Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Ifollowed Kylie and Georgia down the hall to the restroom. “That meal was so, so good.”
After the game, we’d gone to dinner with some of the guys from the team at Alchemy. The atmosphere of the restaurant was moody and dark, sultry even. And the food was phenomenal. It had been a while since I’d hung out with so many of the guys from the team at once.
I’d gotten to know Carson better, and it was always fun to see Boone and Gabe.
Holden had tagged along, but he’d seemed more reserved than I’d expected.
Frasier had rested his hand on my thigh or the back of my chair throughout the entire meal, occasionally leaning in to whisper something in my ear.
Despite the win, everyone seemed more solemn tonight. I had a feeling that had to do with the fight. I’d never seen Frasier react like that, so whatever Wilson had said must have really gotten to him.
I was just glad Frasier was okay. And fortunately, it didn’t seem like he was in trouble with the management or the league. I figured they might be more willing to let it slide since it was so out of character. But also, the team had won.
Georgia pushed open the door to the restroom.
I glanced around, taking in the swanky lounge area.
The velvet-covered chairs and side tables looked as if they’d be at home in a luxury penthouse, not the bathroom.
Though I guessed, we weren’t in the bathroom just yet since the stalls and the sinks were in another area beyond this.
“Did Frasier tell you what Wilson said?” Georgia asked me, cheeks flushed pink from the wine.
I’d assumed the fight was like most fights during a game—guys too jacked up on adrenaline and a chirp that had gone too far. That said, Frasier typically kept his cool on the ice. So he had to have been really pissed to risk a fight, especially when the score had been so close.
Kylie typed out a message on her phone before tossing it into her purse. She disappeared into a stall. I shook my head and took the stall next to Kylie’s, closing the door behind me.
“I couldn’t get anything out of my brother,” Georgia huffed. “Even though I’m technically a member of the staff and signed an NDA. Not to mention the fact that I’m his freaking sister.”
I laughed, flushing the toilet and zipping my jeans before joining Georgia at the sink, where she fluffed her hair and reapplied her lipstick.
Daniel was notoriously tight-lipped when it came to the Hawks.
And I appreciated his loyalty to the team, even if I figured it was mostly because he was responsible for the organization.
That said, I knew not everything was about the bottom line for him.
The Hawks had been nothing short of incredible in the wake of Derek’s death.
They’d paid out a million dollars as basic protection plus his entire salary for the season in which he’d died, as well as the following one.
It was more than was required by Derek’s contract.
I’d been stunned by their generosity, and I had a feeling Daniel had a lot to do with it.
“Frasier seriously said nothing?” Georgia asked.
I shook my head, applying another coat of lip gloss. “I was too focused on his well-being to ask. He claims he’s fine, but I’m worried he has a concussion.”
Georgia frowned, her eyes meeting mine in the reflection of the mirror. “The trainers checked him out, right?”
“Yes.” And I knew they were the best in the field. I’d even examined him briefly myself. Yet still, I worried. “But the effects can be delayed.”
Georgia wrapped her arm around me, saying nothing but offering her support, nonetheless. I hugged her back, appreciating the fact that she didn’t try to reassure me or, worse, tell me I was overreacting. She just…let me know she was there for me.
“Did you get anything out of Carson?” Georgia asked Kylie as she exited her bathroom stall.
Kylie stepped up to the sink, glancing from me then back to Georgia. She’d been checking her phone on and off all evening, but that wasn’t unusual. She was often keeping an eye on things or putting out fires for her clients.
“That’s a yes,” I said, my stomach churning. “But you don’t want to tell us. Or rather, you don’t want to tell me.”
“Wilson is an ass,” Georgia said. “Always has been. It was nice to see him taken down a peg.”
“Oh, the internet is definitely giving him a dressing down.” Kylie’s grin was wicked.
Interesting. But I wasn’t going there. The internet could be a dangerous place. I’d learned that after Derek’s death. Most people were supportive, but others could be judgmental, even critical. I didn’t need their negative energy.
“You know Wilson?” I asked Georgia.
“He got drafted to the Hawks years ago. The team traded him because of his attitude and shitty performance. Since then, Wilson has had an axe to grind when it comes to the Hawks.”
That didn’t surprise me. From what little I knew of him, Wilson seemed like the type of man to hold a grudge. Petty. Vindictive. Small.
