Brooks
D inner is… awkward.
Yeah, it’s like I’m in a bad episode of The Bachelorette.
Don’t say it… I know but shit’s good and if you ever mention to anyone that I watch it, I’ll deny it till the day I die.
However, besides the fact that I like watching The Bachelorette, dinner is exactly like that.
You know the hometown episodes where the guy is supposed to meet the girl’s family to get their approval, yet the family has no intention of approving the guy and brings said girl’s ex to the party to rekindle.
Yeah… that show, except it isn’t her family, it’s our boss.
When Hayley leaves me to discuss something with Mr. Richards, I just about shit a brick.
Yeah, sure I play it cool but knowing that Mr. Richards is probably in there threatening one of our jobs and not Coach Stevens for being inappropriate has put me on edge.
It isn’t until Hayley returns, and the dinner conversation flows with ease, that I let my guard relax a little.
After dinner, we all go our separate ways, Camden opts to hang in the resort kids club for a little. He’s building a bond with some of the kids whose dads play for the Skipjacks, so he’s been waiting for the opportunity to escape us.
“So, who is it that you wanted me to…”
A loud squeal from behind us pulls us out of our own little world, as my sister comes running over to me.
“Brooky!” She screeches while wrapping her arms around my neck, placing a kiss on my cheek. “So sorry I couldn’t make it earlier. Just with work and Everly, things got hectic.”
We pull apart and make our way to the table Hayley and I are sitting at. Hayley’s eyebrows raise in a curious gaze. Is that also a hint of jealousy showing? Regardless, the heated look in her eyes has me growing hard.
I pull out the chair next to me for Sydney to take a seat. “Sydney, this is Hayley. Hayley, this is Sydney, my…”
Hayley’s face is impassive, like she has a million thoughts running through her head about the woman who just jumped all over me.
“I’m Brooks’ sister,” Sydney interjects before I can say anything. “I’m guessing you’re Dr. Marshall, the woman my brother has complained about, yet failed to give me any details on,” she says, holding out her hand for Hayley to shake.
“Complained about?” Hayley says, relaxing a little.
Great, thanks for that, sis.
“It wasn’t really complaining. More like giving her a rundown on how you busted my balls the first few times I met with you. You know before this.”
Sydney’s eyes sparkle with mischief and curiosity. “And what is this?”
“Yeah, Brooks. What is this?” Hayley fires back with the same look.
Yeah… this isn’t gonna be good. I knew Hayley and Sydney would be too much alike and eventually gang up on me.
I smile, pulling Hayley’s hand into mine. “Well, from what I’ve gathered, you’re my girlfriend. Not just my doctor who seems to get pleasure busting my balls.”
“Is that so…”
“Yes.”
“God, you guys are too cute,” Sydney interrupts our intense staredown with one another. “She’s a hell of a spitfire just like you said. A much-needed upgrade if you ask me,” Sydney says, leaning in close to Hayley, basically shout whispering. “I can see were gonna be the best of friends.”
“Upgrade?” Hayley asks curiously as she takes a sip of the French 45 the server just delivered to her.
I shoot Sydney a warning look as she forms an ‘O’ with her mouth in understanding.
Leave it to my sister to drop a bomb like that.
I haven’t told Hayley much about my life back in Chicago and why I really left.
Just like Hayley, Tiffany left some big scars.
Ones not even Sydney knows the whole truth behind.
“I’ll explain later,” I say, trying to avoid the conversation I know I need to have at some point.
“So, anyhow…”
I don’t get to continue on as Halloway makes his way toward us.
“Hey, guys. Syd, it’s good to see you.”
Sydney smiles and stands to give him a hug. “You too pain in the ass. Why do you look like you’ve been moping?”
“No reason,” he deflects. “Have either of you seen Cassidy today?”
If there’s one thing I know about Channing Halloway, it’s that he has a thing for Cassidy. Since the day he started with the Skipjacks, he’s had eyes for her. I think they may have hooked up. Once. Okay, maybe twice, but she has mostly kept Halloway in the friend zone.
