by Sarah Hegger
“I know.” In his thirties, Guy was closer to that point than most. “What will you do?”
“I have this land.” Guy smiled. “I want to build my own house on it. Sit on the porch I’ve built and give that very question some serious thought.”
Sam laughed. He could see Guy doing that. “No lady by your side?”
“Hard to find the right one.” Guy shrugged.
Sam sensed a whole bunch of stuff that Guy didn’t say, but the man was private about his personal life and Sam respected that. “I’ve been working with these kids. They totally suck at hockey, but they still love it.”
“I’ve seen the pictures on Instagram,” Guy said.
“I was a complete prick to them at first.” He didn’t like thinking about that part. “But once I got over myself, I liked working with them. There’s something magical about watching them get it, seeing the way every small victory counts for them.”
Guy raised an eyebrow. “Why not work with kids with talent?”
“Because there are enough people to do that.” Sam shimmied out of his wet swimsuit and found a pair of boxers in his bag. He pulled them on and felt better for having gotten rid of the wet suit. “Nobody gives a shit about these kids. This is Canada.” He shrugged. “Hockey is like a religion and if you’re good at it, there are hundreds of people ready and willing to show you the way. But these kids, nobody gives a crap, which is sad because they fucking love the game.”
Chuckling, Guy shook his head. “This is a side of you that I’d almost given up on.”
“Probably because it didn’t exist before.” Sam dried his legs and hauled on his jeans.
Guy grunted. “Nah, Stoner. This side of you always existed. When you were a kid you were always the one helping out the weaker players.”
The praise made him uncomfortable and he buried his head in a towel. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“Stoner.” Guy’s bass rumble filled the room. “Why the hell would I miss the chance to dunk your arrogant ass?”
“You playing Montreal tonight?”
“You know it.” Guy cracked his knuckles. “I got a yen for a shutout.”
Sam laughed. “Do it.”
“I gotta get moving.” Guy checked his watch. “I wanted to come down here and see you. Let you know you’re not forgotten.”
That meant more to Sam than he could say. He held out his hand. “Appreciate it.”
Guy grabbed him and hauled him into a rough hug. “Look forward to welcoming you back, Stoner.”
* * * *
After his shift ended in the dunk tank, Elizabeth lost sight of Sam.
The big Titans goalie approached her with a warm smile. “Lizzie?”
“Elizabeth.” The correction came automatically.
Guy chuckled. “Well, Sam told me your name so he can eat the complaint.”
“He’s always called me that.” Elizabeth responded to his smile. Guy had the sort of smile that teased you to come along and join in the joke.
“Well, he calls me Trapper.” Guy shrugged. “At some point I gave up on getting him to call me anything different.”
“Same.” Beside Elizabeth, Chris squirmed and whimpered.
Chris gazed at Guy with the sort of unmitigated fervor reserved for tweens and boy bands.
“Um…Guy.” She motioned Chris. “This is my best friend, Chris. She’s a huge hockey fan.”
“Chris.” Guy held out a huge paw. “You coach the kids’ team Sam got involved with?”
“Ergh!” Chris flushed cerise.
“She…er…has coached them for a couple of years now.” If Chris didn’t get it together, she was going to miss the chance to meet her hero. “They’re the kids who were turned away from any other team.
Guy gave Chris that knee trembling smile, and Elizabeth felt the warm weight of it from beside Chris.
Chris squeaked out an affirmative noise.
“Guy!” Maddy tripped over on her high-heeled boots with her arms held wide.
Guy swept her into a hug and lifted her right off the ground. “Maddy, baby! Looking fine as always.”
“Big flirt.” Maddy kissed his cheek. “I see you met my girl, Chris.”
Chris gaped at her. “Your girl?”
“Aren’t you?” Maddy cocked her head, a small smile on her face.
Openly grinning, Chris laughed. “Well, sure I am.”
“Tell me more about your team,” Guy said. “I like what I’m hearing.”
