Page 47 of Unmasking Love (D.C. Renegades #1)

Aiden

The Big Guns IRL

Of course a milestone happens on a night we lose. I just wasn't quick enough to the puck whenever they got in the zone. I know it is impossible to stop every goal that gets shot on net but I’m better than this.

And now Felix is handing me a puck with the achievement written in tape around it, one to match the first one I earned on the team and handing Melvin over even though I let in two goals and could only help us secure one.

"Young Gun, what's wrong?" Felix asks as I lean heavily on my elbows and hang my head forward.

"We lost."

"So what?"

"Well, I hate celebrating myself when I let the team down." I admit with frustration and then start to untie my skates.

"I see," is all he says before walking away and talking quietly with some of the boys.

A minute later he's back at my locker and telling me to unlock my phone for him.

"Why?" I ask.

"Because you have to tell Harper you're spending the night at my house."

"Why the hell would I do that?"

"Because you need support from the Big Guns."

"The group chat?"

"Ju st unlock the phone and pull up your texts with her."

He uses his captain's voice on me and as much as I want to crawl into Harper's arms and forget all about this night, I do what he says and type out a message to her saying I'll see her tomorrow.

Before I hit send Felix signals for the phone and I show him. He takes it out of my hand and before I can snag it back he sends the text. He nods and stops by Bryson, Crosby, Duncan, and Emmett’s lockers before ending up at his own and undressing. I read the text he sent.

Staying with the boys tonight.

?? ?? ??

Chances are she’ll know Felix sent it because I don’t use emojis, especially ones indicating team monkey business. She must be driving already because it stays on delivered. I toss my phone into my bag and don’t look at it for the rest of the night.

***

Turns out the Big Guns are movies. Felix wouldn't speak to me when I got into his car and made me wait while he went into the corner market by his house to pick up snacks. When he climbed back in he tossed the bag in my lap and continued to drive home without a word.

When we got to his house he pointed at the living room with its giant wrap around couch and giant TV and commanded, "Sit."

"Felix, what is going on?"

He ignored my question. He just opened the door for the other guys as they spilled in with different foods and drinks.

They gathered in the kitchen and I couldn't really hear what they were saying.

I caught a few words here and there, "sloth", and then "heist", and I'm more confused as ever when they join me on the sofa and Felix turns on Speed .

"Why the heck are we having a movie night?" I grumble as I shove away a blanket Emmett offers me.

"Because we care about you man, that's why." He says as he tosses the blanket down next to me.

Felix pauses the movie and stands in front of the opening credits.

"Listen, the six of us are the starting lineup for the D.C.

Renegades. We win together and we lose together.

The rest of the team looks to us for leadership.

We set the tone on the ice. I am not going to sit back and let our goalie think he is in this alone. "

"Especially when he's Johnny Fucking Appleseed with his assist record!

" Duncan cheers and I hate that I feel proud of myself at this moment. What good does it do if I can pass the puck up the ice if I can’t stop it from going in the net?

"Without his pass to me in the third we would have been shut out tonight.

Vegas is really fucking good but we're better.

A loss isn't the end of our season at this point but it will be in the playoffs.

I remember the sting of going out early last year.

And I know from experience that we perform better when we have an outlet for some of the pressure. "

Felix points to Duncan, "for some of us that means fucking," he points to Crosby, "for others it means playing music. But at the end of the day, which is right now, we are a brotherhood and tonight we're going to remember what that means."

He sits down and turns on the movie again. By the time we're halfway through Ocean's 11 , Duncan and Crosby are competing over who can fold themselves in half like Yen. Bryson, being the shortest of the group, said he’d sit this one out to give them a chance.

"Dude your thighs are too chunky." Duncan tells Crosby as he tries to hug his calves.

"Yeah well it's becau se I'm fast as fuck on the ice. You can bend tighter because you're slow," Crosby taunts as he pulls up his shorts to slap the skin on his thighs.

"As if!" Duncan yells and then he stands up next to Crosby and pulls his pants down to his ankles.

"Dude!" Emmett yells as he throws a pillow at Duncan. "Cover yourself!"

"I've got underwear on!" He defends. And I suppose technically he does. But they’re tightie whities which I haven't seen on a teammate since grade school. "Plus now you can see my whole thigh and can more easily see who is thicker."

"Let's have a look," Bryson says as he steps up to the side. He squats down and examines. Then he hums and goes to the other side of the thunder thigh duo and squats again. "Crosby’s are thicker."

"Bull shit!" Duncan complains but when he tries to take a step towards Bryson he stumbles over the pants at his ankles and ends up tripping.

"Seriously, can we get back to the movie now?" Felix asks once the shenanigans have cooled.

