Chapter Nine
Denis
Damn, it felt good to be on the ice again. I sometimes felt I was steadier on my feet there, with the cold air blasting and ferocious players rushing me at the net, than walking down the street. Even sex didn’t match the high of fending off an opponent’s shots on goal.
Maybe that meant I wasn’t having sex with the right person.
I’d seen the other men on the team with significant others, and they couldn’t wait to get home to them after a game.
Even when I’d lived with Rip or dated other men, I’d always been the one to suggest hitting up a club or having dinner.
Anything to stave off the black cloud of loneliness that never faded, no matter who I was with.
Looking at all the joy and happiness at Rip and Adrian’s wedding, I’d realized my heart had never been privy to those levels of emotions.
I had no idea what it meant to love someone with your whole self.
In the locker room, we all greeted each other as if it had been years since the last time we were together instead of at practice the day before.
But knowing this was a new season electrified the air.
We were in business. Seb had kept his beard, which made his normally badass expression even more fierce.
With a smile, Rip strolled in, fit and serene.
Marriage sure as hell agreed with him. I recalled something he’d said to me:
“Love is about finding that one person you don’t need to compete with because they’re your other half. They make you whole.”
When he and I had been lovers, together or apart, we were the same. We’d never been each other’s half of a whole, which was why we didn’t work.
“Another season, another Cup, mes amies,” I called out, and everyone roared with approval.
“You know it.” Chitty bounced around fist-pumping. Ellis nodded to me, and I wondered if he was hoping to get more chances to play. I could be generous in the early days and give him extra ice time, but the net was still my domain, and I’d be damned if I’d let him take me away from what I loved.
It took me almost half an hour to get into my gear.
I refused to rush, and taking my time with each pad and piece of protection gave me the opportunity to visualize how I would keep the puck from passing me.
Finished with my prep, I put my helmet on, walked through the tunnel, and got on the ice.
Some of the team was already there, and Coach waited until we were all present to speak.
“This might only be preseason, but it’s our time to gauge what we’ll need to concentrate on before the regular season starts.
Any weaknesses that might’ve cropped up, or where we’re out of shape from the off-season.
Plus, we have to keep an eye on the other teams to see how we can exploit their deficiencies.
Remember, we’ve now won the Cup twice in a row.
Every team in the league will be gunning for us. ”
“Coach said it best.” Rip stood in the center of our circle, something he always did prior to a skate.
We were a family of sorts, and while I’d never admit it to anyone, these guys were the most important people in my life.
They were all I had. “We’re the team to beat.
They know we’re number one. So we need to stand together.
Skate as a unit with the sole goal to protect our net and score on theirs. We are the champions, remember.”
“Our capitaine is correct. And we are ready, n’est-ce pas?” I raised my stick in the air. “To a new season! Allons-y!”
I had three teammates stand in front, shooting pucks at me from all directions, and then I took shots on goal as they raced toward the net.
I deflected all except one—outstanding for anyone else, but it pissed me off to have allowed even that.
I prided myself on perfection and refused to accept anything less.
I came out in the crease to fend off more shots and Rip skated up to me, a grin on his face I could see despite his mouthguard. He spit it out.
“You can thank me later.”
“What’re you talking about?”
He tipped his head to the side of the bench. “I think you made a fan.”
I skated to where he’d indicated, and in the lower bowl of the section, saw Adrian and…
well, well, well. Who did we have here? Sterling Forest looking uncomfortable and out of place.
Everyone was wearing a Blades jersey or T-shirt, aside from a random Icers fan.
Everyone except for Sterling, who wore a button-down tucked into khakis.
He was staring at me, but as soon as he saw I’d noticed him, he jerked his gaze away.
“He looks like he’s going to the country club to play golf.”
“Bouvier, back at it,” Coach shouted. “You and Ellis take turns.”
Without giving Sterling another look, I skated to the net, and we ran plays our offensive coaches gave us.
We had a ten-minute break before intros, and while some players headed to the sidelines to talk to friends, family, and fans, I hustled to the locker room, grabbed an extra jersey from my locker, and returned to the ice.
I skated up to the boards where Adrian was talking to Rip.
“Can you give this to your friend? He looks like he wants to sell a used car or something. Tell him to put this on.”
