While Grims and his girlfriend put their heads together in private but obviously strained conversation, Kendra slid into the chair beside Gage. “I owe you an apology.”
He sipped his beer. “Why’s that?”
She looked at her nails intently, then at him. “Last time I saw you, I’d just gone through a breakup and was after some ‘sexual healing,’ like the old song says. I came on a little strong. I cringe whenever I think back.”
He chuckled. “It’s all good. And anyone who likes Marvin Gaye can’t be all bad.”
She smiled broadly. “Thank you. You were a gentleman that night too.”
Soon they were talking, and Gage was able to ship his troubles to the back of his mind. When Grims ordered another round, Gage didn’t protest. The crowd at their table grew bigger and noisier as more teammates ambled in.
Quinn gave him a shit-eating grin. “Nelson, I can’t believe you’re actually hanging out. I must have landed in an alternate universe.”
Gage laughed. “Eh. Gotta keep you guys on your toes.”
A couple of fans sidled up to their table and asked if they could take a few photos. So many Blizzard players and their SOs surrounded the table now that they had to crowd in. Girls ended up on guys’ laps, which is how Kendra wound up on his. One hand on her waist to steady her, his other waved his beer bottle while he wore a cheesy grin for the phones capturing the scene.
Kendra slid back into her own seat just as his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out.
Lily: Coming over tonight? Daisy will be going to bed soon.
Full-throttle annoyance slammed him. They’d exchanged a few text messages since he’d left, and everything had been civil, though she’d made it clear she didn’t want to carry on the “discussion” tonight. Would she ever be ready? “No,” his cynical, dejected self said. In the meantime, her message was clear: Come over and fuck me, stud man. Yeah, playing sex stud had been a fun fantasy, but he hadn’t expected it to become a job assignment.
Gage: Hanging with some buddies tonight. Then it’s early to bed.
Lily: I won’t see you before you go?
Gage: You did see me.
And truthfully, the only Everett he wanted to see in that moment was the five-year-old.
Lily: Brutal, Professor.
He huffed at his phone.
Kendra nudged his shoulder. “You’re looking grumpy all of a sudden. Bad news?”
“No,” he sighed. “Just trying to wrap up a few things.”
Lily texted him again before he could come up with a sign-off. Are we still on for our getaway?
Gage: Why wouldn’t we be?
Lily: Trying to “gage” where this is going.
Fuck! She had balls of steel, this one. “Where this was going” was nowhere, and she was the one driving the bus.
Gage: Thought we already had THAT discussion. He needed to end this exchange before his temper had him saying things he might regret. ʼNight, Lily. I’ll see you when I get home.
He stowed the phone. Kendra went eyebrows-up on him. It was none of her damn business, but he went ahead and told her anyway because, apparently, the beer was making it easier to give in to the urge to get it off his chest.
“A woman I’ve been seeing is in love with someone else.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry. That’s what happened to me too.”
“Was yours a ghost?” he snorted.
“What do you mean?”
“She’s in love with her dead husband, even though the guy’s been gone four fucking years. How do I fight that? He doesn’t even have to show up and prove himself, yet he’s this perfect guy. I can’t call him out, arm-wrestle him, or challenge him to a shoot-out. He’s on a pedestal so high I can’t even climb up and knock him off. How does a mortal man stand a fucking chance?”
Kendra placed a hand on his arm, staring at him with sympathy—or maybe it was a “this guy’s out of his freaking mind” look. Not only was he acting like a jackass, but he was also a blithering idiot. Time to cut his losses and call it a night.
“Kendra, it’s been nice seeing you again. Sorry I dumped on you.”
She gave him a kind smile. “No worries. Good luck.”
Quinn caught his eye. “You leaving?”
“Yep. I’ve got a cat waiting for me.”
Chapter 31
Reveals and Reasons
Lily sat riveted to the TV. Daisy was wrapped up in her arms, her little body trembling with excitement. Beside them, Violet bounced up and down on the couch.
“Is it almost time for Gage, Momma?” Daisy whisper-shouted.
“Yes, honey. Just a few more min—oh! Here we go!”
Kathryn Tappen’s smile was the first thing Lily noticed when the programming returned to the second intermission player interview. She was talking into the microphone, and as the camera panned back, Gage came fully into view.
“There he is!” the girls shrieked.
Lily shushed them, as much to quiet her inner groan as their squeals. The woman beside Gage was gorgeous. “Let’s hear what he has to say, okay?”
Something spiky stabbed at Lily’s gut. Gage was looking at Ms. Tappen, a smile on his face, while she asked him about a goal he’d scored in the second period. He’d been tearing it up on his road trip. Tonight he’d been involved in every goal and registered a whopping four points—a goal and three assists—and the Blizzard were leading the Rangers four-to-three.
With a swipe of his hand across his sweaty forehead, he laughed. “I’m not sure. I rang the first one off the iron, but then it came to Shanny, and he made an unbelievable pass. The puck seemed to be coming at me in slow-mo, and I had time to wind up and take the shot. Next thing I
