Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
CATALINA
"I told you that wouldn't suck," Marley said. "Don't try saying you didn't enjoy yourself. I saw you bouncing up and down and cheering along with the rest of us."
"I was not bouncing up and down," I protested. "I was…moving around to get comfortable."
My friends turned back to grin at me before they stepped through the doorway into O'Reilly's. I shrugged and followed them in.
The most popular pub in town, the owners modelled the exterior and interior on a classic Irish pub. The tables were all sturdy timber, the upholstery on the seats a deep green. Several bar attendants hurried up and down the long bar, serving the quickly growing crowd.
We grabbed our drinks and slipped into a booth to the side of the pub.
"Okay, it wasn't that bad," I admitted. "I might have enjoyed myself."
Marley grinned triumphantly. "See, I knew it. It's exciting, isn't it? The Ghouls played so well. Especially Easton and Cruz." She gave me a knowing look over her vodka and orange.
"I guess they did." I reluctantly appreciated the way the two forwards worked together.
As far as I could tell, their alternates were exceptional players, but when the pair was on the ice, everyone was on the edge of their seats.
By the end of the first period, I was starting to look forward to the shift change.
My opinion about them was no different after watching them play, but I couldn't deny their skill.
"You guess so," Eden teased lightly. "That last goal that Cruz got on Easton's assist was unreal. The Magpies' goalie was so sure they weren't getting past him."
"Right." Marley was the one bouncing up and down in her seat now. "Then bam, biscuit in the basket."
I grinned at her enthusiasm. "Fine, it was exciting." I might have held my breath, watching the way they moved on the ice, their stick control, the way they were always aware of each other and the puck.
Speed skating was an individual sport, but I always had to be aware of my competitors around me. A momentary lapse in concentration could cause a collision. That could lead to injury, like the one to my knee.
"So, why do you really hate hockey players?" Eden asked. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but I'm sensing it's more than interacting with them in the rink." She always was too perceptive for her own good.
I sighed into my cola. "I went out with one for a while, back in Melbourne. I thought things were going well until I hurt my knee."
I glanced down at the worn, scratched tabletop. "He went from burning hot to ice cold overnight. Like, I don't know, somehow he thought I'd be a burden because I was injured."
I looked back up. "He claimed he got busy. He was busy, too busy to bother with me." I shrugged one shoulder. Dealing with the injury, surgery and rehab, I could have used Jason's support. By the time I was wheeled out of the operating theatre, he'd moved on to someone else.
"Oh, Cat, I'm so sorry," Marley said, her eyes full of sympathy. "What an asshole. You're so much better than him, and you deserve better." She nodded decisively, like only a best friend can.
"Anyone who can't offer support to their partner at a time of need, sucks ass," Eden agreed. "It's not surprising you'd be reluctant to jump into another relationship. That kind of situation can be difficult to recover from, especially when you're dealing with your own obstacles, like your knee."
"Has anyone told you sound like a shrink?" Marley teased.
Eden grinned, her eyes sparkling. "Only every day.
I look like an emo, and sound like Freud.
" She seemed absolutely content with that.
She knew who she was better than anyone I ever met.
She'd say it was a facade, but if anyone had their shit together better than Eden, I didn't know who they were.
I loved her for it. I'd like to be like her when I grew up.
"You're adorable," I assured her. "You both are.
I don't know what I'd do without you.” I sucked in a breath and plunged on.
"I was worried about coming back here to Opal Springs.
What would people think? What would they say?
But you two have been nothing but supportive and amazing.
" I blinked away the prickle in my eyes before they became full-blown waterworks.
"If anyone says anything bad about you, I'll stab them in the eye with a toothpick," Marley declared.
"Or better yet, a scalpel. I'm sure your dad wouldn't mind if I borrowed one for that.
It's a good cause." She raised her hand and made a stabbing motion.
The kind that also looked like a guy jacking off.
I smiled. "Please don't go stabbing people in the eyeball for me. I'm a big girl, I can deal with people saying whatever. Let them. I'll prove them wrong when I'm standing on the blocks at the Winter Olympics, waiting to accept my gold medal."
A quiver passed through me. I pictured myself standing there, the cheers of the crowds, the officials ready to drape that ribbon around my neck. It was so real I could almost feel it, almost taste it. I wanted it so badly it hurt.
"You'll get there," Eden said. "No one will be cheering you on louder than Marley and me. We'll cheer louder than we did for the Ghouls tonight."
"Yes, we will," Marley said. "We can practice right now if you like." She put down her drink and placed her hands on the table like she was about to stand.
