“He’s going to have to live with his decisions, Steele. You’re not responsible.”
“Reading my mind now?”
“I know you. You’re predictable.” Kaden grinned at me.
“I am not.” I hated being predictable. I was a guy who liked his routine, but I wasn’t predictable.
Kaden snorted with laughter. “What’ve you been smoking?”
“Nothing,” I groused. “I don’t do drugs or smoke anything.”
“I know. Trust me, I know. I’m surprised alcohol ever touches your pristine lips.”
“Fuck you.”
“Steele, you’re not fooling anyone. At least you’ve admitted defeat and are acknowledging you and Cin are a couple.”
“Who told you that?”
“Delaney. She tells me everything, and Cin talks to her. A lot. They’re BFFs.”
“Wonderful.” I pushed past him and headed for the door. I’d had enough of his armchair therapy. I was the one who always analyzed people, and it didn’t sit well when someone did it to me.
Kaden’s laughter followed me in the door.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
WAGs
~~Hyacinth~~
I was getting ready for work when the doorbell rang. Looking in the mirror, I made one last swipe of cherry-red lipstick and ran to answer it.
How odd.
Usually the doorman let us know when someone was in the lobby. He rarely allowed anyone upstairs without announcing them first. Maybe Steele or Ziggy had come back for something and forgot their key? Nah, it was too late for that. They’d be preparing for the game by now.
I stood on tiptoes and looked out the peephole. Delaney grinned at me.
I unlocked the door and threw it open.
“What’re you doing here?” I asked, noting Delaney wore Kaden’s jersey and had a temporary tattoo of a salmon on her cheek.
“Giving you a ride to the game.”
“I’m not going to the game. I’m going to work.”
“You have the night off. It’s all arranged.”
“You’re mistaken, D. I didn’t arrange a night off.”
“Steele did with your boss.”
“Steele did?” I frowned, confused and possibly annoyed at Steele being so high-handed.
Delaney wouldn’t be deterred. She pushed me toward my bedroom. “Get your jersey, and let’s go. We need to be there for warm-ups. Lord, I love watching that man when he’s on the ice. I don’t want to miss a second of seeing those muscular thighs and hot ass—”
“Okay, okay,” I interrupted, not needing any more of a visual than she’d already given me. I’d pictured Steele in the same manner more than once. “I don’t have tickets.”
“Of course you do.” Delaney dug in her purse and waved a ticket in front of my face. “You’re in the WAG box.”
“I am?” Steele hadn’t liked me hanging out with the WAGs before, but now he’d arranged it? Wonders never ceased. Our relationship had just crossed a bridge into new territory, and I wasn’t altogether comfortable with the direction Steele had set. It was a one-eighty from a week ago.
“Sure are. Now hustle. I don’t want to miss a second of Kaden out on the ice.”
I did as told, even though a wicked part of me wanted to take my time just to get back at her for being involved in this little surprise. I wanted to go to that game, though, and I wasn’t in the mood to play games. I was excited and nervous. This time I was officially going as a WAG with Steele’s blessing.
I pulled the jersey on over my tank top and turned to Delaney. “Satisfied? I’m ready.”
“No, you’re not. One more thing. Hold still.” She approached me with a Sockeye temporary tattoo and smoothed it out on my cheek. Delaney turned toward the door. I took a quick glance in the mirror on my way out and hurried after her. She was on a mission.
We were treated like VIPs at the stadium. We parked in a parking garage and entered via a private entrance, taking an elevator up to the suite level. Ethan Parker, the owner of the Sockeyes, provided a large suite to the WAGs. I’d never seen a live sporting event, let alone from a luxury box. Mr. Parker hadn’t spared a cent. A long buffet table along one wall was full of hot dishes and desserts. A bartender catered to the WAGs’ every whim as far as alcohol.
“Wow, I’m blown away.”
“Pretty nice, right?”
