7. Nash
CHAPTER 7
NASH
“Remember this,” Coach says from his traditional spot in our locker room, his smile reaching his eyes after a hell of a win against Tampa Bay Lightning. He points to the floor to indicate the whole room. “Remember this feeling.” He moves that hand to his chest. “Focus on it. Meditate on it. Manifest it.” He nods, glancing around the locker room. “You earned this win. Fought and sweat and bled for it!” He points to Baylor, who is indeed bleeding from a cut above his eyebrow. I swear my friend is built like a brick house, but he’s constantly getting injured. “Who are we?”
“Bangor!” everyone shouts in answer, feeding off of Coach’s energy.
“What are we?”
“Badgers!”
“Heck yeah!” He fist-bumps the air, and I laugh at his goofy dad-like enthusiasm.
We won, and it feels fucking great .
For the first time in three years, I feel like our team is coming together as a unit, one that can’t be discredited any longer. Our new owner changed the game, and helped me remember why I love playing in the first place.
Coach waves us off, and we hit the showers. I make it quick, and I’m back at my locker getting dressed within ten minutes. I have a scheduled post-game interview to hit in the media room and I can’t be late.
I hurry into the room, Coach waving me in as I nod to the dozen or so reports waiting. I hurry behind the podium, prepared to answer questions about tonight’s game.
“Coming off tonight’s win,” the first reporter asks. “Do you think the Badgers have a shot of making the playoffs this year.”
“I think we have a shot every single year,” I say, putting on my best public smile, the one that doesn’t make me look ridiculous on camera. “I always maintain that mindset,” I elaborate. “Of course, I know the logistics. We have to win to make it there, and tonight’s win certainly means we’re on the right track.”
Another reporter raises their hand, and I focus on them. “Do you think the recent addition of playmaker Lawson Wolfe is the change the team needed? Or is there more at play with the difference in the way the team looks this season versus last?”
I laugh. “Wolfe is a powerhouse addition, there’s no denying that,” I say, knowing I’ll catch shit for that admission later. “But he’s not the only factor this season. The entire Badgers team was re-structured, right down to the owner. Add to that a new skate coach and other specialists, and it’s made a real difference in how we operate as a team.”
“So it’s safe to say you’re enjoying the new team vibes?” the reporter continues.
“Yes,” I answer honestly. “We’ve got a great thing going, and I have a feeling it’s going to take us further than ever before.”
I nod to another reporter, who stands. “In the spirit of it being Valentine’s Day and all,” she says, grinning. “Reporters have spotted you with the same companion half a dozen times in the last two months and the Badgers’ social media page is heating up with evidence of that too. Do you have big plans for your new flame tonight?”
My real smile comes out before I can school it, and I do my best to just go with it. I can’t help it. Any mention of Reese has me acting like a love-struck teenager.
“I’m not going to lie,” I say, laughing softly. “I’m out of my depth when it comes to relationships. You all know that because you’ve loved writing about it for the past three years.” That earns me a laugh from the crowd. “But yes,” I continue. “I have something big planned for her. I just hope she likes it.”
I answer a few more questions before turning it over to Coach and heading back to the locker room.
“Where are you taking Blakely tonight, Wolfe?” I hear Pax ask as I make my way back to my locker to pick up my stuff.
Lawson and him are finished getting dressed and packing up their things.
Lawson grins, that totally-in-love look practically making him glow. “I hired a private chef,” he says, shoving gear in his bag. “He’s top rated, she’s going to flip.”
“Nice,” I say, nodding. Had to give the guy credit for planning a big night for them.
“What about you, Pax?” Lawson asks.
“I didn’t plan anything for me and Blakely,” he says, grinning.
“I meant you and Monroe,” he says, and I swear Pax’s smile melts so fast it breaks my heart.
He shakes his head. “She’s just a friend,” he says. “Plus, she has a date tonight.”
“What?” I ask, eyes widening. “With who?”
“One of the rookies. Madden, I think,” he says, not at all convincing us that he doesn’t remember the dude’s name.
“Liam?” Lawson asks.
I furrow my brow. “She’s going on a date with Liam Madden?”
“Yeah,” he says, looking between us. “It’s not a big deal.”
“He’s a douchebag,” I say, shaking my head. “Did you warn her?”
“Of course I warned her,” he snaps, then raises his hand in apology as he takes a breath. “I did. But, I don’t know, I guess he’s really nice to her during their sessions.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” Lawson says, rolling his eyes.
“Again, not a big deal.”
Lawson and I share a look, nothing but empathy for him. He’ll never admit how much he cares about her, but we can see it. I’ve seen it every day for the entire time I’ve known him. I wish I could help him, but he’s the one standing in his own way.
“What about you, Nash?” Pax asks, throwing the attention on me. “You and Reese doing some more pretend dates? Or have you finally made things official?”
