Chapter 11
ELEVEN
ALEX (ALEXEY)
I’d monitored Julian as we retrieved our luggage from the buses at the Ice Den.
It was the end of our trip, and I hadn’t had time to reconnect with him.
What was he thinking after this morning?
At least I hadn’t played like shit. I’d wanted to impress him, maybe more than the coaches, knowing he was taking my stats from the press box.
With a smirk, I ambled toward my SUV in the player’s garage. We had a rest day following our trip. Tomorrow was an optional skate, though I planned to visit the gym and…Julian.
As I opened the liftgate on my SUV, I watched Julian stop at an Astin Martin DB11.
Of course, he drove a car like that. The car appeared black, or maybe a deep blue?
I perused the garage. All the guys were exhausted and silent, wanting to go home.
Reaching Julian was impossible without raising suspicion.
Fucking hell. Any talks would have to wait.
After slipping into my vehicle, I started the engine and backed out.
Julian’s car drove behind me—the deep blue in the paint caught in the lights.
It was time to go home to Margot and her steak. I’d returned as a changed man. No, I was a man possessed.
After parking in my garage, I grabbed my bag from the back of my SUV and opened the door into the kitchen. The scent of beef and spices filled my nose. Damn, it smelled heavenly. “I’m home.”
“Oh, right on time.” She stepped toward me and kissed my cheek. “How was the flight?” A red apron covered her blue dress, and her heels clicked along the tile floor as she stepped toward the stove.
I blinked. She reminded me of one of those nineteen-fifties housewives.
“It was fine. I watched a good movie with Keanu Reeves in it.” Throwing the strap of my bag over my shoulder, I passed the dining table, set with plates, silverware and…
flowers and candles? I halted and flicked a glance at her.
Had Julian been correct? No. Impossible.
She was just making my homecoming extra special since she was staying here for free.
After dropping my bag off in my bedroom and changing into a t-shirt and sweats, I returned to the kitchen, where Margot had dimmed the lights and plated the food. Shit, she’d dressed up, and I looked like a bum. But she probably hadn’t changed after work.
“Have a seat. I marinated the steak and wrapped it in bacon before I barbecued it.” She poured a glass of red wine into a glass beside her plate. “Do you want some red wine?”
Why not? “Sure.” Lowering into the chair across from her, I set my phone on the table. “How’s the apartment hunting going?” I ran my gaze across my plate—the steak thick and juicy, and the mound of mashed potatoes beside it.
“I don’t know.” She sighed as she poured my glass of wine. “Would it be terrible if I needed to stay here a little longer than we’d planned?” She slid the wine toward me.
Was this a setup? I couldn’t say no when she’d cooked me this amazing meal. I’d look like a complete asshole. “No, it’s fine. How much longer do you think you need?” I sipped the wine and notes of cherry and oak floated across my tongue.
“Maybe another week or two.” She cut into her steak. “There’s a place I’m checking out this weekend. Maybe you could go with me?”
I didn’t want to go apartment hunting with her. “We’ll see. I need to check my schedule.” I cut my steak and ate a bite. Perfectly medium-rare, just how I liked it.
“Oh, we could go on Saturday. You don’t have a game. I checked.” She ate some mashed potatoes. “I also saw you’re scheduled for a charity event the day after tomorrow.”
“I am? Oh, yeah.” Shit, I’d totally forgotten about it with all the shit happening with Julian. I popped another bite of steak into my mouth.
“It’s with Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and they’re auctioning off some prints from my favorite artist. Can I be your plus one?” She set her fork on her plate and fluttered her eyelashes at me.
“My plus one? You want me to take you?” Would Julian be there? After his accusations, it could be tricky. But hell, then I’d show him there was nothing between me and her. “Yeah, sure. You can go as my guest.”
“That’s great. Thank you so much, Alex.” She squeezed my hand, resting next to my plate.
“Of course.” I stuffed salad into my mouth. Finding time to see Julian tomorrow would be difficult. But I had to try.
My phone buzzed on the table.
Margot picked it up. “Oh, maybe it’s Tatiana. Have you spoken with her lately?” As she gazed into the screen, her brow lowered. “It’s saying it’s Julian.” She handed me the phone.
“What?” When did he get my number? He had information on all the players on the roster. I peered into my phone and tapped his message open.
Maybe: Julian
Hey, this is Julian. I hope you don’t mind me texting you, but I thought we needed to keep in touch. Anyway, you can save my number in your contacts, maybe?
