Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
Bodi
Team events can be a crap shoot.
Sometimes, they’re a lot of fun. You hang out with your teammates, meet their families, significant others, kids…
it’s a good way to forge a bond outside of hockey.
However, there are some instances where it’s less pleasant.
Like when you barely know anyone, including your head coach, so everyone is going to be on their best behavior.
Wives keeping the kids under wraps.
No one drinking beyond a beer.
Tension simmering just beneath the surface.
I’ve never experienced anything like what’s happening today at the first official team party.
I’m not the only one feeling it because West has been hanging out at my side, keeping conversation light-hearted and casual.
Even Viktor has stuck close to us, eyes darting from person to person as we try to take in the weird vibe.
“Parties in Alaska much more excitement,” Vik murmurs under his breath. “Logan is always without the clothes. Mr. Caldwell is much funny. Coach Caldwell play with children…” He frowns. “What happens to this?”
“I don’t know, buddy,” West says. “But we need to make some friends, right? Let’s go hang with our teammates.” He takes a step toward a couple of guys I know by reputation but haven’t yet been introduced to.
Simon Lacroix is a goalie in his early thirties who never quite managed to become a starter.
He’s a solid player but it seems like he was never in the right place at the right time.
The team he’s been on, the Las Vegas Sidewinders, always had elite goalies that only needed him for the occasional night off.
“Hey, West McGregor.” West shakes his hand and we all follow suit.
“Good to meet you in person.” Simon nods, shaking all our hands.
“How long you been in Georgia?” I ask.
“About a month. I’m in the middle of a divorce so it’s been a little tricky trying to move and split assets and all that shit.” He makes a frustrated face. “I was tempted to let her have it all just so I wouldn’t have to bother, but she’s the one who cheated, so fuck that.”
West nods. “I hear you.”
“My English shit,” Vik tells him, “so I listen. Okay?”
“It’s all good, bro.” Simon says.
“You ever attend a party like this?” West asks quietly.
Simon shakes his head, frowning slightly. “No. Thank fuck you said something—I thought maybe it was just me. In Vegas, our team parties were awesome.”
“Yeah.” West looks around. “Why is everyone on their best behavior?”
“I heard a rumor.” Simon drops his voice. “Coach Morrison is as…difficult off the ice as he is on. I think everyone is on their best behavior because we’re nervous.”
“Yeah, I read he was a hard ass when he coached in New York,” I interject, “but he got results. That’s why he’s here. His teams won the Frozen Four a bunch of times.”
“You know what I heard?” Simon says under his breath. “His wife used to be married to Rome Castellano and she was sleeping with Morrison while they were still married.”
“What?!” I gape at him. “Are you sure?” Rome Castellano is not just my former teammate, he’s Billie’s boyfriend.
He shakes his head. “No, but I heard it from more than one source.”
“Castellano was your old teammate, right?” West asks me.
“He and my sister live together,” I snap. “Jesus.”
“It might not be true,” Simon says quickly. “It’s just gossip.”
Vik murmurs in Russian.
“English, buddy,” I say gently.
“This bad,” he says. “If true, she is…” More Russian words none of us understand but we don’t really have to. His meaning—and tone of voice—is pretty clear.
“Let’s not spread any rumors that’ll get us benched,” West says diplomatically, but his gaze moves in the direction of the house, where Coach’s wife Lourdes has just come outside.
Her hair and makeup are done up like she’s about to walk a red carpet but she’s not wearing much in the way of clothing, just a halter-style summer dress that her boobs are practically falling out of. It doesn’t even hit mid-thigh and she’s got on heels far too high for a pool party/cookout.
Not my place to judge, though.
“This is her?” Vik asks under his breath.
All four of us are staring and West is the first to look away.
“Could we be a little less obvious?” he murmurs.
A couple of kids run past us and jump into the pool, splashing everyone in their vicinity.
A couple of people laugh but Lourdes looks irritated, scowling in their direction.
But a second later her face morphs back into what I can only describe as a plastic smile—one that doesn’t reach her eyes.
Women like her scare me because they tend to do whatever the hell they want, and almost always get away with it.
“Hello, boys.” She sashays over to us with a bright but calculating smile. “Are you having a good time?”
“You’ve got a great place here,” West deflects with a friendly smile. “The patio is incredible.”
