by Mary Smith
After the anthem finished, Cabel’s focus was on the game. His girls loved hockey as much as he did. Probably because they’d been coming to games since in utero. Cabel took mental notes of the players—from both sides—and worried when he realized the Bears weren’t playing as good as they should be. The Bears were dropping fast in the standings, and he couldn’t figure out why. They should be in first place just because of the way they practiced.
As the first and second periods passed, the Bears were down by three goals. He observed the game intently and became concerned with one player in particular. Jackson Plumley. He had only been with the team since trade day, but there was no chemistry on the ice.
Absolutely, none.
He also noticed how he kept the puck to himself, hardly passing it at all. This wasn’t the Bears way. They always worked together, even if the play was unsuccessful at first. They kept at it until it became successful. Jackson may not have gotten the memo, and Cabel might have to remind him.
The final buzzer blasted through the arena. Cabel knew he should approach Taden first and discuss Jackson before going in all gung-ho and acting like upper management. Wait, his title now was general manager, but he didn’t want to be a dictator of the team. He had played for general managers who were, and it caused a lot of ripples.
“Well, that sucked.” Leia stood stretching her arms over her head.
“It’s not the best,” Cabel mumbled, standing on his throbbing leg. He had worked it hard today with a lot of walking.
“You’ll fix ‘em, won’t you, Dad?” Bria beamed up at him with a deep pride in her eyes.
“I’ll try.” He grinned. “Now, you all head home, and I’ll see you both later.” He hugged everyone, and they left the box, going in opposite directions.
Making his way to the locker room, fans and spectators were yelling out their congratulations and admiration for him. Obviously, he high fived and thanked them all. He knew the fans were the foundation of the PHL. Without them, none of them would have jobs.
The press stood patiently outside of the locker room, but once they saw him, they all rushed over. Cabel knew this would be a big part of his job. Like he did earlier, he answered all their relevant questions.
“Is it true you’re involved in a love triangle with Oliver Matthews’ girlfriend?”
This question came from the back of the pack, and Cabel couldn’t see the female who asked the question.
“Excuse me, which network are you with?” Cabel politely asked.
“Connor report.” The crowd parted a bit and a young brunette, no more than twenty came closer to him. Cabel refrained from rolling his eyes.
“So, your Jerry’s new gopher?” Cabel remembered the other young intern Jerry used to poke at the players with off the wall questions and tried to get the comments that would make perfect sound bites.
“His assistant.” She corrected him with a smile. “The love triangle?” She pushed her phone closer, knowing it was recording.
“Where did you happen upon this information?” Cabel deflected.
She sucked in air through her clenched teeth. “Sorry, I can’t reveal my sources. Besides I’m looking for a comment and not an interrogation.”
He kept his cool even though he wanted to give her a sound bite that involved a lot of expletives. “No comment.” He looked up. “Thanks, everyone.” Quickly, he moved away from the press, making a mental note to find out everything he could about Jerry’s new girl.
The locker room reeked of sweat and despair. Every face looked pitiful. One would have thought they just lost the cup. However, if they kept playing this way they definitely wouldn’t make the playoffs. He’d do everything in his power to make sure they made it.
Taden must have completed his end of game speech as he moved further into the room and toward his office.
“I wondered when you were going to show up,” the coach of the Bears joked sitting behind the desk.
“That game sucked.” Cabel sat down, stretching his leg out.
“Not one of our best.” He sighed. “What are your thoughts?”
Cabel chuckled. “What makes you think I have thoughts?”
“I know you, Cabel. Come on.” Taden didn’t beat around the bush.
“Plumley.”
Taden nodded. “You’re right. I’ve tried to have Hamilton and Kyson be friendlier with him, but he hasn’t participated in any events or hung with any of the guys.”
“At practice he kept to himself. Is he still doing that?”
“Yes,” Coach confirmed. “He keeps totally to himself.”
It wasn’t out of the ordinary for traded players to be a bit introverted and taking a while to adjust to a new team.
“You know, I’ve not talked to him a whole lot.” He tried to think back and no big conversations came up. “Maybe, I’ll try,” he offered.
“It can’t hurt, but if it doesn’t work, he needs to go to the farm.”
The farm was the minor league.
“I agree, but let’s give him a few more games. Deal?”
“Deal.” Taden agreed.
They shook hands as Cabel left. That’s when it hit him. He had done his first act as a general manager. Even though it had been a simple task and there would be much harder ones to come, he felt good about it. He talked to a few players and sought out Jackson, but he was nowhere to be found. He gave up and headed home. He’ll try again tomorrow.
Cabel’s leg throbbed when he finally laid down in bed. He should be exhausted, but the second his head hit the pillow, he was wide awake and missing Caryn. They never shared a bed yet and besides a few heated makeout sessions, nothing else has happened. He understood why she didn’t take their relationship to the next level. He never pushed her and never would either.
But he wanted her.
Picking up his cell phone, he texted her.
Cabel: Hope you’re not working too hard.
Caryn: I just finished. Sorry to hear about the game.
He smiled since she texted back quickly.
Cabel: Heading home?
In no way was he trying to know where she was every second, but he had a plan.
