Wild Tendy (IceCats Book 2)

by Toni Aleo

  When he pulls back, he kisses my nose as I whisper, “I love you more.”

  With a smirk that is unstoppable, he nods his head. “I know. I am pretty amazing.”

  Yeah. Yeah, he is.

  Epilogue

  Nico

  “I don’t know how I feel about buying a house when we’re also buying two sets of boobs.”

  I glance over at Aviva with a dry look. “I feel like if you guys get boobs, I get a house. I’m tired of sharing a bathroom with crazy-pants back there.”

  Callie scoffs. “Hey, you aren’t easy to share with either. You shave entirely too much, and your hair is everywhere.”

  I roll my eyes and notice that Aviva is looking at the houses I sent her as she starts to speak. “I don’t know. With you about to start the top plays—”

  “Top plays?”

  She glances over at me. “The championship thingy.”

  “The Cup finals?”

  “Yeah, that,” she says offhandedly, and Callie lets out an annoyed sigh.

  “Can you pay attention, or do you like that Nico corrects you?”

  I look over to notice Aviva does love it. “You brat!”

  She snorts and shrugs. “I like the attention.”

  I grin. “Attention whore.”

  “Only for you,” she says with a wink. “But yes, the play-offs. You’re leaving a lot, and I don’t want to move us by myself.”

  “I’ll pay to move us,” I remind her, and then I clear my throat. “Plus, I really want to live next door to Chandler and Amelia. And the house is going to go fast.”

  “Oh my God, your bromance with him is borderline worrisome,” Callie teases, and I flip her the bird, to which she laughs. “But hey, I can babysit and make some cash.”

  “Yeah, I need you to pay off those boobs,” Aviva says, and I make a face.

  “I have a joke.”

  “And I’m so proud of you for not telling it since I know it’s inappropriate,” she says as she looks at the house that is by Chandler and Amelia’s. “It is a really nice house. Five bedrooms and four baths. You’d have your own bathroom, Callie.”

  “Is it far away from you two?”

  “Forget it. She’s sleeping in the closet like that Potter kid.”

  “You’re not funny!” Callie exclaims, but I happen to think I’m hilarious. “But it is a nice house,” she says, looking over Aviva’s shoulder.

  “It is. Maybe we should take this one?”

  “I think we should.”

  To say I’m excited is an understatement. The season is going great for the IceCats, and we’re the number-one seed in the Eastern Conference. Callie had a great season and placed top three at all her meets. The shop is doing awesome, and we’ve donated a lot of money to the YMCA’s ABC program for breast cancer survivors. Aviva has also been going to meetings with Callie and Jaylin. The best part, though, is we’re still astonishingly in love with each other, which is why we need a bigger place. I don’t like her small place, and she hates mine. We need more space, and when we find it, I’m asking this girl to marry me. She’ll say yes, and when we go to Barcelona after the finals, we’ll take my Cup and get married.

  Aviva has no clue about any of this, but it’s going to happen.

  I can feel it in my bones.

  Just gotta get through Boobageddon.

  When we reach the hospital for Aviva’s and Callie’s pre-op appointments, my stomach aches a bit. Makes me nervous to know both my girls will go in for surgery. Callie’s will be longer and more extensive, but I’ll worry the same for both of them. Thankfully my mom is coming to town to help since I start the finals in two weeks. The doctor isn’t too worried about their recovery time, but I’m freaking the hell out.

  I park the truck and get out as Aviva does the same. Callie hops out of the back and looks at me. “You nervous?”

  I nod. “Freaking the shit out.”

  She taps my chest. “Because of germs or us?”

  “Shit, I hadn’t even thought of the germs!”

  “Great, Callie. Great,” Aviva calls, coming over to hold my hand. I bring them our hands up and kiss the back of hers. “It’s going to be fine. This is so routine. They just slap the boobs in, and we’re done.”

  “But Callie’s makes me real nervous.”

  She waves me off, though I see the fear in her eyes. “She’s going to be fine. I was. Don’t worry.”

  I make a face. “Are you sure you two can’t just skip the boobs?”

  “Nope,” they both say, and I groan loudly.

