Lucky Left Wing

Chapter One

Talking with Cameron Gregory over the phone is one thing, but now that I’m sitting in his office in Denver, my nerves set in. I’m pretty sure he will agree to my terms. After all, he leaped at the chance to offer me a job, but requiring complete anonymity might seem odd to most people. As the best in the league, the Dragons are bound to win the Patton Cup, which puts even more eyes on them than before. Taking this job is insane if I want to keep hiding from my father and ex-fiancé, but I refuse to stop living my life to hide in a hermit hole somewhere.

I take another deep breath and wipe my hands on my skirt just as the heavy red door swings open and Mr. Gregory enters. A broad smile takes his face and his eyes light up. I rise to take his outstretched hand.

“Miss Bennett, it’s a real pleasure to meet you in person.” He motions toward the chair. “Please, sit and we’ll discuss your terms.”

Well, at least he gets right to the point. I sit and wait while he settles in his creaky leather chair and opens a folder with my name on it—my new name as Ruby the Dragon, that is.

“I see no reason why we cannot accommodate your request to remain anonymous. Our social media director can easily ensure you are in full costume for any images she needs. I must ask though, out of sheer curiosity, why do you wish to remain unidentified even to the players and support staff?”

It’s now or never. My best friend convinced me to tell the truth. She’s right. It’s better to be honest up front than to lie. I push down the panic rising in my chest and dive into it head first.

“Unfortunately, my father and my former fiancé are incredibly controlling and abusive. I merely want to live my life without them in the picture, and maintaining secrecy will help me do that.” Mr. Gregory nods but frowns. This is what I was worried about. He doesn’t want trouble, and this situation reeks of it.

“I can understand that, but it might be difficult to maintain such a ruse with as tight-knit as our team can be. You might know that I hold my players more accountable than most, and my standards are high for behavior on and off the ice. We’re often together for gatherings and events that would require your presence as well.”

I sigh as quietly as possible. This is going to end badly. “I have looked into your management style, and I must say I am impressed. You do run a tight ship.” I fade and accidentally make eye contact with Mr. Gregory. His warm gray eyes invite me to tell the whole truth. I take a deep breath and pray this isn’t the nail in my coffin. “I also have a past with one of your players.”

His eyebrows arch at this, so I raise a hand to ease his fears.

“It isn’t anything that would create trouble for your team’s name. We dated in high school, had planned to marry early in college, but things didn’t work out.”

“May I ask which player?” he asks, bracing himself. I’m not sure if he has someone in mind already, but judging by his stiff posture and steady gaze, I’d say he’s worried about the Dragons’ reputation blowing up into smithereens.

“Aiden Doyle,” I say, hating how the mere whisper of his name over my lips still gives me shivers.

Aiden. The sweet guy I fell for in high school when his family moved from Ireland to Chicago. He’d been the brunt of one too many jokes and teases about his accent by the time I officially met him. When he signed up for tutoring in math, he didn’t trust me at first. It took months of proving myself, eating lunch with him in silence, even showing up at his house to help him with his American English pronunciation before he finally let me in. We became friends. Then more.

I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment longer than a blink, and when I open them, Mr. Gregory is still tapping his fingers patiently on his desk.

“Aiden is one of my most well-behaved players. He’s a bit of a practical jokester, but he’s upheld our reputation without fail for years. If you don’t have an issue working for us, then I’m not concerned. I will say, I encourage you to talk with Aiden so that it doesn’t become a problem.” I tense, but he isn’t done. “I will hold up my word. I won’t force you to reveal your identity to anyone other than Freya, our social media manager, but I encourage you to fully join our family, Miss Bennett. You may find it beneficial.”

I chew my lower lip and avert my gaze. He’s not wrong. I know he isn’t. But right now I can’t think of a single way revealing my identity to the team can protect me. Somehow, a careless photograph will hit social media. My father will find it, and the next thing I know, I’ll be dragged back to Chicago to go another few rounds with him about my life.

“I’ll think about it. I promise,” I say. I will. I probably won’t agree, but I will think about it.

