Page 19 of Shootout
“What is it like?” He glared at both of us. “You’re hooking up? Friends with benefits? What the fuck is it?”
Jessie was getting angry, and I sensed an impending explosion. “Whatitis, happens to be none of your business. Do I ask you about your girlfriends?”
“I don’t have girlfriends.”
“Okay, fuck buddies or whatever they are.”
He fisted his hands on the table and clenched his knuckles until they turned white. “You’d better not be taking advantage of my sister.”
“I—I’m—” I looked to Jessie to bail me out.
“Jason, we’re just enjoying each other’s company. Don’t make more out of it than that.”
“You expect me to believe that? I saw the kiss between you two.”
I met Jessie’s gaze with an arched brow.
“We’re casually seeing each other. That’s all.” Jessie was setting the stage for the mutual breakup but minimizing our relationship’s seriousness. “And what we are or aren’t doing is none of your business any more than your many affairs are my business.”
“And that’s supposed to make me feel better?” he bellowed. “So you’re just hooking up?”
“No, nothing like that,” I intervened.
“After all I’ve heard, you two are claiming it’s only casual? After your meet-cute story and all that shit?”
He had me, and I avoided Jessie’s curious gaze. I shook my head vehemently. This convo was going from bad to worse.
I reached out and grabbed Jessie’s hand. “We’re exclusive, so it’s not that casual.”
Wild visibly relaxed and sat back as if all the air had gone out of him.
Jessie gaped at me, wide-eyed. I gave a little shrug. I’d probably undermined what she’d done to downplay our relationship, but I didn’t want Wild thinking I was seeing other women at the same time I was seeing his sister.
“I guess that makes me feel a little better, but not much. You know I don’t like you, Slate.”
“No shit?” I sighed and searched for the right words. “I apologize for being the catalyst that had you kicked out of three playoff games, but my hit on Pedersen was a legal hit.”
“Tell that to Cedric. You destroyed his career.”
I didn’t bother to point out that every one of us risked a career-ending injury every time we stepped onto the ice. Hockey players accepted that possibility as part of the game.
“You’re a dirty player,” Wild grumbled.
“Like fuck I am.” I started to stand up, but Jessie’s wide eyes had me sitting back down. I swallowed and gathered in my temper.
“I don’t like you on my team.”
“I fucking know that. You’ve told me every chance you’ve gotten. Neither one of us got a vote regarding that trade. But guess what? You’re lucky to have me on your team. I’m one of the best fucking wingers in the league, and you know it. I’m the missing piece this team needs to go deep into the playoffs, and you can’t deny the naked truth of that statement.”
Wild snorted, and I responded with my best arrogant asshole smirk. We stared each other down, a war of wills, without saying a word or throwing a punch. I always won mental contests like this, but for the sake of keeping the peace, I looked away first. I’d give him this one, but that’d be all he’d get from me.
ChapterSeven
NO ROOM AT THE INN
~~Jessie~~
If only I could turn back time, and I hadn’t gone into the guest dressing room to change. I could’ve changed in my office and taken a shower at home.
