by Toni Aleo
He guessed it was good that his wife loved his mom. It wasn’t a normal event for that to happen, but still. It was weird. He was starting to think they had a better relationship than he did with his own mother, and that left him feeling jealous. Who got jealous of his wife and mother’s relationship? That was ridiculous! But Karson found himself feeling that way.
Leaning back in his locker, he closed his eyes as his music brought him to another level, leaving thoughts of his mother and even Lacey behind. He had to focus; he had a game to win. He had to prove that he deserved his spot on the second line, that he could even take the first line. Jakob Titov had slowed down since his latest injury, and while it sucked to hope for his teammate’s position, he had to think of his career. His contract was coming up for renewal, and he was hoping to give Elli Adler a reason to pay him the big bucks that she paid her top line.
He had a family to provide for.
As Muse’s electric sound pulsated in Karson’s ears, he mentally prepared himself while he waited for it to be time to get dressed. When his phone dinged with a text message, he almost ignored it, but not only was it from Lacey, it was a picture message. Clicking on the text, his eyes about fell out of his head. His beautiful wife was standing in only the jersey, no pants, and just a little peek of her purple lace undies.
The caption read: I think I look better like this. What do you think?
He scoffed as he typed back quickly.
Karson: I think it’s going to be mighty hard to play with a boner if you show up like that.
Lacey: lol, wouldn’t dare. I know how jealous you can get.
He smiled.
Karson: That’s fucking right.
When another picture came of her with her legs open, the jersey draped along the inside of her thighs, his tongue fell out of his mouth.
Karson: Fucking hell, Lace. Are you trying to kill me?
Lacey: Just giving you something to keep you nice and warm until I see you.
Karson: I’m going to be burning until I’m deep inside you.
Lacey: mmm. can’t wait. Now stop ogling me and get ready to kick ass.
Karson: I have to go whack off first.
Lacey: smh…men.
Laughing, he turned the music back on and then closed his eyes. He was just teasing her, but the images of her in next to nothing weren’t going away. So when he found himself in the bathroom, his cock in one hand and his phone in the other, he wasn’t that surprised.
The girl drove him mad.
Two hours later when Karson hit the ice, his eyes immediately searched for her, and what he saw pleased him. Standing in a pair of jeans, thankfully, boots up to her knees, and his jersey, Lacey looked like a fan. She even had his name and number written on her face like she used to when they were in college. In one hand was a beer, and in the other was a foam sword, identical to the one that the Assassins’ mascot, the Assassin, carried.
Beaming at him, she waved with a bright grin on her face as his heart tightened in his chest. She was there to cheer him on, and that alone had all the nerves evaporating. With his girl in the stands, he could do anything. He had felt that way back in college and felt it even more now that she was his wife. Feeling on top of the world, Karson sat down on the bench as the game started.
Erik won the puck, sending it back to Shea, and the game was on. But like always, the Kings came out to win, meaning this was going to be an awesome game. Looking across the ice, he found Lacey watching the game intently, cheering when the Assassins did something good and that pleased him. She was trying, no matter how weird it was. When the tap on his shoulder came, Karson jumped over the boards just in time to get the puck. Sending it up to Anderson, he went to the line, just in case the puck came back, and it did. Sailing it across the ice to Thomas, he watched as JT shot it, hoping for a rebound, but it sailed to a Kings’ player instead. Going on defense, Karson started skating backward and then a player dug in, trying to get by him.
He wasn’t getting by Karson though. Not with Lacey in the building.
Poke checking the player, Karson caught the puck and then rushed back down the ice. He had JT behind him and knew that he also had Brooks and Franklin to his left. Crossing the line into the Kings’ zone, Karson faked a shot, knowing that JT was behind him. Like he knew he would, Thomas sent it over to Franklin, where he sailed it past the goalie’s shoulder with ease.
It was a beauty of a play.
As his teammates wrapped him up in a hug, congratulating each other, the crowd went wild. Karson looked up to find his wife screaming her head off as she jumped up and down, and his grin grew even more.
Seeing her like that felt fucking amazing.
But knowing that later he would be tangled in the sheets with her felt even more miraculous.
Life couldn’t get any better.
Lacey chewed on her lip as she stared at the calendar on the fridge in her new home.
In four days, Karson was leaving for two weeks.
For the first time since they were married.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She knew it was his job; she knew he had to go, but for the last month, they had been inseparable. They did everything together with only the company of JT. Went to the movies, dinners, shopped for the new house, and hung out, enjoying each other. She even went to watch him practice and then to all his games. Wherever Karson was, there was Lacey, and she wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Besides being completely engrossed in each other, they’d also moved into their new house. It was easy to say she loved it. Every single detail of the house was spectacular to her and everything she’d dreamed of. She loved it when they looked at it, but seeing all their furniture in place, along with bringing in new stuff, was actually making it a home. She loved the raised ceilings, the beautiful hardwood, and the kitchen was to die for. Karson had wanted to hire a decorator, but Lacey had it under control. She made their home everything they ever wanted. It screamed Lacey and Karson. Before, she had never seen herself living in Nashville in a country-chic inspired home, but she was doing it.