“Even so…” Georgia seemed to be considering it. “For Frasier to throw down, whatever Wilson said must have been bad.”
“What he said was wrong,” Kylie gritted out. She switched off the water and grabbed a towel from the stack. She dried her hands and turned to face me. “And as your friend, I really don’t want to tell you. But as your publicist, I feel like I have a duty to inform you.”
Georgia sighed. “I really wanted it to be something fun and juicy. But this sounds like it’s going to piss me off.”
I laughed, but there was a nervous edge to it.
“Okay. I changed my mind,” Georgia said, clearly sensing my unease. “I don’t want to know. Besides, does it matter what that asswipe said?” Georgia crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m sure Frasier’s actions were justified.”
I could think of very few reasons Frasier would fight during a game, and I was one of them. “The more you say without telling us what was actually said, the more concerned I am. I think I’d rather you just tell me so I don’t have to keep wondering.”
“You sure?” Kylie asked, worry creasing her brow. “We can enjoy dinner and then discuss it after we return to the hotel.”
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
With a resigned sigh, Kylie relayed what had happened on the ice. By the end, Georgia was fuming. And I was…shell-shocked.
A thing for hockey players?
Had they ever shared me?
Hat trick? I’d nearly gagged when she’d told us that part.
“And then Frasier clocked him. This is unconfirmed, but I’m pretty sure Wilson has a broken nose. Serves him right,” she muttered.
“Fuck yes.” Georgia fist-pumped the air. “As if I didn’t already love Frasier. He and Carson showed that our team won’t stand for the kind of ‘locker-room talk,’ ‘boys will be boys’ bullshit that’s plagued the league for far too long.”
Kylie nodded. “And the fans are loving it.”
It was nice to know we had the fans on our side and that people were sick of the misogynistic, exclusive boys club of the past. And while, yes, the entire exchange was disgusting, I couldn’t have been more proud of Frasier and Carson for how they’d handled it.
They had shut it down. They’d called him out.
That said, I didn’t understand how someone could be so callous. Especially a fellow hockey player, regardless of the fact that he had an axe to grind.
I knew Wilson was likely just trying to get a rise out of Frasier. And it had obviously worked. But it made me wonder what other people had been saying about our relationship. I’d been content to live in a bubble, and now I worried that I should’ve paid more attention.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket, navigating to social media to check on my latest post. It was a picture of me at the game with Georgia and Kylie, smiling and ready to cheer on the team.
Even though I’d posted it just a few hours ago, the photo already had thousands of comments.
I scrolled through the top few to see what had been liked the most.
Georgia leaned over my shoulder, peering down at my screen. “Are you sure that’s a good idea, Bryn?”
Good idea or not, it was something I needed to do.
@sillymillymama So happy for you! I’ve followed your story since you lost your husband. I’m a young widow too, and I’m so glad you’ve found happiness again.
@bookishreading The cutest! Enjoy the game.
@goaliegirlies Love the custom jersey. A nice way to honor your late husband, while celebrating your new relationship.
@puckbunny69 I’d have a threesome with Morgan and Holmes. Get it, girl. That’s hot.
I groaned. I’d been optimistic after the first few comments, but they only got worse after the one from @puckbunny69.
I rolled my eyes at her incredibly unoriginal handle.
And then I continued reading, even though I had a feeling I’d regret it.
Still…I needed to know what people were saying—about me, but mostly about Derek.
As his widow, I took my responsibility as the steward of his memory very seriously.
It was why I’d agreed to interviews and attended tribute games when all I’d wanted was to curl up in a ball and die.
It was why I’d told Derek’s story in partnership with the SADS Foundation to promote awareness, even when it gutted me to relive that trauma.
And it was a big reason why I’d struggled so much with wearing a jersey with anyone else’s last name and number.
@puckboys responding to @puckbunny69 Me too.
@puckboys responding to @puckbunny69 Do you think they had a threesome while he was still alive? They’ve known each other since college.
@puckbunny69 It’s possible.
@mat706 Now that she collected all the money from his endorsements, she’s ready to move on to her next victim.
@backdoor22 I don’t get why they’re fighting over her. She’s not that hot.
@Hockeyfan301 Let’s hope she’s not a black widow, or the Hawks will lose their best goalie in addition to a talented defenseman. FML. We’re never going to get a Stanley again at this rate.