Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Talia
Lucien swipes a hand across his mouth, wiping away the blood running from his nose. I haven’t been able to look away from this game since I got to my dad’s house and turned it on.
The first minute Lucien and Kyle were on the ice at the same time, Lucien was chirping at him. He’s been relentless, flying toward Kyle every time he starts a shift. He’s in the penalty box for the third time tonight, and every fight has been against Kyle.
I shouldn’t like it, but I do. It feels damn good to see Lucien pounding on my horrible ex. Kyle’s a little shorter than Lucien’s six foot two, but he’s much leaner. Lucien is dominating him.
D-men don’t usually have lightning-fast reflexes, but Lucien does. He bobs and weaves like a boxer. He’s fast and fearless. I’ve never seen anyone take the punches he can without reacting.
“Beaumont seems to be trying to get thrown out of this game,” one of the TV announcers says.
“This is what he brings to his team, John,” the other one says. “He calls it Loki energy. Beaumont is like a plane nose-diving into the opponents’ offense.”
They think this is just Lucien being Lucien. I would’ve thought the same if he hadn’t made that last comment to me about enjoying the game.
He’s doing this for me. I never want to be involved with a hockey player again, because once was more than enough. But it’s sexy as hell that Lucien is trying to make me feel better. Taking body shots and actually bleeding over me.
Kyle had to go to the locker room after that last fight—probably to get stitched up. The game is tied 2–2, and even though I’ve seen my dad yelling at him when the camera cuts to the bench, Lucien is on a mission.
When they show a view of him sitting in the penalty box, it feels like he’s looking right at me.
You’re a beautiful, strong woman.
No one but my parents has ever called me beautiful. Kyle and I were both drunk the first time we slept together, and we just kind of kept doing it. I never felt like we fell in love exactly; we just became close friends who also fucked. There was no wooing.
When Lucien wiped my tear away earlier, I got a flutter. I didn’t want anyone to see me crying over Kyle, but he made me feel like it was okay. Understandable.
This morning, my dad asked me if I wanted to stay home today. He didn’t even have to say why he was asking—we both knew. I didn’t want him to know I was bothered by the thought of seeing Kyle, so I told him I wanted to go.
I like my new routine of helping him and his team out. I assist Melina, stretch Lucien before and sometimes after games, and help Marco in the kitchen when he lets me.
He taught me how to make an omelet, and now I make them for my dad and me all the time. It feels good to be great at something, even if it’s something small and simple like making an omelet.
On a commercial break, I walk into the kitchen and grab a snack. Pistachios, because there’s not much junk food here. We grab ice cream from a local place a couple times a week, though. Dad’s not against junk, he’s just not home much to need groceries.
When I’m back on the couch, a comfy blanket on my lap and the game back on, a text comes in on my phone.
Audra: I heard you’re living with Dad now. That’s great.
My heart pounds as I read the message a second time. Is she being passive-aggressive? I can’t tell. She might be at the arena right now, watching the game.
We used to be close. We talked several times a week and met up for brunch every Sunday. I often wonder which brunch it was that I sat across from her, happily chattering and sipping a mimosa, while she knew she’d just fucked my boyfriend.
It had been going on “for a while”, Kyle said when he told me about him and Audra the night he broke things off with me. He didn’t believe in marriage, he reminded me, and he’d changed his mind about being tied down to just one woman.
Three months later, he and Audra announced their engagement. That cut me even deeper than the cheating. I was with him for two years and he said he was adamantly opposed to marriage the whole time.
Guess he was only opposed to marrying me. I know I’m better off without him, but it still hurts. If it had been anyone but Audra, it wouldn’t have been so completely crushing.
I put my phone face down on the couch cushion next to me, returning my attention to the game. I haven’t responded to any of Audra’s texts since I confronted her about Kyle, and I don’t plan to start now.
I made a fool of myself that day. I went into her apartment full of rage, planning to unleash my fury on her. That didn’t last long, though. I ended up bawling my eyes out and asking her why. And how. And where.
She flinched, like the questions were hurting her. Such irony. I don’t hate her, but a betrayal like that isn’t something I can overlook. My therapist told me I should forgive her for me, not for her, but I’m not ready.
Vancouver scores and I yell at the TV. I’ve always rooted for my dad’s teams, but now that I’ve gotten to know his players better—especially one in particular—I’m fully invested in every game.
Lucien: Our outies should meet. Want to get lunch and watch our show?
I smile as I read the text. I’d love to say yes, but I can’t.
“This color will be fabulous on you,” Suki’s friend Mara says, holding up a sleeveless blue dress on a hanger.
“Okay, I’ll try it on,” I say as I type out a reply.
Talia: I’m shopping with Suki and Mara. Then we’re getting manicures and going to a sushi place. Raincheck?
Three dots appear on my screen as he replies.
Lucien: Definitely. Have fun.
“Nothing says living your best life like red, though,” Suki says, holding another dress up.
Carter’s wife texted me this morning and asked if I wanted to join her and her friend for the day.
My dad practically begged me to go, shoving his credit card into my bag and shooing me out the door.
I was groggy after a late night of watching two episodes of our show while texting Lucien about it, but after an iced coffee, I’m wide awake and having a great time.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” I say, sighing.
“What, find a dress?” Mara asks. “We’ve got you, girl.”
“No, the wedding. I don’t want to go. Why should I force myself to go just because I care what they think? It’s not just one afternoon, it’s three full days. Trapped on an island with them.”
Suki pauses from scanning the dress racks at the Nordstrom we’re at, looking at me.
“You don’t have to go. I couldn’t smile through that bullshit.”
Mara hums her disapproval. “I’d spend my last dollar getting my hair and nails done and show up there with the hottest man I could find. I wouldn’t stop smiling once the entire three days. Does that make me petty?”
