Chapter 34
Rome
We get back to L.A. late, after two in the morning, and while Billie goes home, I crash at my mom’s.
It’s just easier than trying to explain that we both got home around the same time after both being gone all day.
I’m already worried about that photographer and while it could turn out to be nothing, it could also blow up in our faces.
As much as I don’t want to get traded or go into the off-season without a contract, I’m more worried about her than myself.
I don’t want to come between the two of them.
I’m not overly fond of Bodi, but he stepped up to take care of his teenage sister and that says a lot about the man he is.
I don’t have to like him to respect him—and the sacrifices he made to make sure his sister had everything she needed.
He’s overprotective and kind of a dick sometimes, but he looks out for her. I have to give him credit for that. She shouldn’t have to choose between us, and I’m afraid that’s what it’ll boil down to.
When we first started, I held on to the belief that Bodi would come around, but I don’t know anymore. He’s closed off with me, like he subconsciously suspects something, and I can’t tell if he genuinely doesn’t like me or if he’s just focused on his own life.
The other side of that is that Billie is special and I don’t want to lose her. I’d give her up if it was better for her, but I hope it doesn’t come to that.
Our day together in San Diego just reinforced how good it could be—if I let it. If I allow myself to fall for her, to let go of the trauma of my past relationships. The last thing I want is for Billie to become ex-wife number three.
Fuck, I hate the indecision. I asked for a little more time and she gave it to me. She didn’t even hesitate. She just looked into my eyes, decided she liked what she saw, and said yes.
How the fuck did I get so lucky? She’s the whole damn package, breaking down every one of my defenses one word, one kiss, one heartbeat at a time.
“Dude.” Marty sinks down next to me in the dressing room as I start to get undressed.
“What’s up?” The seriousness of his tone gives me pause.
“You need to see something.” He glances around, decides no one is paying attention to us, and then hands me his phone.
Christ.
There are two pictures of Billie and me on the street in San Diego, one where she’s kissing me and the other of us holding hands as we walk.
It’s on some obscure sports page with the headline “L.A. Phantoms defenseman Rome Castellano gets romantic with unknown woman before start of next playoff series.”
“Who else has seen it?”
“No one that I know of. Stevie spends a lot of time on social media, and she stumbled across it. But she’s always looking for ways to promote herself and her brand, so she does deep dives into everything to do with the team, just to see what’s out there.”
“Fuck.” I sink down next to him and shake my head. “We’re holding out for the end of the season, when there will be minimal chance of it impacting the team.”
“I know, but this might go wrong if he sees it. I mean, it’s hard to tell it’s her if you don’t know who she is, the pictures aren’t great but?—”
“He’ll know.”
“What are you going to do?”
I hesitate. “Nothing. I’m not going to blow things up during the playoffs if I can help it. If Stevie was looking and she had to dig, maybe it’ll disappear. I’ve never heard of this site.”
“Me either.” He sticks his phone in his pocket. “But I thought you should have a head’s up.”
“I appreciate it.” I clap him on the shoulder and then finish stripping out of my street clothes.
Somehow, shit always hits the fan for me.
Hopefully, we’ll get through practice today and head to Vegas tomorrow with Bodi none the wiser.
Game two in Vegas is electric. The crowd is loud and excited, and even though we have pretty good representation since L.A.
is close enough for lots of our fans to attend, it’s not the same as being on home ice.
Their record was slightly better than ours so they have home ice advantage, and this is one of the drawbacks.
We’re prepared, though, and somehow manage to eke out wins for games one and two, so we’re in high spirits when we get back to the locker room.
A bunch of reporters fill the room, swarming Coach Vanek as well as Gabe, who broke the record for playoff wins by a goalie with tonight’s win.
I had two assists so I’m feeling pretty proud of myself too.
Sometimes the puck just hits your stick and you’re in the perfect position to either shoot or pass—and tonight I did a lot of both.
“Cassie.” A reporter I know from one of the bigger networks approaches with an outstretched hand.
“Hey, Clark.” I shake it and nod.
“You were hot tonight. Nothing like finding your second wind at the end of your career, eh?”
Fuck him.
I manage to smile through my annoyance. “I’m just getting started,” I say.
“Anything to do with the new girlfriend?”
My eyes narrow slightly.
If I deny it, and he saw the pictures from San Diego, it could blow up. But if I play it cool, and keep him happy, maybe he’ll go the fuck away before anyone hears him. He’s not even recording, so I opt to play it cool.
“A good woman is always a bonus,” is all I say.
“Who is she? No one seems to know her name.”
