Chapter 10
Cash
Like the pre-game suit?
Princess
Wow! You should let me pick out your suit more often
I only needed help because the dry cleaner lost my regular shirt that I always wear with this suit and didn’t want to clash
Sure, Cash, whatever you say
Such a mouth on you
You like it
I never said I didn’t
How do I look? lt;lt;picture in my jersey heregt;gt;
My number has never looked so good
I figured it’d be good luck for tonight’s game for you
I like seeing you in my jersey lt;lt;sly face emojigt;.
Are you flirting with me?
I must not be doing a good job if you’re asking me that
Maybe you should do it more often
What the Princess wants, the Princess gets
Then how about a hat trick tonight?
You know it’s hard for a defenseman to get one, right?
Surprise me then
I’ll do what I can
“You’ve been grinning like an idiot all warm-up. What’s with you?” Troy and Noah are standing in front of me.
“What’s it to you guys?”
Noah waves a hand in front of me. I’ve never really noticed how much he and Piper look alike. They have the same easy smile that never seems to leave their face.
“Because you never smile this much,” Troy tells me. “Is it because you’re dating Piper?”
“I still can’t believe you’re dating Piper,” Noah says. “She said she wouldn’t date another player after Duncan.”
Fuck. I never thought of having to win over her brother when Cassie concocted this crazy plan of hers.
“Well, she is.”
“I don’t know how you won her over,” Nick says.
“What’s with the twenty questions?” I grab my stick of deodorant and swipe on a liberal amount. Does he really have to bring this up before the game?
“Don’t you know they’re in love?” Duncan sneers from his locker across the room.
“Fuck off, Douche.”
“I thought you were better than my sloppy seconds, Willy, but I guess not.”
“You—”
I make to go after him, but Noah stops me in my tracks.
“Leave it be.”
“Are you really going to let him talk about your sister like that?”
I flex my fingers and close them into a fist. What I wouldn’t give to punch him across the face. Wipe that ever-present grin off his mouth.
“And risk getting suspended? He’s not worth it.”
“Fuck. Isn’t Piper though?”
Noah shakes his head again. “She would tell you no too. You don’t want to risk your spot on the team. Right?”
If Troy wasn’t already captain, I’d say Noah was gunning for his position. He always knows exactly what to say to anyone on the team. His words deflate the balloon that expanded in my chest.
“I hate that he gets away with that shit.”
I pull my gear on over my head and finish off with the navy and light-blue jersey. Of course Duncan stirs this shit up right before a game.
“I learned a long time ago that getting into fights isn’t worth it. And Piper doesn’t want you doing it either.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because one of my teammates in college was hitting on her when she was still in high school. I lost my shit on him and almost got benched before a big-time scout was coming to see me play.”
“What happened?” I twist the bandage around my fingers, taping them up.
“Piper went and told my coach what happened and the other guy got benched.”
I snort out a laugh. “Of course she did.” Because that sounds exactly like something Piper would do.
“See?” Noah slaps me on the shoulder. “She doesn’t need us protecting her.”
“I guess not,” I grumble. I still wouldn’t mind seeing someone take Duncan down a peg or two. Maybe a dozen, if I’m being honest.
“Does this mean you’re bringing Piper to the team Thanksgiving dinner?” Troy asks.
“Say what now?”
“The annual team dinner before the holidays. You have to bring her.”
I completely forgot about it. Because our schedule is crazy and we’re starting a road trip the day before Thanksgiving, the team organizes a big dinner with the players and their families before we leave.
Bexley Hart, the team owner’s daughter, loves putting it on. I usually never go because it’s only me.
And it’d be pathetic to go on my own.
“I guess I am.”
“Good.” Noah is grinning like an idiot. “I can’t wait to give her so much shit about this.”
“Really, Strawberry?”
Noah groans at his nickname. The first day of practice, he walked in with a strawberry smoothie and somehow managed to drop the whole thing all over him. The name has stuck ever since.
“Yes. What good is having a little sister if you can’t give her crap about who she’s dating?”
Troy laughs. “My sister would kick my ass if I did that.”
“Because she plays for the national team.”
I don’t know how Troy and his stepsister are both so gifted with hockey, but they are. It’s one badass family.
“Cut the chitchat, gentlemen. It’s time to get started,” Coach Cooper barks at us.
“What’s crawled up his ass lately?” I mutter.
“Don’t get me started,” Nick tells me. “He’s been all over Piper and PT. Thinks she doesn’t know a thing.”
“Piper? She wouldn’t be here if she didn’t,” I defend her.
“Hey, you don’t have to tell me.”
Coach Barney calls everyone’s attention to him as we get ready for the game. About as easy of a win as they come by.
A 3-1 win over Detroit. The best way to head into the long holiday weekend.
“Thanksgiving before Thanksgiving?”Piper asks me as we head into the arena.
“We’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning to play Arizona. We have to celebrate sometime.”
“I think it’s nice the team does this.”
Piper is looking as gorgeous as ever in a nice pair of black pants and a light-blue turtleneck sweater. Representing the Black Diamonds in a small way.
“I’ve never come.”
“You haven’t?”
“I’ve never wanted to leave Puck alone.”