“Really nice.” I leaned in and whispered to her, “Don’t you feel a little weird taking advantage of this considering the grief we’ll soon be causing Mr. Parker?”
“A little, but I separate my activism from my personal life, not letting them collide.”
“I wish I was able to do that,” I admitted wistfully. My past causes had consumed me to the exclusion of all else. This time around, while I was passionate about the cause, I was more passionate about a certain quiet, secretive man. That’d never happened before.
Caro waved us over and indicated two plush empty seats next to her in the first row of the suite. Both Delaney and I greeted the other WAGs, pausing to say a word here and there. These women were nothing like I expected. Most of them were down-to-earth and fun, not snotty bitches with their noses in the air. Not that there weren’t a few of those, but I avoided them. After a perusal of my shoes, jeans, and purse and finding them lacking, those few had avoided me too. My thrift-shop apparel didn’t measure up to their designer clothes.
I shrugged, not caring. There was a new WAG I hadn’t met before. She was dressed as if she were clubbing and had already ingratiated herself to the WAGs I was trying to avoid. They were mean girls, bent on drama, and I had no time for such bullshit.
Caro gave us both the side-eye and reluctantly introduced us. “Topaz is with Bryce.” Topaz sized us up without a smile. She had fake eyelashes so long I felt sorry for her eyelids having to hold those things up. Her makeup was caked on, her slinky dress low-cut, and her lips fire-engine red. All in all, she made me feel like a duck out of water. By the sly smirk on her face, she knew it too.
“Hello,” she said in a throaty voice as fake as she was.
“Topaz, this is Delaney, she’s Kaden’s girlfriend. And Hyacinth is Steele’s—” Caro hesitated for an awkward moment, but the evil gleam in Topaz’s eyes goosed her into action. “Hyacinth is Steele’s girlfriend.”
“Hello,” we both murmured and quickly headed for the bar, our obligations over and all needing a drink.
“Well, she’s, uh, interesting,” Delaney whispered for my ears only.
“Yes, she is.” I bit back what I wanted to say, as in gold-digging bitch, because that’d put me on the same level as her, and I really didn’t know anything about her to be making such a hasty condemnation. Call it intuition, but I doubted I was far off. I read people really well, and my first impressions usually stuck.
I ordered a rum and Coke and sat down next to my friends. The team took the ice as soon as we settled into our seats, as if they’d been waiting for us. Brick, the goalie, led the charge as they burst through the opening in the boards and skated around the rink. Despite being dressed the same, I immediately singled out Steele. He was six foot three of solid muscle, broad shoulders, and fast, efficient movement. His pregame skating was fascinating. Knowing him, he did the same routine before every game, with careful attention to every drill. The guy was machine-like precise, but there was way more to him than his technical skills. He was tenacious and ruthless. Even in practice he invested as much energy stealing a puck as he did during the game.
A couple times he’d pause and look up toward the suite. I waved at one point, and he waved back. Up until that point, I wasn’t sure he was able to see the occupants through the glass.
Delaney and Caro leapt to their feet screaming every time their guys did something good. Most of the WAGs had no problem cheering unabashedly for their men with the exception of Topaz and her small group. They drank and ate and gossiped among themselves, rarely paying attention to the game.
By the first intermission, I’
d finished off my rum and Coke and decided to switch to beer. “You guys want anything?”
“Oh, yeah, another wine. Hiro knows what I drink,” Caro said with a grin.
“Me too,” Delaney added.
“Another round then?”
They both nodded, and I rose to stand in line at the bar. Topaz stood in front of me and placed her order, flirting with the good-looking bartender the entire time. I stopped myself from scowling at her outrageous behavior. None of my business what she did. It wasn’t like Bryce was a friend of Steele’s. She leaned forward so the bartender got a very good view of her cleavage, and he was definitely taking it all in as he handed her a glass of amber liquid. She, in turn, scratched her phone number on a napkin and handed it to him with a wink. His slow grin was full of promise. If the two of them kept this up, they’d light the entire suite on fire.
