Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
JULIAN
“Good game tonight, boys. Anaheim is a tough team, but we got a few past them. Julian, great game tonight. Blaisy, good to know you can find the back of the net. We have a couple days off for the holiday, but I need everyone back for practice on the twenty-sixth.” The locker room groaned.
Coach Murry held up his hand. “I don’t make the schedule.
Remember, we have a game with San Jose on the twenty-seventh.
Keep all your bones in one piece and stay out of trouble. No press tonight. And happy holidays.”
“I will be so glad to be out of the city.” Anders pulled off his pads. “You and Wyatt leaving tonight?”
“No, we’ll leave in the morning. You and Tee?”
“Nah, tomorrow. Mason, when are you and Hannah leaving?” Anders called.
“Tonight. We’re driving as far as Goldfield. Hannah’s brother lives up there. Ty is riding up with us, but he may need a ride back with you, Jules.”
“Jules already has a passenger princess,” Anders called out.
“What?” Mason looked at me.
“Thanks, Anders.” Some conversations were better had when everyone was fully clothed.
“What? They are going to find out sooner or later. And these assholes are barely housebroken. Not to mention King and Hannah are going to be there.”
“Hey.” Mason threw a towel at Anders. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“That Hannah has bigger balls than you. She skates better too.” Anders shrugged.
“I gotta agree with Andy. About the skating part. Haven’t seen her balls.” Tyler King walked into the locker room with a towel around his waist.
“No, she doesn’t,” Mason grumbled.
“Yes, she does,” Tyler said. “Who’s got a passenger princess?”
“Silver.” Mason nodded in my direction. “Who is she? Some celebrity? Or some young heiress to a casino fortune?”
“I hate you.” I glared at Anders. I knew what he was doing.
“What? If Wyatt is coming, then—”
“Wait, Wyatt?” Mason asked. “Ah… good for you, man. Glad you found someone. I’m sure he’s great, and I can’t wait to meet him. I’m happy for you.”
“Come on, Julie, it’s one bad marriage. You don’t have to switch teams.” Tyler shook his head. “But I’m happy for you. We just want you to be happy, and if Wyatt is what’s helping you keep your shit together, great. I’m sure we’ll love him.”
“Are you all done?” I asked.
“Yeah. I mean”—Tyler looked at Mason—“we’re okay with this. We don’t care who you love.”
“Yeah, Jules.” Anders winked.
“Wyatt is a woman.”
“He is?” Tyler asked.
“She is. Wyatt is a she.” I pulled on my suit coat. “And I would appreciate if you four would act like adults around her.” Anders couldn’t stop smiling. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“I am,” Anders said.
“I gotta go.” I grabbed my bag.
“Say hi to Wyatt for me,” Anders called out after me.
“We’re still happy for you, Julie. Can’t wait to meet the woman that pulled your head out of your ass,” Tyler yelled after me.
“Fuck you all.” I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed out. I was texting Wyatt when I heard her call my name. Emily was stepping away from a group of fans calling to the players.
“Julian, wait, please.”
“We are not doing this. Talk to my lawyer.” My lawyer said he would file an order to keep her away from my games if need be.
“You wanted proof?” She ran to keep up with me. “Here.” She shoved a piece of paper at me.
It was an ultrasound photo. “What the fuck do I want this for?” I shoved it back at her.
“Look at the date.” She held it up. “December twelfth. We were still together. It was yours. I didn’t start a relationship with Payton until the end of January.” She hung her head.
“Liar. Hannah saw you leaving a hotel with him in November.”
Emily looked up at me. “You trust her? Some woman of a teammate over your wife? She was jealous of me and you. She wanted you,” she threw in.
“I doubt that. She’s been with Mason since she was fifteen. And I am not doing this with you.”
“Will you please listen for once in your life.”
“Why are you doing this now?” I pointed at the piece of paper she was clutching. I had a good guess why. Wyatt.
“I tried to tell you last January, but you wouldn’t listen to me. You shut me out.”
“Whatever this is isn’t going to work. We are done. I thought you said you were getting help.”
“I am. That’s why I’m here. I want to fix us. We can go back to the way we were. Your contract is up this year. We can go somewhere and start new. Back to Toronto or Florida. We can start a family.” Emily stepped closer to me. “We were good together. Remember Cabo? We set a record for how many—”
“I don’t love you.” I cut her off.
“What?” Emily’s eyes were round.
I had never said that to her. Never said those words out loud.
“I don’t love you. I’m not sure I ever did.
” Since being with Wyatt, I realized what it was like to be with someone who only wanted me for me.
Not because I was a hockey player, not because of the life she thought I could give her.
“Go home.” I turned and walked away from her, and for the first time in a long time, I felt an enormous weight lifted off my shoulders.
“This isn’t over, Julian. I gave up everything for you. You will pay for humiliating me. I know things about you.”
“So do I,” I called over my shoulder.