Chapter 10 #2
“I need to take this call now that you’re settled and the food is ordered,” Dad says, glancing at his phone. “Check the audio on your thing. I want to know if the rink is too loud for you to work.”
I watch him as he gets up and steps outside, brows drawn down in concern. It’s not like him to walk out unless there’s a good reason for it. Pulling out my laptop, I check the audio while listening with my earbuds, upload it to socials to test it, and then check my personal accounts.
There’s a message from Marilyn in my inbox, and I swallow hard as I decide if I want to open it or not. Dad sits across from me and I smile at him, deciding it’s a sign not to read it yet. Putting my things away, I decide to ask him about the call.
“Who was on the phone?” I ask. “Is everything okay?”
“It was the doctor,” he sighs. My anxiety jolts before he shakes his head. “I had a physical recently, and they just want to run more tests when I get back. I need to eat better, things like that. You’re my excuse to eat at restaurants with healthier options.”
“I’ll gladly be your cover,” I tease him as the food arrives. It smells incredible, and I discover that my hunger is worse than I originally thought.
Tearing into my food, I hum happily.
“Good, because I plan to exploit it,” he smirks, digging into his food. I’m glad to see there’s loads of veggies on his bowl, along with arugula and grilled chicken.
Dad isn’t really an unhealthy eater that I’ve seen. Something doesn’t ring true about his words, and I find myself worrying about him as we eat.
“What exactly is the doctor worried about?” I ask him, sipping my water.
“He said I have high cholesterol, which could mean anything. Most people my age have that,” he shrugs. “I’m fine. I’m also going to drag you to the hotel gym in the morning. I tend to stagnate on exercise when we travel.”
“The team uses the gym,” I remind him as I eat. My descenting spray doesn’t work as well when I sweat.
“We’ll go before the rest of them are up,” he says. “You can take a nap. We are here for two nights, playing two different teams. It’ll be a nice change of pace. The team wants to go out to a bar after the game tonight. A couple of our players have siblings on the opposing team we’re playing.”
“That’s awkward,” I observe.
“Eh, it happens,” he says. “Inevitably, siblings go into the sport and end up on different teams. If they’re on good terms with each other, it’s not an issue.”
“That’ll be fun for them to see each other after,” I say noncommittally.
“Ah, how would you feel about coming with us?” he asks. “I need to be there.”
“Okay,” I sigh. “I’ll stick to a booth, grab a drink, and work from there. Bars aren’t really my scene, Dad. I don’t want to get behind on my work either.”
“I know,” he nods. “Rían has a friend who is planning to meet him, and he offered to hang out with you.”
“That poor guy,” I groan, finishing up my food. “I appreciate him so much because he also reminds me to drink water like a plant, but I feel bad.”
Dad snorts, coughing violently on the water he was trying to swallow.
“Please don’t choke,” I say, shaking my head at him.
“This is your fault,” he crows goodnaturedly. “Who the hell says they’re a plant?”
“Me?” I reply. “I feel like I tend to forget to do basic self care.”
“Eating and drinking isn’t self care,” Dad says. “They’re necessary.”
“Mmhmm,” I tease him. “I tend to get so busy that I’ll ignore the signs that I’m hungry or thirsty.”
“Well, I have alarms set for shit like that because I get just as bad,” he says, clearing his throat. “I want to make sure we pick up salads for lunch for the fridge in one of the back rooms they give the traveling team. This way it’s easier to get healthy meals.”
I stare at him for a moment, noticing how his cheeks heat.
“I told you, we’re going to make sure we both survive the insanity of traveling with the team,” he says, asking for the check.
Dad tosses cash over it as we get up to leave, and I think about his words as we walk out to the car. I’m not sure if this is a come to Jesus moment for him, or if he really is just trying to make this transition easier for us both.
He’s never been this careful before, and I used to travel a lot with the team in between attending classes. In high school, they agreed to offer me a hybrid of sorts so I wouldn’t miss school, and that’s how I graduated a semester early.
Dad deposits me in a room surrounded by Dragons staff after we both went to the hotel to change. He’ll be going over things with the associate coaches, giving pep talks and the like to the team, and this is the best way to keep me safe in an unknown place while he does all that.
My back is to a wall at a little table, and I’m facing the room at my location.
It’s the best way for me to be able to relax and lose myself in my work.
Everyone on staff here has been nice, and they’re aware of the consequences of upsetting me.
