“If you say so,” Grandma retorts back with a small smile on her face.
17
Parker
I was in a piss poor mood when we went out for warmups, focusing on the ice and the job I had to do tonight, not interacting at all with the fans hoping for a fist bump as we make our way out of the tunnel to the ice. After my stretches I turn and notice Mandy behind the glass, holding Callie, with her little earmuffs on and a team jersey. I go over and hit the glass to say hi, then Mandy turns Callie around. My heart melts a lot more than it should have for a man like me, a womanizer who usually just cares about getting his dick wet. No, I’ve changed into a woman chasing pussy with a heart. Callie has my name on the back of her little jersey, and I smile the biggest smile I’ve had on my face in a while. I tap the glass a few more times gaining Callie’s attention, I can’t hear her, but I can see her little feet going and can tell she’s doing that excited shrieking she does. Damn these two have me wrapped around their little fingers.
Cam comes by, acknowledges the ladies, and tells me it’s time to get my ass out there. Warmups go well, coach gives us words of encouragement in the locker room before the pre-game show starts. Hyped up and ready to play we hit the ice. Taking my place in net the anthem is sung and then the puck drops. Here we go. The first twenty minutes go bay fast, save after save we go scoreless. The next twenty minutes go by and we’re up by two, Chicago has zero. So far, I’ve got a shutout, but not the time to get cocky. We go into the last twenty of the game and finish with a win, four to one. I wanted that shutout tonight but next time, we won is what matters as my team surrounds me to celebrate. Sticks in the air we acknowledge the fans before leaving the ice. They call the three stars of the game and I’m again number one star, the goalie usually is, or the high scorer. Before I take my final leave from the ice after my short interview on the bench, I mouth over to Mandy to wait for me, hoping she will, since it’s late and I can see Callie let out a big yawn.
In the locker room I hurry to get through a few interviews and then hit the shower, forty-five minutes later I emerge from the locker room happy to see my girls waiting for me, wait my girls? What has this woman done to me? Not only have I not indulged in the need for sex since I met her, but she’s got a baby. I’m totally loving the fact she has my name on her back. If only her mom did too. I get that she wears her grandpa’s jersey but one day she’ll wear my name on her back. Again, the thoughts going through my head confuse me and excite me more than they should for a man of my reputation.
I take hold of my biggest fan, tickling her belly to try and take some of the crankiness out of her. I’m sure she’s exhausted being as late as it is. Cam comes out after Mandy makes a comment about being ignored and wraps his arm around Mandy trying to claim her, fucking with me. I’m quick to pull her into my side, still holding Callie and kiss her. I notice all the puck bunnies hanging out waiting to see who’s stick they get to handle tonight glare at Mandy. No one wants to see hockey’s biggest bachelor off the market or holding a baby. I ignore them but notice Mandy can’t exactly do it. I see something change in her eyes. The sparkle dimmed slightly, while she still has a smile on her face something changed.
I move on to asking her about Connor and if he’s bothered her at all since that night. She say’s all has been quiet then follows with it isn’t my job to make sure she’s okay, she has to be a big girl and handle it all. She places her hand on my cheek kissing the other one before walking away.
Cam stands there, pride in his eyes, “That is one tough girl, most girls would curl up and cry while the man took care of the situation. Mandy, she is tougher than nails. Good luck knocking down her walls.”
“Fuck you,” my mood changing a little but still determined to break through the hard shell she has around her heart. We then walk to our cars, Cam making his way out with some of the other guys, I’m tempted but not interested in dealing with all the bunnies who are constantly hanging around.
“Come on, one drink won’t kill you, you haven’t been out with the guys in forever and we’re on a win streak. You have the ability to say no to the bunnies, you need come hang for a bit.”
“Fine, one drink. I need to keep part of my reputation; I hear what the guys are saying. Calling me pussy whipped and all that shit. Let’s go.”
Tomorrow we have a day off, except for a visit to the children’s hospital late in the morning, so one night having a few drinks won’t kill me.
