Faceoff, page 8
I swallowed a lump in my throat. The Sockeyes were my team. They’d drafted me. I’d never played anywhere else. I loved playing for Seattle. I’d been born and raised about two hundred miles away in Osoyoos, BC, so being here was like coming home. Most of my family lived here now. Maybe that wasn’t a plus.
“I don’t want to play anywhere else,” I croaked.
“Good, because this is your year to show the potential you showed as a rookie. If you don’t perform, I can’t say what they’ll do with you. But you know you’re slated for a bigger contract, and the front office may choose to go with a player who doesn’t hit the cap as hard. It’s your job to make that decision difficult for them.”
I understood all that. Business was business.
And that bigger contract was what I’d been waiting for, but first, I had to earn it. Once I’d gained the team’s respect my rookie year, I’d been skating on my laurels. Maybe this fake-boyfriend thing would have an added bonus, making me appear more stable when contract negotiations came up. Everyone knew Darcy was a good girl, which was to my advantage.
My phone beeped with another text. Coach hated it when we had phones in the locker room, and I’d forgotten to stow mine away. I couldn’t resist checking it. I’d invited Darcy to watch me play tonight.
Darcy: Good luck. I was invited to sit with the WAGs.
Me: Cool. See you after the game.
I glanced up to find Ice glaring at me. I put the phone on silent and shoved it into the back of my locker.
Feeling lighter than I had when I’d entered, I grinned for no reason other than Darcy was here tonight to watch me.
Her appearance meant nothing other than a few good clips for her show, but having her here made me feel good. Of course, not because of her but because of the extra props I’d get on her show.
Yeah, I only cared about the publicity, well, mostly.
Chapter Ten
Only Dude for Comfort
~~Darcy~~
All I wanted to do on Sunday night was wrap up in a blanket and enjoy having the place to myself, except for the cat.
I considered feigning illness when Bella, Cedric Pedersen’s significant other, invited me to join the WAGs in their suite. Sondra had overheard, and there was no turning back. She insisted I develop a relationship with the other WAGs to further cement my romance as a real one.
Reluctantly, I agreed with the insistence I go alone, without cameras, which was how I ended up in the VIP parking lot at the arena. If I’d felt comfortable enough, I’d have extended the invite to Mila, but I didn’t know these women, and this time I’d have to go it alone.
I took the elevator to the suite level and found the correct suite. I opened the door to a large room with plush theater seats arranged in tiers facing expansive windows. On the top level, a buffet and a bar were set up. My stomach rumbled as I breathed in the heavenly scents wafting around the room, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since this morning.
A beautiful dark-haired woman spotted me and rushed forward. “Darcy, welcome. I’m Bella. We’re all so glad you came.”
Heads turned toward me with welcoming smiles. I relaxed a little. They might be beautiful on the outside, but the genuinely kind expressions spoke volumes about the inside.
Soon I was surrounded by the group as they introduced themselves. I’d never remember any of their names. I sucked at stuff like that, but I’d do my best.
“Grab a glass of wine, a plate of food, and sit with us.” A petite blonde with a sweet smile waved me over to a row of seats on the glass. I gladly accepted, filled a plate, and sat down between two WAGs, racking my brain for their names.
“I’m Caro,” the one on my right introduced herself again. “I’m Easton’s wife.”
I grinned in response, grateful she’d reminded me of her name, and made a mental note to remember it and which player she was with.
“This is Hyacinth. We call her Cin. She’s with Steele.” She pointed toward a tatted woman with black hair. Cin winked at me briefly, but the men down on the ice captured her full attention. They were skating around in a controlled, chaotic dance. I’m sure it made sense to them even if it didn’t to me.
“Not a hockey fan?” Cin asked with a smile.
“This is my first game,” I admitted.
“They’re warming up,” Caro explained, as if guessing my confusion.
“Oh, good, I haven’t missed any of the game?”
“No, not yet. I’m Delaney. You can call me Laney. I’m with Kaden. We hang together along with Geneva, who’s the team equipment manager. She’s with Axel. Our guys were all rookies last year and are best buddies.”
“So we naturally hang out, too,” Cin added.
“They used to call themselves the Puck Brothers,” Caro laughed. “And there’s a story to go with that, but we’ll save it for later. The game’s about to start.”
“I don’t know anything about hockey.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll help you.” Delaney gave me a warm smile. These women welcomed me into their fold as if I’d always belonged, and I’d never belonged to much of anything before. I’d spent most of my life on the outside looking in. “They drop the puck to start the game.”
We turned our attention to the two teams on the ice. Unable to locate Gage among them, I shifted my gaze to the bench. He sat there, leaning forward, his gaze intent on the game before him.
Caro sensed my confusion. “The team plays in shifts. No one can skate the entire time. Usually every two minutes or so, they swap players. Some stay in longer. All in all, most guys play on a certain line, get used to each other, and can predict each other’s movements. Ziggy is on the second line. He’ll be out there soon.”