After Ocean's 11 we call it a night. I expected the guys to head home but instead they're racing up the stairs to fight over guest bedrooms. I get myself a glass of water in the kitchen and Felix joins me.

"So, how are you feeling, bud?" He asks.

"Fine, tired."

"No, I meant about the team."

"Oh, um, good I guess. I mean they're goofballs but they're good players."

"Yeah, and the goofball part is only because they leave their intensity on the ice at the end of the game. I still catch Bryson carrying some of it home from time to time but the rest of us have worked to separate the emotions of the locker room and the ice from life outside of it."

I look down at my water glass, knowing I haven't done this.

"What did Harper have to say about tying the assists record?"

"Uh, nothing. I'm not sure I told her we were tracking it. I mean, she saw it at the game tonight but we hadn't talked about it."

"Really?" Felix asks. "Yikes."

"What?"

"I fucking hate this trope." He mumbles and I have no idea what he's talking about. "Okay, go to bed. Call your girl before you fall asleep and I'll see you in the morning."

When I get to my guest room there are toothbrushes and skin care supplies on the counter of the bathroom between my room and the one next to it. I wash up and climb into bed and give Harper a call.

It's almost two in the morning so I'm not surprised when she doesn't answer but I still hate the fact I didn't get to say goodnight.

***

I come downstairs early the next morning planning to get a ride share back to my place. Harper never responded but maybe she isn’t up yet. But as soon as I walk into the kitchen Bryson yells, "He's here!"

"Me?" I ask as I take a bowl and pour some cereal into it. I look around the open living area and see that the guys are all here except for Duncan. Felix has almond milk on the counter so I add a splash and grab a banana.

"Great! We'll start the last one." Duncan says as he pops his head up from the sofa.

"Another movie?" I ask. Sure we don't have a game today but we do have practice this afternoon and a flight to get on tonight.

"Yeah, it's a quick one." Bryson explains as he navigates to The Sandlot .

"Really?" I ask when I see the movie I’ve seen a thousand times.

"Yes, really! New kid joins the team, they bond, they support the hottie with a body who is going places, kiss the lifeguard. This movie has freaking everything!" Duncan says as he makes room on the sofa.

"Did you just call 14 year old Mike Vitar a hottie with a body?" Bryson clarifies.

"I did. That young man really had an impact on me."

"That makes so much sense," Crosby says and then adds, "I still remember the first time I saw Hannah Montana. Magic.” He turns to me. “Who was your childhood celebrity crush?"

"I didn't have one. I was too focused on hockey." I tell them, refusing to admit mine was Vanessa Carlton.

"Bullshit, but since this Big Guns event is in your honor I'll let it slide, for now.” Crosby says before pointing straight at me. “But we'll figure it out. I promise you."

***

I wave goodbye to Felix as he drops me off two hours later. Today is going to be a busy day. Practice in an hour, then a special teams meeting and a flight out west tonight. I texted Harper with my ETA and she hasn’t read that one either so I’m feeling a little worried. What if something happened?

"Hey Harper, I'm home!" I call out when I walk in. There's a chance she's already at the office but I was hoping she'd be here. When I don't hear a response I go to the fridge and open it.

No smoothie.

Huh. That's not like her. It’s not the end of the world, I can make my own or go without it but I thought Harper liked starting her morning with one too. I never told her she needed to make them for me. We just fell into the routine of it.

When I get to my bedr oom I stop in my tracks.

Her clothes that were hanging in the closet aren't there. The corner where she piled up her shoes is empty. I step into the bathroom and her cosmetics and toiletries are gone too. I pull out my phone to call her and curse when it goes to voicemail.

"Harper! Where are you? Call me back. I just got to our place and you're not here and your stuff is gone. What's going on?"

I hang up and call her back again with the same result.

Where the hell is she?

I pace as I try to come up with where she might be.

I’m about to call Wes when my phone buzzes in my hand.

It’s Felix, not Harper, so I don’t answer.

A second later a text comes in.

FELIX:

Snow in the forecast, I’m coming to pick you up.

Fuck!

My arm acts before my brain can stop it and I launch my phone at the wall. The resounding crack does little to soothe my soul.

I have to find Harper.

I have to go to practice.

I need to be here.

I need to be there.

She is my everything.

So is my team.

Harper has always understood my obligations to the sport. She has supported it. And she has been an amazing outlet throughout this season both before I was moved up and after. My body relaxes as soon as I’m within her orbit. My brain settles.

But right now she’s gone and it feels like my muscles will rip through my skin with the tension they’re holding.

I pick up my phone and the screen is shattered so I can’t even call her again.

Missing practice might be worth the fine but what am I going to do; bike around until I find her?

Yes. That’s what I’m going to do.