  These two are going to kill me. Aviva likes to say Callie and I gang up on her, but I really think it’s the other way around. They know that I’ll crumble and do whatever they want. I want to make them happy, and I like how they make me feel. The last couple months, I’ve really grown as a man. I actually did my first interview for the IceCats a week ago. Yes, it wasn’t live—and yes, I had a panic attack—but I answered two questions. So, I think my therapy is working. I’m not sure, but in a way, I don’t care as long as I feel good. I feel good not doing interviews and just playing great hockey. No one else feels that way, though, but Aviva doesn’t push me. She’s just supportive enough to make me feel I can do anything, and I know she’d be there if I fell.

  Which makes me love her even more.

  Nerves are eating me alive as we head inside, but Aviva is cool as a cucumber. Even Callie is. They’re excited and happy, and while I’m not, I can now add scared shitless of germs on to the list of today's fears. I hate hospitals. We head to where they are doing their pre-ops, and I wait as they talk to the nurse. Over here, I don’t have to hear anything, procedure-wise, and maybe I won’t be where people have touched anything. I don’t lean on the wall; I just stand in a spot I don’t think anyone has touched while I wait for them.

  Aviva finally comes over to me and crosses her arms as she stands beside me. “We have to go give blood. Do you want to come with?” I make a face, and she smiles. “Please come hold my hand? I’m nervous.”

  Damn it. I nod. “Okay, but don’t expect me to talk.”

  She laughs as I take her hand, and we head into the room with Callie. Once back there, they go over the procedure, and then the nurse looks at both of them. “We’ll need you both to take pregnancy tests to make sure you’re not pregnant.”

  Aviva looks over at Callie, and she gives her a look. “I’m a virgin, but you need to test her with the way those two go at it.”

  The nurse’s eyes widen as Aviva turns bright red. “I’m gonna punch you in the boob.”

  “Now? Or the new ones?”

  Aviva grabs the specimen cup as Callie does the same. “It’ll be a surprise.”

  They both head into the bathrooms as the nurse looks at me.

  “Sisters,” I say with a shrug. “But in Callie’s defense, Aviva and I do bang a lot, which is okay. We’re in love and getting a house. I’m really nervous about the boobs—like, I don’t think she needs them, but she wants to feel like a woman and all that, but have you seen her ass? I mean, it’s a great ass. She doesn’t need anything else, but I really want her to be happy. Ya know what I mean?”

  The nurse draws in her brows. “Yes, I’m sure it will be fine.”

  I nod. “Yeah. I hope so.”

  Finally, the girls come out, and of course, they’re still bickering. “You don’t tell a nurse that!”

  “She’s heard worse,” Callie throws back.

  “Have a seat, ladies, and I’ll get your blood.” They both sit down, and Callie goes first as another nurse comes in. “Can you test the samples?”

  She nods as our nurse drains Callie. I look away before I puke. I don’t know how they are so calm. Aviva laughs beside me, and when I look at her, she grins. “You’re the color of a sheet.”

  “I’d pass out if I weren’t scared of the germs on the floor.”

  She snorts, and then she’s next. When the nurse comes back out, she clears her throat. “Did you take Calliope’s bl
ood?”

  The nurse nods, and the other nurse looks stricken. “Well, that’s pointless. She can’t have the surgery.”

  I furrow my brow as Callie’s jaw drops. “Why not?”

  “You’re pregnant.”

  Everything stops. I’m going to kill whoever did this to her. Aviva’s eyes widen, and I look at Callie as she cries out, “I am not. I haven’t even had sex!”

  “What are you thinking? These tests don’t lie!” I yell, but Callie is shaking her head.

  “Nico, don’t look at me like that. I swear, I haven’t. It has to be a mistake. Aviva, it’s a mistake! Tell us it’s a mistake! I seriously am not having sex. Yes, Landon may have touched me—”

  “For the love of God, shut up,” Aviva mutters, and when I look at her, she’s gawking at the nurse, her eyes wider than saucers. She clears her throat and says, “I know it is.”

  Callie and I look at Aviva, and I ask, “What?”

  “It’s a mistake,” she says, and then she points to the cup the nurse is holding. “I peed in that pink cup.”