I cleared my throat to remind them I was waiting. Startled, Topaz spun around. Her eyes narrowed to vicious slits when she saw me standing a few feet behind her. She lifted her chin defiantly and flounced off.
Whatever.
The bartender sheepishly filled my drink order and helped me carry the drinks to our seats.
“What was that all about?” Caro asked.
“Did she just give the hunky bartender her phone number?” Delaney added.
“Oh, yeah, and a good view of the goodies too.”
“Wow, that takes nerve when you’re with a bunch of WAGs. We don’t miss much.” By the disgusted way Bella and Avery shot daggers at Topaz, I didn’t think they’d missed the interchange either. Avery’s husband was the team captain, and Bella’s was the alternate captain. They also happened to be sisters. A wise WAG would stay in their good graces. Even though most of the team didn’t care much for Topaz’s obnoxious, conceited boyfriend, Bryce was still a teammate, and teammates took care of each other. That much I’d learned in my brief time hanging out with hockey players.
Intermission ended, and the second period began. Montreal led one to zero. The team came out more focused than the first half. From my biased viewpoint, Steele played better than anyone. He was all over the ice, stealing the puck, making incredible passes, and always in his opponent’s face, destroying their concentration. If anyone had asked, I wouldn’t have been able to tell them what any other member of the team had done.
Watching hockey in person gave a whole different perspective. I was able to watch every move Steele made instead of fighting for glimpses of him when the camera happened to catch him. The other thing I discovered was how much easier it was to see how each player, okay, mostly Steele, performed his duties as a teammate. The camera followed the puck. I saw the big picture now like I never had before.
I hoped this game would be my first of many, because I was having the time of my life, and I was a little buzzed too. Good company, good booze, and hot men. Life didn’t get better than this.
The game was tied at one-one, thanks to a shot by Smooth in the last few seconds of the period. The guys headed off the ice for the locker room, and we ordered another round of drinks. Good thing I wasn’t driving myself home. I was definitely buzzed.
When I got up to use the restroom, Topaz stood and followed on my heels. I ignored her.
She grabbed me by the arm when we were out of sight of the rest. I yanked my arm away from her and gave her my best warning glare.
She wasn’t put off in the least. “You won’t say a word to anyone,” she hissed.
“About what?” I played dumb and yawned as if this conversation was boring me.
“You saw me slip that bartender my number.”
“Maybe I did.”
“If you tell anyone, you’ll pay for it.”
I threw back my head and laughed out loud. Now that was funny. “I doubt it. Just so we’re clear, no one tells me what I can and can’t do. If I choose to mention your disloyalty, what the fuck? You can’t stop me.”
Her expression was murderous. “You bitch.”
“Back at ya.” I turned away from her and locked myself in the stall. When I came out, she’d left the bathroom. I washed my hands and returned to the suite and my beer. Topaz and her friends glared at me as I made my way back to my seat. I itched to flip her off, but I didn’t.
I was better than that.
Well, maybe not.
Chapter Thirty
Meeting her Mom
~~Steele~~
We won the game and improved our record to seven and four, which tied us for first place in the Pacific Division with Vegas.
When I walked from the locker room to the family lounge, the WAGs were gathered around, hugging their guys and talking excitedly, like they were after every game. In the past, I’d been left out of the hugging and kissing, never having had a woman waiting for me. I had to admit to a bit of jealousy toward my buddies as each of them fell in love with their special someone.
Now I was the lone man of the four of us who were rookies last year and had called ourselves the Puck Brothers, along with Ziggy and Cave.
Then again, maybe I wasn’t. I glanced around the large room where families waited for their players, and I spotted her. She stood off to one side, looking a little lost and vulnerable. My heart went out to her, even as pride flooded through me. She was here for me. And me alone.
