“We sure are,” Meryl said. “Who needs a woman? Hmm. Maybe we’ll work om Austin or Thomas, and then we can keep this fourth line magic together.”
“You guys are crazy,” Lauren said with a laugh. “I’m no good luck charm. It’s all a coincidence.”
“Sure thing. I said that, too, then Casey made the All-Star team,” Char Simmons said. “I’m now convinced it’s real. You should embrace it.”
“Okay, fine.” Lauren wouldn’t argue anymore. If she was a good luck charm for Trent, she was more than happy to embrace that role.
The first period ended with the score tied at one, and Lauren and Riley made a beeline for the restroom while Kendall and Char made beer runs for the group. Yeah, she could get used to this.
Lauren didn’t want to miss any of the action, even during intermission, so she made quick work of business and was about to unlock the stall when she overheard another group of women walk into the restroom.
“Who’s the guy who scored?” One asked. “Some guy I’ve never haerd of. Majest, was it?”
“Something like that. A nobody. Nice goal, though. I’ll take.”
“Yeah, and the fat chick that jumped up and screamed—was that actually his girlfriend?” Followed by laughter.
“I doubt he’d be that desperate.”
“I know. Talk about blocking my view with her huge ass.”
Huge ass. Lauren sank it back down on the toilet. She wanted to walk out of the stall and confront them, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. No, after all the progress she’d made, even all the weight she’d lost, maybe they were right, and she didn’t belong here.
Then she heard Riley’s voice.
“Petty, much, ladies? Or maybe it’s jealousy. I’m thinking that. You know, because you don’t have a date tonight. Meanwhile, my friend and I, we’re each going home with one of the players. Why don’t you try that on for size before you insult the size of someone’s ass? Just a thought.”
“Whatever.”
Lauren heard a door slam shut, followed by a silence, then a knock on her stall.
“Laur? You okay?”
She good up and unlocked the door. “Sure. Fine,” she lied.
“You heard that, didn’t you?” Riley asked, her expression concerned.
“Kind of hard not to.” Lauren walked over to the sink and washed her hands. “That’s okay. I’m used to it.”
“They’re bitches,” Riley said, causing Lauren to laugh.
“Can’t argue with that,” Lauren said. “Thanks for sticking up with me. Let’s forget it and go watch the rest of the game.” She knew it was easier said than done, though.
***
When the final buzzer sounded, the Generals were on the wrong end of the score to their in-state rivals, and Trent’s goal would stand as the only one San Antonio would get past the goaltender of the defending Stanley Cup Champions in an ugly 4-1 loss.
Trent was happy to notch another goal, and hopefully solidify his spot in the lineup, but the loss was a bad one, and put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. Ironically, even though the Generals’ record was better this year, so was everyone else’s in the division, making for a tough road to the postseason. It made for a somber mood in the locker room, and Colton’s remarks were quick and to the point. The season wasn’t over. There was still time left. But they’d have to do better, or it would be over soon.
Trent looked forward to seeing Lauren. If anyone could cheer him up, she could, with her infectious smile. Except when me met her outside the arena after the game, there was no smile on her face. Was she upset about the final score, too?
“Hey, beautiful,” Trent greeted her, leaning in for a kiss. He wanted to put the game’s disappointment behind him and lose himself in her passion and love.
Instead, for the first time, Lauren didn’t respond to his kiss. What the hell? Even when her insecurities held her back from being intimate with him, Lauren always responded to Trent’s kisses, going back to the very first one at the ice rink. But not now. This time, she pulled away.
Trent frowned. “What’s wrong, baby? Is it the game? I know we kind of stunk up the ice tonight.”
“Yeah, but at least you scored.” Lauren attempted a smile, but it failed to reach her eyes and came across as forced.
“It’s little comfort, given the outcome,” Trent said. “You could cheer me up, though,” he added hopefully. “Want to go somewhere and get some food or a drink or something? Or we can just go back to your place and hang out.”
Lauren shook her head. “Sorry, but I’m really tired, and I have to be at work at seven. I’m just going to go home,” she said, making it clear she’d be going alone. It sure looked like Trent’s goal in the game would be the only scoring he’d do that night.
“You sure nothing’s wrong?”
Lauren shook her head. “Like I said, just tired. I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Tomorrow?” Trent asked hopefully.
“I don’t know. I’m working a twelve hour shift.”
Was that the brush off? She’d worked twelve hour shifts before and still invited him over for dinner. Yeah, this sure felt like the brush off and Trent had no idea why, but it sure didn’t feel too good. “Okay.” He rocked back on his heels. “I’m gonna call you, though, and I warn you, I can be persistent. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Chapter Thirteen
Trent may have only spent two nights at Lauren’s, but that was long enough to make her mis him when he wasn’t there, and she decided she missed him a lot. There was one beneficiary of Trent’s absence—Buttercup. The cat reclaimed her customary position on Lauren’s bed. It wasn’t the same. Lauren was used to the cat’s presence next to her, and it shouldn’t have affected her sleep, but it did. Or rather, Trent’s absence did.