At least he’d sent nothing incriminating.
“Yeah, he’s contacting some players tonight.
You know, since he’s the new assistant to the coaching staff.
He needs to uh, keep us updated on, uh, things.
” Fuck, I was rambling. I added him to my contacts and then changed my settings so my text notifications wouldn’t show all the details.
I set my phone on the table. Margot could be nosy. I’d have to watch it.
She narrowed her eyes at me while holding her wineglass over her plate. “I guess you have to work closely with him, huh?”
“Well…yes.” I ate more food and washed it down with wine. What was she driving at?
“I looked him up online. He’s quite the playboy. There are a lot of photos of him frequenting nightclubs. Did you go to nightclubs while you were traveling?” She set her glass down and cut another bite of steak.
“No, we didn’t have time for that. We’re working on adjusting to the new season, and these games don’t exactly warrant a celly if we win.
” I chuckled. Now I had his Instagram photos stuck in my head.
I’d have to see them. I needed to know what I was getting into with him.
As if I didn’t already know, for fuck’s sake.
“Well, I’m surprised you’re getting along now. Is he becoming more interested in hockey?” She drank more wine.
“He seems to be. I mean, he’s asked me a lot of questions and seems interested.
” Could we talk about something else? I pursed my lips and then ate more of my steak.
“The charity event starts at seven and it’ll probably be black tie.
” There, I’d changed the subject. “We should leave by six, since the event is at The Biltmore in Phoenix.” It was only a half-hour drive, but I knew how she could be.
Sometimes it took her forever to get ready for events like this, and I didn’t want her making me late.
“Oh, of course. I still have that cute little black dress you always liked on me. I’ll wear that.” She finished her last bite of steak.
“Sure, that’s fine,” I said and ate the rest of my food. I’d wear my best tuxedo. I had purchased several over the years, with all the black-tie events I’d attended. Damn, how would Julian look in a tux? Hot, I was sure.
She touched my forearm. “That’s fine? Not, yes, you look amazing in that dress?” Her brow arched over her wineglass as she sipped.
“Huh?” She was fishing for compliments? “Yeah, the dress looks great on you.” There, I said it. I set my knife and fork on my empty plate. “I’ll do the dishes since you cooked.”
“Oh no, there’s no need. I’ll take care of it.
I cleaned as I cooked anyway, so there’s not much to do.
” She stood, stacked the plates, and then brought them to the sink.
“Hey, how about we finish this wine bottle on the patio? It’s so nice tonight.
” She rinsed the plates in the sink and set them in the dishwasher.
“Yeah, why not.” I poured a second glass of wine and strolled through the main room with it and my phone, then opened the sliding pocket doors.
“Leave the dishes. I don’t know how long I’ll last. I’m exhausted after my trip.
” Plus, I wanted to be at the Ice Den along with everyone else in the morning.
“Oh, just a few more minutes and I’ll be done. You go on ahead.” Flashing me a smile, she continued rinsing.
“Fine.” I flicked on the patio lights, a string of bulbs along the eaves, and strolled to my outdoor couch, overlooking the jagged mountains. After sitting on the end, I held my phone to my face. I should text Julian back.
Setting my wine on the side table, I tapped the screen.
Alex
Got your message. See you in the morning. Let me know when you’d like to talk.
I waited for a beat. The text stayed on delivered. Maybe he was busy. Sinking further into the couch, I opened my Instagram app and found Julian’s profile.
Images depicted him in clubs, standing on the steps of majestic old buildings that were obviously back east, and arm in arm with men.
Lots of men. Damn attractive men. As I scrolled further back, I came across images of Julian with Ian.
These photos were more domestic—them studying in a coffee shop, a selfie while cooking dinner, and more of them eating out with friends.
I stopped at a photo of Julian gazing at Ian, his eyes expressing total and complete love.
My chest pinched. Had he wanted to marry Ian?
Had he thought Ian was his one and only? What was he like when they’d met?
“Oh, you’re looking up Julian’s photos.” Margot stood behind me. “Who’s he with there?” She pointed at my phone.
“His old boyfriend.” I shut the screen off, set my phone on the table beside me, and picked up my wine. “They went to Harvard together and broke up a few years ago. I don’t know.” I didn’t want to sound like an authority on Julian’s life.
“Oh.” She rounded the couch and dropped in beside me. “But you saw all the clubbing photos. He must have decided it was better to play around.” She drank her wine.