Chapter 15
Chelsea
“No,” I groaned and dropped my head to the table. How painful would it be to smash my head on the surface? Less so than facing my roommate and what she must be thinking. I’d betrayed her trust. Dating a roommate’s sibling was one of the deadly sins. I’d seen that carved into a rock at some point.
I stopped breathing altogether. Literally, the air was trapped in my lungs. I’d never felt so lightheaded.
Maybe I could slink out of the bar and have my shit tossed in my car before she managed to find me.
Oh, wait. Samantha was sitting right here.
And she was laughing.
“It’s not that bad, Chelsea. I wondered if Cole noticed you at the game the other night. You’re his type. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.”
“His type?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Are you kidding me? That’s your brother. I’m going to be ill. I never meant for anything to happen. Why didn’t he recognize your condo?”
Oops. Well, that was a telling on myself statement if I’d ever heard one.
“Shoot me.”
She could barely contain her laughter. I was glad she was enjoying herself.
I dared lift my head, trying to take a few deep breaths as I prepared for the onslaught of her revenge. The day had turned from spectacularly terrible to leaving me longing to wake up in another century.
Her smirk was killer.
My brother’s teammate: Check.
My roomie’s brother: Check.
A hockey player, which was on my no-dating list: Double check.
Our faces were out there somewhere on the internet: Double dare check.
The worst part was that we hadn’t just dated or kissed. We’d spent the night together. Had anyone caught that on camera? Oh, dear God, I hoped not. Could anything get any worse?
And why the hell had someone been lurking in the shadows?
“Yes,” she said, shaking her head, full out laughing.
“He’s my brother. So what? I’m not his keeper.
Thank God for that. You’re both adults. Besides, I think the match is perfect.
To answer your question about the condo, our grandfather was an odd bird.
He collected real estate like others collect coins.
Since I was the apple of his eye, when I graduated from college, he gifted me the condo.
None of us even knew he owned the place.
Our family is a little quirky. Well, a lot quirky. ”
“But he didn’t recognize your things?” How much deeper could I dig my grave?
Why not tell her what a big cock he has?
“How much have we unpacked from boxes? Almost nothing and you know how men are. Completely unobservant. Stop worrying and trust me. Cole needs someone in his life. The man needs to settle down, at least according to his coach, our parents. And just about everyone else.”
“Oh, no. We are not getting married.”
“Not yet.” Samantha rolled her eyes and fell into another laughing fit after studying my face, which was likely one of horror. “Seriously, it’s no big deal, girl.”
“Yeah? Well, tell that to the angry bitches at the next table. They’ve been chatting about our relationship and apparently, they have a picture of us. From where, I have no clue. You’d think I just married Cole, depriving them of their chance at snagging the hottest man in Seattle.”
“Oh… You think he’s hot?” The grin on her face was practically evil.
“Yes, he’s hot, every inch of him, but…” I realized I was telling his sister he was a sexy guy and bit my lip. “I guess I won’t be invited to their puck bunny parties.”
She cocked her head, finally noticing we were being talked about. “Why?” My roommate was having a grand old time at my expense while I was writhing in discomfort.
Before I said anything, I placed my finger across my lips, nodding to the group of girls.
“Can you believe he’d go out with her?” the blonde closest to me huffed.
“And they’re getting married?”
What was the girl talking about?
“She’s not even that pretty.” The brunette was laughing.
“You know how the Rebel is. He can’t keep his hands to himself.” Now the girls laughed. “He’ll divorce her in six months. She has to be pregnant. That’s what happened.”
Now I was appalled. I glanced at Samantha who was listening intently.
The blonde leaned closer to her group, but now it was tunnel sound. We could hear every word. “Did you hear all the rumors are true? He has two of the finest dicks in the world. Shame he’s wasting all that talent on that girl.”
The redhead smacked the table. “No way. That crap was debunked when they first came out.”
First came out? What did that mean?
I narrowed my eyes as I glanced at Samantha who was becoming as agitated as I was. Her claws were out, digging into the table.
“Locker room talk. I know a guy on the team.” The brunette was enjoying herself, stripping the limelight away from the others. When she made a lewd gesture, I was ready to punch her in the face.
Two cocks? They were obviously drunk. Maybe I was just enough because I snapped without thinking.