“Well, along with every other thought you’ve ever had, yes,” Suki says, returning to the rack.
I like them both a lot. From the time they picked me up from my dad’s house, they’ve treated me like a longtime friend. When Mara said she needed to go dress shopping, I told her I did, too, and when I told them why, they were blown away.
“Okay, hear me out.” Mara holds up a short, strapless ivory dress. “You get your tan on and wear this little number.”
Suki grins her agreement. “Yes, girl. I mean, not just the fuck you I’m wearing white part, but the dress itself. That fabric is delicious.”
“Delicious on a Kardashian, but I can’t pull that off,” I say.
Mara pulls her brows together. “Of course you can. Your boobs will look amazing. At least try it on.”
“How much is it?”
“I’ll buy it for you,” Suki says, waving a hand.
She’s so freaking sweet. I give her an appreciative look. “No, my dad said to spend as much as I want. I was just looking for an excuse to wear a tarp instead.”
Mara barks out a laugh. “Text your dad right now and ask him to adopt me.” She comes over and holds the dress up to me.
Suki inhales sharply. “Yes. It’s divine.”
“I don’t even know if I’m going,” I protest.
Mara arches a brow. “If you don’t, you’ll have a fabulous dress in your closet for another time.”
“I’m thinking strappy gold shoes,” Suki says. “Are you going solo or with a date?”
I sigh softly. “Solo.”
Mara shakes her head. “No, you’re not. You need an emotional support fuckboy. I’ll ask Leo which of his teammates is single and we’ll tell you which one is the most tolerable.”
“He has to be hot, too, though,” Suki says.
“True.”
I pick up a flowered, floor-length dress, holding it up. “What about—”
“No.” Mara vetoes it after a glance, then looks back to Suki. “Crawford?”
Suki wrinkles her nose. “Well, he’s single ...” She considers. “What about Lucien?”
Mara lights up. “Yes. He’s a good guy, right?”
“Carter’s never said anything bad about him. And he’s free during the break.”
The wedding is during the pro hockey all-star break in February. Kyle knew when they set the date that he wouldn’t be a contender for the all-star team.
“I can’t believe they snubbed Lucien,” I say. “He should have made the team.”
Mara gives me a mischievous smile. “So comfort him. Ride him so hard you can’t walk straight at the wedding.”
My cheeks heat as I try to laugh the idea off. “I hardly even know him. And I’m sure he already has plans for the break.”
“Ask him,” Suki says.
I shake my head. “You guys, I don’t know if I’m even going.”
“Okay, forget about that for now and try these on,” Mara says.
I figured I should go up a dress size since my casual clothes fit tighter these days. Mara and Suki both have lean, perfect bodies. But I don’t want to be a baby, so I go into a fitting room and put on the red dress.
My boobs are like grapefruits. They fill the dress and then some. My waist is thicker than it used to be and my arms are bigger. I just want to put my leggings and baggy hoodie back on.
“Let’s see, Talia,” Suki says.
I groan. “Don’t make me.”
“Get out here, ho!” Mara barks.
The woman in the dressing room next to me gasps, shocked. I smile as I open the dressing room door, not stepping out but letting them see me in the dress.
“It’s so pretty on you,” Suki says.
“That one’s a definite yes,” Mara says. “You’re going to need more than one dress if this shitshow is three days long. Let’s see the white one.”
I give them a pleading look. “I can’t wear that.”
“This is just a try-on,” Suki says. “No commitment.”
I groan and close the dressing room door. I’ve never worn a strapless dress in my life, and it seems like a horrible idea to try one on for the first time when I look and feel like the Pillsbury Doughboy.
Let’s get this over with.
I take the red dress off and put the ivory one on, unable to zip it all the way in the back. When I open the door a crack and say, “It’s a no, it won’t zip all the way”, Suki and Mara push their way into the dressing room, which isn’t exactly huge.
“Let me try to zip it,” Suki says.
“You’ll break the zipper. I’m too fat for it.”
“Bullshit,” Mara says. “I’d pay so much money to have your boobs. I’d lube those babies up with oil every night for my man.”
The woman in the room next to us scoffs with disgust. Mara smirks.
I feel the zipper slide up, locking me into the formfitting dress.
“It’s so gorgeous on you,” Mara says.
I’m wearing my regular bra, so it looks weird. The sheer ivory material washes me out right now, but like Mara said, with a spray tan ...
“It’s not bad,” I say weakly.
“Not bad?” Suki gathers my hair at my neck and holds it up at the crown of my head. “You look like a queen. With a tan, your hair up, and some jewelry, every man’s jaw will drop when they see you.”
“I’ve gained some weight, though, and—”
“Well, it went to all the right places,” Mara says. “This is the dress and Lucien is the guy.”
I crinkle my brow. “Okay, I’ll get the dress, but I still don’t know if I’m even going. Don’t say anything to Carter and Leo, okay?”
“We’d never do that to you,” Suki promises. “Do you want to try on the blue dress, too?”
I shake my head. “I’ll buy the red and white ones. Then let’s go check out the shoe section.”
Suki and Mara leave the dressing room and I glance in the mirror again. I don’t even look like myself in this dress. I look like Mara—a bold, confident woman who takes no shit.
I’m not, of course. But Kyle and Audra don’t have to know that. I just have to look like I’m thriving. And it would be a lot easier with a date.
I’d rather chew on broken glass than ask Lucien to be my pity date. Maybe I’ll just show up for the wedding and skip the rest of the festivities.
Yes, I can show up for the ceremony and then return to the comfort of my room at my dad’s. I’ll spend the rest of the break with my dear friend Little Debbie.