Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
JAVEY
"So, we're doing this?" I kept an eye on Sinclair, who was playing pool with Elenna and Wren.
Elenna was beating them both, like she always did, while looking as though she didn't understand the game at all.
I knew better than to play against her. Or bet against her.
She was a better actor than I was. Most of us had cottoned on to her by now, but her friends humoured her.
It was worth it to see her take money from opposition players when they came to drink at Hazards after a game.
I saw it a handful of times now, including tonight.
The Koalas' power forward stood back a bit. He still looked smug, even as the realisation he'd been taken slowly sank in. He wasn't giving up without a fight. Guys like him never did.
He'd lose this game, the women would suggest double or nothing. He'd accept. None of us would say a thing. If he wanted to be a dumbass and lose his money, that was up to him, he had plenty to spare.
"This could be several things," Coast pointed out. "Care to elaborate on which one you're referring to?" He toasted me with his glass of water before taking a sip. None of us were going to drink to excess tonight. Not after what happened the last time.
I responded by jerking my head to the side, to indicate the second string players at the table beside ours.
Two of them were on Aidan's list. The third was Bray, who seemed a decent enough guy to me.
The fact he was sitting with the others made me suspicious, but if he wasn't on the list, then I'd focus on his companions.
"No time like the present," Coast said. After a moment he added, "Don't take anything I'm about to say personally."
I snorted as though I'd give a shit about anything he might throw at me. I had much thicker skin than that. Thicker, I suspected, than his.
"Don't make Javey cry," Phoenix teased.
Coast laughed like that was actually funny.
I gave them both a 'fuck you' look. As if they could make me cry. I'd sooner make them bleed.
Coast propped his elbow on the table and rested his cheek on his palm.
"The fact is, I don't think you're good enough to play first string.
" He said it loud enough to be heard at the table over.
"Ice hockey is a growing sport here in Australia.
I understand when they signed you, they couldn't do any better.
Now they can. They have the money to hire people from the US and Canada.
It's only a matter of time before they tear up your contract, and you're done with the Demons. "
I didn't suppress the flare of anger at his words, even knowing they were bullshit. They'd be crap even if he meant them. I was better than that. We all knew it.
"You can talk," I snarled. "The reason we've been losing so badly for so long is mostly because of you."
I turned to Phoenix. "And you. You couldn't stop a goal in your sleep before Aidan got his hands on you. And Tom." The goaltender coach was new too.
"Yeah, he was pretty fucking hopeless," Coast agreed. "I did all that work, keeping the biscuit away as best I could. If it got anywhere near him, that bitch went right in the basket."
Phoenix flipped him off. "If that's your idea of the best you could, then you need to try fucking harder.
Maybe you should have taken up figure skating instead of ice hockey.
You might do better with a tutu, doing a pretty dance, than trying to handle a stick that isn't in your pants.
" He raised his arms and mimed a dance move in his seat.
We might have done too well at flinging insults at each other. People at the other tables were starting to listen and stare. That was the point, but this was getting too personal.
"I'd look better in a tutu than you would," Coast retorted. "I could out dance you any day of the week." He pointed a finger gun at Phoenix. "In fact, I'm prepared to put my money where my mouth is. I challenge you to a dance-off, on the ice."
Phoenix leaned forward. "You're on. I'm going to whip your fucking ass."
"You're both a pair of idiots," I told them. "But I'll be there to watch your dance-off. You should be encouraged to find a career once the Demons realise how badly you both suck."
"If that's the case, you should join us," Coast said. "Because you suck way more than I do. "
I caught Phoenix's swallow on hearing Coast say 'suck.' That was a subject we hadn't discussed yet. That and our relationship with Sinclair. Or maybe they had and didn't include me.
I glanced over to see her watching us, a slight furrow of worry in her brow. She must have overheard part of the 'argument' as well.
I turned back to Coast. "You suck so hard, you don't even know how much you suck."
Yeah, I was deliberately stirring up Phoenix, as I was insulting Coast. He really needed to tell the centre what he was feeling. If I had to provoke him to get him to do that, then I would. He could thank me for it later.
"You can fuck all the way off," Coast told me. "Maybe you should go and see if the Koalas need a winger. They're more used to losing than we are."
"That's bullshit," Phoenix said. "No one is more used to losing than we are. It's practically our motto."
"You might be used to it, but I'm not," Coast said. He paused and frowned. "What the fuck am I doing sitting with a pair of losers like you anyway?" He picked up his half empty water, slipped off his stool and stalked away.
"I was just going to say the same thing." I picked up my own glass, gave Phoenix a quick glance and stepped away from the table.
"Fuck you too," Phoenix growled behind me.
His tone shouldn't have sounded hot. Yeah, he might not be the only one with unresolved feelings.
