Chapter 7
DOVE
“Can you believe I’ve never been to a hockey game?” I’m standing in the middle of my new bedroom surrounded by Gina and Haddy, Owen’s daughter Maddie, and his sister Heather, who I met earlier today and learned has psychic powers, which has me super intrigued.
She’s also a pet psychic, which I’m a little on the fence about.
“I’d never been to one until Mav moved here,” Haddy says, digging into the white paper bag she brought with her and placed on the bed. “Now I love it.”
“You’re also married to a hockey player and the team’s head of publicity,” I note.
“Just wait and see.” Gina grabs my arm, giving it a shake. “Hockey is so much fun. I’ve been going since we were kids.”
“Poor Aunt Dylan. She had absolutely no idea what a bunch of little sneaks you all were,” I tease, but my smile quickly melts into a frown. “I’m not gonna have any idea what’s going on.”
“Don’t worry about that, we’ll help you.” Haddy whips a large white jersey from the bag. It has purple and black stripes on the sleeves, and the number 74 on the back under a giant Murphy. “Now put this on.”
They’re all dressed in white turtlenecks, matching hockey jerseys, and black leggings and boots. Gina, Maddie, and Heather are wearing number 13 jerseys with the name Stone on the back. Haddy and Lucy are in number 5 Knight jerseys.
I hold up the white jersey Haddy gave me, curling my nose. I study Maverick’s name, and my stomach twists with something like excitement and maybe a little nerves. “I’m not sure I should wear Mav’s number. It feels like I’m sending a message.”
“What in the world would that message be?” Gina asks with a bit too much innuendo in her tone.
My eyes narrow, and I look from her to Haddy. “Maverick and I are roommates. If I wear this tonight, it’ll look like we’re dating. Then it’ll be all over the tabloids, and I don’t have time for that. I’m not sure he’ll appreciate it either.”
Haddy waves a hand, shaking her head and lifting her chin. “There will be sooo many girls there tonight in Mav’s jersey, no one will even notice one more.”
Heather stands, speaking under her breath, “You two are as bad as Spanky and Ladybird.”
“We learned from the best,” Gina replies, laughing.
I don’t know what that means since Spanky and Ladybird are the dogs, but I do like being part of the group.
With a shrug, I quickly pull on my matching uniform. The oversized jersey falls almost to my knees, and I turn my back to the mirror to see his name splayed massively across my shoulder blades.
“Yay, yay, yay!” Maddie jumps up and down pumping her fists. “Aunt Dove loves Uncle Maverick now, too!”
My heart jumps, and I turn wide eyes to the girls. “As a friend. I love him as a friend.”
“Okay!” Maddie smiles up at me, blinking innocently.
Only, I’m not convinced of her innocence. She might only be seven, but Maddie’s a little sneaky… Just like her Mama G and Aunt Haddy.
I do care for Mav, and I’m happy to support him. If someone wants to make it something more, we can easily correct them. I won’t be here long anyway.
Corey’s menacing threats wouldn’t leave my mind, so earlier today, I broke down and messaged my uncle Leon.
Dove
I heard you were installing berms.
Leon
What’s 18 times 4?
When I was a little girl, he taught me my multiplication tables before I even learned to read, because as he put it, Who says girls can’t do math?
Rolling my eyes, I quickly reply.
Dove
You’ve installed 72 berms?!
Leon
I’ve installed ten. We need 72.
My lips twist, and I study the screen, waiting for the rest of his reply.
Leon
How do you know all of this? You’re supposed to be studying, baby genius.
Dove
I’m not a baby.
It’s the same response I’ve given him since I was a baby, doing all his math.
Dove
Corey Hayes messaged me. He’s threatening to go to the town council and say we’re a hazard to the community.
Leon
Corey Hayes has been a punk every day of his life. If he weren’t so much younger than me, I’d have beat him up when we were in school together.
Dove
What’s stopping you now?
Leon
Too old. Break a bone at my age, it might not heal right.
Dove
You’re not that old.
Leon
Sawyer says not to worry, so don’t. Love you.
My nose heats, and I huff a laugh, thinking of my playful youngest uncle.
My mom’s older brother Sawyer has always been quiet, thoughtful, steady. He was a Marine with my daddy when they were young men. It’s how my parents met, and he’s always taken care of us.
Uncle Sawyer is more like a dad, whereas Leon is more like an older brother, even if he is fifteen years older than I am.
“Time to go, ladies! We don’t want to be late.” Haddy and Gina hustle us out the door, and into the Rover.
It’s a half-hour drive downtown to the stadium, and when we get there, we’re escorted in through the VIP area, courtesy of Haddy’s job with the team.
Our seats are just above center ice, and we’re high enough that we can see the entire rink, but low enough that no one will block our view.
