Chapter 26
Saint
“What in God’s name is this shit?” Steven asked as he held up his phone. The photographs from the Sungazer were on the screen. “And what the hell is that smell? You reek like you bathed in mayonnaise.”
I didn’t hang around for him to continue chastising me. I’d had enough bullshit for the night. I headed into the kitchen, grumbling under my breath as I did. The night had turned to shit and I felt as if I was to blame for it.
What bothered me more than anything was the pictures in the news rag. While there was no way they could be substantiated, the fact I had sixteen messages on my phone meant the damage had already been done.
Just as I grabbed a beer, Steven entered the room. “Why do you look all greasy?”
“People were hounding me at the house. One got several seriously risqué pictures being tossed around on Instagram, damning pictures of me in shifter form appearing in a national rag magazine, and you’re worried about why I smell like a pasta salad?”
He grinned. “Toss me a beer and yeah, I need to know.”
I threw the bottle at him which he caught easily. “Man, I don’t know what I’m going to do. This shit is getting out of hand.”
“Because you’re feeding into it. A fiancée? Come on. Who in their right mind would buy that shit?” He took a long pull on his beer when I didn’t say anything. “Granted, she’s hot. I’ll be happy to marry her since this is a textbook fake relationship.”
When I bristled and even took a step close to him, he grinned like the looney tune guy I knew him to be. “Just stop,” I growled.
“Wait a minute. You like this girl. It’s not fake to you.”
“Bullshit. It’s very fake. We hate each other.”
“Uh-huh. Whatever you say.”
“Don’t start with me,” I huffed, pointing my finger at him.
“Did you lock her in a cage in the other part of the house?” His laughter made me roll my eyes.
“You don’t know Lily at all. She’d break out using just her teeth. She’s waiting for me. I told her I’d just be a minute. Do you have any wine or something stronger?”
“You know I do. Help yourself. By the way. She’s my kind of girl. How long are you hanging around?”
I shrugged. “Like I said, touch and die. Till after the playoffs.”
“Then what? This story isn’t going to go away and you know it. We knew this day could come. I’m surprised we’ve been able to hide our true selves as long as we have.”
“We’ve done everything right from building this neighborhood to our recreational center.”
He almost spit out his beer. “You mean hunting grounds.”
I shrugged. “Almost no one goes hunting any longer. There’s no need to.
We can get all the meat we need at Costco.
Plus, the flavor is much better than day-old deer or a week-old squirrel.
God, I hate squirrel.” I could almost still taste the last squirrel I’d been goaded into eating since I’d lost a bet.
“There are some old timers who enjoy sitting down with a fresh kill. You know how Granddad was. A true artist when it came to gutting deer.”
We both made a face. “That’s not our generation. Why should we be saddled with what our ancestors did? If you think about it, what’s being said is discrimination.”
He eyed me with an amused look on his face. “O-kay. I’m not certain you’ll find the shifter group added to a list of minorities.”
“Yeah, maybe not, but why hound us?”
“Because they want a story. My God. Why am I telling you this? Anyway, don’t you think it’s a little dangerous bringing your fake or real fiancée here to spend more than a couple hours?”
“I warned her to stay out of the woods.”
He choked on the swallow of beer, spitting the liquid all over me. Now I’d stink like stale beer and mayo. Great. “If she’s as smart as she appears to be. Don’t you think that might force her into asking all kinds of questions?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Oh, I want to see that. Plus, you know our neighbor Charlie Simpkins. He can’t keep his human skin on to save his life.
He spends almost every weekend in the buff grilling hamburgers.
It’s just the oddest thing in the world.
If you’re standing on our balcony, you can see him clear as day.
Not a good look for keeping our secret lives private.
Then there’s Jenny and her husband Tom. They never close their blinds and like to do the nasty in the buff.
Our next-door neighbor, Jeff. I don’t think you’ve met him.
The dude has parties every other weekend and let me tell you, some of the hottest female wolves are always hanging on the man. He’s the real playboy. Not you.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because people feel free to be themselves in this neighborhood. That’s why they pay a hefty fee to live here.
And can you imagine what would happen if Lily just happened to be looking out the window and noticed a naked shifter wearing a chef’s apron grilling burgers and dogs over a hot coal fire?
If you jeopardize the community’s freedom, you’re going to have an entire list of wolf shifters beating down your door. ”
Wincing, I realized I hadn’t thought the escape through. “I’ll keep her busy. Plus, the first game is in Tampa Bay with the Gators.”
“Ouch. Another favorite team.”
“I can handle them.” I wasn’t worried about the Gators. They were all mouth and no follow through. The real rivalry was with the Denver Devils. And my hatred for Rocco the son of a bitch Lorenzo. We went way back and not in a nice way. Every time we sparred, blood had to be cleaned off the ice.
“I bet they’ll handle you in the press if you know what I mean. I heard about the shit with Rocco. Man, oh, man. You’re beginning to lose control.” Steven eyed me carefully.
“He’s a goddamn shifter with attitude.”
“So what? He’s worried someone will notice his super strengths like you should be. Plus, he’s refusing to mate.”
“How the hell do you know this?”
My brother shrugged. “I pay attention.” When I cocked my head, the action insinuating I knew better, he laughed. “Okay, I might have had a couple casual dates with his sister. Nothing long-term, just a fling.”
“You fucked Rocco’s sister?”
“A hottie herself. What’s wrong with that.”
“Let me guess. She thought you wanted more.”
He took a sip of beer, his gaze turning sheepish. “Oops.”
“Fuck you. No wonder the man hates me.”
“He hates you because you’re a much better player. He goads you because you let him.”
“He fucking wants my woman.”
“Now you’re sounding like the Neanderthal I knew you to be. Maybe you should share how you feel with the woman you insist means nothing to you. If you don’t, someone else is going to realize what a catch she is.”
“I don’t need relationship advice from you.” But maybe I did. Hell, I was completely thrown by the way I felt about Lily and not just because of our primal connections.
“Just watch yourself, bro. The Devils need this win, or they’ll likely have to jettison the current team construction.” He kept a grin on his face as he waited until it kicked in what he was suggesting.
“My fucking God. Why didn’t I see it? Rocco used the incident in the bar as a way of derailing my career. If he can’t do that, he wants me to shift in front of people.”
Leaning over, he clapped me on the arm. “Now you’re getting it. See? I’m not the fool you think I am. There was a reason I dated his sister. Especially since Rocco’s younger brother plays in the AHL.”
Maybe I didn’t give my brother enough credit. “You are one evil man.”
“You bet I am. Gleaned everything I know from our dad.” He blew on his knuckles before rubbing them against his shirt.
I closed my eyes and instantly an image of Lily’s naked body covered in mayo shot into my mind. “This is such bullshit. I’ve worked long and hard to get where I am playing hockey.”
“Then don’t allow Rocco and his extortion methods to derail you. Be the star hockey player, not the playboy or the angry asshole no one wants to deal with.”
I’d gritted my teeth so much in the last few days I was grinding down my molars. “That’s where she comes in. She’s making me look good.”
He snorted. “Right. Imagine how hard it’s going to be after more shit hits the fan. I’m sure you will if those sexy pictures I pulled up on IG tell the tale. Not bad, buddy.”
A single sound perked both our sets of ears. With our eyes open wide, we both turned our heads at the same time.
To stare into the wild, contorted, and confused face of my fake but very real tasting fiancée.
Her eyes were wide open.
Her lips were pursed.
Her chest rising and falling from her labored breathing.
The night had just gotten so much worse.
Lily had heard every word we’d said.