  Callie lets out a long breath. “Oh, thank God. I’m blue. That’s not pregnant, right?”

  “Right.”

  But then she whips her head to Aviva right as things click in my head. Aviva meets my gaze just as I ask, “You’re pregnant?”

  We both look at the nurse, and she nods. “I just realized that it does say A. Pearce. I don’t know how I mixed them up. I’m sorry.”

  “So, I’m pregnant?” Aviva asks, and Callie still looks as if she’s seen a ghost.

  “And I’m not.”

  The nurse nods. “A. Pearce is pregnant. C. Pearce needs to drink more water.”

  I’m having a hard time breathing as Aviva meets my gaze once more. I’m just staring at her. I’m taking in the most beautiful woman on this planet who continually gives me all my hopes and dreams. I stand up, walking over to her before taking her face in my hands. “It’s mine, right?”

  She narrows her eyes to slits before she smacks me and yells, “You’re always playing!”

  But I stop her from hitting me, pulling her into my arms. She comes into me, laughing as our lips meet in a joyous embrace. I wrap my arms tightly around her as she does the same, and when we part, it’s only to look into each other’s eyes. I hear Callie crying, and I almost feel like I could.

  “I love you, Aviva,” I say, kissing her nose as my heart explodes in my chest.

  Her eyes brighten as a smirk comes over her sweet lips. “You’re damn right, you do. I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

  “That’s my girl,” I say, my heart skipping a beat. I’m not saying she started loving herself overnight, but she’s trying, and I’m so damn proud. I gather her tighter in my arms, and before I kiss her, I whisper, “Yeah, you are.”

  And as our lips meet, there is no fear. There is only excitement because my future has this woman in it.

  Along with Callie.

  And whatever bundle of joy we bring into the world.

  The END

  Dump & Chase

  The Assassins Series: New Generation

  Shelli

  I can’t seem to catch my breath. Every single fiber of my being is vibrating with nerves. I feel the tension everywhere. My chest, my arms, my legs—I’m pretty sure my ass is shaking with excitement. I can’t believe I’m here. I’m really here.

  In Aiden Brooks’s apartment building.

  When Chris, my buddy, passes me a bottle of tequila, I take a long pull before passing it back, shuddering from the bitter liquid. I need it, though. I need the liquid courage to get me into this building. I run my hand down the long platinum blond braid of my wig. I didn’t want to wear my wig from the show, but Chris was in a rush to get here. We came straight from the theatre after our last performance. I washed my face free of the dramatic stage makeup, but I wish I’d had time to take this damn wig off. Chris convinced me it didn’t matter one way or another.

  Being here, though, I find that it does matter to me. With each step I take, I regret my decision not to change. To be me, instead of the character I’ve played for the last six months. Not anymore, though, and as much as I want to be sad that my part in our show is over, I’m not. I had every opportunity to re-sign for another six months, but I decided not to. I’m done. I’m going home, and I am so damn excited.

  I haven’t lived with my parents full time since I was sixteen. I know most girls wouldn’t be complaining, but I really do love my mom and dad. My siblings are okay on a good day, and I enjoy being with them. I miss them constantly, and I’m finally ready to go home. I need the distance from New York, I need to figure out who I am, what I want, and what my future holds. I am done with Broadway.

  I know my mom is sad I’m quitting, but I don’t like who I am becoming here. I don’t feel happy, and I’m not living my life to my fullest. I feel like I’m just going with the flow, doing whatever my castmates do, and I don’t want that. I don’t want to develop a drug habit. I don’t want to sleep around or get drunk every night. I don’t need that stuff. I was good with who I was before I was exposed to this world. Don’t get me wrong. It’s been great, and I’ve made wonderful memories. The standing ovations have been intoxicating and the money has been awesome, but this doesn’t feel like my path anymore.

  I want something more. I just have no clue what that is yet.

  Tonight, though, I don’t have to worry yet about what the future holds. It’s my last night as a New Yorker, so I’m going to make it the best night ever. Because tomorrow, I head back home to my new reality. I want to say I’m scared, but I’m not. I’m stoked.