It’s the lie I always tell, rather than that I don’t have a family to bring with me. It’s not something I want to tell people.
“I’m sure he could manage for a few hours.”
I hold the door open for Piper as she brushes by me.
“You tell his cute little face no. It’s harder than it looks.”
Piper shakes her head. “That will not be me. He loves me.”
“See? Not so easy.”
By the time we get to the family suite, the place is packed. Most of the team is already here. Kids are running around, shouting as balloons are given to each of them. A paper turkey decorating station is set up in one corner and a bartender in another.
“Wow. They pull out all the stops.”
Chafing dishes are set out with every kind of Thanksgiving food you could ask for. Turkey. Mashed potatoes. All different kinds of corn. Rolls. Vegetables. Pies. Cookies.
My mouth is watering just looking at it.
“Cash. I’m glad you could join us.” Coach Barney comes up to the two of us. “And nice to see you outside of the arena, Piper. Well, in a more casual setting.”
“I’m glad I could come,” she tells him.
“Grab something to eat. The turkey is going fast.”
“Thanks, Coach.”
I shake his hand before guiding Piper to the buffet line.
“Angie!” Piper gives the woman in front of us a big hug. “I was hoping you’d be here.”
“I was going to text, but I got busy with work this week.”
Piper waves her off. “Don’t worry about it.”
The two of them start chatting away as Troy hands me a plate from the other side of the line. “When we told you to come, I thought you just said yes to get us off your back.”
“I’m a man of my word.” I take a small helping of turkey before piling on the sides.
Piper and Angie lead Troy and me to an empty table in the middle of the room.
“Do you have plans for real Thanksgiving?” Angie asks Piper.
“I’ll be at my mom and dad’s and we’ll watch the game. Now with two guys playing, I’ll have to keep an eye on them.” She winks from her spot next to me.
“I think my dads were talking about having everyone over,” Angie says.
“Any chance for all of them to get together.” Piper rolls her eyes. “Do they not know they don’t have to have an excuse?”
Troy laughs. “We’re men, Piper. We always need one.”
Angie pats Troy on the arm. “Says the guy who is always coming up with a reason to hang out with them.”
“It’s a shame it’s not a home game. My dad would love to finally meet you, Cash,” Piper tells me.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Willy, you look scared shitless. He’s not that bad,” Troy tells him.
“He doesn’t bite,” Piper says.
“Unless you’re dating his daughter,” I mutter, stuffing a forkful of mashed potatoes and turkey into my mouth.
I know Piper is playing this up, but even the thought of meeting her family scares me. I’m not the kind of guy you bring home to meet the parents. I never have been.
Parents take one look at the tattoos and permanent scowl on my face and assume I’m going to break their daughter’s heart. It was easier to never put myself in that situation.
Now doing it with Piper? Even if it’s fake?
It has me sweating over the possibility of it.
“We’re going to go make the rounds,” Angie tells us.
Piper waves after her. “We’ll try and meet up later.”
By the time my head’s back in the conversation, Troy and Angie are dumping their empty plates and heading off.
“Don’t lose sleep over it, Cash. They’ll love you,” Troy says so only I can hear just before he walks away.
“Sure thing.”
Piper grabs the two of us fresh drinks as we make our own rounds, running into people she knows from the physio room and some of the guys that I like on the team.
Thankfully, Duncan is not here. I wouldn’t have the energy to put up with him tonight.
“Donation?” Nick asks, coming up to the two of us.
“For what?” Piper asks.
“The food bank. Bexley makes a donation for the holiday season, but we’re getting the players to donate.”
“We?” Piper quirks a brow at him as she pulls a twenty from her purse and drops it in the jar.
I pull out a small handful of bills and push them in.
“The Black Diamonds.”
He’s off to the next grouping of people before we can question him further.
Nick works his way through the crowd as a mic gets tapped, and we see Coach Barney has taken the mic from the DJ.
“I’d like to say a few words before we wrap up tonight. We’ve had a great start to the season, and while I’m thankful for that, I’m mostly thankful for the great group of men we have in this room. We have some new guys here that we’re sharing this tradition with. I know we all have lives outside of the rink?—”
“We do?” someone yells from the back.
“I get it, I get it.” Coach laughs. “But I want to thank the families for sharing their husbands and partners with us. It’s not easy what we do. We’re gone for long stretches, often missing birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. So thank you for giving them to us so we can all play the game we love.”
“You can have them longer if you need!” a wife pipes up from somewhere.
Laughter breaks out among the wives.
“Sorry. It’s time for you to have them back. If you’re a Black Diamond, time for curfew.”
Everyone breaks out into laughter at Coach’s final words.
It has its intended effect, breaking up the party. Guys start gathering kids and heading out.
“We’ll catch a drink this week,” Angie tells Piper. “Nice seeing you, Cash.”
“You too.”
The drive back to Piper’s place is quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts.
Tonight was fun. Something I didn’t think I’d have.
Piper fits in easily with these people. Too easily.
I’ve been alone for so long; I don’t know how to bring someone into my life. I made room for Puck because the team hosted an adoption event a few years ago. I couldn’t say no to his face.
“Thanks for a great night, Cash.”
“Night, Princess.