Lava fills my veins at the mention of Reese. I haven’t been able to get her taste or scent out of my head since that night in Anaheim two weeks ago.
Two weeks of walking around fantasizing about the sexiest, smartest, most infuriating woman I’ve ever met.
Two weeks of regretting not just grabbing her hand after Clay interrupted us in that suite and taking her down to the lobby to get our own room and finish what we’d started.
But it wasn’t about me.
Still isn’t.
She deserves to be treated like a queen because it’s painfully evident she never has been before.
“Yeah, how long has that been going on now?” Lawson asks before I can answer. “A month?”
“Six weeks,” I correct him, and they both raise their brows at me, ridiculous grins on their faces. “Yeah, I counted. Fuck off.”
They both laugh.
“So, what are you faking tonight?” Lawson asks.
“I’m not telling you two,” I say. “One of you will let it slip to one of your girls in the next ten minutes and ruin the surprise for Reese.”
“She’s not my girl,” Pax says.
“A surprise for Reese,” Lawson says. “You sure this is all pretend?”
No.
I’m not sure of anything anymore.
Reese and I’s relationship has shifted, the once fiery arguments turning into playful, friendly banter—like last week when she tried to convince me boneless wings were superior to traditional. There’s an intense connection I can’t deny.
And it’s not just physical, even though that department is off the charts.
God, the way she’d melted against my touch. The way she’d looked all splayed out on that bed while I dipped my head between her thighs. I couldn’t fucking wait to take that dive again, but we’d been ruthlessly busy with practices and games, and she’d been even busier with content creation for the team these past couple weeks.
Tonight, we were finally getting some time to spend together, and I couldn’t deny how excited I was. I’d planned this date three weeks ago.
And I never planned dates. Usually because anyone I spent time with only wanted dinner or a tour of my bedroom. And I’d been fine with that because it was a mutual, stringless thing.
But now…
Now I didn’t know what to do about the way I was feeling.
“It’s…complicated,” I finally answer, not wanting to cheapen whatever is going on with Reese. “In the beginning, yes. I thought this would be nothing but fun and beneficial for us both.”
“And isn’t it?” Pax asks. “You’re in the works with Liquid IV for a contract, right?”
“Yes,” I say, pride and gratitude flowing through me. Once the ink is signed on that deal, I’ll be able to wipe out more than a third of my father’s medical debt. One more deal like that and I can set them up to retire completely. “Just ironing out the details. My agent says I should be good to sign tomorrow.”
“Hell yeah!” Baylor says as he walks by, high fiving me before heading to his locker. “My agent has been getting calls too,” he says, inserting himself into the conversation like he’d been there the whole time. Had to love that about Baylor, who I’d been friends with as long as Pax, he never needed much invitation to be supportive. A team-player through and through.
“Nice,” I say, nodding at him. “I hope Elise locks some deals down for you.”
“Same,” he says, something serious flashing over his face for a few seconds. “Have fun tonight,” he says after gathering his gear before he heads out.
“That’s awesome, man,” Pax says to me, circling back to our convo before Baylor walked by. “Congrats.”
“Thanks,” I say as we grab our bags and head out the door. The chilly February air hits my skin the second we make it to the player’s lot. “More deals are coming,” I say. “Reese is doing her best to highlight and profile every Badger on the team. It’s only a matter of time.”
They both nod at me, and I’m happy to be saying that with confidence. Thanks to Reese—and one viral video we both helped create—the Bangor Badgers are in the limelight with tons of new followers who are completely new to hockey. Big industry execs have noticed and are doing what they do best—capitalizing off of it. Which I’m all for because the more they want us, the more deals we all get.
“Have fun tonight,” Lawson says as he makes it to his car.
“I’m crashing,” Pax says. “After I devour a pizza.”
A pang of sympathy hits me in the chest, but I smile at him. “Wild night.”
“You know it,” Pax says, getting into his car while Lawson and I linger outside of ours.
“Poor guy,” Lawson says as he drives off.
“Yeah, but he’s a big boy,” I say. “If he wanted something different, he’d make it happen.”
“That’s true,” Lawson says, then stands up a little straighter as Clay walks by, heading to his car. “What are you doing for V-Day, Captain? One or two lucky ladies joining you at your waterfront property?” he asks, and I cringe, shaking my head. Lawson loves to goad Clay even when our captain is the last person he should want to tease.
Clay looks at Lawson like he wants to punch him in the throat, then breathes through it. “I’m taking my niece to see Wicked at the Penobscot.”
“Awww,” Lawson says in a sing-song voice. “That’s adorable.”
“Fuck off, Wolfe,” Clay says, flipping Lawson off before getting into his car.
“I’m his favorite,” Lawson says, getting into his car. “Stay safe tonight.”
“Same to you,” I say before we go our separate ways.