Rip cackled while Adrian grabbed the jersey that I tossed over the protective plexiglass. “That’s so nice of you. I don’t think Sterling’s ever been to a sports game. He asked me why everyone was dressed the same.”
Of course he hadn’t. That would be fun, and the man didn’t believe in enjoying himself.
The game was frustrating, with the Icers constantly on me, but I forced some errors on them and managed to only allow one goal. We were a little slow on offense—to be expected after a break—and the game ended in a tie. Rip scored our only goal.
Coach wasn’t happy and let us hear his displeasure.
“Sloppy, lazy play. Unforced errors, missed opportunities. For fuck’s sake, you looked like a team of rookies or a minor-league team.
Not the two-time Stanley Cup champions. I’d better see more of an effort on Monday night when we play the Drifts. ”
I winced and saw that Coach’s words hit everyone else just as hard. There was no joking around or laughter as we hit the bikes, then showered and dressed.
Rip and Seb had their heads together, but instead of excluding me as they usually did, Rip waved me over.
“Denis, c’mere.”
I wondered what he had in mind and if it involved Sterling. “Yes? What’s up?”
“Adrian and I are going to dinner, and we were wondering if you wanted to join us.”
I quirked a brow. “And be a third wheel? I’ve done enough of that, mon ami. But thanks for the invitation.”
“What if there was a fourth? Adrian said Sterling is coming as well.”
“Is he? Well, in that case, I wouldn’t want him to be the extra man and feel uncomfortable.”
“You’re a trouper,” Rip drawled and shut his locker. “I said we’d meet them outside.”
I grabbed my suit jacket, slipped my arms through it, and smoothed any wrinkles in my shirt.
I could admit to being a bit of a fashionista and had even done some modeling in the off-seasons.
I checked the mirror to make sure my hair was sleek.
Rip, Seb, and I walked out, and after signing autographs and taking pictures with fans, found Adrian and Sterling waiting for us.
Adrian’s face lit up, and he and Rip kissed as though they’d been parted for days, not a few hours.
Sterling stood by awkwardly, and I had to fill the silence. “Young love, what can I say?” At his stoic expression, I tried again. “Did you enjoy the game?”
“I did. Thanks for having me.”
I grinned. “I didn’t invite you. It was a shock to me.”
Pink bloomed in his cheeks. Was he pink everywhere? I hadn’t forgotten touching him, my fingers teasing under his towel for even that brief moment. The skin of his belly was smooth, and I wanted more.
“You know what I mean. Oh, here.” He handed me the jersey, and I frowned. “I didn’t wear it.”
“Why are you returning it?”
His expression ranged from confused to uncomfortable. “I don’t—it’s not like I wear these sorts of things. It’ll just sit in my drawer.”
Damn. Could the man be any more uptight? Plus, it was kind of rude. “Keep it anyway,” I brushed him off. “I have a million of them. I give them away all the time.” Untrue, but he didn’t have to know that.
“All right. Thanks.”
Arms around each other, Rip and Adrian had finished their lovefest, and Rip asked, “What do you all feel like eating?”
“I’m up for anything. And thank you for inviting me.” It was gracious of Adrian and Rip to include me. None of my other exes even kept in touch with me. I’d like to think Rip and I would have been friends even if we weren’t playing for the same team.
“Of course.” Adrian’s smile was bright. “How about Junior’s? It’s right over here, and they’ve got something for everyone. I know Sterling likes to eat pretty healthy, and I think they have salads and stuff you might like.”
“Thanks,” Sterling said. “I’m fine with wherever.”
“No cheesecake for you?” I enjoyed poking at him. “Everyone needs a little indulgence once in a while.”
“I try not to eat sugar. It’s not good for you. I’m surprised you’d eat empty calories like that with your training schedule.”
“There’s all kinds of cake,” I responded with a wink and his face flushed.
“Okay, let’s go. Junior’s it is.” Rip took Adrian’s hand, and Sterling and I followed.
We were seated at a table in the back of the restaurant, away from the crowd. That didn’t stop people from taking our picture or asking for autographs while we walked through.
“It doesn’t bother you, all the people asking for your time when you’re just trying to eat a meal?” Sterling frowned.
I’d noticed several people had recognized him, whispering behind their hands and surreptitiously taking pictures, and wondered if he minded being linked with us.