We both shake our heads. “No… sorry. Now that you mention it though, she snuck off right after we checked into the hotel,” Hayley says with a puzzled and concerned look.
“I wonder where she could have…” Halloway pauses, looking toward the entrance of the restaurant. “Son. Of. A. Bitch.”
We all turn our gazes in the direction he’s looking to see Cassidy wrapped up in the arms of one of the biggest douchebags in the league.
Vincent Burch. If I had to rank the top five biggest assholes in the league, it would go Mitchell Tremblay, Trey Polster, Boyce Cameron, Dwight Kane, then none other than Vincent Burch.
I shouldn’t be surprised to see him here though, considering that both Vincent and Boyce play for the Arizona Heat.
However, I just didn’t expect to see him with Cassidy. Intimately at that.
“Oh, there they are. Thank you, sir,” Cassidy says to the host before dragging Vincent along with her toward our table. “Hayley!” she screams, letting out a loud squeal as she comes closer. “I’m getting married!”
Cassidy flashes a huge-ass diamond ring on her finger at Hayley whose jaw drops at the sight of it. I glance toward Halloway whose spin has gone ramrod straight. I hate to say it, but he’s got it bad. I glance back at Hayley who’s still slack jaw by this.
“What… I mean how and to who?” She finally finds her words to speak.
Vincent wraps his arm around Cassidy’s side, pulling her close.
“You remember Vincent. We went to school with him.” Hayley’s face becomes impassive in a way.
“Well, last year, we reconnected during one of the road games and decided to go on a few dates. Well, dates turned into a long-distance relationship thing, and now I’m here. Engaged!”
I squeeze Hayley’s thigh, breaking her from some sort of trance she’s in. Does she and Vincent have a past? She closes her eyes before shaking her head in disbelief as silence fills the space.
“A year this has been going on, and you never said anything to me?” Hayley finally says, breaking the silence. “Is this where you’ve been disappearing to every time you have a ‘Vacation’ planned?”
Halloway slams his fist down on the table before scooting his chair back. “Excuse me,” he mutters before walking away, his fists clenched at his sides.
“Hayley, I know you have a lot of reservations about me. And I mean I can’t blame you because I’m friends with the person who caused the root of all your problems in life,” Vincent begins before Hayley cuts him off with the look of death.
“My son isn’t the root of all my problems. The bastard who abandoned us is.”
He nods in understanding before picking right back up where he left off.
“Right. I didn’t mean Camden was a problem.
I just meant, we’ve all grown up over the years, and Cassidy and I have this bond.
I love her, so I just hope one day we can get to a place that Cassidy and I are in.
I don’t mean love obviously, but friendship. ”
“You may be engaged to my best friend, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever accept you.
You’re just like him. You were my friend first, Vince; you were supposed to be there for me, not side with him.
So, forgive me for not trusting a single word you say,” Hayley says, standing from the table.
“Cassidy, I’m happy you’re happy, but I’m sorry I just can’t. ”
I stand to follow Hayley as she walks back toward her villa, Sydney at my side. “Miller, it’s good to see you. Hear you and Hayley are together. She’s a good girl, man. Treat her right.”
I stop in my tracks, turning in my spot to look him in the eye. A smug smirk playing at his lips. “And what concern is she to you?”
“Look, we were all friends, man, way back when. I was basically Hayley’s adopted brother. Regardless of whether she likes me or not, I’m going to look out for her. Plus, she’s Cassidy’s best friend, so it’s only right that I right my wrong from the past.”
“Whatever, man,” I say, shaking my head before walking away.
◆◆◆
Hayley was quiet last night after Cassidy dropped the bomb of the century.
I get it; she wants to be happy for her, but the fact the person Cassidy is in love with betrayed Hayley kills me.
To make the situation worse, Halloway woke up hungover from a binger in one of the resort’s bars.
He’s taking this news with Cassidy a lot harder than I thought he would.
He can’t be totally mad at Cassidy; he did this to himself.
