Chapter Six
~Zak~
I’d been baiting him. I knew it the minute the words came out of my mouth in that interview. I hadn’t done it with any real thought behind it, but as I played it over and over again in my head, I knew I’d called him out because I wanted to see him again.
Which was fucking ridiculous. And dangerous. And really, really stupid.
But it was also the truth. Because I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Couldn’t wrap my head around the enigma that was Kellen Fox.
And there he was. Even with the massive crowd, he wasn’t hard to spot. Considering he was sitting against the glass right next to the Blade bench…wearing their sweater.
This fucking guy.
My heart started to hammer in my chest, a combination of anger at him repping a rival team, and admiration at his blatant attempt to piss me off. Not to mention the annoying and undeniable attraction I felt for him. All of these things boiled up inside of me and for the first time in my professional career I couldn’t stop myself from drawing a penalty on an opposing team’s side of the ice, slamming one of their players into the glass in front of Kellen.
I wanted him to know I’d seen him. Needed him to know he’d succeeded in getting to me.
I might not understand what was happening between us, but I couldn’t deny that I wanted it to be something. I could only hope that he felt it, too .
It didn’t matter that I didn’t want to want him. That ship had sailed. I absolutely did. And when I wanted something, I always got it.
The crowd roared their displeasure at my cheap shot against their captain and I waved at the stands, grinning as the ref skated me across the deck toward the penalty box.
As I dropped onto the bench in the bin, the angry crowd noise turned to cheers and I looked up at the screen to see that one of the camera’s had also found Kellen, and he was giving a smile that looked more like a grimace as he waved politely and the fans clapped and screamed for him.
The sharp trill of a whistle pulled my attention back to the ice and I watched as Josh was escorted over to join me in the box. I’d missed his penalty, but from the grin on his face, he’d drawn it on purpose as well.
“If we lose because we’re fucking around, Sutherland is going to have our asses,” I warned him as he slid into the seat next to me. “What was that? ”
“Just wanted to have a chat,” Josh admitted before grabbing a bottle and squirting a stream of water between his lips. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“What I always do,” I reminded him. “Giving the kids a show.”
“The kids, or Fox?”
I schooled my face into a blank mask as I looked back at him. Josh was one of the very, very few people who knew that I was gay, and I’d never regretted sharing the information with him…until now .
“Oh come on, Dempsey,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “You’ve never gotten a penalty on the wrong side of the ice. You did that for him.”
“And why would I do that?” I challenged coldly.
“Relax,” he insisted. “I’m just fucking with you, Zak. But watch yourself.”
My penalty time ended and I skated back onto the ice, forcing myself to ignore the conversation Josh had just attempted with me. He was right. I needed to be way more careful before the questions from Naomi and everyone else started to switch from teasing to accusatory.
Leo, my left winger, immediately passed me the puck and the game was back on, my head focused on winning instead of Kellen or Josh.
“Hey Carmichael, you’re like a fucking tampon,” I yelled as I skated around the Blade defenseman. “Not even good for one whole period, you jackass.”
“Fuck you, Dempsey!” he yelled as he chased after me.
But I was too fast for him as I dodged the left defender as well and flipped the puck into the net just as the buzzer sounded for the end of the first period.
The team trudged back to the locker room for the first intermission and Coach Sutherland was thrilled with our one-nothing lead over the Blade. So much so, that he didn’t even berate me for the unnecessary penalty like he usually did.
Which was good, because I planned to get at least few more before the night was over.
I’d have to be careful to avoid doing it against the opponents glass though. If Josh noticed that quickly what I was doing, then other people were going to as well. I couldn’t have people think I was seeking attention from the rock star.
Because I wasn’t. Not at all.
That had just been to let him know I’d seen him. Not that I cared. Or that he did. Probably.
“You still got your head in the game?” Josh asked as we headed back for the second period.
“Where else would my head be?” I snapped .
“Up a certain rock star’s ass, maybe?”
I whipped my head around to make sure no one else had heard him, but we were far ahead of the rest of the team.
“Considering I’m the only one with a goal tonight, I wouldn’t be so quick to tease there, buddy.” I huffed out a sigh. “Also, shut the fuck up, will you?”
“Sure.” He clapped me on the back. “Just keep showing off for Fox and win us this game. ”
No problem there, that was exactly what I planned to do.