“And no one will until I’m good and ready. Good to see you, man.” I turn and head for the showers. The sooner I get the hell out of the spotlight, the better.
I take a quick shower and make my way to the dressing room, pulling on my suit.
Even though we’re going right to the hotel, we’re still expected to wear suits when we arrive and leave the arena.
It’s a bit of an antiquated rule, one that’s rumored to be on the chopping block, but until then we have to do it.
Pulling out my phone, I send Billie a quick text to let her know I’ll be back at the hotel soon.
She’s not here because we couldn’t figure out a way to make it happen.
She could certainly room with me—lots of the wives and girlfriends come to the away games—but there would be no way to hide her presence from Bodi.
It isn’t ideal but she opted to stay in L.A.
“Castellano—where the fuck are you?!”
Uh oh.
That’s Bodi’s voice.
I turn, bracing myself because I’m positive the cat’s out of the bag.
“What the fuck is this?” He thrusts his phone at me.
I don’t have to look at the screen to know what he saw, so I just stand there, waiting for the inevitable explosion, hoping against hope he’ll remember where we are and what we’re dealing with.
“I asked you a question,” he snarls.
“You asked me what this—” I motion to his phone. “—is. I figured it was rhetorical.”
“Do you think this is some kind of joke?” He walks closer until we’re chest to chest. “I fucking told you my sister was off-limits. Then I see a picture of the two of you kissing in San Diego?”
I don’t respond since there’s nothing to say and we’re starting to draw attention from the rest of the team.
“Are you fucking my sister?” he demands when I still don’t respond.
“You really want to do this here? With the press right outside?”
“I don’t give a damn—answer the motherfucking question.”
“I’ve been dating your sister, yes.”
He moves fast and even though I could have ducked, I figure I owe him one shot. He catches me in the jaw, and I let the pain ricochet through my system before I turn back to him.
“You done?”
“No, I’m not fucking done!” He swings again, but this time I move out of the way. That seems to piss him off and he lunges, catching me around the middle and slamming me back against the lockers.
“Knock it off, Bodi!” I hiss under my breath, grabbing his arms.
“Fuck you! I told you not to touch her!” He swings again, catching me in the ribs and I’ve had about enough.
I don’t want to kick his ass, but I can.
And I will. He’s a decent enough hockey player, but he has no idea what a real tough guy can do. I won’t hurt him, but I’m not going to sit here and take it either.
“Knock it off.” I shove him back but he lunges again, this time hard enough to take us both to the ground.
“Jesus fuck—Big Bang, get in here!” I don’t know who called for Jensen, the biggest guy on the team, but I’ve got Bodi in a choke hold.
“Settle down—we can take this?—”
“Fuck all the way off!” Bodi twists and squirms free, swinging wildly.
“What the hell is wrong with you two?” I recognize Coach Vanek’s voice but can’t see him because Bodi has lost his ever-loving mind, swinging and kicking like he’s on something.
Jensen steps in, lifts him off me while Blake and Connor block him from coming at me again.
“I fucking told you she wasn’t available—she’s still a kid! What the fuck is wrong with you?!” There’s blood dripping from Bodi’s nose and one eye is starting to swell, but his face is twisted in fury.
“She’s not a kid, God dammit!” I snap.
“This is about a woman?” The vein throbbing in Coach’s forehead tells me we’re about to be in a world of hurt, but Bodi just won’t stop.
“I told him to stay away from her—he assaulted my sister!”
“Jesus Christ, Bodi. Shut the fuck up,” Marty interjects. “They’re dating . No one assaulted anyone.”
“How the fuck would you know?” He glares at Marty.
“Because she confided in Stevie!”
The room is deadly quiet, teammates and support staff almost rooted in place as they watch the scene play out. Bodi continues to yell accusations and insults while I keep my mouth shut.
I want to defend myself but Bodi is embarrassing himself, and there’s a part of me that feels bad for him.
Whatever it is that’s got Bodi all twisted up inside when it comes to his sister goes deeper than anything we’re going to deal with tonight, and there’s no point in adding insult to injury.
Plus, I know Billie wouldn’t want me to fire back, not like this.
“Get him out of here—see if you can get him on the plane without anyone else hearing him.” Coach is looking at Jensen. Then he turns to me. “And you—I want to see you in my office first thing tomorrow unless you hear otherwise. Understand?”
“Yeah, Coach.” I grab my bag.
“Keep them apart on the flight!” Coach yells after us.
“I’m sorry, man.” Marty walks out with me.
“Thanks for having my back.”
“Well, I wasn’t going to get involved until he started talking about assault. We all know that’s not true.”
“Yeah.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I have no fucking idea.”