Either way, sleep proved to be a lost cause, and Lauren was up at five a.m., grateful for the fitness center at her apartment complex. She had a membership at a nearby gym, which she utilized more often, but it was nice to have facilities at the complex for moments like this. Lauren got in a two mile walk on the treadmill before she had to leave for work. She hoped it would be enough to get her mojo back. She didn’t want to let those stupid girls in the restroom at the hockey game destroy the progress she’d made, and more importantly, she didn’t want her doubts and insecurities to lead her to push Trent away. Or at least push him away any more than she already had the night before.
She arrived at the hospital shortly before seven, and spent the first twenty minutes getting updates from the night nurse she relieved before visiting the patients’ rooms to check on all the kids on the ward, most of whom were already wide awake. Hospitals weren’t conducive to sleep.
“Just the person I’m looking for,” Tori greeted her when she returned to the nurse’s station after spending a few extra minutes with a talkative young girl.
“Is something wrong?” Lauren asked. “You could have messaged me.” She glanced at the hospital-issued cell phone she carried to stay in contact with others on the medical team, confirming that she hadn’t missed any messages from Tori, or anyone else on the unit.
“Not about work,” the nursing assistant said. “Personal. I wanted to know how your weekend went.” Tori grinned. “Specifically, did your oh-so-sexy guy like the sexy things you bought?”
Lauren nodded. “Yes, he did.” Of that much, she cold be sure, “Quite a lot, actually.”
“See, I told you he would.” After a second, Tori’s expression changed to a frown. “Wait a minute, why aren’t you happy, then?”
“I am happy,” Lauren said. “See, I’m smiling.” She forced a smile on to her face, but it was just that—forced—and she knew Tori wouldn’t be pacified.
“That’s not a smile. At least not for you.”
Great. That’s what I get for having a cheerful personality. “I am happy, really,” Lauren insisted. “Everything I bought paid huge dividends. Trent loved it.” And she loved wearing it for him
, yet here she was, letting the words of a couple of stupid, petty people she didn’t even know bring her down. “Trust me, there were no problems with that at all.” No, the problem was her, getting down on herself again.
“Okay, if you say so.” Tori shrugged. “I guess I expected you to be walking around with a big, huge, satisfied smile on your face or something.”
Yeah, like the one she’d been sporting on Sataurday, when she’d been practically floating on air. Lauren wanted to get that feeling back. I’m just tired.” she said, reverting to the same lie she told Trent. “And not for the reasons you’re probably hoping.” Lauren tapped at the mouse to wake up the computer at the station and entered her log-in information “Anyway, I have work to do, and so you do you. Patient in 513A needs help with a bath.”
“I’m on it,” Tori said. “I’m sorry to pry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Lauren said, feeling like a bitch. “And don’t worry about me, either. I’m fine.” Except she wasn’t, and she had to figure out how to get back to that point, and fast, before she sabotaged what appeared to be a real chance at love.
***
He missed her. Plain and simple. Trent missed Lauren. Funny how you could spend two nights with someone and feel as if that was where you belonged, who you belonged with, but that was the way it was. Trent wanted Lauren. And now Lauren was giving him the brush off, and he didn’t like it one bit.
Once practice was over, he swung by the florist to pick up flowers. He should probably own stock in the place by now, as many visits as he’d made recently. The people who worked there either thought he was a lovesick fool or a really romantic guy. He could only hope it was the latter.
With the bouquet in tow, he headed to the hospital. Trent didn’t know what troubled Lauren, but he knew it called for more than a phone call. Surely, whatever it was, flowers could fix it, right? Her face always lit up when he brought her flowers. Except when he got to the hospital, Trent learned that Lauren wasn’t there, and one of her colleagues informed him that she switched her shift and left early for an appointment.
“Okay, if Lauren’s not here, can you tell me where I can find Dr. Riley Marks?” Trent knew something was wrong, but he didn’t know what, and if anyone might have answers, he figured it would be Riley. Lauren had said she was closer to Riley than anyone else she worked with.
“Sure. Dr. Marks is on the outpatient clinical rotation for the next few weeks,” the nursing assistant informed him. “It’s down on the third floor, south wing.”
Trent nodded. “Okay, thank you,” he looked at the name badge clipped to her shirt, “Victoria. You’ve been very helpful.”
“It’s Tori,” she said. “And you’re welcome. Lauren wasn’t acting like herself this morning, but I know she cares about you a lot.”
“It’s mutual, believe me,” Trent said. Tori’s words worried him even more. Hopefully he could find Riley and figure out what was going on.
He located the third floor outpatient clinic, and sat about fifteen minutes thumbing through a boring magazine before Riley came out to waiting area to greet him.
“Trent, this is a surprise,” she said. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
“I’m hoping you can answer that for me,” he said. “Lauren seems to be shutting down on me.”
Riley frowned. “Shutting down how?”
“Well, we were doing great. At least I thought we were. We spent the whole weekend together, had a wonderful time. I was so happy she finally got to come to a game,” Trent explained. “The loss sucked, but I figured we’d meet up after the game and go out. Instead, when I saw her afterward, Lauren was kind of distant and didn’t want to go out and do anything. She brushed it off as being tired and having to work a twelve hour shift today, and I could almost accept that, because I know her job can be rough, but now I just found out she switched her schedule and left early.” He was talking too fast, and paused to take a breath. “I can’t help but think something is wrong, and she’s avoiding me.”
