TORE (Sidewinders: Generations Book 2)

by Kat Mizera

  “Have you two ever talked about it?”

  “Believe it or not, I’ve tried. This is all her. I don’t know what she’s afraid of, whether it’s Gracie or—”

  “Who’s Gracie?” he asked.

  “Her daughter.” I pulled out my phone and scrolled until I found a picture of Gracie and me at Ian and Everly’s wedding.

  “Oh, she’s beautiful,” Josh said, smiling. “Look at that sweet face… Are those scars?”

  I nodded. “She and Margot were in a car accident last year. She went through the windshield and even though she was in her car seat and wasn’t hurt otherwise, a shard of glass from the window sliced off most of the skin of her face as she went through.”

  “Sweet Jesus.” He grimaced, staring down at the picture.

  “Ian got her hooked up with Coach Rousseau’s wife, who’s a plastic surgeon, and she’s done a handful of surgeries so far. The last one was a few weeks ago and Gracie’s doing great. You can hardly see the scars now.”

  “Poor kid.”

  “Yeah, so Margot has her hands full. And I get it. She’s been through a lot. Gracie’s dad walked out pretty much right when she told him she was pregnant, and she’s been on her own ever since.”

  “Tell me how you know her? Jamie didn’t give me any details.”

  “Margot is best friends with a woman named Everly. Since they were little. Everly just married Ian Campbell, who’s one of my teammates and closest friends.”

  “Okay, I got it now. I know most of the guys on the Sidewinders because of Jamie and Viggo, but I lose track of the wives, girlfriends, and kids.”

  “There are a lot of them.”

  “So, don’t you like Gracie?”

  “Like her? I adore her. She’s my buddy. We’re seriously best friends. I bought her a phone for her birthday—it’s just one of those that you buy minutes for, not like an iPhone or anything—so she can call me. And she does. Almost every day. Usually just to tell me what she had for breakfast.”

  Josh laughed. “She sounds great.”

  “She is. Margot’s done such a good job with her. But it’s taken a toll on her. She’s never been able to count on anyone but herself and Everly since she had the baby, and she’s gun-shy with men. I’m not exactly prime husband or dad material, but I’ve been trying to do better so—”

  “Wait, why would you say that?” he asked, interrupting me. “Why aren’t you dad or husband material?”

  I laughed. “You don’t know me. I’m a bit of a…player. I go through women like, well, you know what I mean. I had a girlfriend for about a year, Jen. She was great, but I think my curiosity about men freaked her out. She told me she’d always worry that I was going to leave her for a guy. I guess she thought I was in the closet or something.”

  “Are you?” Josh met my gaze.

  “I don’t think so. This is the third time I’ve fooled around with a guy and—no offense—it was fun, but it’s not my preference. I was far more into Margot even though I enjoyed everything.”

  “Kind of how I felt, except the opposite. It was fun experimenting with a woman, but I’m still a hundred percent gay. And, I got to fool around with a pro hockey player, which is going to make all my friends jealous.” He grinned as our waitress delivered our food.

  “Glad to be able to give you bragging rights.” I dug into my breakfast, unsure if I was proud or weirded out at the thought.

  We ate and shot the shit for about an hour before I dropped him off at Jamie and Viggo’s house.

  “It was great meeting you,” he said. “I’ll be in town for another week, so maybe I’ll see you again.”

  “Good to meet you too,” I said, shaking his hand.

  He patted my shoulder. “Go talk to Margot. You two are definitely into each other so there’s no reason to keep pretending you’re not.”

  “I honestly don’t know what to say,” I admitted. “I like her and I told her so a couple of months ago.”

  “She’s afraid of something—you need to find out what it is.”

  “You think I should ask her out on a date? Like, a real date, not hanging out with our friends and stuff.”

  “Absolutely. Be sweet and romantic but not over-the-top and, if you think it’ll help, tell her no sex. One casual date, just the two of you, to get an idea how that would feel in light of your current friendship and this new twist we added on Fantasy Night.”

