CHAPTER SEVEN
There are times a woman wants a man to come and fix a problem, but most of the time they just want you to listen and let them rant and rave. If you try to fix things when they don’t want you to, then you become the problem.
~Text from Jackson to Cade~
Hanna
Dad, Pops, Mike, and Asher have gone off to get beers and some food for all of us.
The match is going to start in a few minutes, and I’m happy to be surrounded by Cara, Emma, Amy, and Mom.
Logan had to work, so he couldn’t make it, but he texted me yesterday that I was gonna be invaded by an uninvited Asher since he’s gone all gung-ho over the whole rugby thing. Good thing I love my brother.
We just found our seats a couple of minutes ago and said our greetings to a couple of the wives I met last time, along with Carter’s sister, May, and Coach’s girlfriend.
I just introduced Mom to everyone, and Cara knew some of them and was introduced to the rest when four women walked by to sit a couple of rows down from us.
They’re close enough that I can tell it’s the four jersey chasers that seem to always be around.
I’m not sure if that Zack guy and Katie are serious or what, but she’s here with the other three who seem to always be around.
Tina looks at me with daggers, and I have no idea why, but my mouth moves before I think better of it.
“You’re glaring awfully hard at me considering we’ve never even had a conversation. What’s got that stick up your ass?”
Carol, standing next to Tina with her hands on her hips, speaks up while Tina just keeps glaring at me. “I don’t know if he got up her ass, but I know Cade was in her bed just a few nights ago.”
Oh, she’s not going there, is she? Time for reality to smack her upside her head. “You mean when they were on the road trip, and he FaceTimed me for hours from his hotel room, or do you mean as soon as he came home and the fact that I’ve been with him since then?”
I watch as I swear steam literally comes out of Tina’s ears as she sputters, trying to figure out what to say when Katie chooses to show her lack of intelligence.
“It’s not like you’re with each other every minute.
He’s been over to Tina’s a number of times.
She’s a real woman. She knows what Cade needs and knows how to please him. ”
Oh, this bitch. I’ve never been thrown out of a place before, but I am my mother’s daughter. I think that’s about to fucking change, but Emma shocks the shit out of me.
“Wild how chicks with STDs still refer to themselves as snacks.” That gets all four of them hot and sputtering to find a comeback when Cara adds to their rage by holding up her hands momentarily and looking at all four of them.
“Okay, food poisoning, calm down. You know she’s just speaking facts.
I also know my son, and he wouldn’t touch any of you with someone else’s dick.
There’s something to be said for not dining at the same place all your buddies have dined at.
The appeal just ain’t there. Now, you four have a choice.
You can turn around and sit your Botoxed asses down, keep to yourselves and watch the match, or I can get security to escort you to the nosebleed section. ”
Tina finally speaks up, and I’m pretty sure her voice was made to grate on my nerves.
“Katie’s dating Zack. Carol and Cindy work for the team, and I’m someone important to Cade.
We all have the right to be here. You trailer trash people don’t.
” Emma’s clearly over this conversation because she gets in Tina’s face and speaks slowly, enunciating every word methodically.
“If you were actually important to Cade, you’d know you just insulted his family, friends, and the woman who’s going to be in his life for the rest of his days.
Now, my mom, you know Cade’s mom, just gave you two options of what you can do.
I’m going to give you a third option. Leave now.
Go home and rethink your choices in life, in friends, and in threats to people who are actually in Cade’s life. ”
Carol, looking like she’s just eaten some rotten fish, glares at all of us. “You don’t have the power to make us move, let alone to kick us out of here.” Before I can say something that will probably cause fists to fly, a deep voice speaks up behind me.
“They might not, but I sure as fuck do. You have two choices in this scenario. Go to the other open seats about twelve sections to the right, or you get out of here and go home. Those are your only options at this point.”
I look over and see a tall man with what I can only describe as a swimmer’s build in a suit.
Broad shoulders—but not super broad like most of the guys on the team.
His steely eyes currently look incredibly angry as they focus on the four jersey chasers.