And she couldn’t be happier.
Well, that was until she saw that her husband was going to be leaving her.
She knew it shouldn’t be that big of a deal. She was leaving a week after he was for Chicago for a weekend, and surely she would be fine until then. She had lived by herself before. Plus, she had work she could do. Stuff to clean. And things… Who was she kidding? She was going to be lost without him. She had no friends, didn’t know what she could do while he was gone, and really, she was scared. She was usually good by herself, liked it actually, but now that she was spoiled by his love, she didn’t want to be apart from him. She was being selfish and she knew that, but it didn’t stop the worry that settled in her chest.
Running her fingers through her hair, she turned to take the glass of sweet tea she had just poured to the counter where her computer sat. Karson was at practice, and when he got back, they were supposed to go to the mall to look at stuff for the house. Later that night they would go over for dinner at his captain’s house with some of his other teammates. She was nervous to meet his friends, but then again, after meeting JT, she figured she could deal with anyone. Also, the wives would be there, so maybe she would make friends. At least then she wouldn’t be lonely when Karson left.
Leaning on her hand, she clicked through the emails that Rachel had sent her. Rachel had been a little better, but it was nowhere near the relationship they had before she left for Nashville. Lacey didn’t realize how dependent she’d been on her friendship with Rachel until she didn’t have it. It was weird not being able to call your best friend to bitch about your husband leaving his nasty clothes all over the place or how messy he was or how she was nervous that he was leaving. If Lacey even mentioned Karson’s name, Rachel would change the subject. She wouldn’t even entertain the idea of Karson.
Lacey was soon accepting that her life with Karson was one thing and her business with
Rachel was another. It bothered her to the core, but what was she supposed to do? It was getting to the point that when she called Rachel, it was only for work and that was it. She didn’t even ask about her nephews anymore; she saved that for when she texted Grady, which was only once a week.
She missed them.
All of them. And while it was killing her, she still couldn’t regret marrying Karson. She was so happy. He made her smile constantly, sometimes without even being around. He loved her and had no shame showing it at a moment’s notice. He was considerate and kind, and man, he burned up those sheets. Just thinking about his lip curving in such a sinful way and his dark seductive eyes capturing her before he devoured her could have her grinning like a schoolgirl in seconds. They worked and she wouldn’t feel sorry for that. Not when she was more in love than she had ever been in her whole life.
While she loved all of them—Karson, her dad, Grady, Rachel, and the boys—she just wished there was a way to have some kind of balance. To get her family to love him as much as she did. She knew it was a long shot, but there was no hurt in praying it would happen. Or that at least they would try.
Clicking out of an email, Lacey went to the order summary for that day. She wanted to make sure that the new piece she had designed was selling well. It was freaking gorgeous in her opinion and all Karson’s idea. It was a black corset, but instead of regular lace ties tying it together, he said to use hockey laces. He thought it would attract all the female hockey fans. Looking at the numbers, she could say that he was right. It was a hit, and she couldn’t wait to send it off for mass production.
Picking up her phone, she clicked his name and wrote him a quick text.
Lacey: K’s Laces are selling really well.
Karson: Told you they would.
She smiled. While she was glad he texted her back, she didn’t expect him to. He was supposed to be practicing.
Lacey: Are you done?
Karson: Nope, I’m in a meeting. I’ll be home in an hour. I was actually about to text you and let you know. You good?
Lacey: Yeah, just working.
Karson: Cool. I’ll be home soon.
Lacey: :)
Laying her phone down, she checked a few more things and was about to get ready to go to the mall when her phone rang. She assumed it was Karson, but when the display read that it was her father, she was sure her eyes were playing tricks on her.
Picking the phone up slowly, she hit the accept button and said, “Hello?”
“Lacey Arielle, it’s your father.”
“Hey, Daddy,” she said slowly.
She hadn’t talked to him since he’d walked out of her apartment back in Chicago.
“I was calling to ask if you are ready to come home.”
Straight to the point, as her father always was. Sitting back in her chair, her brows came in. “Um, I’m coming to Chicago in two weeks for a meeting and to check on the store.”
“No, I mean are you ready to come home for good.”
“I am home, Dad.”
“No, Chicago is your home. Tell me you are done with this charade. Surely, you are ready.”
Closing her eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose. “Daddy, it isn’t a charade. I love Karson. I’m happy.”
“I don’t believe that. Come home.”
“No, I am home.”
He paused and her heart went insane in her chest. She hadn’t spoken to him in weeks, and he thought he could just call to demand shit? How unfair was that? And why? Did he really assume she would just obey him? He was delusional!