  I nodded. “That’s a good idea. Thanks.”

  “I think Margot has feelings for you, but there’s something holding her back. Whether it’s because of Gracie or not, I can’t be sure, but my gut tells me it’s probably a little more deep-seated than that.”

  “You’re probably right. It’s weird because we’re pretty good friends, in general. We’ve hung out dozens of times, we’ve gone out drinking, and of course I spend tons of time with Gracie. She used to talk to me, about everything, and then she kind of stopped. I wish I knew why she doesn’t trust me.”

  “My advice is to ask,” he said. “But not right away. Take her out and be a little old-fashioned. Hand-holding, chaste kissing, maybe do something where you can walk around together. It’s hot as balls right now, so I don’t know what, but not just dinner where you’re across the table from each other and are forced into communicating. Be more subtle. She needs a little finesse, my friend.”

  I sighed. “I know; that’s what’s hard. And I’m not sure I know anything about finesse.”

  “Be yourself, but be cognizant of the fact that she’s special to you and apparently gun-shy.”

  “The guy who left her, Gracie’s dad, did a number on her self-esteem.”

  “There’s your answer. So good luck and let me know how it goes.”

  “I will. Thanks.”

  “Take care, Tore.” He got out of my car and waved.

  I watched him go into the house and then turned my Ferrari toward home. I needed to shower and change into something casual, but then I was going to ask Margot to go out on a date with me, which was something I hadn’t done in a long time. Jen and I had started dating without any formalities, and beyond that, I didn’t really partake in the ritual of dating. I hung out and hooked up. Dating itself felt like so much work.

  But Margot was worth it.

  At least I hoped so.

  7

  Margot

  Ian and Gracie had just gotten back from Ian’s run and we were making more waffles for them when someone knocked on the door. I went to get it since Everly was making the waffles and Ian and Gracie were fighting over the one that was left from what Everly and I had eaten.

  The house was in a gated community, and there were only a handful of good friends who had the code, so I didn’t even look before throwing open the door since.

  “Tore.” I blinked in the bright sunlight, surprised to see him and suddenly a little shy.

  He’d spent hours between my legs last night.

  He’d seen every inch of me naked, stretch marks and all.

  He’d been inside of me.

  He’d made me come over and over.

  I was either going to die of embarrassment or have an orgasm, right here in the doorway.

  Shit.

  “Good morning.” He gave me a soft smile.

  “Uh, hey. Good morning.”

  “Uncle Tore!” Gracie came running down the hall and vaulted herself at him.

  “Hey, Princess Penalty Box.”

  I had no idea what had started him calling her that, but Gracie thought the penalty box in hockey was the funniest thing ever and was constantly sending him there when they were together, so that was his name for her. Part of me hated him for integrating himself so deeply in her life; the rest of me fell in love with him a little every time I saw them together. He could be immature and annoying as hell, but even so, my ovaries exploded every time I saw him with my daughter.

  “I’ll share my waffles with you,” she was telling him.

  “I already had breakfast but I’ll com
e keep you company,” he told her. “Just give me a minute with Mommy and I’ll be right in.”

  “Okay!” She bounded back to the kitchen and I watched her with a wry grin.

  “So, what’s up?” I asked him.

  He gave me that sweet smile again, which was so unlike him. Normally he was quirky, funny, and mischievous. Today he was quieter, sincere, as if last night had changed something. “Margot, I know you’re going to have a lot of excuses after everything that’s happened between us, but I don’t want to talk about any of that. Not yet. What I’d really like is to take you out on a date. One night, just the two of us with zero expectations. No sex, no pressure, nothing but two friends who have an attraction, seeing what there is to see without all the outside drama that seems to follow us around.”

  His blue eyes were focused on mine, and with the sun glinting off his blond hair, he looked a little godlike. He was kind of like a god, in my eyes anyway, and that was one of many reasons I kept pushing him away. Guys like him were too good to be true. My ex had been like Tore, except not wealthy or successful, and definitely not as interested in Gracie. Just really good-looking and funny.