Tina looks down her nose at him. “And just who are you to think you can throw us out? Katie’s dating Zack after all.
She’s got his jersey on and everything.”
He gives a smile that tells me she will not like his answer. “I’m the new owner, sweetie. I own the team, the stadium, the concrete you’re standing on. That gives me all the power in the world.”
Cindy, speaking up for the first time, looks at him wide-eyed and shows that she’s the only one who might have more than a few brain cells. “We’ll go sit in the other seats. We’ll go right now.”
We all watch them scurry off as Asher and all the guys come back just in time to see the four floozies run off.
He looks at us with a raised eyebrow and sees the man who I only know as the new owner standing next to us.
“Do I want to know what happened, or are we about to be escorted out of here?” Dad, Pops, and Mike stop moving when they hear Asher’s question and look over at us.
They all look like they’ve got a million questions running through their minds.
Luckily, Mr. Young New Owner speaks up and saves us momentarily, at least from having to explain.
“Your ladies are just fine. I was coming to introduce myself to the players' families and important guests, but I had to relocate some misplaced pieces of work before I could. I’m Ethan Walsh. I’m the new owner of the Axemen.
” He shakes all our hands and speaks to Mike and Cara a bit since they’re Cade's parents. He makes the rounds with the other wives and girlfriends for several minutes. By the time he walks back up to us, he’s lost the suit jacket and tie, and rolled-up shirt sleeves expose a number of tattoos.
I think there’s a lot more to this guy than money.
He sits down next to me and gives me a nod in greeting. “Cade informed me that he gets you a connection to the game feed.” I nod, but now I’m worried he’s in trouble for it.
“He does, I hope that’s okay. My distance vision is almost gone, and what little remains is blurry.” Ethan shakes his head.
“That’s more than okay. Actually, when I heard about it, I realized we don’t really have any adaptive options like that available in this stadium.
I mean, yes, we have the ADA requirements fulfilled, but I would love to make access to the game better and get the word out once we do.
I’m wondering if you would be available to bounce ideas off of? ”
He wants my help? Little old me? Answer him, girl! I quickly nod. “I would love to help.” He nods and leans back in the seat.
“You and the other ladies in your family are sharp, quick-witted, and fucking hilarious. My bestie, Mabel, would get along with you. She’s come out of her shell since she got married, but she’d fit right in with you.”
Mom leans over from her seat and looks at Ethan with a questioning look. “That’s not a common name. She wouldn’t be married to someone in a motorcycle club called the Norse Rebels, would she?” Ethan’s eyes widen.
“That’s her! Wait, how do you know her?”
Mom smiles at Ethan. “My men here are Knights Wrath. One of your players is a prospect of ours. Batya organized a girls’ weekend a few months ago, and we met Mabel and a few other ladies from the club.
Great bunch of ladies.” Just like that, Ethan was welcomed into the fold and decided to watch the match with us instead of up in his suite.
My phone dings with an incoming text just as the teams start to come out of the locker room.
Cade: Your feed should be good to go. Meet you outside the locker room afterward. Love you.
I know he won’t get my response till after the match, but I send it off anyway.
Me: Got it ready to go. Kick ass and stay safe. Love you too.
At halftime, we’re down by a try-which I learned is like the rugby version of a touchdown-but equal to five points, but there’s still plenty of time.
From what I’ve learned, the Axemen finish really well, and the Vancouver team seems to lose momentum toward the end, so hopefully that combination will lead to a win.
Ethan’s just come back from chatting with some of the other wives and my parents.
He looks at me, and I feel like he’s studying me, but I don’t feel nervous around him even though he’s the owner of the team.
Maybe it’s because I feel that way that I smile.
“Do I have something on my face or something?”
Ethan bursts out laughing. It takes him a moment to compose himself.
“No, nothing like that. I was just thinking that you and the women of your family here are a force to be reckoned with. The fact that some of you have met my girl Mae along with Astrid and Batya is a truly frightening thought. You all could conquer world domination with a margarita in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.”