Chapter 5
Five
Tweetie
Ever since I hung up with Aiden, my mind has been in a tailspin and unable to straighten.
Tedi is… I can’t even fathom what it will be like to see her again, let alone work alongside her. What if one of these dipshits hits on her, or worse, she starts dating one? I shake my head, trying to engage in the bullshit locker room talk going on around me, which lately consists of my three best buddies talking about what they did with the loves of their fucking lives the night before.
I’m the odd man out now. Conor and Eloise disappeared all weekend, and I’ve started going out with the Chipmunks. Every night I feel older than the last when I say my goodbyes and they continue down to the bar that’s open the latest.
Now with Tedi coming here, I’m a complete and utter mess.
Conor pushes open the locker room doors, causing all of us to stop dressing and turn and look at him. He’s late. The last one to arrive.
He drops his bag and raises his hands. “I have an announcement to make. I’m a married man!” He shows off his left ring finger that’s tattooed with a giant E.
“What the hell?” Rowan walks over to him.
“Beat you to it,” he says, then points at Henry. “Beat you too.”
“You got married?” I ask, fully turning around, not understanding why he’s marrying someone he’s only been with for a matter of months.
“And you didn’t invite us?” Henry scowls at Conor.
“Three-day trip to Vegas,” he says.
Yeah, I knew they weren’t home, but they’re always crossing something off those damn bucket lists of theirs. I never thought it would be getting married.
Coach Buford comes out of his office. “What’s going on out here?”
“Pinkie got married,” Alvin says. He’s a nice enough kid, though maybe I just think that because I’ve been spending way too much time with him. But he’s always in the know and has the gossip.
Coach trains his gaze on Conor for a moment. “Congratulations,” he deadpans. “The rest of you, listen up. There’s been a development with this whole social media thing the league is pushing. Gill just got the axe, which I think we can all agree is a good thing for him and us.”
Everyone laughs. The guy didn’t have a clue what he was doing, so I wasn’t surprised that he didn’t work out. I really tried to help him so that I wasn’t in the situation I’m about to be in, but the guy wouldn’t listen. I mean, I dated Tedi for years, and she handled my social media the entire time. I have an idea of what sells tickets, but Gill thought he knew best.
“Since there’s no one else waiting in the wings, and the season is already underway, and we’re one of the favorites to win the Cup, they’re sending in the boss. This Tedi Douglas is going to use us as an example to show others what’s possible, so get ready to put those hockey smiles on display, boys.” He walks back into his office without another word.
All of my asshole best friends turn their attention to me. Right now, I wish I’d never told them about her. Since they’re all living happily with their wives or soon-to-be wives, they think Tedi’s the one who got away. I don’t know, maybe she is, but our time to try to figure it out ended years ago. We’ve moved on from one another. Not to mention, who wants to feel that fucking pain all over again when we fuck up our chance another time? Not me, that’s for sure.
“Fuck off and go play Monopoly.” I stalk toward the bathroom, throwing the dig that after you’re with someone for a long time, you end up playing boring board games because the bedroom turns into a barren wasteland, cold. Not that my bed with Tedi was ever cold.
I go to the urinal to take a piss, but really, I just want to be away from everyone. It’s bad enough that these three know. I don’t need the entire team talking about my situation with Tedi.
“Shit, man.” Conor speaks first. He probably knows the most about my past with her.
“Do you mind? I’m taking a piss.” I don’t bother looking over my shoulder.
None of them step forward, but they don’t leave either.
“Are you okay?” Henry asks.
I flush the urinal, tuck myself in my underwear and pants, and go over to the sink to wash my hands. “I’m fine.”
“But—” Rowan starts, and I cut him off with a hand in the air.
“Listen, I appreciate this whole ‘bros got my back’ thing between us. And I was happy to talk you assholes off the ledge when it came to the women you love, but Tedi and I have been over for a long time. I’m sure she’s moved on, as have I.”
They all share a look.
“The last thing I want right now is to have this gossip fill the locker room. I don’t need everyone looking at me the entire time she’s working here. So, just keep it to yourselves, and if I need your input or advice, I’ll seek you out.”
I walk by them, and they part, allowing me through, whispering to one another behind me.
I circle back around. “We’re here to play fucking hockey. It’s not a therapy session.”
God knows I had enough of those when I was younger to know that these three are not qualified to deal with my bullshit.
“Speaking of therapy, that brings up a good point…” Rowan lifts his finger, and I want to break it.
They all start laughing, and the tension leaves my body for a second.
“Cool, so we’re ignoring the problem.” Henry pats my shoulder as he passes me. “Good to know.”
“Sweet, this was putting a downer on my whole wedding news anyway.” Conor hits my chest a few times, following Henry.
Rowan doesn’t move. He gives me that look as if saying, “Come on, man, you can’t keep bottling this shit up.”
But he’s wrong. I can. So I turn around and head to the dressing room.
“If we’re gonna win the Cup, your asses should be on the ice,” I bellow.
The guys left in here scramble to get their stuff and stop talking, each of them filing out. Conor gets dressed in record time and leaves without saying another word to me.
Finally, I’m alone as I tie up my skates.
Coach Buford comes out of his office, but he doesn’t walk out the door.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“You know this Tedi Douglas?” he asks.
I glance up, wondering if he’s asking because he’s heard about our past or just general curiosity. As usual, his face gives away nothing. I could easily lie. Who Tedi is—or was—to me doesn’t matter, but if something comes out, then he’ll see me as a liar.
“I do, through Aiden Drake.” I grab my helmet and wait for the next question.
“She gonna make you guys run around doing bullshit media tours and crap?”
I walk toward Coach, chuckling. “Yeah, she is.”
“I thought so. You know, I didn’t mind Gill that much. He was shit at his job, but at least he wasn’t interrupting my plans and my time with the team.”
I liked Gill too. He was hard on the eyes and didn’t make me regret all my life decisions.
“Well, it’s good for the team, right? What’s good for the team is good for us?” My line is complete bullshit.
“Don’t throw that optimistic crap at me. Go get on the ice. I have to keep you in shape before our new drill sergeant comes to town.” He smacks me on the back, and I head out.
As my skates glide onto the ice, only one thought comes to mind—what will it be like to be in Tedi’s orbit again?