Gina explained the game to me as we drove down, and once we got to our seats and could see both teams out on the ice getting ready to play, it made more sense.
“The guys will warm up a bit before the game starts,” she says. “Then they’ll all go back, and they’ll announce both teams on the Jumbotron.”
“What’s happening now?” I nod at the plexiglass walls where females stand two rows deep watching.
Almost all of them are in Number 74 jerseys, and they all bounce on their toes, waving and clasping their hands to their mouths like they’re seeing their favorite musician or a Hollywood star.
It’s unexpected and a bit thrilling to know they’re all fawning over our guys. Our friends. Our guy friends. Well, my guy friends.
“Mav has a bit of a fan club.” Haddy leans into my ear, holding baby Lucy against her chest facing the rink. “They’re all hoping for a puck from him… or a wave… or you know.”
She makes a rolling noise with her tongue, and my eyebrows shoot up. Lucy’s chubby legs kick fast, and she reaches her baby hand in the direction of the rink.
“This little nugget keeps them away from Gavin… for the most part.” Haddy’s eyes roll to the side.
I press my lips together to keep from laughing. “I had no idea they were so… in demand.”
“That’s one way to put it,” Gina quips.
I don’t really feel jealous about this. Why in the world would I feel jealous? Maverick is a handsome man. He’s fun and playful, and he has a really nice smile.
Not to mention that dimple in his cheek and his long, dark hair that he whips up into a messy man-bun, which shouldn’t be hot, yet it still is…
My eyes go to where he’s out there skating, circling around and chatting with the other guys like he’s completely oblivious to the throng of women a few feet away dying for him.
He says something to Owen, and the two have a playful banter we can’t hear. Still, it’s boyishly cute. Then he quickly lifts his jersey and wipes his mouth, and there is nothing boyish about those abs.
Right at that moment, he looks up to where we’re standing, watching, and he gives us a thumbs-up. Haddy and Gina yell as loud as they can. Gina grabs my shoulder, turning me to the side so he can see I’m wearing his number.
His head drops back, and he laughs, and a smile breaks across my cheeks. I lift my hands along with Haddy and Gina, bouncing in place and cheering for him.
He points at us, and my neck gets hot. I lift my hair in my hands, looking back as his eyes hold mine a little longer. It’s too long, but I can’t seem to stop.
Finally, he breaks, looking down at the ice, but I continue watching as he glides around the rink. He glances up in my direction once more, and the heat moves down my chest.
He coasts up to where the goalie is on all fours doing some kind of thrusting move, and I lean into Gina’s ear. “What is he doing?”
She reaches up to pinch her nose, snorting a laugh before leaning into me again. “The goalies have to do a lot of quick moves and blocks. He’s stretching his inner thighs. It’s a warmup.”
“It’s kind of…” I lower my voice, looking over my shoulder to be sure Maddie’s not listening. “Sexual.”
“Why, Dove Rhodes!” Gina makes a shocked face. “I had no idea what a dirty mind you have.”
My jaw drops, and embarrassment floods my cheeks. “I was only saying how it looks. I wasn’t implying…”
She bursts out laughing, and my eyes narrow.
I pinch her arm sharply. “Bitch.”
“Ouch!” Gina pulls away then throws her arm around me, giving me a tight squeeze. “I’m only teasing you. It’s totally sexual. Everybody knows it.”
“What’s sexual?” Maddie hops onto the seat in front of us, reaching for Gina’s arm.
I do the math in my head. Maddie is seven, which means…
“You’ll understand in six years,” I tell her.
Her little face turns pouty, and her shoulders drop. “Everybody always says that. I want to know now.”
“Hey, come here.” I reach for her, thinking about when my little sister Penny was her age. “You’ll be old for the rest of your life. Enjoy being young while you still can, okay?”
The side of her mouth lowers, and she slants her eyes at me. I know she doesn’t understand what I’m saying, and I make a mental note to limit the adult talk around her going forward.
“Did you hear Uncle Mav might be getting a puppy?” I grab her arm, giving her a big smile.
That turns her frown upside down. “Really? When?”
“I don’t know…” I look over at Gina. “What’s the ETA on that puppy?”
“Kelani?” Gina takes out her phone and quickly taps the face. “I’ll text Carla and find out when exactly.”
“See?” I raise my eyebrows, and Maddie jumps up and down, making a little woo-hoo noise.
My eyes drift to the ice again, and I notice Mav is in a circle with Owen and Gav. The three of them look up in our direction, and his eyes meet mine from under his helmet.
A sexy grin lifts his lips, and that old heat climbs up my neck again, this time all the way to my cheeks. My lips press together, and a fish flips crazily in my stomach.