Chapter Three
Iultimately decide not to call Meredith. There’s no sense in messing around with her. She’s a reporter, and the last thing I need are articles showing up about what a cad I am.
She would think that, too, once all was said and done, as I have no real interest in her beyond bedding her. She may talk a big game, like she believes in keeping shit casual, but I’ve found more often than not, the chicks who say that are the ones who really want a relationship.
Yeah, I have no time for that potential fallout.
Been there, done that.
Not to mention, I also have more important things on my mind. Training camp just wrapped up, and the regular season starts in just two short days.
Coach gave the team off tomorrow, so my linemates, Shane and Easton, and I are out having dinner tonight. We chose a Chinese restaurant known for some of the best Szechuan-style dishes in town.
So far, I agree with all the positive reviews—my Szechuan shrimp is beyond amazing.
As I dig in with my chopsticks for another delectable bite, Easton shares with us that his new wife and her best friend—and once fellow real estate agent, seeing as Claire just recently left the field—will be attending the first game of the season.
“That’s cool,” Shane replies before taking a sip of green tea.
Since my mouth is full, I just nod approvingly.
“Yeah,” Easton goes on, “I told Claire I could get them up in a luxury box, no problem. But she insisted on front row seats along the glass.”
Having swallowed a particularly spicy shrimp, I take a quick sip of water, then say, “Good call. They’ll really feel the game up on the glass.”
“For sure,” Shane chimes in with a chuckle, “especially if there’s a hard check in front of them.”
He’s not kidding. That glass reverberates like a motherfucker.
“True,” I say, “but checks or no checks near their seats, they’re going to love that vantage point.”
“I think so too,” Easton agrees.
I ask him exactly where the seats are located. Since I know what Claire looks like—she stopped by training camp the other day to watch us practice—I’m going to be sure to keep an eye out for her.
Well, it’s not her I’m interested in.
I’m curious to see what her best friend looks like.
Claire is a beauty, and it’s been my experience that hot chicks often hang out with other hot chicks. I bet her friend is a looker too.
That leads me to ask, “What’s Claire’s friend’s name?”
Shane, to my right, chuckles knowingly as Easton replies, “Madison Ellery. Why?”
Uh-oh, now he looks suspicious too.
Quickly, I wave my hand and say, “Oh, no real reason. I guess I’m just thinking ahead in case I need a real state agent down the road.”
“Okay.”
Easton seems to buy my explanation, until I stupidly ask, “Is this Madison single?”
Shane groans, and I shoot him a “shut up” glare.
Shaking his head, Easton laughs and says, “Man, just drop that idea right the fuck now. I wouldn’t set up any of Claire’s friends with you. You’re a heartbreaker, and the last thing I need is for my new wife to be mad at me because you fucked over her friend.”
Okay, he has a point there.
So I drop the subject.
We go on to talk about hockey and the upcoming game. We’re playing the Colorado Avalanche for our opener, and since they’re a division rival, it’s extra important that we win.
“We have to start the season off on the right foot,” I say.
“You mean the right skate,” Shane chimes in, chuckling.
That guy, he’s always making jokes and goofing around. He’s fun-loving like that. That’s why everyone adores him.
It’s amazing that he can’t find a girlfriend. I mean, if anyone is “perfect” boyfriend material, it’s Shane.
It’s fun to razz him back, and he takes it so well, so I just roll my eyes at his “right skate” comment.
Meanwhile, Easton groans. “Dude, really?”
We all just laugh, and the conversation continues as we finish our meals.
Once we’re done, we opt to skip dessert. Our server brings us the check, along with three fortune cookies.
I grab one, as do the other guys, and we unwrap and bust open the cookies together.
Shane has a funny one: “Your smile is a personal welcome mat.”
“That’s fitting for you,” I say, since it certainly is.
Easton agrees, then reads his fortune out loud. “‘An acquaintance from the past will affect you in the near future.’”
“Dude,” Shane says, laughing. “That one has already happened.”
“It sure has,” Easton replies with a big, happy smile.
He is so in love it’s almost sickening. And Shane is right—a best friend from Easton’s past, Claire, recently came back into his life. And then, telling no one, they ran off and got married.
Pretty wild, huh?
I can’t even imagine doing something like that.
The boys get on me to share my fortune, so I slip the little piece of paper from the cookie and read it to myself first.
“Aw, fuck,” I rasp as I toss the cookie onto the table. “Mine is so off it’s not even funny.”
“So read it to us anyway,” Shane says.
“Okay, here goes…” I blow out a breath, then blurt out, “A soulmate is about to come into your life who will make you change your ways.”
Both of my friends start laughing uproariously.
See, even they know that shit is about as wrong as wrong can be.
Calming down but still chortling, Shane says, “You and a soulmate? Changing your ways?” He laughs harder. “Yeah, that’ll happen when hell freezes over.”
“You got that right,” I agree.
First, I don’t believe in soulmates. At least not for me. And second, there is no woman out there who could ever make me change my ways.
I’m wild and I’m free, and I intend to stay that way forever.
Period!