11. A Word
Chapter Eleven
A WORD
~~Camden~~
What a night. What a game. What fucking fun it was. I try to think back to a time when I had this much fun playing hockey. I’m stunned to realize it’s probably when I was a teenager. I’ve found a piece of myself I hadn’t realized I’d lost. The euphoria is like a drug, and I want to feel it again.
That’s not all I want to feel, but I’m not going there. I know Inez and I can’t be. It’s counterproductive to dwell on the impossible.
The Portland Puck is packed tonight. I sit at a long table surrounded by teammates and their WAGs. Drakos is on one side of me, Dash, and Everly. Briggs and Michella sit across the table.
My gaze keeps slipping toward the door. I wonder if she’s coming. I may not be able to touch, but I can look. I’ll take whatever small interactions with Inez that I can get and find a way to be satisfied.
“Save that seat for Inez, please.” Everly reads my mind and indicates the empty chair next to mine. “Here, put my coat over the back of it, that way no one will take the seat.”
“Okay.” I do as I’m told but with reluctance. Admiring Inez from afar is one thing, but right next to me is torture and another cruel twist of fate throwing us together and wearing down my resistance. Everly’s quizzical expression alarms me. I’ve piqued her curiosity, and that’ll never do. I swear I’ll be more careful about allowing my feelings to come through. This’ll be a major challenge with Inez sitting next to me. We’re crammed around this table, and I won’t be able to keep a safe distance.
I should leave before she arrives. My absence would alleviate any possible mistakes that might arouse suspicion. I don’t move. I’m a fool of the worst kind. I can’t muster up enough strength to save myself and get out of here.
As I’m contemplating the consequences of staying and issues with leaving, I realize my abrupt departure might trigger suspicion. Neither of us needs that.
I’m being paranoid. To my knowledge, no one suspects us. There’s nothing to know. We haven’t done anything wrong. I might have some dirty thoughts regarding a bubble bath and naked bodies, but it’s never gone any further than my vast imagination.
I’m still contemplating the safest option when Inez enters with Shelby in tow. Everly waves her over and indicates the chair next to me.
Inez hesitates before smiling graciously and taking a seat. She acknowledges me with a stiff nod. Dash hustles to squeeze an extra chair between Inez and Roman. We’re sandwiched together around this table without much room between chairs. Okay, no room. My thigh rubs against Inez, and a current of lust races through my veins. She goes rigid and shifts her ass closer to Shelby, but she can’t escape my close presence any more than I can hers. My body craves her touch, and each time she accidentally brushes against me, my dick begs me to give it satisfaction. She smells incredible, like blooming roses on a sunny spring day. I have to distract my body somehow. I pour myself another beer from the pitcher on the table.
“Good game tonight,” Inez says conversationally, but her tone is impersonal, as if she’s talking to a stranger.
“Thanks. It felt good. Better than it has in a long time.” I’m grinning from ear to ear. I can’t help it. I’m flying high tonight. I contributed to this team’s win, and I feel damn good about it.
“I’m glad for you.” She’s outwardly cool and professional, but when our eyes meet, the fire burning there is anything but professional. I feel lightheaded, as if I’m losing my grip on my control and falling into a place where I can’t go. We both look away.
I clear my throat and disguise my discomfort by taking a long pull on my beer. Inez almost tips over her wine. She’s as flustered as I am.
Dash’s eyes are on both of us. I squirm under his scrutiny. When I meet his gaze, what I see horrifies me. He knows something is up. If I know my captain, he’s going to confront me next chance he gets, and I better be prepared with satisfying answers.
Dash and Everly exchange glances. Damn it. She’s suspicious now too.
Or my paranoia has me reading too much into every little thing. Inez seems oblivious, and for that I’m grateful.
I try to slide my chair closer to Drakos, and he turns to glare at me. “What the fuck?”
“Uh, nothing. Just feeling claustrophobic,” I lie. Drakos isn’t buying it. He rolls his eyes and mutters choice words under his breath. Before he can pry further, a group of attractive women decked out in Icehawks jerseys approach. I note all three are wearing his number.
“Drakos!” exclaims the busty one. Sorry, I’m a guy, and I noticed her ample, um, assets. Drakos breaks into a flirty grin. He’s the lady-killer of the team, though he does have competition with some of the younger guys.
“Oh my god. It is him,” squeals the redhead.
I can see her roots, and it’s not her natural color. Not that I care, just making an observation.
“Can we get a selfie?” the third, who’s older than the other two but just as hot, begs. She puts her hands together as if she’s praying.