Caryn: Well…I would like to see you, if possible, but I know you had a long day.
She read his mind.
Cabel: Come over.
He couldn’t type the words fast enough. Thankfully, he was in a pair of sweats and a T-shirt so he could quickly move downstairs.
It seemed like an hour passed, but it had only been about ten minutes when she pulled into his driveway. His hands shook while opening the door to greet her. She seemed breathless, rushing up the sidewalk to the front door.
“Hi.” She breathed, stepping into his home.
Shutting and locking the door, Cabel couldn’t say anything because his body hummed for her as if someone had electrocuted him. She must have felt it too because they both stared at each other.
He wasn’t sure who made the first move, but they crashed into each other, their lips locked together. He thought they cracked their teeth, they hit so hard. Awkwardly, making their way to the couch, Cabel mentally cussed his leg brace because he wouldn’t be able to do much. However, Caryn had another idea as she pulled off his shirt. He tugged off her jacket and her shirt exposing her lace bra.
They pulled back from each other, trying to find air. With their eyes still locked, Caryn pushed his sweats down and dropped to her knees. Cabel’s heart stopped when she stroked him in her warm hand. Their eye contact remained as Caryn opened her mouth and licked the tip. Cabel’s legs almost gave way, but somehow he managed to stay on his feet as her wet mouth engulfed him. He dug his hands into her hair and began to pick up speed sliding in and out of her mouth. It felt heavenly to him and never wanted it to stop.
She released herself from him and stood up. “Sit down.” She smirked.
Cabel did and watched intently as Caryn slowly removed her pants. He gripped his length, still wet from her delicious mouth, and s
troked himself up and down.
Caryn slid her hand between her breasts and all the way down her stomach to her matching lace underwear. Cabel’s mouth dropped as she moved her hand under her panties and began to fondle herself. They had a couple of intense conversations regarding sex, and Caryn had told him about some of her foreplay actions.
This was one of them.
She liked to be watched until she grew close to coming. However, just by the look at her face, it wouldn’t be long. The same could be said about him. Caryn must have heard his innermost thoughts that screamed for her to get on him because she removed her hand from her panties and straddled his hips. He moved her underwear to the side and positioned his tip at her opening.
They made the same, identical sounds as she lowered herself on him. Once their hips were flushed together, they sat for a couple of seconds gazing into each other’s eyes. Caryn began to rock against him. Cabel dug his nails into her hips, helping her go faster. As much as he didn’t want this to be a two minute lay, it was going to be. He could feel her already tightening around him. Their breaths shallowed and he wanted nothing more than to throw her on her back and pound into her. He laid his head back and closed his eyes because it felt that incredible.
“I’m coming,” Caryn moaned and sped up her efforts.
“Me too.” The build-up made his body tighten up. Her wetness could be felt running down his balls, and it triggered his own release, filling her up with several jerks.
Breathing heavily, Caryn laid her forehead on his.
“I’ve been thinking about you ever since we left the coffee house.” Caryn sat back.
“I think about you all the time,” he confessed.
She smirked. “Remind me where your bathroom is, so I can clean us up.”
He pointed behind him. “Next to the den.”
She lifted herself off him and headed in that direction. She came back with a warm washcloth and kissed Cabel as she cleaned him up. She helped him get dressed, and then she got dressed too.
Curling up next to him, she rested her head on his shoulder. Cabel wrapped his arms around her. They sat this way for several minutes, and Cabel didn’t want it to end.
“I should apologize for jumping you when I walked in, but I’m not going to,” Caryn joked.
Cabel chuckled. “Please don’t because I enjoyed every second.” He kissed the top of her head. “Next time, I’ll do more of the work.”
She giggled, looking up at him. “Did you not like what I did?”
Gripping her chin, he pulled her closer and kissed her lips. “You were fantastic, but I’m curious…why?”
“I don’t know,” she told him honestly. “You were there for me today, just like you always are and I…wanted to do it.”
“I’ve wanted to do it for a while.” He grinned.
Maneuvering to her knees, she cupped his face. “I’m glad we’re dating.”
“Me too.” He kissed her, pulling her as close as he could get her.
And he never wanted to let go.
Chapter Ten
The smile hadn’t left her face from the time she fell asleep to the time she opened her eyes. Even Toni commented about the glow she wore. Nonetheless, she put on her serious face when it came time for her patients.
Bas walked in last and seemed to be exhausted. Immediately, she took note of the dark circles under his eyes, and they appeared to be bloodshot. She kept calm, but there was a deep worry inside her that he had been drinking.
“Let’s talk.” Caryn went into full alpha mode. She knew Bas well enough and what would get through to him.
He held up his hands. “I give you my word, I’m not drinking.”
She wondered if he told the truth or not. He had lied to her in the past. However, this time, she waited to make a verdict. “Then tell me what’s wrong.”
“I had a fight with a teammate.”
This surprised her. Even with Bas’ drinking, people still loved him. “Tell me about this fight.”
“Jackson fucking Plumley.”
Caryn knew the name well. Everyone had been talking about Jackson. The papers called him rude, selfish, and a puck hoarder. Rumors even had it that he had no friends on the team.