I’m sure I appear to be some kind of wilting flower, but I’m slowly finding my strength.
It’s a dance of emotions every day, some more manageable than others. It’s louder here than at the rink due to the smaller space, but I can work around that.
Putting in my earbuds, I listen to music as I pull up my message box again on my socials. Taking a breath, I decide to put on my big girl panties and open the damn thing.
I immediately regret it, because it seems that Marilyn Mansfield is also a stalker of sorts.
Hello, Caelia.
Not all hockey players can be painted with the same brush, and I would never pursue this if I believed any of my players could ever cause you harm.
As a woman, I would never do that, as I am very protective of anyone I reach out to for a date with my team’s players. These are upstanding alphas, and I would put my reputation on the line for any of them.
This is more than a publicity stunt, I believe that too much testosterone creates an imbalance for alphas. I have a working theory that omega energy is important for them to be around. I am looking out for their health in this too.
If you’re willing to give Levon a shot, I heard that the Dragons would be at Martin’s tonight. The Scorpions are going there as well.
Is it okay for him to say hello to you?
Best, Marilyn
Shaking my head, I grumble about this in my mind. There’s no way out of this without being a complete bitch about it. Opening another browser, I check to see where the Scorpions are playing tonight.
Of course they’re in Atlanta. Fucking kill me.
Hi Marilyn,
If he sees me, he’s welcome to say hello.
Caelia
Sending the message, I sign out and open up my editing programs to help distract me from the gravity of what I just did. I have to admit that the Dragon hockey players make it easy to create content for them.
It may seem silly to others, but I have no experience talking to men. I’ve had no interest, and flirting, if I find myself inclined to do so, will not be pretty.
How do I get myself into these situations?
LEVON
Since the team planned to go out tonight, I packed a pair of dark denim wash jeans, a long sleeved shirt, a long coat and loafers. Don’t knock it, they’re comfortable.
Shuffling out of the stadium, I wrap my arm around Santo. Now that we’re official, I can show him lots of public affection. I think he’s still trying to wrap his head around it.
“Come with us tonight?” I ask, pulling him close.
“Really?” he asks.
“The staff bus is making a trip to the hotel and then continuing to the bar,” Coach Miles says as he passes us.
I swear, he has insane hearing ability.
“Is that an invite?” Santo teases him.
“Pretty sure I told you to get your ass on the bus and come,” Coach says, climbing onto the bus.
“His job is to boss us around,” I shrug. “I‘ll see you in a bit.”
Santo smirks before he kisses me, making sure to push his tongue into my mouth so he can suck hard on it before he releases me.
There’s no press at this exit as they’re not allowed here.
I’d gladly kiss him in front of the cameras any day, and grin as my teammates whoop and make noises as they disappear onto the bus.
“You know, something to think about until you see me later,” he says, his hand ghosting down my pants.
“Fuck, I fully expect you to do something with that when… fuck me…”
Santo is squeezing my cock and my eyes roll back, his back shielding me from everyone else.
“Be a good boy,” he croons, making me gasp.
“What do I get if I am?” I hiss.
“Me,” he winks, letting me go and stepping back.
“Baby, that ship has sailed. I have you,” I wink.
“That’s true, I’ll have to figure something else out,” Santo chuckles, walking away as I board the bus.
“Blue knot! Blue knot!” The chant begins as my cheeks heat and I can’t stop grinning as I find a seat.
“To be continued!” I yell, laughing as the bus cheers. Fuck, I do love my team.
I may be difficult to be around at times, but none of them blinked when Santo and I essentially announced we were dating.
I pinched his ass when he walked past, and the team congratulated us.
It wasn’t overly complicated, there wasn’t a press release, and I don’t plan for there to be one unless it becomes necessary.
I try to hold onto my privacy whenever possible. That’s another reason why I hate Marilyn’s idea so much. If I wanted to date women, I would.
Deciding to grab a beer while I wait for Santo once we arrive at a bar called Martin’s, I walk inside and orient myself.
“Hey, did Marilyn tell you?” Coach Miles asks, stopping beside me.
“No,” I groan. “What is the wretched woman torturing me with now?”
“Remember the girl she wanted you to meet?” he asks. At my tenuous nod, he inclines his head in the direction of a booth. “She’s here.”
Carefully leaning forward, I see a girl with pitch black hair pulled up into a messy bun, beautiful hazel eyes, wearing a long sleeved striped shirt under a band tee and ripped jeans.
I know who that is.