Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
RHETT
Fuck.
I should have known last night was a mistake. Don’t get me wrong, it was enjoyable, and it felt great to be back with Francesca, but it was too much too soon.
She was gone by the time I woke up this morning. Late for practice, I might add. Her bags, clothes, everything. It was as if she was never here.
But that’s not what set me on edge. It started as soon as I woke up, and the anger only built from there.
The stupid fucking team chat keeps going off every fifteen seconds with a new text talking about the new PR Hottie and what they can do to get some one on one time with her.
A few of the rookies are planning to walk past her office after practice and check her out.
Others are planning on asking her to join them for a drink at the bar tonight.
My hand wraps around my phone in a death grip, and I resist the urge to throw my phone against the wall.
After throwing on a pair of gym shorts and a sharks t-shirt, I head into the kitchen and grab a pre-made protein shake out of the refrigerator.
I finish getting ready for practice and head straight to the arena while drinking my shake. I’m already late so I have to walk by myself, but today, I don’t mind.
All eyes turn to me as I walk into the locker room. I finish my shake and throw the bottle away before making my way to my corner.
The locker to my left is empty, meaning Spencer is already on the ice or he’s upstairs with Arturo. If he’s upstairs, he’s probably already seen Chessie, and for some reason, that thought makes me jealous.
I had plans to wake up early and make us breakfast before getting her keys to her apartment.
Did she stop by the office this morning before leaving? Or did she carry her bags all the way here?
Damn it. This wasn’t how today was supposed to be.
No one says anything to me as I change into my practice gear, but they continue with their crude remarks about Francesca.
One of the guys, probably Hall, says, “I wonder if she still looks the same from the pictures the paper posted last week. She looks pretty hot in black and white. She’d probably look great in my bed.”
Phoenix Young, our other defenseman to Gage Roberts, laughs and says, “Yeah, not happening. She doesn’t want a guy that can’t wash his own sheets.”
He gets a few chuckles from the other players.
The next voice to speak causes my muscles to tighten. It’s none other than Chase Williams, our newest rookie.
“Nah, she looks better in person. I saw her walk in this morning wearing the tiniest pair of jean shorts, looking absolutely stunning. I can imagine those legs wrapped around my waist for a night or two.”
I keep my back toward the team as my muscles twitch and anger builds inside my body. If I have to see the smug look on his face, I might actually hit him.
The rookie adds, “Yep, she was even representing the team. Pretty cool that she already had a shirt before her first day.”
The anger subsides marginally. Either she had a shirt in her backpack from two years ago when we were together, or she took one of my shirts this morning before she left. Either way, she’s wearing one of my shirts, and that thought excites me a little.
I finish changing and head out to the ice, putting some distance between Rookie and me.
Gage bumps into me from behind. “Hey, man. Are you good?”
“Yeah, just peachy.” I mumble as I step onto the ice.
He shakes his head. “Well, whatever it is that’s bothering you needs to be shoved to the back of your mind for the next few hours. The press is here today to do a story on the team and how well they think we will do this season.”
“Probably horrible, just like last season. ”
It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Hell, it’d be a surprise if we end the year with a winning season.
I’d probably die if we actually made it to the playoffs.
“Don’t be like that, man. We have a lot of great talent on the team.”
The team files out of the tunnel, with half of them taking the benches. Glancing over, I see Rookie smirking about something he just said.
I raise my voice so the players on the benches can hear.
“We have our first game in just eight days and we aren’t playing like we’re ready. But then again, if the rookies would get their heads out of their asses and pay more attention to the game and not to the new employees, we could have a shot this year.”
Chase Williams shoots me a glare before turning to the guy next to him.
Gage chuckles and whispers, “You’re going to have to deal with that later. Much later though, not when cameras are around. And by that, I mean both Williams and Francesca.”
I shake my head. “Fuck the media. There isn’t anything they could say that I haven’t thought of already. Our team isn’t vibing like we once did and no amount of practice is going to fix that.”
He pulls me further away from the benches and lowers his voice so only I can hear him.
“Then what do you suggest? You, Reed, and Marino walk out of practice all the time with no explanation, like you’re all in on some shit. I’m one of your closest friends and I don’t even know what’s going on in your life anymore. The team can’t rely on you as our captain.”
He sighs and cracks his knuckles. “Look, I was there for you after Francesca left two years ago, and I’ll be here for you now that she’s back. But if you want the team to be better, then you’re going to have to take some responsibility for how they’re acting.”
I slowly nod as my gaze makes its way to Williams. “You’re right, and I’m sorry. I wish I could tell you more, but I can’t. I have some shit I have to take care of, but when and if I can talk about it, I’ll find you.”
That’s the downfall of being in the mafia. Sure, people might know and speculate about the Marinos, but if we don’t speak about it, then we can’t be charged with anything unless they have solid proof.
They never do, though, so it stays a mystery for most of the community. Only those that need to know about our operations, do.
Coach starts practice, but my mind is elsewhere. My heart just isn’t really in the game anymore. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind never playing another game again, except I love being on the ice.
I loved playing years ago, especially when Francesca would come to watch and support me, but over the past two years, it’s just become another reminder of the life I once wanted.
The life I was so close to having.
Rookie laughs like a hyena at something he just heard from his line mate before yelling out, “No way! Really?”
The other players know better than to encourage the gossip and drama, but they don’t correct him. They let him keep making jokes like we aren’t days away from our home opener.