Elizabeth kept an eye out for Sam. He must have gone to get dry. A flash of black drew her eye as Jane slipped into the men’s bathroom.
“Guy?” Please let me be wrong about this. “Sorry to interrupt, but is Sam in the men’s?”
“Yeah.” Guy pointed at the door Jane had disappeared through.
“Excuse me.” Elizabeth flew into action. As she swung the door open, Elizabeth heard Sam say, “Jane, you need to step back, sweetie.”
Jane had Sam backed into the counter, her arms on either side of his hips. “Come on, Sam. I know all about you players.”
A man pushed through the doors, looked at Sam and Jane, then at Elizabeth and backed out again.
“Elizabeth.” Sam paled and slid away from Jane. “I didn’t—”
“I know that.” There were times when she wanted to strangle Jane. An attitude readjustment was way past due. She glared at her sister. “You are coming with me.”
“Jesus, Elizabeth.” Jane rolled her eyes. “You don’t own him.”
Elizabeth slid past annoyed into pissed off. “Get in the car. Now.”
“Or what?” Jane stuck her hip out, but doubt flickered in her eyes.
“Now!” Elizabeth stalked her. “Or I am going to make you so sorry you didn’t.”
Jane looked sulky, but she moved for the exit. “You can’t do anything to me.”
“Try me.” Elizabeth herded her into the hall.
Surrounded by people, Jane made a bid for freedom. “You’re not Mom. You can’t do anything to me.”
“I can take away your allowance.” Elizabeth stepped into her space. “I can get you grounded for the foreseeable future.” She played her ace in the hole. “And I can tell Mom how out of control you are.”
Going pale, Jane got moving again.
Elizabeth prepared to follow.
“Lizzie?” Sam grabbed her arm. “Okay?”
“Yeah.” At least it would be once someone shortened Jane’s leash. “I’ll call you later.”
“Thanks, Lizzie.” His face softened. “I appreciate you not jumping to the wrong conclusion.”
Given their past, she totally got that. She managed a small smile for him. “You’re welcome. Can you ask Chris for a ride home?”
“Sure.” Then he called after her, “Go easy on her, Slugger.”
Elizabeth gave him a wave over her shoulder.
Still sulking, Jane waited by her car.
They drove home in a tense silence, which lasted until they reached Dad’s kitchen.
Safe in her own space, Jane made her stand. “You can’t tell me what to do, you know.”
“Someone has to.” The problem with Jane was that too many times their parents backed down. “What happened with Sam is totally unacceptable.”
“He wanted it.” Jane crossed her arms.
This much Elizabeth knew without doubt. “No, he didn’t, and it’s lucky for you Sam is who he is, or you might have bought a whole lot more trouble than you’re prepared for.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Jane sneered. “Go ahead and blame the victim.”
Elizabeth couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “How are you the victim in this?”
“You blamed me for what happened. Like I’d lured Sam.” Jane entrenched herself deeper into her faulty logic.
Elizabeth wanted to slap that belligerent look off Jane’s face. She used words instead. “You followed the man into the men’s room. I’m guessing you waited for him to be alone in there before you
did. You pinned him to the countertop, and now you’re claiming to be the victim. Explain.”
“Sam wants me.” Jane tossed her head. “A woman always knows.”
“A woman might.” Elizabeth enunciated clearly, to make sure her sister got the next bit. “But a spoiled little girl who thinks the world revolves around her wouldn’t know any difference between what she wants and what the rest of the world wants.”
“You’re such a bitch,” Jane yelled. “You want everything for yourself. All the time.”
Dear God, that was a good one. “How do you work that one out?”
“What the hell is all the screeching about?” Dad stomped into the kitchen.
“Yes, Elizabeth,” Jane sneered her name. “What are you screeching about?”
“Jane tried her charms out on Sam.” Elizabeth was through protecting Jane from the consequences of her own behavior.
Dad looked confused. “What are you talking about?”
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth caught Dad up. “Sam did a stint in the dunk tank at the high school fundraiser.”
“Why?” Dad glared.