“Good. Let me show you where your private office will be, then we can introduce you to Freya.”

He runs a hand over his salt and pepper hair and offers me a warm smile. I think for a minute that this might work. This job might be the one that sticks. I could grow close to the employees, maybe even make some friends. Then a flash of Stephen enters my mind. My ex-fiancé is worse than my father. I can’t let him know where I am.

I follow Mr. Gregory down a seemingly private hallway behind a row of glass-front offices. Once at the end, he pushes a door open and reveals a room not much smaller than his office. “This is the farthest room from the locker room that is vacant, but I see no reason why you can’t change here and do your makeup. If it’s sufficient, I can have a vanity and wardrobe installed today.”

My heart skips. This is real. “It would be more than enough. I’m honestly so grateful to have this opportunity. I really do want to be a good team player.”

“I have no doubt that is true. Your performances are incredible, and I hope you’ll find yourself at home here. I am excited to see what you have planned for your introductory performance.”

“Well, with the Dragons in the playoffs, I’m excited to get the crowd going. Really earn the support of Denver and show them how proud they should be of their Dragons.”

He smiles at my response. It must have been the right thing to say, but I mean it, too. It isn’t like I haven’t studied the team. In fact, I might have obsessively watched and rewatched every game since Aiden signed with them. If any fan knows this team inside and out, it’s me.

My heels scrape along the tile floors as we head to the next stop. This is the one I’m most worried about. I’ve seen the Dragons’ social media page. It has blown up over the past few months with Freya Danielson at the helm, and with so many eyes on what the Dragons do on and off the ice, I can’t help but panic a little. Before we reach the end of the hallway, just past Mr. Gregory’s office door, another woman enters. Her long dark hair tumbles over her shoulders and a broad smile warms her face.

“Chantelle, hello. What can I do for you?” Mr. Gregory asks, shifting his gaze to me.

Cover already blown.

“Hi, Mr. Gregory. I was looking for my dad. Have you seen him?” Chantelle asks.

“Just missed him. He’s down in the locker room but I think he has a practice planned for the goalies. Is there anything I can do for you?” He glances at me again as if asking how on earth he should introduce me.

I did my research well before my interview, so I know who Chantelle Pratt is. More importantly, I know who her father is. The head coach. She glances at me periodically while continuing her conversation with Mr. Gregory. I’m beginning to come across as rude at this point, which is not how I want to start my job with the Dragons. I take one for the team—literally—and extend my hand when she looks at me again.

“Hi, I’m Finchley Bennett. The new team mascot.” My weak smile is forced as forced can be, but Mr. Gregory beams with my forthright introduction. I hope he doesn’t suddenly think I’m ready to make friends with everyone, sit around a campfire, and sing songs in a massive bonding fest.

Definitely not.

She accepts my hand and shakes it with a sparkling smile. “I heard we were getting a mascot to perform. I can’t wait to see how you transform Ruby into an amazing show. Welcome aboard.” She’s sweet, and since I’m pretty good at pegging people within a few minutes of meeting them, I realize she’s genuine as well.

“I hope I don’t disappoint.”

She drops my hand just as Mr. Gregory says, “Miss Bennett would like to maintain secrecy. Her identity is to be between us, if you catch my drift, Chantelle?”

Chantelle makes a zipping motion over her lips and tosses an invisible key. “Secret is safe with me. I’m headed to see my father, so if you want, I can take her to Freya’s office.”

What? Oh, right. Mr. Gregory mentioned that was our next stop while I was trying to avoid her eye contact.

Mr. Gregory looks at me for permission, so I shrug. “Unless you have more to discuss with me, that would be fine,” I say, showing I can, in fact, be a team player.

He offers his hand and the same warm smile. “I’m pleased to have you. I’ll have my assistant email the final paperwork for things like the benefits package and have an access card made for you. If you need anything or have questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

We part ways and I allow Chantelle to show me the way to Freya’s office. A lump grows in my throat because she repeatedly steals glances over her shoulder. Finally, she asks the question that must have been burning in her throat since Mr. Gregory expressed my desire to remain a secret.