Getting to our normal spot, the guys already have a pitcher of beer on the table, so we grab a glass and join them. Unfortunately, the bunnies have already surrounded them. Cam doesn’t care he’s not wrapped up in someone who doesn’t want him. I’m starting to get a bit pissed about the situation with Mandy, and the more beer I have the angrier I get that she isn’t mine yet. I’m drunk at this point. It’s been a while since I’ve drank like this. All my emotions taking over and then this blonde bunny wraps her arms around my neck, peppering my neck with kisses vying for my attention. I honestly have lost the will to deny myself pleasure and take her mouth with mine. The second I hear the camera flash I immediately regret what I did and push blonde bunny away. Cam has a bunny wrapped around his body, I don’t even bother him, I leave and walk to my condo.
When I think the night couldn’t get any worse because I just fucked up, I arrive at my condo to find a red headed chick has broken in and is laying naked on my couch.
“Who the fuck are you and how did you get in here?” I yell at her while throwing a blanket from the back of the couch over her.
“What do you mean Marshy?” she whines. “You invited me here, don’t you remember from the bar?”
I know I’m a bit drunk, the cool air on the walk home took some of the buzz away but I sure as fuck didn’t invite anyone here, something doesn’t feel right. This feels like a set up.
She stands up, dropping the blanket I just threw over her and walks to me trying to wrap her arms around my neck. I push her away, and she trips over her own feet falling on her ass. Then she starts to cry.
“Fuck.” I go over to her naked body lifting her back up to her feet and before I can get her wrapped up in the blanket again, she’d wrapping her naked body around me, and kisses me. Again, I pull back, this time holding her by her wrists and sitting her down on the closest chair and tell her to cover up when I toss the blanket back at her.
“I don’t know who you are, I never met you and it’s time to get dressed and leave.”
She looks at me angrily, “You’re going to pay for this.” Then she grabs her phone she had set up across the room, throws her clothes on and leaves slamming the door behind her.
I collapse in the closest chair, elbows on knees and holding my head, “Fuck, I’m so screwed.”
I go to the side bar and grab the bottle of whiskey and a glass, pouring two fingers worth, I throw it back before I throw the glass against the wall, watching it shatter. How the hell can I fuck everything up in one night. Who knows what that incident looks like to others or how it will be edited, I’m screwed because it’s going to look like a domestic event, I shoved her to the ground.
Between the kiss at the bar and then this bitch breaking in and videoing whatever she thought was going to happen. Mandy is never going to forgive me when she sees the visual evidence. I pour myself another two fingers and then take my ass to bed, making sure in my drunken state to set an alarm for the charity event tomorrow. At least I can do that right.
I shoot Cam a text after I’ve showered, sitting at the bar in the kitchen drinking my coffee.
Marsh: I’m royally fucked.
Cam: What are you talking about?
Marsh: We need to talk, now. I’ll come pick you up.
Cam: Be ready in 10
Marsh: On my way.
I finish my coffee and gather what I need for the day then head to the elevator down to my car. Cam is waiting on the sidewalk when I pull up.
“Hey, what’s going on?” he asks immediately upon enter
ing my car.
“Well not only did I get photographed kissing some blonde at the bar last night, it gets worse.”
“How much worse can it be if you didn’t sleep with her? Please tell me you didn’t sleep with her. Mandy will never forgive that.”
“No, I didn’t sleep with anyone. However, some red head was in my condo when I got home last night, naked. I tried covering her up before I told her to leave with a blanket, but she charged me trying to kiss me. I pushed her back, she tripped on her own feet and fell on her ass.”
“Fuck,” is all he has to say, he knows where this is going, it’s happened before to a teammate.
“Oh, and it gets better, or worse I should say. I go to help her up off the floor and she jumps me wrapping herself around me like a spider monkey and this time kissing me. I take her wrists and pull her off me telling her to get dressed and then she goes and grabs her phone she had set up to video the entire thing. On her way out the door she said ‘You’ll pay for this’ then walked out. I’m fucked, Cam.”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,” is all he chants sitting next to me. “We have to tell coach before something gets out, and Mandy too. Be honest with her, I’ll back you up.”