****
By time the third period was ticking down, we were up three-nothing and the Blade were starting to fight back just as dirty as I was. Unfortunately, we were at their arena which meant they were getting away with a lot more than me.
“Damn, ref!” I yelled as I shoved Carmichael back from where he’d just pinned me to the glass with his stick across my shoulders. “You’re missing a real good fucking game here! ”
Carmichael lost his balance and fell to the ground and I laughed as I skated around him, scraping the puck and pushing off toward their goal where I faked then slammed the puck home to bring us to four-nil.
“Hat trick mother fucker!” Josh screamed as he skated into me, hugging me hard.
For a moment, it looked like he’d been about to say something else, but then the rest of the squad joined us in a hug before we broke apart and skated off to finish the game .
Which was good, because I was pretty sure I knew what he was going to say. And as I glanced toward the stands where Kellen was sitting, I knew Josh would have been correct.
I was absolutely showing off for the rock star.
And while I didn’t think Kellen was stupid enough to cheer for me in a sea of Blade fans, I wanted to believe that he was rooting for me on the inside.
Even if I couldn’t understand why I cared at all .
The game ended in a four-nothing shut out and everyone was in high spirits in the locker room afterward. We were back on a winning streak and we had the next three nights off before a huge game against our biggest rivals, the Nevada Cobras, who were on a way bigger winning streak than we were. And the winner of that game would decide which of our teams would be headed to the playoffs.
“Great fucking game boys!” Sutherland yelled. “I know you all want to head out to celebrate, and you should, you earned it. Just remember, we’re in a host city, so don’t do anything to embarrass the team name.”
The team uttered their assurances that we’d all behave and Sutherland grinned, banging his fist against a locker a couple times.
“Bus leaves for home tomorrow at nine a.m. sharp. Text me if you’re getting your own ride back.” He looked over to me. “And buy your captain a drink, yeah? Fucking Hat Trick Dempsey!”
The team gave me a long, loud round of applause and I tried to look sheepish, but I knew I failed. Because I’d played like fire and I was fucking proud of it.
“Let’s get Dempsey drunk!” Carl shouted, sending up another round of cheers.
“Dempsey needs a fucking shower,” I reminded him. “As do all of you stank asses. But then, sure, let’s go have some fun.”
We showered and changed a little quicker than usual, all of us apparently eager to celebrate our win. But just as I was about to slide my phone into my pocket it chirped in my hand with a text from an unknown number.
Unknown Number
Was that for me?
I stared at the message for a full minute, almost afraid to hope that it was from Kellen Fox. It didn’t make sense. How would he have gotten my number?
“You boys decent in here?” Naomi asked as she stepped into the locker room with a huge grin on her face. “Nice hat trick, Dempsey.”
She didn’t. She wouldn’t.
Would she ?
“No press,” I growled at her. “You know the rules. Not in the locker room, Naomi.”
“I’m not here as press,” she said, holding her hands up defensively in front of herself. “I’m here on behalf of the Blade, who would like you to join them at a private event. They’ve booked the Rusty Dog to congratulate you on your streak and to show there’s no hard feelings for…and I quote… Dempsey’s dirty ass . Also, Josh invited me to tag along. Off the record. Unless you have something to say? ”
I fought not to groan out loud. Josh had always had a thing for Naomi, and while I couldn’t help worrying she was just stringing him along, it wasn’t my place to butt in. He kept my secrets for me, and I’d have his back with her.
My phone was still clutched in my hand, and Josh’s bad decision was almost daring me to make my own.
“We’re off the record completely tonight?” I asked her. “No matter what happens? ”
“Scout’s honor,” she said. “No matter what happens, or who shows up, it won’t end up on Hockey Tonight.”
So she had given Kellen Fox my cell number. And now I had a decision to make. One that could alter my life forever. But I had to know what was happening. Yeah, the guy drove me crazy in the press. Unfortunately he was also driving me crazy in my own head.
Zak
Come to the Rusty Dog tonight.
Kellen
You didn’t answer my question .
Zak
I’ll answer it there
Kellen
Okay
Zak
Don’t wear that fucking tarp
Kellen
What’s a tarp?
Zak
The Blade jersey. Take it off
Kellen
I thought you’d never ask