Shit. She hadn’t thought about it that way. And Sophie was right. Why would it matter?
Except that Jamie had wanted her to be something she wasn’t. Her ex had tried to make her into the perfect girlfriend for a future NFL player. Blond. Always smiling. Perfectly dressed with the right amount of cleavage on display.
She’d let him do it. And when he’d left, she’d told herself she’d never allow another man to dictate how she looked or acted or what she did. She refused to be molded into something she wasn’t.
Do you really think that’s what Justin is doing?
No, she didn’t. But then she didn’t know him that well. Even though they’d been sharing a bed and their bodies every day for the past week.
Smiling, Vivi shook her head. “No, you’re right. You’re absolutely right. I’m just being stupid.”
“So you’re going to talk to Jess about the job, right?”
“I’d be stupid not to.”
But that little voice nagged in the back of her brain for the rest of the night.
*****
The third period had been brutal.
They’d had to carry two guys off the ice, one from each team, after a blind, mid-ice collision.
Brody had nailed one of the Laval players against the boards so hard, they’d had to stop play to fix the glass. At least that guy had limped away under his own steam.
Derek and the Laval’s enforcer had gotten into it after a dirty hit on Robbie had left the younger guy on all fours shaking his head. Hopefully, the kid wouldn’t have a concussion.
Will had ice packed around his thigh from blocking one of the hardest shots in the league. Justin’s ribs ached from a not-so-accidental elbow when Laval had pulled their goalie and crashed the Redtails net to try to tie the game. And CJ’s left eye was definitely going to be swollen shut by tomorrow after taking a puck in the face.
But they’d won and were one game closer to the playoffs.
Coach had already given his post-game talk and ended with “Get a good night’s sleep. See you tomorrow afternoon at practice.”
More than a few muted groans echoed through the locker room, which made Coach grin on his way out. When he was gone, Justin released the air he’d been holding in and let his head hang as he tried to breathe through the pain in his side.
“Hey, man, you really need to have the trainer check you out, make sure you don’t have cracked ribs.” Derek tapped his leg as he headed for the showers. “I saw McKechnie get in that cheap shot.”
“I’m fine.” At least he thought he was fine, though his ribs hurt like he’d been hit by a tank. “Nothing a good night’s sleep won’t cure.”
“So you’re not going home with Vivi then.” Will had his head tilted back and his eyes closed. “Guess I’ll be on nursemaid duty.”
“Maybe we can get you a little nurse’s uniform?” Derek called out over his shoulder. “You’d look so cute.”
“Shove it, Flaherty.” Will shook his head then watched with one eye until Derek had disappeared. “But he’s right. You need to be checked out.”
Justin didn’t say anything as Will got up and followed the steady stream of guys to the locker room.
Closing his eyes, Justin let himself sit and breathe for a few seconds. At least, he tried. Damn, his side hurt.
“Don’t be idiot. You need to see the doctor.”
Cracking open his eyes, Justin sighed up at Jake, standing over him. “It’s not that bad.”
Jake’s eyebrows arched. “Then stand.”
Justin thought about it, thought about exactly how much it would hurt. And then seriously considered giving Jake the finger. Yeah, okay, he was in a lot of pain. But if he went to the team doc, there was a really good chance the guy would bench him. And Justin didn’t want to be benched.
He planted his feet and put his hands on his knees and stood. “I’m fi—”
Searing pain flashed through his body like he’d been electrocuted, stealing his breath and forcing him back down onto the bench.
“Yes. I see that. Stay down. I get Dunnie.”
Dunnie was the trainer.
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”
Half an hour later, the orthopedic doctor on call had declared his rib bruised, not broken or cracked, but he’d told him not to practice tomorrow and maybe Tuesday. They’d reevaluate then.
Which sucked.
“Shit.”
“Damn, it must be bad if you are swearing.” Jake stepped into the doorway then leaned against the wall. “You okay?”
Justin sighed and shook his head then contradicted himself. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just bruised.”
“Good to hear. You want me to tell Vivi you are ready to leave?”
“She’s waiting?”
“Yes.”
He felt better already. He’d told Will to tell Vivi what was going on and that he’d text her later. It made his chest tight to find out she hadn’t listened to him.
“I guess your injury does not hurt that much. Just remember what the doctor told you. No calisthenics. I believe sex falls in that category.”
Justin continued to grin, not about to respond to that. “Hey, man, thanks for staying. I appreciate the moral support.”
Jake shrugged. “I have been in your position. I know it sucks.”
True. Jake had been on the bench for months.
“But,” Jake continued, “I will miss you tomorrow at practice.”
Carefully getting off the exam table in the trainer’s office, Justin sucked in a breath at the fresh burst of pain but smiled at Jake’s statement.
“Yeah, I heard you’d be back tomorrow. Glad to hear it.”
“Yes, I am as well. Now, I am going home. And so should you.”
Yeah, he knew he should. Go home and go to bed. Alone. But he didn’t want to be alone.
Walking into the hall, he saw Vivi right away. She’d been seated on a folding chair near the entrance to the locker room, typing on her phone, but her head popped up the second he appeared.