Like I’m not Francesca’s ex.
That’s alright, let him dig his hole deeper and deeper.
He’ll get what is coming.
Coach slams his clipboard down on the railing and barks out, “Williams, shut the fuck up and get on the ice, or I’ll have you doing drills for the rest of today’s practice. Your choice.”
Rookie stakes by me in a blur before turning around and stopping a foot away. Cold ice sprays in my face, and I hear several teammates gasp.
“What do you want, asshole?” I growl out.
“So, I heard through the vine that the new Director of Public Relations is free meat for the choosing. You’re best friends with Marino. What’s his sister like?”
I close the gap between us and shove him. “You’re fucking with the wrong person, Williams.”
He leans his head back and guffaws. “What are you going to do, old man?”
Before I can’t stop myself, my fist flies through the air and lands on his jaw.
Coach yells out, “Hey! Knock it off, you two.”
I skate away, putting some distance between myself and William. “Keep it up and there will be more. I don’t give a fuck if media is here today. You need to learn your place.”
My fellow winger and best friend, Spencer Reed, skates over to me and pulls me to the side. His expression is grim.
I groan, knowing I’m not going to like what he has to say. “Is this work related, or work related?”
He leans in closer and lowers his voice. “Did you hear the newest shipment is being delayed? It’s not coming for another three days.”
“This shit can’t keep happening. We’re going to have to make sure they know it’s not acceptable.”
Reed grins and cracks his knuckles. “I’m looking forward to it. I need to get some frustration out. I don’t have a hot ex-girlfriend leaving my apartment at the crack of dawn.”
My eyes widen. “You saw her?”
He grins. “Yeah, but she didn’t see me. She actually went to see Darla. Was there a problem with her apartment?”
“Her plane was late last night and Darla didn’t leave her keys, so she crashed at my place.”
He raises his eyebrow at me. “So nothing happened last night? Damn, that’s a shame. I was hoping for all the juicy details.”
“I never said nothing happened. I just said she crashed at my place.”
“Hell yeah, man. I’m happy for you two.”
I shake my head. “We aren’t back together. Sure, things happened, and then I cooked us dinner and we went to bed. It’s weird, though. To have her back and to be with her after all these years.”
“Does she know that we’re working for Arturo?”
I shake my head again. “If she does, she’s keeping it a secret. And that’s another thing- the secrets. There are so many secrets between us. I can’t start a relationship with her while lying about my whereabouts. She’ll immediately think I’m cheating.”
“It sounds like you need to have a long talk with her.”
“Yeah, like I have all the free time in the world between practice, patrols, and deliveries.” I roll my eyes, causing him to laugh and slap me on my back.
“I’ll cover for you whenever you find your balls and sit down with her.”
Rookie skates over to us and says, “If you two want to stand here and flirt with one another, so be it, but I want practice to end. I have plans to ask out a certain dark-haired woman. Seriously, she’s like a wet dream come true.”
I slam him into the boards. “I’ve had enough of your shit, Rookie.”
My fists fly through the air, landing on his cheek and ribs. “Leave her the fuck alone, Williams.”
The cocky smirk returns on his face. “Why? She doesn’t belong to anyone.”
“She’s mine. ” I growl out.
“She left you two years ago. Clearly, she’s ready for a real man.”
Coach yells out for me, but all I see is red. “Williams. Montgomery. ”
Rookie pushes me off of him and catches me off guard, landing a fist on my cheekbone. The flesh flames from the impact as the pain radiates up to my forehead and down to my jaw.
There’s bound to be a bruise there tomorrow.
The flash of several cameras breaks the two of us apart, despite the anger still flowing through our bodies. We’re going to have a lot of explaining to do, and based on the expression on Coach’s face, we’re going to be skating drills all day.
“You hit like an old man. I barely felt anything.” Rookie tries to start more shit, but I turn around and skate away. His voice stops me in my tracks.
“It’s no wonder Francesca left you. She couldn’t trust that you’d protect her.”
When her name comes out of his mouth, the anger inside of me turns into white hot rage.
My fists pummel him, landing blow after blow on his chest, stomach, and ribs. He hits back with equal anger.
A hand wraps around my arm as my fist is in the air, pulling me off of Williams. Turning around, I see the confusion, anger, and shock on Joey Marino’s face. “Dude, what the fuck?”
I let Joey pull me away from Williams as more cameras flash, but I freeze, like ice water filling my veins. The cameras aren’t the reason I stop in my tracks.
Standing at the gate leading to the tunnel are Francesca and Arturo Marino, with matching scowls on their faces .
Like father, like daughter, I guess.
Sure, I could explain what set me off, and Arturo would immediately understand. After all, I was standing up for his daughter. Eventually Francesca would forgive me and understand my reasoning as well, but at the end of the day, I fucked up.
Big time.
The reporters whisper to one another as gossip among the players echo throughout the arena.
“She left him a couple of years ago.”
“You can see the way they look at each other.”
“He still cares about her.”
“Rook shouldn’t be talking about her bangability in front of Montgomery after we warned him in the locker room.”
“Rook’s dead meat.”
Francesca must be hearing some of the gossip because her anger subsides slightly, and her expression softens as she looks at me, but it turns deadly when her gaze meets Rookie’s.
I’ll have some ass kissing to do later with both Arturo and Francesca, but Rookie is going to need a miracle to get out of this unscathed.