Riley let out an audible sight. “Shoot. I was afraid something like this might happen.”
“Something like what?” Trent demanded.
“Why don’t you come back to my office where we have a little privacy?” Riley suggested, and Trent was more than happy to follow her, as long as it meant getting some answers on why Lauren seemed to be pulling away from him.
“Did something happen at the game?” He asked when they were alone in Riley’s small office.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that. It was in the first intermission, after you scored to tie it up,” Riley said. “Lauren and I went to the restroom while a couple of the other gals got drinks for us. Anyway, Lauren was in the bathroom stall, and this other group of women came in. They were talking about the nobody that scored the goal...” She met his eyes with a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay.” Trent waved his hand dismissively. “I am a nobody compared to the rest of the guys on the team.” Besides, he had bigger concerns at the moment. “What does this have to do with Lauren?”
“Because they were also talking about the fat girl who jumped up and screamed so loudly when you scored, and they wondered what the hell you were doing with her, because even though you’re a nobody on the team, you can do so much better than her.” Riley sighed. “They were mean and petty, and I tried to set them straight, but—”
“But Lauren heard it.” And Trent could well imagine what it did to Lauren’s already fragile confidence.
“Yes,” Riley confirmed with a slight nod.
“Son of a bitch.” No wonder Lauren was trying to avoid him. “Do you know where she could be, if she’s not working?” Trent asked.
“If I had to guess, probably her counselor’s office,” Riley said after a slight hesitation.
“Which is where? Do you know the address, or the counselor’s name?”
Riley shook her head. “I don’t. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. You’ve helped a lot, and I appreciate it,” Trent said. “Now I’m going to go find her and show her crazy wrong those girls were.”
Riley smiled. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”
***
Lauren wasn’t scheduled to see Laci again until next week, but fortunately, the therapist had a cancellation and was able to fit her in.
“I wasn’t expecting you today,” Laci said.
“Change of plans. I needed to talk to someone. Thanks for seeing me.”
“Of course. What’s wrong, Lauren?”
She exhaled. Where to start? Where they left off after last week’s session would probably be a good idea. “I’ve been seeing Trent more, and I got up the nerve to tell him about my past. Dirk, my insecurities, the whole deal.”
“And how did that go?”
“Wonderful. He held me in his arms and comforted me. He’s incredible, Laci. So nice and genuine. I think I might be in love with him. I’m pretty sure I am, and he says he loves me, but now I’m getting ahead of myself.” Lauren grabbed the glass of water in front of her and took a gulp before speaking again.
“I did it. I conquered my fears and I slept with him. Well, first I went out with my co-worker and bought all this sexy lingerie. I passed on the crotchless panties, but I let Tori talk me into the quarter cup bra, and man, did Trent love that.” Lauren stopped abruptly. “I’m sorry. I’m rambling.”
“You’re fine,” Laci assured her. “Ramble on. I get paid to listen.”
And paid very well. Lauren managed a wry smile. “Okay, well, we spent the night together, and it was eveyrthing I could have asked for and more. I even got to fulfill one of my biggest fantasies,” Lauren said. “I was so happy, I was walking around with this big, goofy grin on my face the whole time.
“And then?” Laci prompted.
“Then I went to Trent’s game yesterday, to cheer on my man, and instead of it being a great night, I let these supid, mean girls in the bathroom insult me and define who
I am and how I feel about myself... and I’m better than that, Lace. I know I am.”
“Yes, you are. I’m glad you realize that.”
“Yeah, I do.” Lauren smiled wistfully. “I think I just need someone to give me a little pep talk.”
“Then you came to the right place.”
A half hour later, Lauren left Laci’s office feeling better about things. She’d had a setback. That’s all this was. She could get through it. No one else’s opinion mattered except hers and Trent’s.
She parked in front of her building and walked up the steps to her apartment while she ran through in her head all of the things she’d say to Trent when she called him. She could fix something to eat, invite him over. After all, he loved her cooking. Yes, that was it. Maybe she’d make chicken and dumplings. There was no way he could turn that down, right?
Lauren pulled her keys out of her bag to unlock her door just as Trent appeared beside her. “There you are. I was beginning to wonder when you were coming home.”
Lauren jumped back, her heart racing. “Jeez, way to scare a girl to death.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to,” Trent said. “I need to see you, though. No blowing me off this time. We need to talk.”
“Yes, we do,” Lauren agreed. She unlocked the door and pushed it open. “Come on in. I’m glad you’re here. It saves me a phone call.”
Chapter Fourteen
Thankfully, Trent had only a short wait before Lauren got home, and when did, she invited him inside right away. Two wins, but was that a hint of finality he detected in her tone? No. He needed to banish those thoughts from his head. This wasn’t the big kiss-off. It couldn’t be.
“I brought you flowers,” he said once they were inside. “Again.” Trent held up the bouquet. “The florist is probably sick of seeing me.”
Going all In (Men of the Ice Book 8) Page 9