"Hey," Bray called out. "You okay, Jav?" He waved me over.
Pretending to be reluctant, I stepped up to the table and stood in the empty space between two stools.
I shrugged. "I'm okay. I should know better than to listen to those assholes."
"I'm surprised they know one end of the stick from the other." Tank lived up to his nickname, being both wide and tall. He was one hell of a goalie, if not quite in Phoenix's league. Being so big, not a lot got past him. Any bigger and he could stand there, blocking the basket.
In spite of what I said to Phoenix, he had skills Tank was still developing. Our losing streak was because of all of us, not just him, and not just Coast. I was equally to blame, but not more so.
If they actually thought that, they could fuck all the way off. If I didn't know the argument was bullshit, I could have let it get right under my skin.
"They only know which end of the stick is which, because of where the cum comes out when they play with it," I said.
Tank laughed. He did that like he did everything else, big. Loud.
The defenceman sitting beside him, BJ, gave him a look, but chuckled. "That sounds about right. They both think a lot of themselves. They can't do anything we can't."
If he really thought that, he needed a reality check, but I nodded like I agreed with him.
"There's only one reason you're not on the first string." I glanced towards Elenna, as somehow she influenced Aidan to place Orion in a spot BJ deserved. If BJ actually believed that, he was a bigger idiot than I thought he was.
Elenna would never try to get one of her boyfriends into a position they didn't deserve. Aidan wouldn't listen to her anyway, not in this. And Orion deserved his position more than most. He was a prickly prick, but he was a fucking good hockey player. One of the best I've ever seen.
BJ grunted. "Some people will do anything for pussy."
I couldn't stop my gaze from sliding over to Sinclair, and then down to her pussy. I'd do anything for her and hers. The fact I was here, talking to these guys, was proof of that.
At face value, they seemed harmless enough, but Aidan's list suggested otherwise. If Tank and BJ were up to anything, the last place I wanted to be was here. But if they were working against us and planning something that might get Sinclair hurt, then this was a sacrifice I'd make.
"Right?" Tank said. "I mean, she's cute and all, but if we lose because of her tits, that fucking sucks for all of us."
"To be fair, it's Aidan's decision," Bray said. "Some of us know how to say no." His own gaze lingered on Wren. Weren't they related? Whatever, that was their business.
"Is he one of them?" I asked. "You're right though, the problem is with him, not Elenna. He's the one who keeps Orion, Coast and Phoenix where they are."
"Some might suggest he's the problem." BJ looked at me mildly.
"They might," I said, just as mild. "There's not much we can do about it though. He's head coach, we're not."
"Who would be head coach if he's gone?" Tank scratched the side of his head with his massive hand. He and BJ seemed to be insinuating something.
"They might promote Lex Stone," I said, with a shrug. "Or bring in someone from the outside." Replacing Aidan would be bad for the team and for us personally.
Bray looked like he was here for the conversation, but I could be misreading him. I didn't think so, though. His brow was furrowed, like he didn't like what he heard.
"They'd be hard pressed to find someone as good as Aidan," he said uncomfortably.
Tank shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know about that. Don't get me wrong, he's okay as a coach."
"But not okay, in what way?" Bray didn't seem like he wanted to know the answer.
Tank and BJ exchanged glances.
Yeah, whatever was going on, they were both in it up to their eyeballs. They weren't sure if they could trust us.
"I've heard he's into some shifty things," I volunteered. "The same shifty things Coast and Phoenix are into."
BJ leaned forward eagerly. "You were sitting with them, what did they say?"
"The usual bullshit," I said with half a shrug.
"They suggested I help them on some job for Caleb.
When I said no, they got all pissed off.
You heard the rest. Coast was telling me I should help them because clearly my career as a hockey player is not going to last much longer. Apparently Caleb pays well."
There was that glance between BJ and Tank again. I almost missed it because Bray spoke.
"Caleb does pay well, if you don't mind leaving your morals at the door." He smiled lopsidedly.
"Some people don't have morals to begin with," I remarked. I looked pointedly where Coast was apparently trying to teach Sinclair to play pool against Elenna. He had his arm around her, his groin against her ass. She laughed at something he said.
I resisted the temptation to grab the pool cue and beat him over the head with it. If I was going to be with Sinclair, I was going to have to deal with my jealousy. Still, watching the other guys touch her was difficult.
"You can say that again," Tank said. "Anyway, I'm done here for the night. I'll see you guys tomorrow for practice." He gave us a nod, slipped off his stool and stepped away.
"Me too," BJ followed him a moment later.
Neither player spoke to each other. They slipped out the door a minute or two apart.
I wouldn't bet on anyone beating Elenna, but I would bet on those two meeting up outside and planning something.