Hopping to her feet, she closed the few feet between them, her eyes wide and her expression concerned.
“Hey. Derek said you got hurt. Are you okay? What happened? Was it that hit in the last period? That guy totally should’ve gotten a penalty for that.”
He smiled despite the pain. He’d refused to take the Percoset the doctor had wanted to give him, instead relying only on the prescription-strength Advil. When the doctor had given him a look, he’d told him his family had a history of addiction issues. The older guy had nodded and not said another word, just handed him a bottle and patted him on the shoulder.
Justin knew it wouldn’t completely mask the pain but he wasn’t willing to put himself in a position where he could be...compromised. He’d deal with it. He always did.
“I’m okay. Ribs aren’t broken, just bruised.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You look like they’re not only broken but poking through your skin. Do you have anything for the pain?”
“Yeah. The doc gave me some Advil—”
“Is that all? He didn’t give you anything stronger?”
“I don’t need anything stronger.”
She frowned, hard, little lines appearing between her forehead. “If you could see your face right now, you might think twice about that.”
He could imagine. Walking wasn’t helping and he’d begun to wonder how he was going to drive home without passing out. Derek had wanted to stay and drive him but he’d told D he was meeting Vivi and his friend had just assumed she’d take care of him.
“I’m not taking anything stronger. Just not happening.”
The tone of his voice must have told her more than his words did because, after a second, she nodded.
“Fine. But I don’t think you should drive. I’ll take you home.”
“Okay, thanks. I think—” he hissed in a breath through his teeth as his next step forward made his ribs protest, “—that would be a good idea.”
<
br /> They didn’t say anything else as they headed for the exit, Vivi watching him like a hawk but not touching him, knowing it would probably hurt like hell if she did. Which it would.
But once they reached the door, he had to ask.
“How far is your car?”
Her nose wrinkled in a totally adorable way that he could still appreciate even through the pain.
“I’m parked like two blocks away. You wait here. I’ll get it and pick you up.”
“No, I’ll walk.” What he didn’t add was that he didn’t want her to walk alone at night in the dark to her car.
But she heard him loud and clear anyway.
Her eyebrows rose and the look she gave him now left no doubt about what she was thinking.
“Sit,” she pointed to the chair just outside the door where the security guard usually sat, “or try to keep up but I’m not waiting for you. And then you’re going to be in more pain and I can almost bet that Advil won’t be of any use.”
Then she turned and walked away. And he sat because she was right. If he walked to her car, he’d be in agony.
The air temperature had to be below freezing but the cold actually helped keep his mind off the pain so he sat and tried to meditate while she was gone, sucking cold, clear air into his lung and willing the pain away.
It helped. A little.
His eyes opened when her Honda Accord squeaked to a stop in front of him and she hopped out to open the passenger side door and push back the seat as far as it would go for him.
The drive back to his apartment was silent as well. Small talk required too much concentration right now and all of his focus was on controlling his pain.
She didn’t help him out of the car, didn’t touch him as she walked with him to his apartment. Luckily, the elevator opened immediately and he didn’t have to wait. Normally, he’d climb the stairs. Wouldn’t be doing that for a few days.
By the time they reached his apartment door, she was chewing on her bottom lip, obviously trying not to say what was on her mind.
But she lost the battle when he winced as he dug his keys out of his pocket.
With a huff, she took his keys out of his hands and unlocked the door.
No lights. He figured Will was sleeping at Jess’s place tonight or he was already in bed. Justin was betting on the first.
“You.” Vivi pointed at his chest. “Bed.” Then she headed for the tiny kitchen. “I’ll get some ice packs and be right there.”
Since he’d already brushed his teeth after the game because he’d bitten the inside of his mouth and there’d been blood, he followed her orders, heading directly for bed. He dropped his clothes on the floor, slid between the sheets in just his boxers, and let out a sigh of relief at being flat on his back and unmoving.
He didn’t remember closing his eyes but obviously he had because he opened them when Vivi walked into this room. She looked really worried and he smiled. It felt nice to have someone in his life who cared enough about him to be worried.
Since his ex had broken up with him, he’d felt kind of...unmoored. Yes, he had family, but they were more than seven hours away. And Justin had always been the “stable” one. The one his parents didn’t have to worry about every single second of the day. Not that they never worried about him. They did. He just didn’t want to add to their already high stress. Not when they had to worry about Bryan all the time.
He’d always taken it on himself to be...easy.
If Vivi wasn’t here, he would’ve taken care of himself.
He enjoyed the fact that he didn’t have to.
He caught the hand that wasn’t holding the ice pack. “Viv, I’m fine. I just need ice and some rest and I’ll be okay. The doc cleared me. It just hurts.”
She huffed out a sigh. “Fine. Let’s get this strapped to your side and then you’re going to sleep.”
He wanted to ask her to stay but he knew she worked tomorrow.
“Yes, Dr. Vivi. Whatever you say.”
Her lips twitched with a wry smile. “Uh-huh. Roll onto your side. Your good side.”