“It is lovely,” she agrees. “Hugh gave me carte blanche to redecorate when we bought it, and I think a pretty good job, if I do say so myself. Also, I’ve opened an interior decorating business, so if you need help, you know where to turn.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Simon says politely.
“Ma’am?” Her eyes widen innocently. “I’m too young for that. Please—call me Lourdes.”
“Yes, ma’am—er, Lourdes.” Simon gives her an engaging smile.
“Are you all settling in okay?” She fans herself dramatically. “Atlanta is quite a change. This humidity is no joke.”
“It takes getting used to,” I say. “Coming from L.A., it’s definitely a big change for me.”
“Same.” West takes a pull of his beer and there’s no mistaking the way Lourdes’s eyes glitter as she watches him.
Jesus, is she openly gawking at West? I should be offended but, in this case, I’m more relieved than anything else.
“I’ve been here for three months now,” Lourdes continues in a sugary voice, “so if you need recommendations on where to go for dinner, dry cleaners, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Hugh and I want to make sure you’re all happy here.”
“That’s thoughtful. Thank you.” West doesn’t make eye contact as he says it.
“And Viktor.” Lourdes puts her hand on his forearm. “I know you’re struggling with English—if you want to practice, I’m always available to you.” She squeezes his arm meaningfully and Vik blinks.
I can practically see the wheels turning as he struggles to come up with an appropriate response—in English.
But before West or I can come to his rescue, Simon jumps in smoothly.
“You know, Lourdes, you really look familiar,” he says, squinting a little. “I could swear I’ve met you before. Did you know anyone on the Sidewinders? Or in L.A.?” He waits patiently and I’m pretty sure the rest of us hold our collective breaths.
She blinks, her smile faltering just a tiny bit before shaking her head. “Er, no, I don’t think so…I must have one of those faces. Anyway, have a great time at the party today, and please—don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.” She winks and sashays in the opposite direction.
“Smooth,” West snorts under his breath.
“You are crazy,” Vik murmurs.
“Ballsy, my friend.” I hold out my fist and Simon bumps his against it.
“I tried,” he says with a laugh. “But it was totally innocent, right? Besides, Viktor looked like a deer in the headlights.”
“You handled it well,” West agrees.
“Deer?” Vik asks.
“She put you on the spot,” I say quietly. “She was totally hitting on you.”
Vik shudders. “This is…” More Russian we don’t understand but get the gist of.
“I don’t think any of us should be alone today,” West says wryly. “We need to stay in pairs, so there’s always a witness.”
“We’ll have to make bathroom runs together too.”
The four of us are quiet for a beat and then burst out laughing.
“West?” A guy I don’t know approaches us with his hand outstretched. “I am Felix. Lessard. Er, I was given your name regarding you needing another roommate.”
“Oh, hey, man.” West shakes his hand and introduces the rest of us. “Coach asked me to take in one of the rookies, so I don’t know if I have a room right now.”
Felix looks disappointed but nods. “Okay, no problem. I’ll just—”
“Hey, I’m looking to rent a house,” Simon says. “And I could use a roommate.”
“Yeah?” Felix brightens. “This would be great. I did not expect to move this year.” He pauses, a sad expression on his face. “I loved playing in Fort Lauderdale.”
“Yeah, I loved Vegas,” Simon admits, “but this is a good opportunity for us. And closer to family.”
“Yes.” Felix nods. “My family is in Montreal.”
“Mine is outside of Chicago, and this is closer.”
“You know what,” West says, “let me talk to Coach. Blaze, the rookie, hasn’t been in touch so I need to know what’s what.
If I can get out of taking him in, maybe you both can move in with us.
I have five bedrooms. I guess if family comes to town, I’ll just put them in a hotel. I feel like we need to stick together.”
“That would be awesome,” Simon says after a moment.
“I would like this too.” Felix nods.
“Lindy, no!” someone yells. “Watch out for—”
“Ahhh!” The child named Lindy lets out a shriek as her feet go out from under her and she starts to flail.
Instinctively, I move in her direction, anxious to keep her from going ass over tea kettle into the pool.
In my peripheral vision I see a blur of pink, and a curly ponytail swinging, just as I crash into a soft, warm body. I wrap an arm around her to steady us but the momentum is too much—and before I can correct my balance, we both go into the pool with a loud splash.
Shit.