“He is a true wanker.” Bas gritted his teeth. “We were at practice and he stood in the corner and did shit. Then Coach forced him to join the team. He just putted around like an errant child. I couldn’t just stand there and let him disrespect Coach and the team. I’m tired of his ass.”
“And you told him.” It wasn’t a question. Just by his demeanor, he had.
“I did.” Bas’ leg bounced up and down. “I told him if he doesn’t want to be a Bear than he needed to quit. That way we could get a team player and not an ass like him.”
She couldn’t argue with the point he made because he was right. “Did you hit him?”
“Wanted to,” he mumbled.
“Do you want to drink?”
Bas rolled his eyes. “No, I want him to be a team player.”
“Then why do you look exhausted.”
He looked puzzled and then realized what she meant. “Oh, Erin and I had a movie marathon after the game, and I only slept a few hours.”
A sense of relief filled her because it was then she knew he had told the truth. It would really hurt her if he relapsed. He had come so far than this time last year. She knew he could drink again, but she hoped not.
Continuing their conversation Bas discussed the frustrations of the team losing the last several games. However, he had a hopeful tone when he brought up Cabel and him taking the general manager job. Caryn kept her expression neutral when he talked about Cabel, but internally she leaped with joy. She wanted the team to embrace Cabel with open arms.
By the time the session ended, Caryn told him to go home, not to fight with Jackson, and let Taden and management handle it. He promised to and gave her a hug before leaving the office.
As the rest of her day finished, she almost dreaded the next meeting. Greer. Not Greer herself, just the discussion of the fundraiser itself. When this all started it seemed like a grand idea. Now it only brought her the onset of a migraine. Nonetheless, she walked to The Latte Bean and quickly texted Cabel.
Caryn: Today has been busy. Missing you. Hope your day is going well.
Today had been his first, full official day as general manager, and she hoped, but knew, he would be great at it.
Walking in the coffee shop, she deeply inhaled the smell of coffee beans and pastries. Glancing around the room she searched for Greer but didn’t see her. She was thankful the line wasn’t long so she could order her latte. She managed to keep a restraint on herself by not ordering a pastry. Or two. She overdid it yesterday with Cabel, but she’d been infuriated at Cannon’s report. Calling her a gold-digger and dating Oliver. It’s all completely farfetched and total lies. As much as she wanted to know who told him such fabrications, she decided it was time for Oliver to put out a statement regarding their true relationship.
Even if she still couldn’t bring herself to call him Dad.
“Caryn.”
Slightly jumping she saw Greer sitting across from her at the table. “Hi. Um, sorry.”
Greer smiled. “You were in an extremely deep thought.”
“Yes.” She blushed. “Long day.” Rushing to take the attention off her, she asked how Greer was doing.
“Better.” She continued to smile. “Almost all of the RSVPs came in.”
The stress that weighed a ton on her shoulders seemed to immediately disappear. “Seriously?”
Nodding, she said, “I can’t believe it either. It’s like they all were mailed at once and arrived together. Who cares though? They’re here, and we can go on.”
Pulling out her iPad with the pink cover showing off her logo, she began to go over the list and many other details for the fundraiser with Caryn. Caryn realized it was less than three weeks away. She hoped it would be as perfect as Greer made it out to be. Who was
she kidding? It would be. Greer’s a genius for party planning, and it far exceeded anything Caryn would have come up with.
“Have you gotten a dress yet?” she asked after she took her final notes.
“Well…” Caryn had it on her to-do list for weeks, but there had been no desire to go shopping when she and Cabel had stopped speaking. “No.”
Gasping, Greer appeared to be in complete shock. “What?”
“I’ll get it done this week,” Caryn reassured her.
“Does Cabel have his tux ready?”
“Oh.” Caryn had no clue what the answer was to her question.
“You two are together, right? Edgar—”
“Yes, we are. I just haven’t asked him.” Now, she felt like a fool because she hadn’t confirmed he’d be her date.
“I know Cabel. If you ask him, he’ll say yes.”
Caryn smiled. “Yeah, I know. He’s a nice guy.”
This made them laugh. Cabel’s PHL unofficial title fit him perfectly because he was such a nice guy. She knew it firsthand.
“May I ask you a very serious question?” Greer lowered her voice.
“Sure.” An uneasy feeling sat in Caryn’s stomach.
“I know you, well, I know a little bit. However, I’m curious about your relationship with Oliver.” Before Caryn could answer, Greer continued, “Before you say anything, please know the reason I’m asking is because I care for Cabel. He and Edgar have been friends for many years. I don’t want to see him hurt.”
She admired Greer’s bluntness and concern for Cabel. It brought out a different side Caryn hadn’t seen before.
“I’m Oliver’s daughter,” she bluntly said.
Greer’s mouth dropped.
“And I’d never hurt Cabel. I love him.”
The last three words left her before she could even stop them. It shocked her. She hadn’t even told Cabel she loved him but blurted it out to everyone else.
“Literally, I had no idea you were going to say any of that.” Greer shook her head. “Albeit, I’m thrilled for you both. Heck, even Oliver.”