I grabbed her arm to keep her down. "Please don't. I appreciate the sentiment, but I get the idea. Save it for that day. Or at least when things get busier and louder in here." I gestured around the pub with a swirl of my finger. "No one will notice when they're all drunk."
Marley flopped back with a huff of air. "Fine. When everyone is drunk, they'll join in. That'll make it more fun anyway." She picked her drink up and toasted me with it. "So when are we getting to the elephant in the room?"
I was wondering that myself, but hoping they'd forgotten. "There's an elephant in O'Reilly's?" I asked innocently. "Is it pink?"
"Ha ha," Marley replied. "I'm talking about you and Easton. You made a bet, are you going to follow through with it? I mean, I hate to remind you, but I think we can all agree you lost. "
"I don't think you hate to remind me at all," I said. "In fact, I think you're enjoying yourself." I rolled my eyes playfully towards the ceiling beam above our booth. It was made of the same timber as the bar, and added to the atmosphere.
She laughed. "You know me too well. "I'm absolutely enjoying myself, but only because you enjoyed yourself. If you were bored out of your mind, I would have felt bad for dragging you along to the game."
"Evading the question won't stop you from having to answer it," Eden said. "Are you going out with him?" After what I told them about Jason, she seemed a lot more understanding of why I might decide to back out. If I did, she wouldn't judge me.
Of course, I'd judge myself. One of the things my father ingrained in me was the importance of sportsmanship.
Never be a poor winner or a bad loser. Whatever happens, stay classy.
I had every intention of doing just that.
After all, what could one little date hurt?
It wasn't like we were getting married or even sleeping with each other.
Just a couple of friends having a drink together, that was all.
"I said I would," I said. "And I will. If he still wants to, that is. He might have decided not to." Why did that bother me so much? Easton was as cocky and arrogant as they came. He reminded me of Jason.
Now the comparison was in my mind, I realised there were significant differences between them.
Easton was more sure of himself. Jason was arrogant, but at the same time he was insecure.
It wasn't something I'd realised until after we broke up.
I suspected my injury reminded him of his own vulnerability.
If I could hurt my knee, then he could do something to himself that would end his hockey career.
He wasn't na?ve to the possibility, but I guessed that brought it home to him somehow.
Ironically, I wouldn't even wish injury on him.
Not on anyone else either. Nothing sucked more than having your own body get in the way of your dreams. In spite of the way we ended, I wanted him to succeed.
Although, if the Ghouls went professional and kicked his team's ass, I wouldn't cry too hard.
I might cheer a little too loud though. Yeah, that was petty, but the asshole did break my heart.
"I don't think you're going to get out of it that easily," Eden said. "We saw the way he looked at you before and after the game."
After his assist and the winning goal, he'd found me in the audience and grinned.
He even gave me a small salute. I might have smiled back at him.
A smile which faded when both Cruz and Shaw glared at him and me.
Shaw in particular looked like he wanted to use his stick on me. His hockey stick, that was.
I'd returned their glares until all three players turned away. Their momentary lapse in concentration didn't stop them from winning with a score of five goals to two.
I shrugged. "He could have been looking at anyone."
"We all know who he was looking at," Marley said. "Easton Grant has the hots for you. And I've decided I have the hots for Cole Davies, the right defenceman. He has the most grabable ass I've ever seen." She sighed.
"They're hockey players, they all have grabable asses," Eden said.
"It comes with the territory." She nodded over to the pool tables off to the side of the pub.
Jagger Sanderson, the Ghouls centre, and his alternate, Mitch Ward, were playing a friendly game of pool.
Jagger was leaning over the table, cue in hand, ass facing the room.
"I see your point," I said. "We won't mind if you go and talk to either of them."
"I was thinking both of them," Eden said lightly. "A girl has to have some ambition." She sipped her rum and cola and wiggled her eyebrows.
"Good for you, girl," Marley said approvingly. "Why stick to one when you can have two? Or three. Or four. Five. Or—"
"We get the idea," I said. "Lots and lots of men."
"Exactly," she said. "Look at you, for example. That would stop all of those guys fighting over you. Who says you have to choose just one?"
"I don't plan on choosing any of them," I reminded her.
What would it be like to be with guys like that?
I couldn't say I wasn't curious, but no doubt it would be complicated, a lot of work and need a shit ton of careful communication.
Although, if it worked out, the support system would be amazing.
I'd never be alone to wallow, if my knee ultimately put me out of contention for the Olympic team.
I shouldn't be thinking like this. I should be thinking positively. I would make the team. What was it they said? Failure was not an option.
A shadow loomed over the table, breaking my thoughts.
"Hey."
I looked up as Easton slid into the seat next to me.