“Can I ask why you want to remain anonymous? Not that there’s anything wrong with it, of course. I’m only curious.” She brushes her dark hair over her shoulder and smiles again as if proving she has no ill will. I don’t think she does. It’s weird that I want to play the mysterious, fire-breathing dragon. I expect people to have questions about it.

“Uh…it’s part of the act,” I say. It’s not entirely a lie, but by the waver of my voice, it’s clear she knows it’s not the only reason.

“Mmm, well, I’m excited to see it. We heard a little about your act. Can you really breathe fire?” She pauses, her pretty hazel eyes wide with amazement. Of course, I can’t actually breathe fire, but I have years of training in acrobatics, gymnastics, and oddly, circus style performance. All to the disappointment and chagrin of my father, who wanted me to study at Julliard like my mother had. When she died, all of her hopes and dreams landed at my feet, and Father made sure I knew it. Regularly.

“I create the illusion that I breathe fire, so I guess so,” I say, stretching my smile wide into the million-dollar expression my father used to use to lure potential clients into his den of despair. I shake my head clear. That was another time. Now I live my life on my terms.

“Please, say I can watch you practice? Is that allowed?” We’re still standing in the hallway. My nervous energy is on the rise because it seems anyone has access to this part of the building, including team players who I am never going to want to meet despite what Mr. Gregory hopes.

“Maybe. It depends. I really need to maintain mystery and secrecy, so I appreciate you not telling anyone who I am beneath the costume.” I wipe my hands on my skirt again and adjust my purse strap on my shoulder. My actions all scream how nervous I am, but I can’t shake the feeling that someone else is going to walk into the hallway and I’ll have to explain this all over again. And I will, at least once more, if I ever make it to Freya’s office.

Chantelle blinks a few times, reading me. Of course, she’s already categorizing me. She’s like me in that respect, pegging people and analyzing their body language from minute one.

She squints the slightest bit and tilts her head a fraction before blowing me over with her next question.

“Which one is he?”

“Ex-excuse me? I’m not sure I know what you mean,” I say, swallowing harder than a guiltless person should.

She chuckles and crosses her arms. “Look, there have been a ton of women working for this organization, and one thing they all have in common is their impatience to meet the players. They’re practically drooling at the idea of selecting one from the buffet. I’m not getting that vibe from you, which means only one thing. You’ve been there, done that.”

“Um—”

“That means you’ve either dated athletes before, got burned, and they’re a total turnoff now, or you dated a Dragon and he still plays for us. My money is on the latter.”

I blink, my mouth opening and closing several times before I even register that I need to breathe to live. I suck in air and try to come up with a cover for this catastrophe, something that’s true but maintains my ability to look her in the face every day. Because something tells me this family organization is way closer than my family ever was.

Chantelle uncrosses her arms. “Sorry. That was probably rude. I’m just a little protective over my family, and we are a big family here. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.”

“Aiden.” His name slips from my lips like a jailbird. I cover my mouth and try to control the look of absolute mortification that takes my face. Why did I tell her that?

More importantly, why does it look like I just offered her the missing piece of a puzzle?

Chantelle’s lips curve into a grin and she shakes her head. Her eyes sparkle. “No kidding. You have no idea how knowing that makes Aiden Doyle make so much more sense now.” She chuckles, but I don’t miss the echo of footsteps in the hall that connects to the one we’re in. Panic seizes me, which must be obvious because Chantelle throws a door open, drags me inside, and shuts it behind us before drawing a curtain closed. It blocks the open-glass windows from the view from the hallway.

I stumble but manage to catch myself before wiping out. Once I’m upright again, I notice we’re in someone’s office. And she’s staring at us from behind her computer with a coffee cup in one hand, a pen in the other, and an amused grin on her lips.

She’s not the least bit rattled. This incident is just another Tuesday for her.

“You must be Finchley Bennett. Seems you’ve met Chantelle already. I’m Freya.”

An hour later, it seems I have made two new friends and will now be riding the gossip train for some time. Freya assured me that she can portray Ruby the Dragon on social media without revealing my identity. Both women promised to keep me a secret from the players, but I already feel awful asking them to lie to their significant others. With one dating a player, and the other dating a brother of a player, it feels wrong.