  “What do you say?” he asked softly, reaching out to push a lock of hair out of my eyes. “Say yes, Margot. Last night proves just how damn good we are together, and we’re already friends. What can it hurt?”

  I continued to look at him, taking in that handsome face, the shock of blond hair falling over one eye, and that beautiful mouth that had given me so much pleasure last night. I ached for more, to have him kissing me again, but this time focused on no one but me.

  “Margot?” He cocked his head. “Come on, don’t say no. Give me one date to convince you we’d be good together.”

  “I already know we’d be good together,” I whispered. “But that’s short-term and—”

  “Uh-uh.” He pressed two fingers over my lips. “No ‘but this or that’ nonsense. One date, then you can make excuses.”

  “How many more waffles do I need to make?” Everly called from the kitchen.

  “None!” Tore called back. “I already ate.”

  “Make me one more,” I yelled to Everly. “I’m still hungry.”

  I turned to Tore and pulled my lower lip through my teeth. “One date?”

  “One date.”

  “Okay.” I didn’t know what I was setting myself up for, but we’d literally done almost everything else, so in an odd way, it made sense that we should go out on an actual date. It was one of the few things we hadn’t done.

  Tore leaned over and brushed his lips across my cheek before grabbing my hand and tugging me into the kitchen.

  Jamie and Viggo were having a barbecue the following day and had invited Gracie and me to come over. Gracie was the same age as their son, J.J., and they’d started playing together quite a bit. They’d been in the same preschool class last year and had become fast friends, which was a big part of the reason Jamie, Viggo, and I had become friends. They had a big, gorgeous pool and Gracie loved being in the water. We hadn’t been able to come by for a few weeks because of her last surgery, but we’d gotten the okay for today from her surgeon, Mack.

  Jamie loved my homemade pasta salad, so I’d made a huge bowl of it and I was holding it with both hands as we waited for someone to open the front door. Gracie was practically bouncing with excitement and I laughed as she rang the doorbell a second and then a third time.

  “Stop,” I told her, laughing. “They’re probably out back. Be patient.”

  “Hey, there.” To my surprise, it wasn’t Jamie, Viggo or their nanny, Misty, standing there, but Josh.

  “Oh. Hi.” I blinked, unsure what to do. Somehow, I hadn’t thought I’d ever see him again. “I thought you were going back to Canada?”

  “Thursday,” he said, smiling as he looked down at Gracie. He got down on his haunches and spoke to her. “Hi. I’m Josh. I’m a friend of your mom’s.”

  “I’m Gracie.” She politely put out her hand and he shook it solemnly.

  “It’s very nice to meet you. Why don’t you head out to the pool? J.J.’s been asking when you were getting here all morning.”

  “Yay!” Gracie took off at a run and I chuckled as Josh took the big bowl of pasta salad from me.

  “So, how are you?” he asked as we walked through the house to the kitchen.

  I automatically started moving things around in the refrigerator. I’d been here enough times to feel comfortable doing it and Josh waited as I made room for the big bowl.

  “I’m good. Have you been having a relaxing vacation?” I straightened up and he slid the bowl onto the shelf.

  “I come to Vegas a few times a year,” he said. “Jamie and I have been friends since he played in Ottawa, before he retired, and he, Viggo, and I are good friends. Usually when I come in the summer, we go somewhere like the Grand Canyon or Lake Havasu, but the club has been insane and Jamie couldn’t get away. So it’s been mellow this time.”

  “Sometimes mellow is good,” I said. “It gives you a chance to recharge.”

  “Very true.” We walked out back onto the expansive patio and I waved at everyone. I’d met Misty on many occasions since she was usually the one arranging the playdates with the kids, along with J.J.’s mother, Emilie, who was also here. She was with her husband, Chains, and the rest of their kids. Emilie had been married to Viggo once, and they had a daughter named Simone. Emilie also had a daughter named Lily with Chains. The two families were close and they shared all three children, including Lily, even though she wasn’t related to Jamie or Viggo biologically.