“Well, there are much better players on the team and he’s really not that cute.” I had no clue which chick had made the last comment, but I was past being fed up.
“Hey. Why don’t you bitches mind your own damn business? Two cocks? Trust me. You’re wrong, but he only needs one.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. Hmmm… What had I just done?
I felt those claws digging into my arm. “Chelsea. Calm down.” She was trying to comfort me while offering dagger eyes toward them.
Calm down?
Was she kidding me? “Why are they talking about him that way?” My whisper was harsh. I grabbed my glass, taking a deep swig. Maybe I needed a little more liquid courage.
“Sadly, we’re used to it.” Samantha drummed her long nails on the table.
“He must not be all that great if he wants you.”
The bitchy blonde tossed her hair as if dismissing us altogether.
Now Samantha was on her feet. I knew enough about her spunky personality.
She wasn’t about to back down. “Yo, bitch. Let me tell you something. My brother only goes for the most beautiful, intelligent women. I suggest none of you bother to apply.”
I fought laughter as the women became incensed. Like in one of those mean girl stories, they acted appalled and grabbed their drinks, walking away.
“Yeah, go somewhere else.” Samantha was even pumping her fist. If she was furious with me, she was a very good actress. She waited until they’d disappeared into the crowd before thumping back into her seat. “Infuriating.”
We’d attracted more than just attention from the table full of chicks. Others were staring at us, several checking their phones. “Does Cole have to deal with that all the time?”
“The basic harassment level following him everywhere has calmed down, but there are still some people I’d like to pound into the sand.”
“Including paparazzi following him around day and night?”
“All members of the press love a juicy story and if they’d stick to his ability to play hockey, then no big deal.
You should see what my other brothers have dealt with.
Up to this point, Cole has mostly flown under the radar.
I guess his star is shining brighter. Just ask anyone.
While Cole doesn’t believe it, his talent has been compared to some of the best hockey players from the past.”
“So you’re saying we might have been followed and there are more pictures of us out there floating around?”
“Yeah, it’s possible.”
“Why do they think we’re getting married?”
“Most of what they said is pure garbage, but that bothers me. That’s the kind of rumor no one needs.”
Especially me. My mind was reeling about anything that might have been said.
“Why don’t I find out what we’re dealing with.” The jovial look on her face turned into something dark and ugly. Now her finger was flying across her screen.
“All of this because they’re good-looking hockey players?”
The look she gave me should be the one I was offering her after confessing all my sins. But I certainly wasn’t going to share intimate details. Not ever.
“You really don’t keep up with hockey.”
“No. I dated a guy who played hockey. He made me hate the sport and most men. Including when he decided three chicks at one time were better than one plain old girlfriend.”
“Ouch. I can understand why, but they’re not all like that. Honestly.”
“I’ll take your word for it. I also found out my brother is currently playing on the same team as Cole and get this.
They’re now roommates. That piece of information caught me by surprise.
I try very hard to keep from learning anything about hockey.
Hockey players. Hockey teams. It’s not hard since I’m not interested in many sports. ”
Now her face pinched. “Wow.”
“That’s what I said. Wow. How much deeper is the cow poop?”
“Don’t let Cole or my brothers fool you. They egg the press on whenever they get a chance. They are masters of manipulation when they want to be.”
The way she was shifting from Instagram to Facebook, TikTok to Threads created additional lumps in my stomach. “What are you looking for?”
Now she sucked in her breath. “Shit.”
“Don’t say shit.”
“There’s this asshole reporter who I’ve already had run-ins with at the paper. He is a sniveling, lying sack of shit who will use his own mother dead in her grave to get a story.”
“What does that mean?”
“Now I can see why those girls think Cole is off the market. That’s what Grant ‘slimebag’ Michaels told them. The two of you are all over the internet. People are crazy. One picture and you’re married.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Yeah. ‘Is the Most Eligible Bachelor in Seattle off the Market? Is Cole ‘the Rebel’ Kendrick Engaged?’” She showed me the headline while her mouth twisted.
“According to Seattle Wild’s star defenseman, he finally found his passion in one woman he trusts and who knows him better than anyone.
If the latest practice is any indication, wedding bells are in order. ”
“Engaged,” I repeated, the knots now ticking time bombs. I was going to spew vomit all over the table. “Did he mention my name?”