And he was. Mesmerized, my eyes were glued to his athletic body. Somehow he was graceful, powerful, and aggressive all at the same time. I’d never seen anything like it. To my uneducated eyes, he was the best player out there. His skates should’ve caught fire as fast as he travelled up and down the ice. I marveled at how he raced full speed down the ice and turned on a dime. Despite being clueless as to what was going on, I loved watching him. He put his heart and soul into the game. It was a side of the fun-loving guy I’d never seen.
I made discreet notes on the paper roster Cin had given me to remind me of who was with whom. The older WAGs hung together, but they were still friendly. There were only two women in the group who reminded me of my high school days, when the mean girls would bully and exclude me.
“Ignore them,” Caro said when she caught them glaring at me. “They’re just jealous. They aren’t exactly girlfriends of any player. They make it their goal to sleep with as many guys as they can on the team.”
“Why are they here?”
“Two of the rookies invited them. Those guys don’t know any better. It’s all about getting some at their age.” She laughed. “It’s hard being welcoming to someone who’s after any guy they can get on the team, single or not.”
“Or when they’ve had your guy,” Delaney quipped, not the least bit insecure regarding their presence.
I chanced another glance at the pair, wondering if they’d been with Gage. Judging by the daggers they shot my direction, the answer was probably yes. I was an interloper in their book. They were beautiful, so perfect they could’ve been walking Barbie dolls with their platinum-blonde hair, large boobs, and tiny waists. I was a tad bit jealous at such perfection but refused to allow anxiety to ruin my night.
“Don’t compare yourself to them.” Caro read my mind.
“It’s hard.”
“Trust me, I get it.”
“They gave me shit my first time in the suite. Ignore them,” Cin said. “They’re bullies, but like most bullies, they back off quickly when you stand firm.”
I nodded and settled in to watch with my newfound friends. Other than Mila, I’d never had girlfriends before, not that I did now, but one of my secret daydreams was to have a girls’ night out, go shopping together, and sit around and drink wine. I’d enjoy spending time with these women but reminded myself my relationship with Gage was a lie. A girl didn’t lie to her BFFs, and I’d do best to maintain a distance, as my friendship with the WAGs was temporary at best.
I was an honest person, and none of this sat well with me. When I’d agreed to this farce, I hadn’t thought beyond how it affected Gage and me. Eventually others would be hurt if our deception was ever brought to light.
I sighed, turning back to the game and trying not to think about the morality of my choices.
At the end of the first period—I’d learned there were three periods in hockey—there was an intermission. The goalie always stayed near the net. There were three forwards and two defensemen on each line. Gage was a forward. I didn’t understand the strategy of the positions, but I tried.
We filled up wineglasses and ate more appetizers.
Cin spoke to me about possibly doing a design job for her new house. She like the country-style design and had admired a design from last year’s show. I didn’t have the guts to tell her that I hadn’t actually done that design but a large design firm out of LA had done it. I needed a design job desperately for my own creative outlet. I loved a cozy country design compared to all the stark modern and colorless designs popular right now. I vowed to make her happy if she hired me and wouldn’t accept a penny unless she was happy with my job. We arranged to meet at her place next week to discuss things further.
The game started up again, and my entire attention focused on the ice.
I became vaguely aware of a commotion somewhere behind me. So did my new girlfriends. Everyone turned in their seats to look up toward the doorway to the suite. The two mean girls from earlier lounged near the doorway, giggling and chatting with—
Oh, my God. No.
It was Sondra.
And Jonas, our tatted camera guy.
Those two women flirted outrageously with Jonas while not taking their eyes off the cameras. Poor Jonas thought he’d died and gone to heaven, but I knew better. They were only using him to get on the show. I had worse problems than Jonas’s ego.
Sondra wasn’t supposed to be here. She’d promised. I should’ve known her promises meant nothing. She’d proven that fact over and over. Scenes in the WAGs suite made good TV fodder, too good to pass up.
I glanced at my newfound friends. They gaped at the spectacle near the door, and not one of them appeared the least bit happy. I went cold inside, knowing how this looked to each one of them.
Cin was the first one who stood up, not bothering to conceal the disgust and irritation on her face. “What the fuck is going on here?”
The camera swung toward her, and she flipped it off. “Don’t point that thing at me. I don’t even know who you are. How’d you get in here? I’m calling security any minute.”
I scrambled out of my seat before things got worse and hurried to where Sondra and Jonas stood.
“I told you I didn’t want you here,” I said with gritted teeth, keeping my voice down so only Sondra heard me.
“Did you really think I’d blow off this opportunity? Every female hockey fan in America wants to know what it’s like to be in the WAGs suite.” Sondra smirked, not affected in the least by all the negative energy being radiated toward her.
“She’s here for your show? You set us up?” Cin gaped at me in shock, betrayal written all over her face.
“Isn’t that your producer?” Caro narrowed her eyes and glared at me. They thought I’d purposely done this for the drama effect.
“Yes, that’s her. She wasn’t supposed to be here tonight.” My words sounded lame, and it was clear they didn’t believe me.
“Use a clip of me without my permission, and I’ll sue your ass,” Bella warned. Several others nodded agreement. Murmurs of outrage vibrated through the large room.