“You know, I really don’t see what you don’t understand. I am happy, I am in love, and Karson and I are building a life here. We bought a house, and maybe we’ll get a dog or something, but we are happy. He is my husband, my partner for life,” she said, anger lacing her voice. When she remembered what he had done, for a second time, she decided to call him out on it. “We heard about you calling his coach. That was really low of you. I’m going to ask that you don’t do anything like that again, but knowing you, you probably will.”
She shook her head, completely disgusted with the person she called her father. “Daddy, I need you to respect me. Respect my marriage, and if you can’t do that, then please don’t call me back,” she said sternly. In her head, she knew Karson would be proud of her, but it didn’t keep her heart from pounding so hard it hurt in her chest. The times were few and far between when she actually stood up to her dad, but this had to stop. Karson was everything to her.
“Fine, Lacey,” he said softly and her heart ached. She hated this. She wanted her dad to be a good man and support her. She wanted him not to try to sabotage her and Karson. She wanted him to be happy for her. Not so controlling. But that wasn’t the man Nate Martin was.
“Fine, I guess I’ll let you go then.”
“No, sweetheart, I miss you,” he said and she paused.
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Well, I miss you too, Daddy.”
“And you’re right, I was wrong for trying to ruin that scum’s career,” he said and Lacey rolled her eyes.
“He isn’t scum, Daddy. He is amazing.”
“That’s up for debate. But also, I’ve decided that I was wrong for trying to make you choose, and I really would like it if we can have a relationship. You’re my princess.”
Tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes as she swallowed hard. Her father wasn’t the man she needed for a father, but he was the only parent she had and she did care for him. As much as she wanted him to love Karson right off the bat, she knew it was going to take time. Maybe since he was willing to respect her relationship, Grady and Rachel would. She’d have her family back, and that was something she really did want. Something she craved.
“I would like that too,” she said softly.
“Good, so you said you two bought a house?”
She smiled as she gushed about their new house, telling him every detail. He listened, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he didn’t actually care. He asked questions about where it was and how much it cost, which she thought was weird. But then again, her father was all about money. When she said Karson bought it outright, she was trying to get her father to like him. Since he had said that Karson would never be able to support her, she wanted to show that he could, tenfold. She wasn’t sure it worked, but he seemed impressed.
“Wow, but is your name is on the deed?”
“Yeah,” she said, confused by the question. Why did that matter?
“And there is no prenup, right?”
Her stomach clenched. What was he getting at? “No, we don’t need one.”
“That’s very unsafe, but I guess you both have something to lose and something for leverage,” he said, disappointment lacing his voice.
“There is nothing to lose because this is forever.”
“Nothing is forever, Lacey. Don’t be so naïve,” he scolded, making her feel two feet tall.
“Our love is,” she said with as much strength as she could muster.
“Well, let’s hope so because if not, he can get half your business, and you don’t want that. Not after all the work and time you’ve put into it. Lord knows you are way more successful than he’ll ever be,” he said, and she could just imagine him shaking his head.
“Actually, not that it matters, but Karson is more successful.”
He laughed. “Honey, don’t let him blind you with buying that house with cash. It doesn’t mean anything; he’s only a hockey player. Mediocre at that.”
She let out an annoyed breath. “I’m pretty sure I said not to put down my husband. And not that I have to defend him, but I will because he is an excellent, smart player. He is a beautiful man, and I am proud to be married to him.”
“I’m entitled to my own opinion of him, and until he proves me wrong, I will think what I want of him,” he said in a matter-of-fact way. She hated when he talked like that. Like he was so smart while she was a freaking idiot.
S
queezing the edge of the counter, she snapped, “You’re right. But don’t forget, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, and most of them are just full of shit.”
“I’m pretty sure you just insulted me, and I will blame that on your husband,” he said through a tight lip.
“Actually, I came up with that, but whatever,” she said, and she wished she had hung up a long time ago. While she did want her father in her life, the key was small doses. She should have ended this call a long time ago. It wasn’t time to bring Karson into this. She should have never told her dad anything; he didn’t care. If he did, he’d be happy for her.
“Yes, well, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?”
Putting her glass in the sink, she said, “I think Karson’s parents are going to come down.”
“So you won’t be coming home?”
“No, Karson has already made plans with Regina and Karl to come here,” she said, and the invite was right there, but she wasn’t sure how Karson would feel about that.
“Well, maybe we will come there then, if you have the room. I don’t think anyone wants to spend it without you.”
Oh. “Well, yeah, that should be fine. I’ll discuss it with Karson.”
Her father scoffed. “It’s your home and your family. Do you really need to discuss anything with him?”
She glared. “Since you did break us up, kept us apart for nine years, and then tried to get him benched on his team, ugh, yeah, I think I need to discuss this with him. Karson is a good man, but I don’t expect him to welcome you with open arms.”