CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Hailee
Today was the day. Hailee was headed down to meet the realtor at the space for her new gallery, where she was signing the lease agreement. Since the office space was right by Alison’s dog spa, she was coming over after, and they were going to have pizza and champagne in her new gallery. Tomorrow Hailee planned to go down to the club and quit. Things were all falling into place. Almost.
Against her better judgement, Hailee had texted Dom last night. He played so awesome, and even though he got hurt a few times, he won the game for his team. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t turn the game off. She missed seeing him in net, in full gear, working his magic. Maybe he appreciated her text, maybe he didn’t. She could only hope it made the win a little sweeter for him. She hoped it would help slowly get her back into his good graces.
Her phone rang as she turned onto the street where her new gallery sat. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi sweetie. Is today the big day?”
“Sure is, but you knew that.” She smiled so brightly that she was sure her mom could hear it through the phone. Hailee sat in her car and waited. “How is everyone doing?”
“They’re all just fine. How are you doing, dear?”
“Excited. Even though I’ve been waiting for this forever, I can’t believe this is happening so quickly.”
“I told you things would all work out.”
“Well, almost all. Oh, Mom, the realtor is here, I have to go.”
“Okay, good luck, and I love you, honey.”
Hailee met the realtor at the door. Once he unlocked the door, he handed her the key. “You’ll be needing this. And here’s the one for upstairs.”
Once inside, the whole process didn’t take very long. The realtor unfolded the paperwork and handed her a pen. Once he had her signature, the place was hers.
After he left, she stood in the empty storefront and glanced around. She imagined where each of her paintings would be on the walls, illuminated by lights, with nameplates and price tags. Maybe one wall would be good to display new up and coming artists’ work, and she’d have to get a few pieces of furniture for the lobby area. She walked down the empty hallway that led to a bathroom and an office. There was even a small breakroom with a kitchenette.
She would need a desk for her office, and a coffee maker for the break room. I should really start a list.
“Hailee? Ding-dong, it’s Alison.”
Hailee hurried to the front of the empty space. “Hey Alison! It’s all mine!”
“Yay! Well, I brought over a blanket for us to sit on, and the pizza and champagne to celebrate!”
Hailee laid the blanket on the carpeted floor, and took the champagne from her. “Wait, we don’t have any glasses.”
Alison put the pizza box on the blanket and set her bag down on the floor. “I don’t have fancy stem glasses, but I did bring pink Solo cups.” Alison beamed as she pulled them out of her tote bag. She popped the cork from the bottle, and poured the foaming liquid into cups. “Congratulations, Hailee. Here’s to the next chapter of your life.”
“Thanks.” Hailee took her cup and raised it to meet Ali’s in a toast. “Now we’re neighbors, which is even cooler. I’ve got some other news.”
“You’re pregnant?” Alison teased and took a slice of pizza.
“No! Shut up!” Don’t even tease about that. “I’m serious. Tomorrow I’m quitting The Cat House.”
“Finally! Yay!” Alison waved her hands in the air.
“With my big art sale, I was able to advertise my webpage where it would get the most traffic. I already have some other interest in my paintings. The loft above my gallery is available, and I talked to the landlord about it.” She waited and grabbed a piece of pizza as Alison put together what she had said, and a huge smile grew on Alison’s face.
“Does this mean you’re going to move out of that dingy neighborhood and right by me?”
“I am.”
Alison tossed her slice of pizza back in the box and hugged Hailee. “This is just what you need, Hailee. See, this really is the next chapter of your life. I have a feeling everything is going to work out just great.” She pulled back and studied Hailee’s face. “How have you been doing with the whole Dominic thing?”
“I don’t know. How should I be doing? He’s moving on.” She had been flying high until now, but her heart sank at the mention of Dominic.
“You think?” Alison took a quick sip of her drink.
“Well yeah. I’ve been looking, I mean, I’ve seen the photos online. Who could blame him? The one I saw, she was beautiful.” She picked at the cheese on her pizza slice.
“And you know for a fact he was with her?”
“I guess. Why?” She didn’t want to talk about this. “You know what, can we not talk about him?” Hailee looked around the room.
“I’m just saying, things aren’t always what they seem.”
“Whatever that means…”
* * *
Hailee paced her loft in a pair of yoga pants and Dominic’s t-shirt. It was early and she was trying to wake up, drinking her morning coffee. She was still foggy after last night when she and Alison had finished off that bottle of champagne.
Things were changing so quickly for her and the sooner she started embracing the change the better. Boxes sat in the corner that used to be her mini gallery. The walls were practically bare now, as most of those paintings were now boxed up and ready to ship, and Mr. McKnight was sending a truck this morning to pick them up.
Only a handful still remained. The one of her and Dominic riding on his motorcycle she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to bring herself to sell.
Other boxes were scattered around her apartment. If she could get moved into her new place, she could spend more time getting the gallery ready and painting, instead of running back and forth. Plus, after this afternoon, nothing would be tying her to this neighborhood.