But it’s in my contract, so technically, they’re merely abiding by the rules set forth in it.

Which only one of them has to do, because Chantelle doesn’t actually work for the franchise.

I sigh and pull into my parking space at my townhouse, ready to eat and sketch out my ideas for my first performance. Mr. Gregory was more than accommodating with his props budget, and I’m sure I can get everything I need in a few days. Plenty of time.

Inside, my sparsely furnished home is a little chilly. It’s cold for a spring day even for Denver, so I turn up the heat a little and grab a protein bar. My living room has a bay window that overlooks a beautiful canopied road. The trees are budding, and I’m sure it will be gorgeous when everything is in full bloom. I grab my sketchbook and flip through the pages, gathering ideas, when my phone rings.

I smile and instant joy floods my body.

My cousin’s name, the only family member I can remotely stand, pops up on my screen. Her bright smile always makes my day because the woman doesn’t know how to be anything but cheerful and upbeat.

“Hey, April.” I lean back against the pillows and stare out the window.

“Hey, yourself. How did the meeting go?” The shuffle of papers tells me she’s still at the office.

“It went.” I sigh, remembering that two women already not only know who I am, but that my father and ex are royal jerks and that I dated Aiden. Almost married him. But he ruined that by leaving me at the altar and running off to play pro hockey without me.

“That sounds ominous. Did they not agree to your terms?” she asks.

I fidget with my pencil and sigh again. “No, they agreed. It’s a dream job, honestly. Mr. Gregory is every bit as nice in person as he was over the phone. The whole staff is great. The problem is, it really is like a big family. The coach’s daughter and the social media manager both already know my backstory.”

“What? How did that happen?”

I chuckle and shake my head though she can’t see me practically scolding myself for slipping up so easily. “Chantelle Pratt, the coach’s daughter, pegged me right away. And Freya is just easy to talk to. I would have had to give her some details anyway since I’ll be working with her often.”

April is quiet for a while. I know why. She’s about to make her pitch again. “Listen, Finchley, I think you need to tell Aiden. I’m not saying you can’t keep your identity a secret from the rest, but Aiden is different.”

“Yeah, he is. He’s the guy who literally left me standing in a white dress on our wedding day. I don’t want to talk to him. With any luck, he’ll retire soon and I won’t have to worry about it.”

April laughs so hard she snorts. I can picture it, too. She’s gorgeous with her dark skin, brown eyes, and curly black hair. Like me, she’s a black sheep in the family. Her mother didn’t follow the rules and marry a man cherry-picked for her by her father. My grandfather, the patriarch of the Bennett family before his untimely death, had always been clear about his expectations for the Bennett women. We are to marry men who will advance the family business or find our way out of the fold. Her mother found her way out, but sneaky April still has inside connections. Without her, I’d be flying blind while trying to hide.

“I’ve checked his stats, Finchley. He’s not going anywhere, not anytime soon. Do yourself a favor and stop acting like you hate him. I keep telling you, there is no way that man left you without a very compelling reason.”

“Yeah, like he was afraid of my father. He’s no different from other men, April. And anyway, the point is that I don’t want to be found.”

She sighs but I know she’s not done doing her best to heal a broken relationship. I don’t know why she bothers. Aiden Doyle was lost to me years ago, and I feel sure he never looked back.

“Fine. Don’t tell him, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. This is not going to end how you want it to. You can’t lie to people and expect them to care about you.”

“I don’t have a choice. You know that.”

She’s quiet again. “I know. You’re good for now. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

“Thanks. Talk soon?”

“You know it. Love you, Finchley.”

“Love you, too, April.”

I hang up and try to focus on my work, but I can’t. Aiden takes over my mind the same way he has every day since the day I met him. I can’t escape him, either, and deep down I know April is right. I’m truly fooling myself if I believe I came to Denver just for a job. I came for safety. Security. For the one person who might be able to help me when things go wrong all over again. And they will. They always do.

I’m going to have to tell him. I just have to figure out how.