Chapter 12
SANTO
My head is a mess as I watch Roger dart through the room to get an ice pack for one of our players. I want to ask him if he can get Caelia’s number for me. I don’t know how such a short interaction managed to rewire my brain chemistry, but it has.
I’m on autopilot as I make my rounds with the players, massaging aching muscles for players after the game and getting them into ice baths. We’re still in Georgia tonight, but I have more time before traveling again tomorrow to make sure everyone is taken care of.
“Hey, make sure you use the hotel pool tonight,” I tell Deacon as I watch him rub his shoulder. “I saw it’s open late, and you shouldn’t have any problems running into fans.”
“Yeah, Doc. Thanks,” he says. Deacon had a rough game tonight, and the water will help stretch and relax those muscles.
Once we’re home, he’ll be able to use other facilities, but traveling always means we have to use what’s available.
Moving on, I try to lose myself in my work, until there’s nothing else to do but get on the staff bus back to the hotel. We’re all tired, so Miles agreed that an early night is necessary.
Sitting by myself, I pull out my phone and aimlessly scroll on a social media app that has mostly videos.
Since I work with hockey players, my algorithm is pushing that type of content into my feed.
A New Orleans Dragons hockey video pops up and I nearly roll my eyes before I remember that Caelia must have made it.
I can’t help but click on their profile and watch the different videos. She’s really good, but I have to watch them without any volume due to being on the bus.
When we arrive, I walk into the hotel, knowing that Levon will be here a little later because the players take longer to load the bus.
I’m not sure what my plans will be while I wait, but I find myself sitting in bed wearing a low slung pair of sleeping pants, looking up Caelia’s personal profile on the platform I’m on.
Would she reply if I messaged her?
Me
Hi, Caelia.
Ugh, I hate that I don’t know how to talk to her. I can flirt and dominate Levon without a second thought, but I have no idea how to start a conversation with this pretty little omega.
Dropping my head back on the pillow, I berate myself until I feel a message come through the vibration of the phone. Taking a deep breath, I peek at it as if I’m afraid it’ll bite me.
Caelia
Is stalking going to become a thing now?
A dark chuckle escapes my lips as I prop my head up on my fist.
Me
Is it really stalking if the universe keeps offering us opportunities to run into each other? Today, I blame my phone’s algorithm.
Ok, I may not suck at this after all.
Caelia
I think that’s low when this account only trends for those looking for very specific things. I don’t know why you’re messaging me when you’re obviously in a relationship.
Me
If it helps, I don’t either. Levon and I are pack and in a relationship, but we’re interested in learning more about you. Isn’t that how dating works?
Caelia
I don’t date hockey players.
I know there’s a story there and blow out a breath as the door opens.
“Hey babe,” I call out, my fingers already moving across the screen.
Me
Lucky for me, I’m a doctor, not a hockey player. I can’t even skate.
“What are you doing?” Levon asks. “You’re smiling.”
“I’m talking to Caelia,” I explain, glancing up. “Is that okay? I mean—”
“Of course it’s okay,” he says, smirking as he begins to undress. My eyes move over every muscle and divot in his body, causing Levon to give me a heated glance. “Besides, I get those looks every time I undress. I am very secure in the fact that you love my dick.”
“I love more than that,” I mutter unthinkingly. My eyes widen, while Levon winks at me.
“I heard that. No backpeddling,” he says. “What does Caelia have to say for herself?”
“Not much, other than not dating hockey players,” I admit. “I don’t think I was introduced as anything outside of your boyfriend.”
“We didn’t have enough time to talk about your big brain,” Levon agrees, to which I throw a pillow at him as he laughs.
Dressed in nothing at all, he crawls onto the king sized bed.
“Please, continue talking to her,” he says as my eyes stay on his pierced dick.
“You don’t play fair,” I mutter.
“Not even on the ice, Daddy,” Levon teases me as I groan.
I am officially hard as fuck.
Glancing at my phone, I see Caelia’s message.
Caelia
Not being able to skate isn’t the flex you think it is.
Snorting, I show Levon my phone.
“Oh she’s fun,” he says. “Another brat to add to our pack.”
Fuck. That makes me think about how much things are changing.
“We’re on the road so much. How does this even work?” I ask.
“So is she,” Levon reminds me. “We need to get her to agree to a proper date before we can talk about the future.”
“Hmm,” I say noncommittally, though he’s right. I’m usually so careful about things, but Levon took me by surprise when I started working with the Scorpions, just like Caelia is now.
