Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
EASTON
"What the fuck?" Shaw snapped. "What are you doing?"
He stood in the doorway of my room, hands in fists at his sides, glaring at me. I'd heard him turn up at the front door to the house Cruz and I shared, to talk to Cruz about something. I figured if it was something to do with the team, Cruz would fill me in later.
I shrugged and turned back to the mirror. "What does it look like? I'm getting ready for my date with Cat."
"Why are you going out with her?" He stepped into the room, broad shoulders tense. "Is it that stupid bet?"
I started to button down my dark blue shirt. "What else would it be about? I'm looking forward to taking everyone's money."
"You're going to fuck her," he stated.
I turned back to him and grinned. "That's the idea. Get laid, get money. What more is there to life?" I looked back at my reflection and pushed the last three buttons into their holes.
"You don't like her." Shaw stalked in and flopped down on my bed. As teammates went, he wasn't bad, but he was wound up hard so much of the time.
"What's 'like' got to do with it?" I ran my fingers through my hair to give it a more 'just fucked' look. "We're going to eat dinner, watch a movie and then get naked and sweaty together. I don't have to like her for any of that to happen."
For some reason, my words seemed to make him angrier. His teeth were gritted, eyes like chips of stone.
"Are you sure you don't want in on the bet?" I asked. "I'm sure Cruz—"
"I don't want in on your stupid fucking bet," Shaw snapped. "I don't give a shit what you do with your dick, but why her?"
"Why not her?" I asked.
"Her who?" Cruz stopped in the doorway and peered inside. "You got a date, bro?"
"With Catalina Ryan," Shaw said.
Cruz narrowed his eyes. "The fuck? Why?"
"That's what I want to know," Shaw said. "Last week it was Courtney. The week before it was Chenay. Or was it Melissah?" His brow creased in thought. "Any of them are better than Princess bitch."
"What he said," Cruz agreed. "Just because we made a bet doesn't mean you're expected to date the woman."
"That right there is everything that's wrong with your love life." I smirked. "You just want to get laid, you don't want to get to know a woman first."
They barked matching laughs.
"Since when do you want to get to know a woman?" Cruz asked. "You're all about fuck them and leave them too."
"A guy can change," I argued.
"You do like her," Shaw accused. "Otherwise, why would you bother?" He gestured towards my outfit as if I was wearing a tuxedo or some shit.
"Jealousy is a curse," I told him. "You wish you could look as good as this." I flexed dramatically, hoping to lighten the mood. No way in hell was I going to admit I liked Cat.
Whether I did or not didn't matter. This was a one time thing. Dinner, movie, fuck. I'd win the bet and go on ignoring her like the rest of the guys did.
Although, there seemed to be a lot more glaring than ignoring. They all needed to admit they wanted her bouncing on their cocks as much as I did. There was something about her. She could easily get under my skin. Not that I'd let her. Screwing her would help to get her out of my system.
The trials for the Winter Olympics were in a couple of months. She'd be gone before then and none of us would see her again except on TV.
Why did that thought piss me off? I didn't know, but it did. I'd think about that more later.
"Fuck off," Shaw said. "I look better than that when I get out of bed in the morning."
"Alone," I said.
Cruz chuckled. "He's got you there, bro."
"What the hell?" Shaw turned to him. "Don't you start, asshole."
Cruz held up his hands to either side. "Just stating a fact. When was the last time you got laid?"
"None of your business." Shaw shoved himself up off the bed and stalked towards the doorway.
"Hey," Cruz said before he left. "Save your aggression for the ice. That's where we need it, not here."
Shaw flipped him off over his shoulder and stomped away.
"Maybe you should go a bit easier on him," I suggested. "He clearly has shit going on."
"He's had shit going on since we met," Cruz said. He flopped down where Shaw was just sitting. "We all have. I'm fucked if I'm letting it get in the way of our future. If he or anyone else screws it up for the Ghouls, they're gonna answer to my fists."
"Mine too," I agreed.
I sat beside him. "Are you really that pissed off I'm going on a date with Cat?"
"Are you going to call it off if I am?" he asked.
I grinned. "No. You might as well open your wallet now and hand your money over. I've good as won. You haven't even started."
He smirked. "Not that you know of. You think you're all over this, but I guarantee she's thinking about me."
"And hating your guts," I said.
"There's a fine line between hate and lust." He leaned back on his elbows. "Last chance to change your mind and stay home instead." His gaze lingered on me.
I swallowed.
His eyes dipped to my throat, watching while my Adam's apple bobbed.
"I don't know if…" I started slowly.
"Yeah." He shook his head and sat back up before he rose to his feet. "Let me know if you figure it out."
"Yeah," I echoed. "You'll be the second to know, after me."
He stood in the doorway, his back to me for a few long moments before turning around. His usual smug-as-fuck hockey god expression was back on his face.
"Enjoy your date, Easty-boy. If she lets you get into her pants, remember one thing. She'll be thinking about me the whole time. No doubt wishing you were me." He grinned.