The only two women who enjoyed this intrusion on their privacy were the two I least cared about. They weren’t really WAGs but opportunistic interlopers. Meanwhile the game continued on the ice below. These women adored their men and their hockey. As one, they turned their backs to the camera and refocused on the game, summarily dismissing Sondra, Jonas, and me.
I didn’t dare return to my seat considering the hostile energy emanating from the majority of the WAGs. I attempted to leave, but Sondra pulled me into the hallway.
“You’re not leaving. Some may not be cooperative, but others will be. We need to catch a few clips, and we’ll be out of their way.”
“The damage is done.”
Sondra shrugged. She didn’t really care. This was all about the show and had nothing to do with me or my personal feelings, because they didn’t matter one damn bit to her. “You will go back in there, and you will make nice to Topaz and Tiffany.”
I almost laughed. Those couldn’t be their real names.
Sondra wasn’t amused. “Let’s go.”
For a brief moment, I considered rebellion, but I wasn’t a rebellious person by nature. I was a pleaser and not one to buck the system. Sondra controlled the system in my little corner of the world. I admired people like Gage who refused to follow a script and felt zero remorse for the problems they caused.
Reluctantly, I followed Sondra back inside. She held all the power, and I really had no choice. Without her and her family’s financial backing, I’d be unemployed. In my mind, nothing was worse than being penniless and wondering where my next dollar would come from.
Once inside, I was the mean girls’ new best friend. Topaz and Tiffany took me under their wing while the others treated me as if I were a pariah. The majority ignored me and focused their attention on the game while avoiding the camera. I so wanted to watch that game. I glanced longingly at the men skating around on the ice and sighed.
It wasn’t to be.
Sondra stayed through the middle of the third, filming and asking permission to use some clips. Most of the WAGs said no, but a few, along with Topaz and Tiffany, said yes.
Once Sondra left, I debated leaving, but I wanted to watch the end of the game more than I wanted to tuck my tail between my legs and wallow in my own pity. Somehow I’d make this up to them and explain I really hadn’t planned this. For now, they weren’t in a forgiving mood, yet an apology had to be made, despite the reception.
With trepidation, I sat down next to Caro, Delaney, and Cin. “I’m sorry, really I am. I asked her not to come tonight, but she doesn’t take orders from anyone.”
They stared straight ahead, none of them acknowledging my presence or glancing in my direction.
“I really am sincerely sorry. I hope you’ll forgive me. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to you?” I left the question hanging out there, but again I was invisible.
With a sigh, I stood, grabbed my purse, and started to walk out. My first real exposure to the WAGs had ended in disaster. I turned in front of the door and addressed everyone. “I’m sorry, everyone. I really am.”
Bella stood up and confronted me. “We understand you have a show to do, and we might’ve been happy to play along if you’d only asked. But you didn’t. You assumed we’d be thrilled to be on your show, or you didn’t care. Either way, that doesn’t work for me.” After her scathing dressing down, she turned her back to me to converse with another WAG who I’d found out earlier was her sister and married to the assistant coach.
“We won’t be used like that,” one WAG said loudly enough for me to hear.
“The nerve of her,” another said.
“Those Hollywood types. So entitled.”
I swallowed my tears and ran from the room. Once out in the hall, I glanced around for a bathroom and locked myself inside until my tears had dried up.
Sniffling, I stared in the mirror. I looked like shit, felt like shit, I was shit.
Cheering erupted within the arena, but I wouldn’t be going back to the suite. Instead, I headed home to curl in a ball and lick my wounds with only Dude for comfort.
Chapter Eleven
Just WAGs
~~Gage~~
We won the game, and I had one of my best performances of the season. I showered, dressed, did a few interviews, and hurried to the lounge where players’ families waited.
Glancing around, I frowned, not seeing Darcy. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, more than I cared to admit. I sensed a problem—a big one.
Something had happened in the WAGs suite, but none of the women were talking. Yet. I’d expected Darcy to show up after the game with her camera crew in tow. Instead, Topaz informed me that she’d left before the end of the third period.
“She left? Why?”
“I think she was bored with the game.” Topaz batted her false eyelashes at me. I marveled briefly at how strong her eyelids must be to hold those things up. She leaned into me, making sure her cleavage was on clear display. We’d hooked up before, and usually she could count on me for a good time. She was Staples’s date, which should’ve made me all the more interested. She’d dump him for me, and that’d give me a measure of satisfaction.
There was one thing wrong. I wasn’t interested in her. In fact, I wasn’t sure how I’d ever been.
“Why don’t you and I go somewhere. I’ll show you how hot I got watching you play.”
I bet she could.
“Aren’t you here with Staples?”
“I’d rather be with you.” She leaned into me, fingering the collar on my dress shirt.
“Sorry, I don’t invade a teammate’s territory.” Even a teammate like him. I backed away and put my hands on her shoulders to stop her from coming near me. “I have a girlfriend.”
“Everyone knows it’s not real.”
I scowled, insulted beyond reason. “No one knows that because it isn’t true. Later, Topaz.” I stomped away. I didn’t need to look over my shoulder to witness her shock.
Pushing past a group of teammates, I saw Cin waiting for Steele. He always took a while showering and getting his hair just perfect.