Not about to tell him about their deal, Elizabeth said, “I asked him to do it for charity, and he was happy to.”
“Have you lost your tiny brain?” Dad’s eyes bulged. “You asked Sam to get dunked in your ridiculous high school fundraiser?”
Jane smirked at her from behind Dad’s shoulder.
“Yes, I did.” Elizabeth held her ground and her father’s hard stare. “And he did it without flinching. Then, Jane followed him into the bathroom as he was changing and went all teen temptress on him.”
Dad swung his incredulous look at Jane. “You went into the men’s room.”
Jane didn’t look nearly so smug now. “Only Sam was in there.”
“Only Sam?” Dad sputtered. “Only Sam! The greatest hockey player of my time?”
That might be overstating it, but Elizabeth knew better than to try to stop the avalanche of Dad’s hero worship. “When I got there, he was doing his best to get away from her.”
“You’re both idiots.” Dad threw his hands up. “What the hell were you doing bothering Sam? Because you knew him as children doesn’t give you a right to hang all over him and get on his last nerve.”
If she hadn’t heard it so many times already, it might have smarted a bit more.
Having it directed her way for the first time, Jane’s eyes filled with tears. “Daddy,” she whispered. “Sam is special to me too.”
Dad sighed. “Janey.”
And Elizabeth wanted to puke. She let herself out the back door.
“Elizabeth!” Dad yelled out the back door. “What’s for dinner?”
She didn’t even bother to turn around. “Whatever darling Janey or you can make.”
Slamming her car door made her feel marginally better. She really needed a new shtick. This people pleasing good girl gig was clearly not working out for her.
As she parked, in her spot, thanks to Sam, her phone buzzed with a message from Peter.
She hadn’t texted him since the Friday Chris and Maddy had met, and she read his text.
Hey there! Long time no speak. Smiley face emoji. Fancy dinner sometime next week?
She had turned him down last time.
After a few moments of the three dots, Peter’s next text arrived. I miss my friend. Sad face emoji.
On the cusp of texting back a no, she let her people pleaser butt into the conversation. She and Peter had been together for over a year, and they had sworn to stay friends.
Sure. When? she replied.
They made a date to meet and Elizabeth got out of her car.
Randy popped his head around Bonnie’s door, saw her, and his face dropped. “Sam not with you?”
“Not today.” Elizabeth managed a tight smile. And Sam wasn’t with her in that sense. Which brought up their conversation driving to the high school. Her heart beat faster. Sam had more than hinted at something else between them.
And that thought left her with equal parts terror and excitement.
Chapter 18
Elizabeth put Chris’s sudden desire to go shopping down to the new woman in her life. As she could count on one hand the number of times Chris had allowed her to update her wardrobe, Elizabeth had no trouble picking Chris up after work and taking her to the mall.
Dad had been particularly toxic at work all day, and she was glad to get the hell out of the office. His mood could be because she’d had trouble concentrating all day. Sam had taken to texting her funny messages and jokes.
Instead of being adult about it, she’d spent the day checking each notification on her phone.
Chris was waiting on the porch when she pulled up.
“Hey.” Chris slid into the passenger side. “How was work?”
“Crap!”
With a sigh Chris shook her head. “Your day was shit because you hate your job and your dad is a prick.”
She opened her mouth to defend both statements, and then snapped it shut. She did hate her job, and her father had definite prickish tendencies. Imagine what he’d say if she slept with Sam.
Heat prickled beneath her skin.
“Hello?” Christ stared at her. “What’s with you?”
Her cheeks heated. “Nothing.”
“I call bullshit.” Chris folded her arms. “And I think I know what has you looking all hot and bothered.”
“Really?” She gave Chris a skeptical look. At her job, Chris was a veritable super sleuth, but personal stuff…not so much.
“Uh huh.” Chris looked smug. “Maddy thinks you and Sam have got a thing for each other.”