I grinned back, relieved the mood was lighter again. "Keep telling yourself that, my friend. When I'm the one balls deep inside her, the only person she's going to be thinking about is me."
I pulled my ute up in front of Cat's house and killed the engine.
The vehicle was a bit of a shit heap, but Cruz kept her running for now.
Until the day we could all afford something better.
By then, I wouldn't need a vehicle to keep tools and wood.
I might buy another big ute anyway, I liked the way they drove.
In summer, I'd settle for a car with working air-conditioning. No one said being a chippie was glamorous. It was a good workout when I couldn't get to the gym or onto the ice, but I wouldn't miss it.
I slipped out of the cab and strode to the front door. At this point, I have to admit I looked up to check she gave me the right address. She seemed like the kind of girl who'd do something like that. Or give a guy the wrong phone number just to get him to go away.
Of course, it was the right address, and the ego boost didn't hurt.
I tapped on the door and stood back. The doorframe was a little worn, sections coming away from the brick beside it. If they were lucky, I might offer to fix it for them. It wouldn't take long and it would make the house more secure.
Although, this was the nicer part of Opal Springs. Where I grew up, the door would have been kicked in long ago, the house ransacked and covered in graffiti.
I did my best to push the shit thoughts away. That wasn't me anymore. It never would be again. That was one thing Cruz and I agreed on. We'd worked our way up from nothing, and we'd do everything we could to make sure no kid had to live like that in this town.
The door swung open slowly. "You're here to pick up my daughter?" Doctor Ryan looked me up and down, scrutinising carefully.
I smiled warmly. "That's right. We have a date.
" I was not going to be intimidated by Cat's father.
I sure as hell wasn't going to remind myself he had skills and sharp implements at his disposable if I did anything to his daughter.
So did I. I always kept a hammer in my ute, for one thing.
Not to mention a bunch of other tools and nails. I was also around half his age and fit.
"Easton Grant, isn't it?" He made no move to invite me inside.
"The one and only." His scrutiny was starting to make me uneasy.
"I probably delivered you." With a grunt he finally stepped aside to let me in.
What was I supposed to say to that? "Thanks. I appreciate it."
He snorted a laugh. Apparently he was amused at making me visibly uncomfortable. That must be where Cat got it from.
"Good game the other night," he said.
Now that was a subject I could talk about all day. My smile was more genuine now. "Thanks. The season is feeling really good. No reason the AIHL won't choose us as an expansion team."
"They better," he said. "I have money riding on you. The team, not you in particular."
"We're a safe bet," I said. Gambling on various things was somewhat of a pastime in Opal Springs. Okay, in Australia in general, but here in particular. What would he think if he knew I made a bet on his daughter? I suspected he wouldn't be particularly impressed if he found out, which he wouldn't.
I wasn't going to be deterred either way. This wasn't about him. This was about Cat and my cock. He'd probably made similar bets in his day. Maybe he still did. He was popular in town, almost as popular as the Ghouls. I'd seen women swoon over him.
"That's what the whole town is hoping," he said. To my surprise he added, "Don't fuck it up."
I grinned. "We won't. You'll kick our asses if we do."
"Definitely," he said. He stepped towards the door leading out of the room. Before he left he said, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do. And do it safely."
I had a sneaking suspicion nothing got past him. Of course, I was a guy and Cat was a babe. Why wouldn't I want to screw her?
"Always," I assured him.
He grunted and left the room.
Left alone for a few moments, I glanced around.
Unlike the exterior of the house, the furniture was relatively new and modern.
Each piece looked like it came from an inner city Melbourne townhouse which it probably had.
Everything was a bit too big and a bit too fancy for the space.
Comfortable, but without looking permanent.
Of course, they probably intended to return to Melbourne some time soon.
I picked up a photo from a side table. It was of Doctor Ryan and Cat. A woman stood behind him, and a younger girl beside her. Her mother and her sister, I presumed. The family resemblance was strong. Her mother was a babe too.
"She died a few months after that," Cat said softly.
I hadn't heard her enter the room, but she stood a few metres away from me now.
She wore a black dress that fell to just above her knees.
Her hair was tied back in a ponytail. She only wore a slight touch of make-up, which enhanced her eyes and cheekbones.
If her father wasn't close by, I'd take her over to the couch and fuck her there and then.
"You look beautiful," I said. "I'm sorry about your mother."
"It was a long time ago," she said. "I still miss her, but it's not as raw as it used to be. You know?"
I didn't really know, but I placed the photo back on the table, and said, "Yeah. My mother is still alive, but I never knew my father. Seems like another thing we have in common."
Her eyes lingered on the photo for a moment before looking up at me. "You look nice."
"Just nice?" I asked. I snapped my fingers. "I knew I should have worn a suit."
"Next time," she teased. At least, I thought she was teasing.
"Next time?" I raised my eyebrows. "We haven't had this date and you're already planning a next time?" I gave her my best cocky grin. Maybe I shouldn't rush too fast with her. Cats like to play with their prey. Maybe I could play with her. It would be fun for shits and giggles.
I offered her my arm. "Let's go."