  I thought the family they had was beautifully unconventional and sweet. They shared birthdays, holidays, and even staggered vacations and date night so both couples had time to themselves while simultaneously raising their three children.

  Jamie gave me a quick kiss on the cheek in greeting before jumping into the pool with the kids.

  “Hey, Margot!” Emilie waved and held up a bottle of prosecco. “I’m having prosecco with pomegranate juice. Would you like one?”

  “Oh, that sounds wonderfully refreshing,” I responded, sitting next to her and kicking off my sandals. It was hot, but their patio was amazing. Half of it was covered, with excellent ceiling fans, and the refreshing pool water was just a few feet away.

  Emilie poured my drink as Chains went to join Jamie and the kids in the pool and Josh joined us at the covered table.

  “Where’s Lily?” I asked Emilie.

  “Inside, having a nap.” Emilie smiled. “She was in the pool by nine and worn out by eleven.”

  “Gracie will hopefully sleep well tonight!” I said, chuckling.

  “They’re a handful,” Josh said, nodding. “But I love this age, like between two and five, when they’re so curious and into everything. It’s a lot of work, but the way their minds work fascinates me.”

  Emilie rolled her eyes. “Says the childless bachelor.”

  “Who happens to be a psychologist,” he said, laughing.

  “You’re a psychologist?” I asked him curiously.

  He nodded. “Yes. And sadly childless. I’d love to be a dad, but I keep waiting for the right guy to come along.” He paused. “Not that another guy is going to be helpful in the baby-making process.”

  Emilie and I laughed. “You don’t need a partner to be a good dad,” she told him.

  “No, but I kind of want to raise a family in a family—with more than just me. I could do it on my own, but I think it’s a lot harder.”

  “I can attest to that,” I said dryly.

  He met my eyes. “I think you’re extremely strong and brave. Is Gracie’s father in the picture at all?”

  I shook my head. “He ran for the hills as soon as I told him I was pregnant. He’s never given me a dime beyond the two hundred bucks he gave me to have an abortion.”

  He scowled. “That really sucks, but you know what? She’s better off without a douche like that in her life.”

  “I agree.”


  “Mama, come in the pool.” Six-year-old Simone flashed big blue eyes at her mother.

  “Lovey, all three of your daddies are in the pool… Why do you need me?” Emilie peered at her over her sunglasses.

  “Because they’re all boys!” she said, throwing up her hands as if that explained everything.

  “In a little bit,” Emilie said patiently. “Let me finish my drink.” She held up her wine glass. “It will taste horrid if it gets warm.”

  “Fi-ine.” Simone stalked back into the water and we chuckled.

  “It’s been nice living here,” I said. “Gracie has all these adopted uncles and she loves it. For most of her life, it was just me, her, and Everly, with a little help from Everly’s mom. Now she has wonderful male role models.”

  “Like Tore?” Josh’s hazel eyes twinkled.

  I nodded. “Absolutely. He’s amazing with her.”

  “Now we need to make him take the job full-time instead of part-time,” Emilie said.

  “I don’t think he’s ready for that,” I said slowly. “Hell, I’m not even ready for it. I mean, we’re just friends. Although…” My voice trailed off. It wasn’t a secret that we had a date planned for Wednesday night.

  “Although?” Emilie asked with interest.

  “We’re going out Wednesday night. Like, on an official date.”

  Josh smiled. “Excellent. You two are great together.”

  I cocked my head. “How would you know that? You only saw us having sex and that’s not the same thing. That’s like saying you and I are good together.”

  “We are,” he said, motioning with one hand. “We had a great time the other night and now we’re sitting across from each other hanging out, enjoying each other’s company, getting to know each other better. What’s not good about it?”

  “True, but you’re not planning to ask me out on a date.”

  He chuckled. “Not a romantic one, but if you’d like to go out to dinner or a movie, I’d love the company. I think you’re lovely and sweet, and I would enjoy spending time with you that has nothing to do with Fantasy Night. Does the fact that I’m gay preclude us from being friends?”