Elizabeth snorted to cover her embarrassment and then tried to flip the conversation. “Is that what Maddy said? Why don’t you tell me what else Maddy said?” She snapped her fingers. “Or why don’t you tell me what’s going on with Maddy?”
“Maddy likes me.” Chris smirked at her. “Like Sam likes you. Sam and Elizabeth sitting in a tree—”
“Stop.” Elizabeth had to yell over her and ended up laughing. “Shut up about Sam or I’ll let you buy a pair of jeans that make your ass look fat.”
At the mall, she parked near a department store entrance. A spring freeze had locked the air outside into a bitchy cold that only got worse when the wind blew. She and Chris rushed across the parking lot. Inside, a blast of hot air hit them and they both sighed with relief.
“Oh, Canada!” Chris stomped snow and ice off her boots. “Where nobody comes for the weather.”
Elizabeth pulled her tuque off. “And if they do, they don’t stay long.”
They walked through the men’s section as they headed for the women’s.
“Hey.” Chris stopped so suddenly Elizabeth collided with the back of her. “Ow!”
“You suddenly stopped.”
“Look there.” Chris pointed to a poster of a half-naked man.
The man in the underwear ad looked vaguely familiar. “Nice, but out of my league, don’t you think?”
Chris rolled her eyes. “Definitely out of your league as he’s a professional football player.”
“Really?” Elizabeth peered closer at the man with dark hair and an amazing set of abs. Those sexy lines disappeared into bright pink boxer shorts. “Those are very pink.”
“Get your eyes further north.” Chris shook her head. “He’s not selling underpants. It’s a charity thing. Basically they’re getting famous athletes and movie stars to wear these bright pink undies for breast cancer awareness.” She pointed to the stacks of pink undies for sale. “For every pair sold, they send seventy percent of the purchase price to breast cancer awareness.” Chris grinned at her expectantly. “Normal men participate too if they want. They buy these and then take a selfie and post it using the hashtag.”
“That’s a good idea.” Elizabeth took a closer look at hot stuff on the poster.
“And?” Chris gave her an expectant stare.
“Oh.” Those a
bs had slowed her brain down. “You think I should ask Sam to wear these pink undies?”
Chris nodded. “I totally think you should.”
The idea of Sam in those made her go hot and cold and then really, really hot. She’d seen enough of Sam’s body to know he would rock them. Women everywhere would be going hot, cold and then boiling. “I’m not sure.” She might look like a total perv asking him to do it. “Isn’t this a bit like objectifying men?”
“It’s for charity.” Chris got a stubborn look on her face. “And you also promised to help Sam clean up his image. A high-profile effort like this will do as much as coaching thirty kids’ hockey teams.”
“I’m not sure what size he is.” Shopping for Sam’s boxers might be crossing an intimacy line.
Chris rolled her eyes. “Well, don’t ask me. The last penis I caught sight of was on Game of Thrones and that was enough to stop me from watching it.”
Her phone pinged with a message from Sam, Want to come by later? He added a sad emoji face. I’m bored and lonely.
So you thought of me? Elizabeth couldn’t stop the smile as she sent her reply. How flattering.
Come over and I’ll make it up to you.
It was fate. Sam had texted as she was weighing up buying the pink boxers.
Chris snorted loud enough to drag her attention away from the phone. “Tell me again how there’s nothing going on between you and Sam.”
Elizabeth’s face flamed hotter. “Shuddup.”
* * * *
Sam opened the door to Elizabeth looking cold and flushed and fucking adorable. He’d been delighted when she had agreed to come by and had rushed around making dinner for her.
With his schedule during the season, it made more sense to learn to cook for himself.
She brushed past him and shrugged out of her coat. “Damn. It’s cold out there.”
As he hung her coat up, he whistled the opening bars to “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
“Oh, Sam.” Eyes twinkling, she shook her head at him. “That is so unPC.”
“Sue me.” Damn she looked pretty with her face turned up to him and laughing. He wanted to grab her and kiss her. Drink deep of all the sweet and tart delights of Elizabeth. “You chicks need to get back in the kitchen where you belong.”