“Maybe.” I smile and almost wonder how the two of us got off to such a rough start, but there’s no forgetting that first day.
When we reach the pavilion, it’s obvious Brady has revealed her secret identity. Beverly’s eyes are wide and the rest of the team have their mouths open.
“I knew you were awesome but two gold medals? That’s badass.” Bev points to Jenny.
“I mean, it’s Canada,” Jenny brushes it off. “If we don’t win hockey and curling—”
“Oh my God, stop! This is huge and you’re not downplaying it.” She walks over, stealing Jenny to go sit with her, ignoring me completely.
The seating is less formal but the crowds are separated accordingly, so I find my way over to sit with Brady and Matt where I interrupt a Jenny discussion.
“Team Canada?” Nat’s eyes are wide when she focuses over at Bev who is chatting Jenny’s ear off. “That’s impressive.”
“What’s impressive is how much Bev likes her.” Sami nods her head in their direction.
“Yeah, Matt, your cousin is the scariest girl I’ve met in my life, and Jenny has her wanting to have sleepovers and braid each other’s hair. She must be cool,” Nat admits.
“The coolest.” Brady sighs and we all laugh, even Nat who shakes her head.
“Brady, between you and Bev, Jenny will have to get a restraining order.” Sami scoffs.
“You didn’t see it,” Brady shouts, his eyes wide and impassioned. “She was like a ginger Lara Croft at paintball—” He freezes.
Matt closes his eyes and sighs.
Sami rolls her eyes as we all pause. “Like I didn’t know you were going there. The moment Lori came and did his team pep talk, I realized something was up.”
Nat laughs. “Busted.”
“Anyway”—Carson points at Brady—“he’s not exaggerating. It was insane. And even weirder, she and Bev are like simpatico.”
“It was intense,” Rich agrees and hands me a big mug of stout.
“It was fucking unbelievable,” Matt chimes in. “I’ve never seen such a show of teamwork and instinct. She’s a savage.”
“You should see how savage she is when she doesn’t like you,” I add, earning a nudge from Carson.
“That was just some foreplay, my dude. She likes you now. I can tell by the way she keeps touching her hair and smiling at you.”
“Do we know if she’s single?” Nat taps my foot with her high heel, brushing her tanned calf against my pants.
“Surely not.” Sami waves that off and a hint of spicy vanilla escapes her and rides the subtle breeze to me.
“Doesn’t matter, Lori’s scared of her,” Brady says casually. “He knows she needs a real man.”
“Which takes you off the list of possible suitors,” I hit back.
“How dare you, Lawrence! How dare you suggest I would stray from my beautiful fiancée.” Brady feigns disgust and wraps an arm over Nat who laughs and shoves him off her.
“Jenny has two gold medals and the silkiest hair I’ve ever seen. If she plays video games with half the ability she plays paintball, I’m leaving you for her. I guarantee my chances are better than either of you two knuckle draggers,” Nat drops a bomb comeback and we all, “Oooh.”
Brady nods, grinning and blushing. He has nothing for that.
“Well, we won’t be finding out this week, will we?” Sami lifts an expressive eyebrow at Nat, and it’s her turn to blush and press her lips together, visibly sorry for bringing the PlayStation. Sami lowers her voice and leans into Matt and me to whisper, “Changing the subject though, what is up with Cap and the other PR girl?”
“Sukii,” Nat whispers.
“Right, are they blatantly screwing as if he isn’t married and there isn’t a major conflict of interest with her working for the NHL’s PR company?” Sami’s knowing stare fixes on them as they walk over sporting a post-sex glow, choosing to sit where the team is sitting.
My eyes dart to Jenny as we all turn that way, finding disappointment on her face. It’s a flash, there one second and gone the next. She fakes a smile the way all agents and representatives do, but I see through it.
“What’s up with his wife not coming?” Nat asks.
“Maybe things haven’t been going well for them and he didn’t want to talk about it.” Carson shrugs.
Matt mutters, “Not all relationships can withstand the hockey season.” He leans in and kisses Sami’s cheek. There’s something weirdly pure about seeing him be touchy-feely in front of people. His love for her is painfully obvious.
And while it stings, I wouldn’t want it any other way for her.
13 Starlight
Friday, June 16
Jenny
“He says they’re getting a divorce. Cap hasn’t told the team yet, but I swear, they’re not even living together,” Sukii defends herself as I pace my small living room. “I wouldn’t do that but neither would he. He’s a good guy, Jenny. His wife, Sandy, left him last summer. He’s crushed. Played the whole season with a broken heart.”
“Okay, fine.” I throw my hands in the air. “If you believe he’s telling the truth, whatever. But if this leaks, Stan is gonna—”
“It won’t. I swear. He’s already invited me to stay at his place in Cape Cod. He’s talking dating, not just having sex.”
I part my lips to shout DUHHH, but the hopeful expression in her watery eyes forces me to snap my mouth shut. You can’t take twenty-eight years of knowledge and force it down someone’s throat. Sukii will have to learn the hard way that hockey players are hockey players. They’re gross and skeezy, and they will say whatever it takes to get into your pants and hand your number off to their friend when they’re done with you. Regardless of how cute they are or how well they fill out their tee shirt or how nice their smile is.
I need to get a handle on my attraction to a certain player. There’s no chance Lawrence is different from the others. And neither is Cap.
I’ve seen it a million times.
“Where is he now?” I ask.
“The rehearsal dinner. The wedding party and