“Yeah, I know you’re right…I—god damn it. Why now? Why me?” I’m pissed, frustrated, and can’t even talk straight.
“You realize you’ve left a lot of women scorned behind you. You have an asshole in Boston who wants to destroy you because you were being kind to Mandy and Callie. I’m a target for him too ya know. And you have a reputation you’re stepping back from to be a better man. Enough to piss off a ton of women.”
“I’m fucked no matter what I do.”
“Maybe, maybe not, but you need to let coach knows about the video and the red head breaking in. Your building has cameras there will be proof you didn’t bring her there. After this event, we need to call the cops and report the break in.”
“Yeah okay, Let’s get this over with. We have kids to put a smile on their faces for.”
Cam and I meet up with the rest of the team, the PR people for the team have us dress in some silly Christmas costumes, and load our arms with presents for the kids. Coach isn’t here, only ten of us players are here while the others are at different charity events, so I’ll have to check in with him later. Hoping that all of this stays under the rug until after Christmas would be excellent.
I go about my day the best I can, smile when I need to, making kids laugh at other times. These kids make me grateful that Callie is healthy, and then I think about the possibility of not having Callie in my life because of one fucked up night.
We finish up making the kids smile, autographing signs and pucks for them and then decorating some Christmas cookies. Cam and I turn in our costumes, Rudolf and Frosty, then I hand the keys to Cam so I can text coach on the way back to his place.
Parker: Coach, I have a problem. Some red head broke into my place last night caught a video of me pushing her away. She tripped on her own feet and fell down on her ass…all caught on video. It looks bad.
Coach: What the fuck, did you call the cops? Who is she?
Parker: No, I didn’t call the cops last night. I have no idea who she is.
Coach: Meet me in my office now!
Parker: On the way.
“Coach wants me in his office now.”
“I’m already on the way,” Cam answers.
Cam and I make good time and are at coach’s office in ten minutes. When we arrive, there are two cops in the lobby talking to him.
“Marsh, I need you to give these guys all the information about last night.”
We take a seat in the conference room and I give them all the details, letting them know my building has cameras in all the hallways, so they have something to go by. They leave guaranteeing they are on it.
“God damn it. The first time I go out with the guys after a game in over a month and this shit happens,” I huff out running my hands through my hair in frustration and anger.
“Marsh, we’ll get this handled, hopefully before any video is leaked out. I know you aren’t a man even in anger to be forceful with any woman. It was an obvious set up. Who would have it out for you?” Coach asks.
Cam is quick to answer. “Connor, the asshole who is giving Mandy a hard time about her kid. Marsh and Mandy are friends, and the baby is adorable. They were at the game last night, Callie wearing a jersey with Marshall on the back. People noticed, I’m sure so did this asshole. He’s going to be a problem.”
“This guy seems off balance. Marsh, you’re going to have to keep your distance from Mandy until this is cleared up and handled on her end. I’m sorry. I know this situation she is in bothers you. We have to focus on the game and keep your reputation intact. You don’t need some sort of abuse thing getting out there because someone doesn’t like you getting close to some girl.”
I have fire in my eyes, “Some girl? She isn’t some girl. She’s sweet, caring, and strong as hell. She doesn’t deserve any of this shit, just like I don’t deserve this shit. Fuck, if she sees anything from last night, I completely blew any chance of her being in my life anyway.” Then my phone starts going haywire with notifications at the same time Cam’s does.
“What the fuck?” he spits out anger in his tone.
I take a look and I see my face plastered all over the place, on every social media outlet, kissing the girl at the bar. Cam sitting next to me at the bar in the same situation, with a brunette bunny. He has nothing to lose, I have everything.
“Fuck.”
