Grinding (Portland Icehawks #6)

Epilogue

The Icehawks are on the verge of earning their first playoff spot. The city is behind them with sellout crowds every game. This is a team that’s found their identity. With their four equally competent lines, they are hard to play against because their opponents never know which line might have a good night. I’m confident this team is going places. Kudos to Brian Werkle, Inez Lewis, and Duke Jefferson for putting together a team without superstars that epitomizes the true meaning of teamwork. My only criticism is their decision to keep Drakos Lenkov, but nobody’s perfect. —Aria at All Hockey News

~~Inez~~

A week later, the Icehawks move up in the standings and are now tied for a playoff spot. We’re in the driver’s seat since we have one more game left to play than the team we’re tied with. Brian and I have been busy as usual, going over options for next year, how our young guys are doing on their respective teams, and possible plans for a postseason run.

Camden tells me the confidence level among the team is high. We’re operating on all cylinders, and even Aria is writing positive things about us, well, except for Drakos.

As far as being public with our relationship, we don’t flaunt it, but everyone associated with the Icehawks is now aware we’re a couple. We don’t have to sneak around any longer, but we’re not making it overly obvious either. With Camden’s impending retirement once the team plays their last game, whenever that is, the entire issue with his and my dating is a moot point, but no need to advertise it.

Aria has oddly become a staunch ally, which I wouldn’t have predicted in a million years. She’s still on Drakos’s case, but I’ll let him handle that. He’s a big boy.

With two weeks left in the regular season, the guys have a rare day off, and a group of us rent a dinner boat to cruise the Columbia. The entire team is on this boat.

“What’s she doing here?” Camden asks. We’re sitting at a table with Dash and Everly, Briggs and Michella, and Heidi and Trent. All heads swivel in the direction Camden is looking.

Aria stands at the entrance to the event space on the boat. We’re just about to cast off. A minute later, and she’d have missed the boat—literally. She’s with Koko, which isn’t a huge surprise, but pretty ballsy, to say the least.

As we all gawk, Koko offers Aria his arm and proceeds to sit at a table with Drakos and his fellow partiers. I’m staying far away from that potentially explosive situation. I’m not sure if Koko is just oblivious to the discomfort he’s causing or if he’s getting a kick out of it. Regardless, Drakos moves to another table, for which I’m grateful, averting that disaster.

“She has a lot of nerve showing up at a private team event,” growls Briggs.

“We can’t stop Koko from inviting whoever he pleases.” Dash is ever the voice of reason.

“But her?” Trent shakes his head in amazement.

“Hey, she’s been complimentary lately.” I feel the need to come to her defense. They don’t know what I know. She kept quiet on the scoop of the season, and that redeems her somewhat in my book.

“Wait until the first scent of blood, and she’ll be all over our asses again.” Briggs’s eyes are shooting daggers at Aria, and I shrug. He’s one of the less tolerant and forgiving guys on the team. One thing I’ll say about him is that a person always knows where they stand with him.

I smile at Camden, and he puts an arm around my shoulders. He’s amused by this conversation about Aria rather than upset.

Michella interrupts. “I almost forgot, you guys.” Just like that, the spotlight is on her.

“What?”

Michella lowers her voice, and we all lean in. “I have it on good sources that Shelby has been reported missing by her sister.”

“Shelby’s missing?” Everly is horrified.

My throat closes up as I can only imagine what’s happened to her.

“Yes, no one’s seen her since the day she was fired.”

Everyone’s quiet as we let that sink in. I feel as if I failed her as a friend, yet I don’t know what I could’ve done differently. Perhaps been pushier but doing so might’ve had the opposite reaction.

“Don’t second-guess yourself.” Camden reads my mind and gives me a gentle kiss on the forehead. “You did what you could.”

“I know, it’s just—” I stop. He’s right. I did what I could. Domestic violence situations are always iffy and often don’t end well.

We’re distracted by Drakos, who’s on the dance floor dancing with none other than Aria.

“What the fuck?” utters Trent.

No one has another response. Trent pretty much said what we’re all thinking.

“This could be an interesting evening,” Camden whispers in my ear.

“It is,” I agree. “It’s only a matter of time before things go sideways.”

“Let’s let Dash handle any conflicts. That’s why he’s captain.”

“I like the way you think.” I angle my head to see him better. “Have you ever done it on a boat?”

Camden’s eyes light up. “No, but I’m game if you are.”

I stand and grab his hand. We start to walk off.

“Where are you two going?” asks Dash with a sly smile.

“Just touring the boat.”

“Right,” he snorted. “If you want a little privacy, try the back of the second deck. There’s a little room on the left side.”

“And how would you know that?” Camden teases him.

“I just do.” Dash winks at Everly, and she giggles. There’s a story there that I really don’t care to know. Camden and I are writing our own novel complete with a happy ending.

Together we climb to the second deck and find the private room Dash mentioned. We’ll bring an entirely new meaning to rocking the boat.

Thank you for reading GRINDING.