I reacted immediately and hurried toward her. I was halfway there when she saw me and hesitated. Something in my eyes must’ve stoked her courage, because suddenly she ran to me. I scooped her into my arms and hugged her tightly. I didn’t care if we were making a scene or a statement. I was good with it.
Finally, I let her down, but I hung on to her hands. I was grinning like a fool. “Good to see you.”
“Good game. I had so much fun. Hockey is way better to watch in person.” Her eyes were bright with excitement. Her joyous reaction had me in the rafters, along with the game I’d played.
“Thank you,” I said, attempting to sound humble, but I wasn’t feeling humble, more like cocky and untouchable. I’d played a great game, and we’d won.
Before Cin, I’d never had the pleasure of sharing my experiences with someone other than my mother and teammates. Sharing with Cin felt different. It felt really good, and I, who didn’t like change, loved it. A comforting warmth wrapped its arms around me, as if I was sitting in front of a cozy fire on a cold, snowy day. I hadn’t recognized how lonely I’d been. Now that Cin had filled the emptiness, I saw the truth more clearly than I ever had.
We decided to skip the after-game get-together and drove home instead. I’d send out for a pizza, and we’d make out on the couch. The only thing that’d make this evening better would be getting naked and fucking each other’s brains out. But I wasn’t giving in to my baser needs. I’d said we’d wait, and we would.
As we entered the building, a middle-aged woman rose from her seat in the lobby and took a few steps toward us. She didn’t look like someone who lived here. In fact, she looked like an earth-mother type who’d smoked a little too much pot in her life. I swung my gaze to the security guard, who merely shrugged.
Beside me, Cin stiffened and stared at the woman, who stared back. I had the distinct impression these two had some history and not all good.
“Cin?” I reached for her hand, and she gladly grasped mine, as if she needed reassurance. The woman stopped a few feet from us and didn’t say anything. I looked from her to Cin, my gaze questioning.
Cin closed her eyes briefly and sighed. She met my gaze and said in a voice full of resignation, “Steele, this is Nona. My mother.”
Her mother.
I stared harder at this woman. I noted a slight resemblance. At one point in time, Nona had been an attractive woman, but she had the look of someone who hadn’t made the best choices and had ceased to care about her appearance.
“What are you doing here, Mom?” Cin asked coldly.
“You quit answering my calls.” Nona crossed her arms over her chest, taking on a defensive posture. I helplessly watched the drama bet
ween mother and daughter play out, knowing my interference wouldn’t be welcomed by either of them. The most I could do was offer moral support.
“I can’t help you.”
“That’s bullshit.” The woman stood up and walked within three feet of Cin and me. “Here you are, living in a fancy place like this with your rich boyfriend, and you can’t donate to our cause.”
“No, I can’t. I don’t have the money to loan you; and if I did, I wouldn’t, because most of the time the money goes in your pocket.”
Nona swung her shrewd gaze toward me. Her expression was calculating as she sized me up. “I bet you do.”
“I, uh…”
“Mom, you can’t ask him for money.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not right. I’m sorry. We can’t help you.”
“I tried to bring you up right, to change the world, to fight for what’s right. And now you’re living it up and forgetting your roots. You aren’t ever going to amount to anything. You’re a disappointment. Even if you did manage to snag a rich boyfriend, once he gets tired of you, he’ll move on. They all do. All we have in the end are our convictions, but I guess you’ve lost yours.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Cin cut me off with pleading look that said, Let me handle her.
“Mom, you aren’t getting any money out of us, so I’d appreciate it if you’d leave, please.”
“This is the thanks I get for all the things I’ve done for you? You’ve missed the last few rallies. This is where you’ve been spending your time?”
“I’m sorry, Mom. We have to go. I’ll call you later.”
Cin tugged on my hand, and I dutifully followed her to the elevator. The woman didn’t join us but watched as the door slid closed.
Icing: A Seattle Sockeyes Puck Brothers Novel (The Scoring Series Book 4) Page 17