She finished her coffee and checked her phone before packing more of her things while she waited. Now that she had the keys to her new place, she couldn’t wait to get out of here.
The first thing that caught her eye was the hockey scores. The Renegades played last night. They beat Boston, which meant they were on their way to the finals.
* * *
As she walked into the club, her stomach hurt. This is what she’d worked so hard towards. This job had only been a means to her dream. It was not a career. Being able to walk into this building in comfortable street clothes and know there was no skimpy lingerie outfit waiting for her inside was the best feeling ever. No more lap dances, no more private dances, and no more grabby customers. This is finally over. And she hoped she would never need this place again.
“Hailee!” Sasha called from the bar. “You’re not on the schedule tonight. What are you doing here? You here for lunch?”
“Hey Sash.” She sat down at the bar. “Nope, not working tonight. I actually came in to talk to Leo.”
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Sasha smiled sadly.
“Well…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words. The friends she’d made here were the kind of girls who always had your back. They were the only bright spot in coming in here night after night.
“Hon, don’t look sad about it. Leaving this shit hole is a good thing.”
“Where’d you hear?”
“Oh, girls talk, you know how it is. I’m happy for you, and don’t worry, we’ll stay in touch. Here, give me your phone.”
“I’m going to miss you.” Hailee handed Sasha her phone so she could add herself to the contacts.
“Here you go. Leo is back in the office whenever you’re ready.” Sasha looked to the end of the bar where two men just took a seat. “I’ve got customers to wait on, so I’ll talk to you later. Love you, girl.”
Taking a deep breath, Hailee looked around the club. It just opened a little while ago, and the lunch crowd had started to come in. Girls danced on stage and around
the tables. Some were newer; she didn’t know their names. It was probably best this way, the fewer friends she had to run into the better. Making her way back to the office, she held her head high. It was time to close the door on this part of her life.
She took a deep breath before she knocked on Leo’s office door.
“Come in,” he called.
“Leo, hi.” Her voice cracked a little, and she tripped on the carpet as she walked into his office. Catching herself before she could fall, she looked up to see Leo busy on the computer, not even seeing her non-graceful entrance.
He looked up at her, surprised. “Hailee? What are you doing here today?”
“Leo, I need to talk to you.” She didn’t think this would be easy, but she didn’t think it would be this hard either.
“Well, have a seat. This doesn’t sound too good. What’s up?”
“Funny, because I totally thought this would be easier.” She chuckled nervously. “There’s no good way to say this. Leo, I’m quitting.”
Leo looked at her for a few moments, then he smiled. He had tired dark eyes and slicked back hair. He was exactly what you’d think the manager of a strip club would look like. Yet he was the nicest guy you’d ever meet. “Hailee, just remember, if you ever need anything, we’re here for you. If you need to come back for any reason, don’t hesitate. The door is always open.” He sat back and smiled at the look that must’ve been on her face. “You’re surprised?”
“Kind of.”
“I always knew you weren’t a ‘lifer’; some girls aren’t meant for this business.” He put his hand out to her. “Good luck, Hailee.”
Walking out of the club, Hailee smiled. This was finally her new beginning. The sun was warm on her face, and the breeze was cool. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was Mia.
“Hey girl, what’s up?” she answered.
“Hailee, you sound happy.”
“I am. Things all seem to be working out. I just quit my job since that large painting sale, and with the pending order, I’ll have steady income for the year.”
“Yeah, about that order. Did you find out who the buyer was?”
“No. The name on the check was just some company. Why?”
“Because there was a story on the news about some of the group homes up here getting a hockey program. Each home was given a few grants, and a fully funded hockey program. It’s run by someone in the Professional Hockey League.”
“Well that’s great, but—”
“They also got a collection of hockey themed paintings. I’m sure some of them were yours.”
A hockey player, wow. That’s really awesome. Except… “Mia, did they happen to say who it is? I’d like to thank the person who aided in making my dreams come true.” Whoever bought those paintings single-handedly helped her fund her dream gallery, her career. So why was she getting a strange, uncomfortable feeling about this?
“No. They never said who. I figured it was just a promo to make the PHL look good. But I wanted you to know since it sounded like your paintings.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Dominic
Dominic lay in bed thinking. His mind has been spinning with thoughts of Hailee. He missed her. It would’ve been nice to have her at some of the games, in the stands, watching him and the team. It would’ve been like old times, and he missed those times.
His stomach rumbled. Dragging himself out of bed, he met Kaden in the kitchen. “Hey.”
“Hey, Dom. You look like hell.”
“Thanks, asshole. I didn’t sleep very well, that’s all.” Smokey walked in between his feet on his way into the kitchen, curling around his ankles almost tripping him. He bunched his back up and rubbed his face on Dom’s leg. Smokey let out a meow that sounded more like a whine then jumped onto the counter to wait for his breakfast. The cat rubbed his face on Dom’s hand as he opened a can of food. “Okay, little guy, I’m moving as fast as I can.” Smokey walked his front paws up Dom’s arm and onto his chest and butted his furry little head against Dominic’s cheek. “Yeah, you’re cute. C’mon, let me put this in your bowl.” Dom emptied a can of food into his bowl and pulled some cereal down for himself.
