werewolf in the league full of non-werewolves.

I did my usual ten minutes in the ice bath and then about the same in the hot water before going back to the ice water.

I was a glutton for the ice bath, but it felt so good on my muscles. Besides, it numbed everything so well. I still enjoyed being numb. Ice baths were just a healthier option to feel that way. It wasn't a crutch like alcohol.

After the second ten minutes in the icy water, I stalked over to the showers.

I stayed under the shower for an unnecessary amount of time, but I wanted to give the guys a chance to celebrate without dealing with my mood. It wasn't until the music switched over to a random playlist that I hadn't heard before that I figured most of the guys were gone and it was something the equipment guys or janitors put on to do their work.

Nope.

Waiting for me was Scuba.

"Want to go to a zero proof bar tonight?"

I looked at him as I tried to process what he said to me. He couldn't have asked me to go out drinking. So I took out one of the foam earplugs and went, "What?"

He smiled and said, "A few of the guys want to go to the Merchant Store tonight to celebrate. Since it's zero-proof, how about joining us? You did win us a spot in the final."

It was nice of him to invite me out, but I really wasn't sure. Bars were supposed to be off limits but at the same time, if it was zero proof…

What was the harm? It wasn’t like I could get black out drunk if everything was zero proof.

But I wasn't sure if it was a good idea. I was on such a thin thread with the team as it was thanks to my drinking.

"Let me talk to Emmy about it, and I'll get back to you."

Scuba clapped my shoulder. "Okay. Let me know what you decide. I'll be in the family lounge since I'll have a kid dying to congratulate me. Hell, he would like to congratulate you, too."

God, wouldn't that be nice? Having family here at the game and someone to say you did good. I couldn't even get Emmy to come to a game yet.

That pit of loneliness threatened to make itself known.

Don't think about those things. That's what got you in trouble in the first place.

I went into the dressing room, switched into my clothes, and pulled out my mobile. I smiled when I saw the ten billion texts from the guys back home congratulated me for the win. All saying they were jealous that the Legacy was in the playoffs rather than them.

I went into my recent contacts and dialed Emmy's number. She picked up almost immediately. "Where's your head at Eoghan?"

That's what I loved about my future mate. She got to straight to the point.

Ugh. I couldn't think about the fact my therapist was also my mate. Although nights like this, she did the role that she hated. Being my sponsor. In her words it was highly inappropriate which I still didn't understand why. Was it wrong to open up to my mate and confide in her all my desires to drink? Why would I do it with a stranger?

"Jumbled."

It was the easiest way to explain the mix of emotions going on. Hopefully, she didn't probe too much into what that meant. I really didn't want a full therapy session tonight. Just some direction on if I should be with the guys or not.

I heard her shift body positions. Making me think she was laying down. "Shit, I didn't mean to wake you up."

"You didn't. Just moving over to the desk if I need to."

"You don't need to take notes or anything. I don't think I'm going to relapse. Although I just needed your opinion about if I should join the guys and go to the zero-proof bar that they invited me to."

She took a sip of something that only confirmed that I woke her up. "What do you think you should do?"

What a therapist style question thrown at me? But I also couldn't be mad at her for letting me decide on my own rather than just telling me what to do. She encouraged me to challenge my evilest of thoughts and stay clean.

"That I should hang out with the guys and do something. But it's a bar."

She giggled. God, I loved how that giggle got to me every time. It was like mana to my ears. I was about to ask what I should do but she spoke up, "I think you should go too since it will help with your loneliness. If you want, I can meet you there."

Hearing that she might join us, I jumped at the opportunity. "That would be great."

"Text me the location. Get back to celebrating the win."

I hung up and smiled.

I did a quick google search to find out the address of the Merchant Store and texted it to her, or at least I thought I did. But it seemed weird since the photos seemed like it was more of a gift shop than a bar to hang out at and it was supposedly closed at this hour.

Instead of Emmy responding to me, it was Logan Petersen.

Awesome. I'll be there.

Wait, you're here?

Of course. Couldn't miss one of the biggest games of the year. If you weren't hiding away, you would have known sooner.

Fuck. Fuckity. Fuck.

Okay, normally seeing Logan was a relief since he was the only one who knew that I was freaking werewolf, but I didn't want him to see me tempted by Emmy or maybe even booze. I'd finally stopped using that vile stuff from Dino and if he thought I was screwing up, he would put me right back on it.

I scrolled up to see why I texted Logan instead of Emmy. He texted me right as I was opening the app and asked what I was up to tonight.

At least my text didn't seem so random.

Then I texted Emmy for real and headed to the family lounge to tell Scuba that I was in since it was clear he picked out the location for me.