  I bite my lip as I climb the stairs to the entrance with Chris. As animated as always, he is talking with his hands. “Are you sure you’ve gotta go?”

  I don’t even look at him as I nod. He’s taller than me, way taller, and good-looking to some. I knew the moment I met him, though, that he would only be a friend. He didn’t get that memo, and he has begged me daily to date him. I don’t see him as boyfriend material. Even with his blond hair, green eyes, and beautiful jawline, he isn’t who I want. He isn’t the one I’ve been crushing on for most of my life. Which is probably why every guy I’ve ever met has not been boyfriend material. But now is not the time to evaluate that.

  “Yeah, I’m ready for a change.”

  “You’re turning your back on your art. You were made for the stage. You’re Elli Fisher’s daughter, for fuck’s sake.”

  I smile at the use of my mom’s maiden name. I’m not sure anyone really remembers Elli Fisher. Even though she was one of the most amazing performers of her time, I don’t even think my mom misses her. Not once Elli Adler made her mark on the world as one of the best owners and general managers for the Nashville Assassins. My mom started making a name for herself when she was the youngest owner in NHL history. She’s always been ruthless and makes bold moves. She was one of the first owners to sign a woman and play her on the ice. She makes trades like no other, and she loves her players as if they were her kids. She’s absolutely phenomenal, and if I can be half the woman my mom is, I’m winning.

  “I hear you, but I want more.”

  “More? What’s more?”

  “I don’t know yet,” I admit with a smile. “But I’m going to find out.”

  He rolls his green eyes, every bit annoyed with me. I know he wants me to stay so he can get me to fall in love with him, but that won’t happen. Not when my sights have always been set on one guy in particular.

  The stairs into the lobby are endless, it seems, but when I see the elevator, my heart stops. I clear my throat. “So, he’s here? Aiden?”

  Chris chuckles. “Yes. Why would we be going to a party at his house if he weren’t here?”

  I shrug as he pulls out a card, sliding it into the slot before the doors open. “You have a card?”

  Chris flashes me a grin. “Aiden and I are good friends.”

  I know this. Ever since Chris found out
I had a thing for the Rangers’ center, he likes to rub it in my face that he knows Aiden. It’s crazy that in the two years I’ve known Chris, this is the first party he’s taking me to. I don’t know if it’s because I’m leaving or if he really thought he was going to get in my pants and make me fall for him so I’d forget Aiden.

  If it’s the latter, he’s so very, very wrong.

  “Do you want another hit?”

  I glance over to where Chris is lighting up his blunt. I shake my head. “No, I’m good.”

  I should have taken a bigger hit before, but what the hell. I do take the bottle of tequila, though, and swallow one more gulp as the elevator takes us up to the top floor that is apparently Aiden’s penthouse. My heart rises into my throat with each floor we ascend. Chris takes the bottle from me as I pull up on my belt loops. The pants I’m wearing are a bit too tight, squeezing my waist and cutting off circulation to my legs, but they make my ass look really thick and big. I almost didn’t wear the crop top I stole from my cousin, but I want to impress him. Problem is, Amelia, my cousin, is a small, though she wears a medium so her breasts don’t show underneath. Because I’m a solid large on top, it’s easy to say my breasts are peeking out the bottom in a way that would make my mom cringe.

  But my mom isn’t here. Aiden is, and I want him to notice me.

  I’ve known Aiden my whole life. There are pictures of him holding me when I was a baby and from every year at my birthday. He was such a big part of my life; he even babysat my little brothers when my sister Posey and I had hockey tournaments. Our families have always been so close, and I’ve been infatuated with him forever. I still remember the moment I knew I’d never want anyone else but him.

  He came to the house in a badass Willie Nelson tee. I was learning the chords to “Georgia on My Mind,” and I wanted to gush to him that I was learning to play Willie Nelson’s version, but I was nervous he wouldn’t think I was as cool as he was. He was letting his hair grow long, and he had a faint mustache on his lip. He was downright gorgeous—unfairly gorgeous—so much older than me. He never even noticed me. I was just one of those Adler kids. Even when I begged my mom for a Willie tee because I wanted him to see me, to see that I loved Willie too, he didn’t.