Page 26 of Shootout
“We’re going to break it off after a little time has passed so he doesn’t get suspicious.”
“You’re playing with fire. You’re attracted to her, and you’re going to want to get in her pants. You always do. Why would you hold back now? Once you cross that line, things will be more complicated. Take it from your twin who knows you too well.”
His lack of faith in my ability to have a meaningful relationship irritated me, even though he was right, and I knew it. The only solution was a mutual “breakup” with Jessie, concentrating on integrating myself into my new team and earning Wild’s grudging respect. We’d never be best buddies, but we had to be respectful teammates.
A few hours later, I questioned my belief that Wild and I could be teammates. He shot daggers at me all during practice. I was sluggish, and my timing was off on the ice. Several of our rookies performed better than I did. I noticed the coaches scratching their heads multiple times as they watched my mediocre performance. Most likely, they were wondering what they’d gotten themselves into when they’d traded a couple promising prospects and solid fourth-liners for me.
After I’d showered and was dressing, Wild came up to me. “We need to talk.”
Well, crap. The moment of truth. I’d wanted to run this by Jessie before I broke the news to him, but if the opportunity presented itself, I’d better take advantage of it. My brother had been right, as he always was. I needed to end this charade and end it now.
“Sure. What’s up?” I steadied my voice as if we were just two guys who didn’t have a lot of baggage between us.
“You were out pretty late with my sister.”
Not as late as I’d wanted to be. Of course, I valued my life and manhood too much to tell him that. I shrugged and sat down on a bench to tie my shoes. This conversation was the perfect segue into ending this fake relationship with a mutual breakup, though I really should talk it over with Jessie first. Wild’s next words changed my mind.
He regarded me with disgust and dislike. I noted the curious stares of other teammates who milled around near us. Hockey players were bigger gossips than people realized and nosy as fuck. “I guess you’ll be coming to dinner Friday night.”
I was struck silent and not sure how to respond to his statement. He must’ve caught my confused expression because he elaborated. “With my parents. They’ll be in town. Jessie told you, didn’t she?”
“Uh, yeah, she did. Sorry, had my mind on hockey.”
Wild narrowed his gaze in pure disbelief. “The family wants to meet you. You realize you’re the first boyfriend Jessie has had since that asshole broke her heart less than a year ago?”
Asshole? There was another asshole besides me? Obviously as her boyfriend, I should know this story, so I nodded sagely but made no further incriminating remark.
“They’re excited she’s finally moved on from Rick, and I didn’t burst their bubble by telling them you weren’t an improvement.”
“Well, thanks for that,” I said sarcastically.
“I figured she was still in love with him until you came along. She’s fragile, Slater, and I don’t want her hurt. I’m not sure she’d survive this time around. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly.” So much for telling him the truth. Instead, I’d be going to dinner with her family and probably facing an inquisition from more than Wild about my intentions.
He stared me down for a few more minutes before turning his back on me, something he did with frequency.
“Damn, buddy, you’re going to meet the fam? This must be getting serious,” Vick said.
I slumped on the bench and stared at nothing. “More than you can imagine.”
I hung out in the locker room until everyone else was gone, just sitting and staring blankly at the wall. Why hadn’t Jessie told me last night about dinner with her parents? She’d most likely avoided what’d be a tense subject between us. Obviously, her little prank had gone beyond deceiving her brother.
She had some explaining to do. I wasn’t interested in going back to the condo in what had become the party central hangout for the rookies in training camp. I’d played along at first in the interest of being a good teammate, but their antics were getting out of hand. Not so long ago, I would have been right in the middle of mayhem and the main instigator. Right now, I had bigger problems without making things worse by corrupting the rookies.
After checking Jessie’s schedule, I ran some errands, had lunch, and called my Realtor. I asked her to step up her attempts at finding me a condo near the SHAC. Nothing with a long-term lease, as I didn’t know if I’d be here by the end of the season. She reminded me I was looking in a prime area without a commitment, but she’d try her best.
I made my way back to the SHAC ten minutes before Jessie finished her evening group session, the same group I’d witnessed her coaching last night when Boris was being an ass.
The way things were going—I’d most likely end up on the trading block again. I’d never thought I’d become one of those players who had the misfortune of moving from team to team all in the space of a year, but the possibility was real.
I slipped onto the bleachers in practice rink number two, hoping to go unnoticed by the parents in the stands. I wasn’t that lucky. Boris noticed me immediately and made his way to sit next to me.
“Banks? Banks Slater?”
I nodded. Knowing what I knew about Boris, he’d be insulted if I didn’t recognize him. “Boris, good to meet you. You’ve been a personal hero of mine most of my career.” I buttered the guy up, just in case he proved useful down the road.
He smiled smugly and puffed up a bit. The man had a bigger ego than I did, but he’d earned every bit of that swagger. “I was surprised Detroit traded you. I thought you’d be a lifer there along with your brother. There’s no loyalty in pro sports anymore.”