He’d tossed and turned for half the night, then spent the other half staring at the ceiling. Thoughts of Hailee swirled through his head, hour after hour. If she hadn’t had sent him that text, he might’ve tried to move on. He could’ve gone home with that bunny, even though he wasn’t into her. He might’ve ruined everything had he followed his dick instead of his brain or his heart.
“Hailee?”
“Yep, what else? You see Ali last night again?”
“Yep. I think I really like her.”
“Hang on here, are you saying the great Kaden O’Conner might be giving up the bunnies for this girl?”
“Eh,”—he shrugged—“for now anyways. Enough about me. Why aren’t you telling Hailee about the paintings? That’s a hell of a lot of money for them.” They sat at their kitchen table and ate breakfast before practice.
“I have so much going on right now; I don’t need to fight with her about that. I have no idea how she would receive the news that it was me who organized to have all of those paintings purchased. Plus, it’s not like I’m going to line my walls with them.”
“But you arranged for them to go to group homes, the same group homes that you and the rest of the guys are funding hockey programs for the kids. How could she find fault with that? They are going to a good cause.”
“Yeah, I know that. And the other ones are going to Children’s Hospitals. But I don’t think that’s going to matter to her.” He didn’t want her to get the wrong idea, that he didn’t think she could get to her goal on her own. He just wanted to help make a security blanket so she could build her gallery without having to worry about working at the same time. Getting her out of the strip club was just a bonus.
“Don’t forget the ones hanging in our living room, office, and your bedroom,” Kaden teased. Most were new, part of the recent purchase from her. Dom couldn’t help but keep a few.
“You know she’s a talented painter.”
“Dude, chill. I never said she wasn’t. Just sayin’ that they’re all over our apartment too. If you ever get her over here again, she’s going to see them.”
Dom’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, somehow I don’t think that’s really going to be an issue.”
* * *
Kaden played the first game in the last series, the Cup finals. It was nice to have him back, and he owned that net the whole game. Not one puck got by him; he shut out Detroit in game one. Kaden was on fire. Detroit didn’t go easy on him either. They outshot the Renegades 41–30, but it didn’t shake Kaden.
However, game two didn’t go as smoothly. Detroit tried to run the Renegades net a few times, once hammering into Kaden and pushing him backwards onto the ice, where he nearly knocked his head off the metal post. Matt took offense to that and grabbed the defenseman up off Kaden only to pummel him to the ground with his fists. The Detroit player was left with a bloody nose and a bruised cheek.
Kaden didn’t seem quite right after the hit. Coach Walker pulled him out of the game after the second period. As hard as Dom played, deflecting or catching every shot at his net, it was too late. Detroit tied the series at one apiece. Kaden sat for game three, but was able to come back in game four. This final series was tougher.
It had been a long road getting here. Even longer if he counted all the things that had transpired with Hailee. He wasn’t sure they would ever be the same, and yet at every home game he searched the stands for her, hoping she’d show up to cheer him on. There were plenty of Zanetti shirts out there, but none was ever her.
Matt was not only out of game three, but was suspended two games for his actions. Yet even with the suspension looming, they managed to push the series to six games.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Hailee
Hailee walked slowly through her new gallery. The freshly painted wa
lls still gave off a smell, but they were no longer wet. Closing her eyes, she thought of how much she had accomplished. It was time to get her paintings hung and this place into shape. She checked her watch, surprised to see it was already after seven o’clock.
Game four was on tonight. She pulled her attention back to her gallery walls, frustrated with herself that she was so worried about Dominic and the game. Too bad she had no willpower and had watched the entire series. Kaden was a good goalie, but she was happy to see Dominic take over the net.
She looked back and forth between two walls, then down at her notebook. Which wall would be used to display her artwork, and which would be used to spotlight local up and coming artists? She wanted them to have the chances that she never had.
Tapping her pen on the notebook, her mind wandered away from her gallery and she looked at her watch again. It was almost game time. One more glance around the room told her this wasn’t working. Her mind wasn’t on her work. It was on him. Quickly she sketched the front room in her notebook, noting where the door and the large front window were situated. Maybe she’d be able to concentrate better from the comfort of her loft.
She locked up the gallery and walked the few steps to the front door of her new loft. The streets were lighted and clean, nothing like her old neighborhood.
After unlocking the security door at street level, she climbed the stairs. The walls of the stairwell were bright white with a cute blue trim. She took in a deep breath; it was so much nicer coming home than it used to be. The stairway opened up into a bright and colorful loft. She had handpicked the colors on the walls, each a different shade.
Her newest painting still sat on its easel on the far side of the loft. Dropping her notebook on the couch, she turned the television on and slipped off her shoes. It was already the first intermission and there was still no score. Hailee couldn’t get Dominic off her mind. She stopped in front of her painting and stared at it. Even this one was about Dominic.
Shutout (The Renegades Series Book 5) Page 23