He did as he was told, though it made the pain zing through his entire body.
Biting back a swear word he rarely used, he gritted his teeth and let her place the ice packs then secure them with the stretch wrap she must have found in the bathroom.
She was done in seconds and he rolled onto his back again with a groan.
“Thank you, Viv.”
A few seconds passed before she said, “You’re welcome. Do you need anything else?”
Yeah, he wanted her to stay. “No, I’m good.”
“Okay, then I’m going to go.”
He had to bite his tongue. “Night. And thanks.”
Her fingers brushed against his forehead. He wanted to open his eyes but they were too heavy.
“Night, Justin.”
And then she was gone.
Chapter Nine
“I still don’t understand why you’d be upset if Justin did suggest you to Jess. I mean, if she doesn’t want to hire you, she won’t. So what’s the harm in getting a little help from a friend to land a job? I mean, you work for Sophie’s dad. How do you think you got that job?”
Vivi shook her head at her sister, frustrated that she couldn’t get Aly to understand why the situation bothered her.
“I just feel like he wants me to have a better job so I don’t embarrass him.”
Aly’s eyebrows lowered into a hard frown. “Did he actually say that?”
Vivi had started to shake her head almost as soon as her sister had started to speak. “No. Of course he didn’t. He wouldn’t do that.”
“Then why do you think that’s why he wanted you to get this job?”
Letting her head fall back until she was staring at the ceiling, Vivi let out a short groan. “I don’t know that. I’m not even sure he said anything to Jess. Ugh. I’m being stupid, I know. I just...I know I shouldn’t even be worried about it. It’s Justin. He’s not like—”
She cut herself before she said her ex’s name. She didn’t even want to think about him anymore but here he was, creeping into her relationship with another man.
“Ah.”
Aly set her coffee cup on the counter. She was already dressed and ready for work and Vivi knew she was going to be late but she’d needed Aly to tell her she was being stupid. She just needed to hear someone say it.
“Viv, you don’t need me to tell you Jamie Dunbar is an asshole. A loser asshole who should be castrated with a dull spoon.”
Vivi smiled at her sister’s utter seriousness.
“Don’t let that bastard ruin what could be a really good thing between you and Justin. And don’t let him ruin what could be a really good move for you. Call Jess this morning. Talk to her about the job. I’m going to check in with you at lunch and make sure you did. And if you didn’t, I will hound you until you do.”
Since she knew her sister would follow up on that threat, Vivi nodded and waved her sister off to work. Then she went into the front room and pulled up her photos on the computer. She played with them in Photoshop until the clock on her monitor said nine-fifteen. Then she picked up her phone and called the number on the card Jess had given her.
“Hello, Jess Gardiner speaking.”
“Hi, Jess, it’s Vivi Martin. I’m—”
“Vivi! I am so glad you called. And please excuse my desperation, but I could really use your help. I’m willing to hire you freelance immediately until we can get you hired full-time or until you totally hate me and decide that working for a minor league hockey team is the equivalent to selling your soul to the devil. The hours are shit, the pay’s not great, but the eye candy is sometimes worth the aggravation and you get free admission to every game, although you’ll probably be too busy to enjoy it because you’ll be working. And now, if I haven’t completely scared you away, please tell me you’re calling about the job.”
By the time Jess had stopped talking, Vivi was laughing. “No,
you haven’t scared me away and yes, I was calling about the job.”
Through the phone, Vivi heard Jess sigh. “Oh, thank god. But I totally wasn’t kidding about needing you immediately. Do you have time to come into the office today? I know it’s really short notice but when I say the intern-who-shall-not-be-named was a complete and utter failure, I’m not downplaying the situation. Somehow, he managed to corrupt the folder with the midseason team photos. The GM wants all new graphics for the playoff push and that’s great except that I have no time to corral a team full of men who mostly hate having their photos taken. You would think I was making them torture puppies. Ugh.”
“Well, when you put it like that, I would love to come interview for the job.”
“Then please feel free to come in anytime this morning. I will make time for you. We can talk about you freelancing at first if you want see if the job’s a fit and we can go from there. But honestly, at the moment, you’d be doing me a huge favor if you could give me a few hours this week just to get these photos done.”
“Give me an hour to get myself together and I can be in your office until four this afternoon.”
Forty minutes later, Vivi texted Justin from her car after she’d parked in the lot next to the arena. His truck was still there but so were at least thirty other vehicles. So she had no idea if he was here or not.
She still wasn’t sure how she should feel about his involvement in helping her get this job. If he’d had any.
Are you at the arena? I’m interviewing with Jess.
She didn’t expect him to answer right away so she was surprised to get a response a few seconds later.
No. Maintenance day. No practice.
She didn’t know what a maintenance day was, but she guessed it was a day off because of his ribs.
How do you feel?
He didn’t answer right away so she got out of the car, gathered her equipment, and headed for the door.
She recognized the guard, who also recognized her.
“Vivi, right?” He checked his clipboard. “Miss Jess called down, said I should send you up to see her but I think I just saw her pass by a few—yep, there she is.”
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