Levon scrolls mindlessly on his phone, giving me time to think while I write Caelia back.
Me
Maybe I need a good teacher. Would you teach me?
Caelia
You have an expert skater who is probably with you now. Don’t play coy with me, Doctor.
“Fuck. She called me Doctor,” I groan.
“Oh, look at her,” he teases before sobering.
“What?” I ask, adjusting myself so I’m sitting upright.
“There’s a story being run that a puck bunny broke into a Dragon hockey player’s room,” he murmurs, his eyes moving over the screen as he silently reads.
“Shit. Levon, you can’t stop talking after that,” I hiss.
“Sorry, sorry,” he says. “Apparently, the coach and his daughter heard noises coming from the room and he let himself in. They caught the girl in the act of raping the player.”
“Fuck, Caelia,” I breathe. “They didn’t name the player?”
“Not here,” he says. “It’s fucked that they said as much as they did.”
Fuck, how do I check on her…
Me
Maybe, but what if I want to spend time with you? How are you holding up with the new job?
Coward. I just don’t know how to bring up if she’s alright after witnessing a crime.
Caelia
It’s really not too bad. It’s eye opening in a lot of ways. Men aren’t the only ones that don’t understand consent.
Me
Ah, Levon and I just saw the newspaper article about an incident that happened with a hockey player on your dad’s team. Some of the puck chasers are over the top.
Caelia
I can’t believe they’re running that story. I haven’t looked, but my dad seems really stressed about it. That girl thought she was going to hit a huge payday by blackmailing him or getting pregnant.
Shuddering, I choke on my own spit.
“What?” Levon asks worriedly.
“Apparently, the puck chaser thought getting pregnant or pretending to be might lead to a better life for her,” I grumble. “This makes me want to wrap you up in bubble wrap.”
“I don’t get as much of this shit because I’m an asshole,” he explains. “The younger players will, and learn quickly about how careful they have to be about who they stick their dick in. This also explains why Marilyn is organizing these dates. It’s almost safe dating at this point.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever think of it like that. I think the woman just likes to meddle.”
Glancing back at my phone, I reply to her.
Me
There are degrees of good and evil in the world. Just like not everyone can be trusted, some people can. Go on a date with us. Find out what your scent matches are about.
There. All of my cards are on the table. Unable to face the rejection tonight if she says no, I put my phone away and pull Levon into my arms.
“Mmm. I’m so tired,” he groans.
“Then go to sleep,” I say, massaging his scalp.
It doesn’t take long before he’s relaxed and asleep in my arms. I’m glad I don’t have to pee, because there’s no way to move him once he’s out. He’s completely dead weight.
Smiling, I close my eyes and fall asleep as well, listening to his deep breathing. Morning comes too early.
CAELIA
Go on a date? A date!
I’m still weighing those words in my mind as I run on the treadmill in the morning. Dad meant it when he said he wanted me to start exercising with him.
I have music in my ears as I run, and the treadmill is facing the door so I can let myself go. Dad is next to me, lost to his thoughts as he burns off the stress of the last day or so.
I looked up the article about Troy, noticing the way his name is being kept out of it. Thank goodness for small miracles, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know who I am. My messages have been flooded, and Dad said the public relations team is working through this.
I don’t want to speak to the press in any capacity. It makes me nervous that I may say the wrong thing.
So, I follow my father’s footsteps and run as if something is chasing me.
The door opens and I pull out my ear bud, noticing as my dad hits the stop button on his treadmill. We’ve been at this for the past forty-five minutes. My legs feel like jello and I am beginning to get hungry.
“We’ll get out of your way, boys,” Dad says as I stop my machine as well.
I grab the wipes and hand some to him so we can both wipe down our treadmills before we go. Breathing hard, I throw out my trash and drape my small towel around the back of my neck.
“Ah, Coach?” a player swallows hard at the door and I sigh, grabbing my water.
“We’re going,” I mumble, eyes on the ground.
“No, I was going to say that we should coordinate so you don’t feel like you need to rush off,” he says.
My gaze snaps back to his, and I search for his name. Isaac.
“Oh,” I say in surprise.
“Caelia, you’re part of the team. Act like it,” he says, coming further into the room as other players walk in.
“Ready?” Dad asks, amused as I nod and walk with him. “Bye, guys.”
Everyone mumbles their goodbyes, and two of them yawn as they struggle to wake up.
“Shower and then breakfast?” he asks.
“Yes, please. I’m starving,” I say.
“Well, now I know how to get you to eat more,” he grins proudly.