I told him for years to tell her how he felt, but he allowed her to continue putting him in the friend zone.
I wrap my arms around Hayley and pull her close to me as we ride the team bus toward the arena. “Are you feeling okay today?”
“Yeah, just still a little hurt by it all. But if she’s happy, then I’m happy,” she says, looking at Cassidy, who is playing some hand game with Camden.
“Vince, Cassidy, and I used to be best friends, all through elementary school till our senior year of high school. I stopped talking to Vince when he sided with Cam’s sperm donor.
Cassidy did the same, but I guess the crush she had on him since kindergarten won. ”
“She’ll always have your back, Hayl. Yeah, sure. The guy’s one of the biggest assholes in the league but give him a chance.”
She leans her head on my shoulder as the bus pulls up in front of the arena.
Mr. Richards stands at the front of the bus to get everyone’s attention before allowing us to disembark.
“I know everyone is pumped for the game today and the feast we have planned for afterwards. However, I have to make you aware of a few things. As some of you may have noticed, Coach Stevens is no longer with us, nor is he affiliated with the organization any longer. Some things were brought to light yesterday, and I will not tolerate any physical, mental, or sexual abuse to any of our female employees. We have a strong sexual harassment policy here and if I find out that any employee or player violates it, then I will be forced to take corrective action.” He pauses, nodding toward Hayley, who is just as shocked as I am.
“Now, I’m appointing Assistant Coach Jason Dunbar as interim head coach for the remainder for the season or until we find a qualified candidate.
Arizona is going to be tough. They are our biggest competitors this season, so I’m expecting you all to go out there and kick some ass. ”
The bus erupts in cheers as we all stand to exit the bus. Camden waits for Hayley at the front of the bus with Cassidy as we make our way forward. He’s been a jittery ball of energy since we piled onto the bus. We make our way down the steps, stopping to get Hayley’s medical kit from under the bus.
“Hayley?” a voice sounds from behind us.
Her back is ramrod straight as she slowly turns toward the person. Her expression is unreadable as she stares into the eyes of none other than Boyce Cameron. Another asshole I can’t stand playing on the ice with. He has no regard for his team. Acts as if he’s the only one on the ice half the time.
“Mom, that’s Boyce Cameron,” Cam says, tugging on her hand. “Can I get an autograph from him? Please?”
Hayley doesn’t say anything, just continues to stare as if she’s a deer caught in the headlights. I give her hand a squeeze as she looks over at me, a petrified look on her face. “Cam, why don’t you go wait for me by the door with Cassidy and Brooks?”
“Are you sure you want me to leave?”
She gives me a slight nod before placing a chaste kiss on my lips. “I’ll only be a minute.”
“I’ll be right over there if you need me,” I say before turning to stand with Cassidy by the visiting team entrance.
I step next to Cassidy, still keeping an eye on Hayley as she talks to Boyce.
I can’t help but wonder how she knows him and why he is so gung-ho on talking to her.
The possessive side of me wants to go over there and claim her, protect her, but I respect her wishes enough to know that whatever is going on, now is not the time to intervene.
“How does Boyce know Hayley?” I ask, glancing at a nervous Cassidy.
She clears her throat and looks down at her hands. “We all went to high school together.” Her response is clipped and short.
I nod as I continue watching Hayley. She looks clearly upset. Is there more to this than Cassidy is leading on? I can’t help but want to confront the asshole. I clench my fist to my sides as I ask the dreaded question that’s now eating at me.
“Did Hayley and him date or something?”
“I think it’s better if she explained things to you.”
I go to interject but don’t because Hayley storms over to us, pissed off and upset over whatever Boyce said. I should knock his ass out for whatever he did to make her so distraught. I take her by the waist, pulling her close to me as she buries her head in my chest.
“Everything okay?” I ask as she nuzzles deeper.
Pulling back, she looks at me with red-rimmed eyes. “No, but I will be. Let’s go. You have a game to win.”
As much as I want to drill her on what he wanted, I know now isn’t the time or the place. Yet, the pit in my stomach tells me a storm is heading our way.