“Of course, ladies. It’d be my pleasure.” Drakos oozes charm and sexuality, as if they come out of his pores. No wonder the women adore him.
Drakos stands, and selfies are taken.
“Catch you later, boys.” He waves as he struts off with his three admirers.
I push his empty chair away from our table, buying some room between Inez and me. My body protests the new distance between us, but I wisely ignore it. There are too many prying eyes around this table. Any one of these guys could figure out Inez and I have a mutual attraction, and then all hell would break loose even though we’ve done nothing. People notice shit like that. Hell, I’ve noticed shit like that when a teammate is interested in a woman. I can’t be that guy.
Inez avoids further conversation with me and focuses on Everly, Michella, and Shelby.
I’m relieved and hurt, my mind completely conflicted just like the rest of me. Her frosty behavior has the desired effect, and my libido reluctantly tucks its tail between its legs and crawls into a corner.
Surprisingly, within an hour the crowd thins until only a few stragglers are left.
Inez turns to me for the first time in the past hour. “I volunteered to give Shelby a ride home.”
“What? Her husband isn’t lurking in the dark outside?”
“Not that I’m aware of.” Inez slides her gaze to Shelby, who’s speaking with Michella. Michella and Briggs are getting ready to leave.
“I hate to ask you this, but do you mind riding along with me? I don’t feel safe around that guy.”
“Sure.” Her request surprises me. After all, she’s spent the last hour pretending I don’t exist.
“Thank you. I’ve asked a few guys and no one else is available.”
I try not to show my disappointment at being a last resort. “Is Shelby safe?”
“Probably not, but she won’t admit it. There’s nothing any of us can do to help someone who rejects all attempts to rescue her. All I can do is make sure she knows I’m there for her.”
“I understand.”
“I wish I could get through to her. If she’s not listening, I can’t force her to listen.”
Several minutes later, I pay my tab and wait outside for Inez and Shelby, who’d both taken a trip to the bathroom.
Drakos struts out the door with the two of the three women clutching each arm. The older one is gone. The two younger ladies don’t appear to be letting go anytime soon. Drakos is fine with all of it.
“Later, Hale. Don’t wait up for me.”
“I never do,” I quip wryly.
“Smart man,” he responds, and escorts the women down the street. Shaking my head, I watch as they disappear into another bar.
Inez appears beside me. “Drakos and his latest dates?”
“Yeah, something like that. He has stamina. I’ll give him that.”
Inez laughs softly, and the sound draws me close. I love how her face softens and her eyes light up. She’s phenomenal, and I can’t get enough of looking at her. We’re connected in ways I’ve never felt with any other living being. It’s almost as if I can read her thoughts. I can’t look away, and neither can she. My head fills with the fog of desire, and my body reflects the same. I want to touch her in the worst possible way. She brushes up against me, and a jolt of need radiates through every cell. I wonder if she touched me by mistake or if she’s feeling it too. Our innocent foreplay ends when Shelby returns.
“Okay, sorry I took so long. I’m ready.” Shelby looks to Inez, me, and back to Inez and frowns. “Are you guys okay?”
Her last words prod both of us out of our stupor. I look down, and Inez stares straight ahead.
“Let’s go then,” she says robotically, as if she’s still somewhere else. “Camden is riding along with us.”
“Of course.” Shelby’s tone is troubling, but I wisely don’t read too much into it.
I’m getting deeper and deeper into a place I shouldn’t go, yet I can’t seem to save myself from my own desires. I hope Inez has more control than I do. At this point, it’s not wise for me to be alone with her, which I will be once we drop off Shelby.
Shelby gets into the back seat without asking, which leaves me in the front passenger seat. Sitting next to Shelby would be weird, and that’s the last thing I need to do. The drive to Shelby’s place is awkwardly silent. We cruise past downtown and into outlying neighborhoods. Each block seems to deteriorate until we’re in a seedy part of the greater Portland area.
“Right here.” Shelby points out an old house that’s seen better days. As soon as the car tires stop rolling, she leaps from the car. “Thanks for the ride.”
She runs toward the front door, and Trace Harrison meets her halfway. He’s frowning. Shelby slinks past him, scared of his obvious fury. Inez and I exchange knowing looks. She’s worried about her friend, and so am I.
“I’ll be right back.” I exit the car and stride purposely toward Trace.
“Camden, don’t. Come back here.”
I ignore Inez’s pleas. I’m not leaving until I have a word with this asshole.