18
Mandy
The next day after the game we have a quiet morning. Callie wanted to sleep in, thank God. Sitting there, drinking coffee and scrolling through all my social media outlets I notice a few photos of Callie and Parker, with questions from fans about who the baby wearing his name is. If the baby is his and a big secret finally revealed. It’s crazy how people are these days. I blow it off, it’s a part of his life, and if I continue to be a part of his life even as a friend it will be a part of my life too. I’ve been there before, when I dated Connor. Moving past that, I notice the team has posted the charity event photos from this morning. Cam and Parker look so cute dressed up as Rudolf and Frosty, hanging out with the kids at the hospital.
Grandma and I decide we’re going to go and do some Christmas shopping and then get our tree on the way home, though a little later than we would normally get our tree. We get everyone ready to head out after we eat some lunch. While sitting eating I get a notification from Instagram about Parker and Cam.
Nashville Notes Parker Marshall caught cheating on his baby mama!
What the hell? First of all I’m not his baby mama, second, what the actual fuck?
“What’s wrong?” Grandma asks.
Sitting there in shock, then anger, then hurt, I say nothing. Friends, we’re only friends. The realization hits me like a ton of bricks, I feel more than friendship for this guy. He isn’t mine though, so I have no room to be angry. What he does in his own time is on him.
“Oh, you know Parker being Parker,” I turn the phone to show her. She sucks in a shocked breath.
“Sweetie, are you okay?”
“Nothing to be upset about, other than people thinking that Callie is his and I’m his baby mama.” I get up, brush my feelings to the back of my head and get Callie ready to leave.
As I start the car my phone starts ringing, Parker. I send him to voice mail and pull out of the driveway. The phone rings again, voicemail again. This goes on for the next thirty minutes. Grandma sits quietly in the passenger seat a knowing look on her face.
Taking a glance in her direction at the next stop light I ask, “What?”
“Friends?”
“Yes, friends. Why do you ask.?”
“A friend would talk to him. A friend would listen to what he has to say.”
“I’m driving.” A lame excuse but one non the less.
“Whatever you say sweetie. I see the ange
r and I think it goes beyond people assuming Callie is his.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” And I continue to drive to the mall. Grandma doesn’t say another word about the subject, moving on we go about our day.
A couple hours later my phone notifies me of a text message, this time from Cam.
Cam: Mandy talk to him. He’s going crazy.
Mandy: I’m busy. Shopping with grandma. Maybe later.
Cam: I know you’re pissed. No excuses for his behavior, but he had a real shit night last night.
Mandy: Not my problem. We’re friends. He can kiss who he wants. I have to go.
Cam: If that’s how you want to play this. Later.
I put my phone on silent, so I’m not bothered anymore today and think to myself, am I the only one trying to keep this in the friend zone?
With way too many things bought for Callie for Christmas, we finish shopping. I have a few stocking stuffers left to purchase before the big day. Next stop on today’s adventure is the Christmas tree farm to find the perfect tree. Today is a mild day, but I bundle Callie up anyway before we start walking the lot. We make our way to the back, people usually don’t want to take the time to make the walk and the trees are usually the best, especially a week before Christmas. People these days are in such a rush, they hardly take time to enjoy the tree finding experience. Rushing to the first tree that looks decent then rushing back to set the tree up. Bam, an hour later and you have a tree half ass decorated in your house.
Not me, this is my favorite part of the holiday. When we reach my destination, I see it, the most perfect tree.
“Hey Callie Girl, what do you think of this one?” Her little shrieks of joy confirm this is the one. “Grandma, what do you think? Perfect right?” and I turn around with a gigantic smile on my face until I notice who is standing beside her, Parker.
“Really Grandma? Let me guess, when I refused to answer his calls, or submit to Cam’s request to talk to him, you took it upon yourself to intervene. How about I just wanted to spend the day with you and Callie and forget the world around us for a day.” I storm past them both, forgetting the tree behind me. I buckle Callie into her seat before I get in and drive to the house, leaving Grandma with Parker. He can give her a ride home.
Breakthrough Page 9