11. Jax
CHAPTER ELEVEN
JAX
Ifinish adjusting my bowtie, stand back and look at myself in the bathroom mirror.
“I look like a fucking penguin,” I mutter while checking myself out in my tuxedo.
I’ve never been a fan of how tuxedos look or how confining a bowtie can feel, but it’s the dress requirement for this evening’s event.
I style my hair with some texture balm before spraying cologne across my chest. I glance at my watch and realize that it’s time to go.
Tonight is the Chicago Phoenixes Foundation annual gala that raises money for local community charities.
Players are encouraged to attend and participate.
Some years the participation has been minimal, and other years, like this one, we actually do some “work.” We’re playing waiters and serving cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while mingling with the season ticket holders and corporate sponsors who have paid large dollar amounts to come. I always enjoy going, but tonight I’m just not feeling it.
I would rather be home studying tape, talking to my daughter, and relaxing.
We lost our last game on the road, and now we’re home for six days before heading back out again.
Even when we’re home, our schedules are jammed packed with meetings, training and practice.
I place my wallet in my coat pocket and pick up my cell phone.
I take a quick selfie to send to Chloe since she rarely ever sees me in a tux.
I make a goofy face and send it to her. Kelowna is two hours behind Chicago time wise, so she’s still at school and goes to volleyball practice afterwards.
I probably won’t hear from her until later this evening.
I grab my keys and call Creed in order to get the details on my date that he insisted he set me up with for tonight.
“What’s up, stud? You ready for tonight?” He asks when he answers my call.
“As ready as I can be. Where am I meeting Marlena again?”
“She’ll be waiting for you outside of her hotel. I texted you the address and her number.”
“Okay, thanks. Any more details you can give me on her?” I inquire while walking out of my condo to the elevators.
“As I mentioned earlier, she’s one of Dana’s clients—a model from Bosnia who’s trying to make it big in the United States. She moved to Chicago five years ago with her family but has been flying back and forth between here and New York.”
Creed’s wife, Dana, owns a modeling agency and is always offering to set me up with one of her girls.
It was Creed’s idea that I need a date for tonight.
When he sent me her photo and said she’s available, it was an immediate yes.
I’m hoping Marlena becomes the distraction I need from my continuous thoughts about Kiley.
It’s getting ridiculous how frequently she enters my brain.
I’m always wondering what she’s doing, how her day is going or if she’s meeting men she wants to date.
I shake my head at that thought because the idea of another man’s hands on Kiley makes me ball my fists in anger.
And I have zero reasons to be angry at her being with someone else.
Kiley is the kind of woman who dates to find the one. Every time I start to think of her, I have to remind myself she’s off-limits, and I’m not in the market for a relationship.
My focus goes back to my date tonight. “What’s her personality like?” I get off the elevators, and nod in greeting to the security guards at the front desk.
“Does it matter? She’s arm candy and hopefully a good fuck for you later.”
“I know this might come as a shock to you, Creed, but personality does matter.”
George opens the door and accompanies me to the driver waiting outside of a black Mercedes sedan. I mouth “thank you” and he walks away.
“Dana says she’s friendly but can be very blunt and cold. Don’t be surprised by her resting bitch face. She’s making a living off of it, so it’s her permanent facial scowl most of the time.”
I get in the car and the driver closes the door. “Great.” My voice is laced with sarcasm since that’s the complete opposite of what I go for. “Wish me luck that I can thaw her ice tonight.”
“If anyone can do it, it’s you, Jax.” He laughs. “Have fun and call me tomorrow.”
I thank him and end the call. I read Marlena's address to the driver, and he takes off. I check my email and respond to a couple of texts during the ten-minute drive to her hotel. Once we pull in, I put my phone back in my coat pocket and look out the window when we come to a stop. I step out of the car, and that’s when I see the dark-haired, pale skin beauty walking out of the hotel lobby.
She’s in full model strut mode, and people’s gazes are following her every move.
She’s wearing an emerald-green, floor-length, sequined gown that has a high slit up the front of her right leg.
She’s definitely a stunning woman. I give her one of my sexiest smiles as she approaches.
She checks me out with a lifeless expression, and my smile falters at how uninterested she seems to be.
“Good evening, Marlena. I’m Jax Morrow.” I hold out my hand for her to shake.
She looks at it briefly before placing her hand in mine and barely squeezing it back.
“Thanks for being my date tonight.” She nods and flashes a quick smile before returning to a scowl.
I open the car door and watch her get in before I close it and walk around the back to get in on my side.
“So, did Dana give you a rundown of where we’re going tonight?” I question to see what she was told.
“She said you play hockey and we’re going to a black-tie hockey event.”
“Something like that,” I answer with a smile.
“It’s actually the team’s annual gala to raise money for local charities.
We’ll be schmoozing with corporate sponsors, season ticket holders and fans who paid for tickets.
There will also be a silent auction for people to bid on.
” This year I decided to donate a boat ride on the river with me and a local tour company giving away a two-hour tour of the city.
“What’s my job for tonight?”
I tilt my head in confusion. “You don’t have any job for tonight except to be my date and have fun.”
She narrows her eyes. “So you’re saying I won’t be posing for any photos or helping with the auction?”
What in the hell did Creed tell Dana? “Sure, there will be a photographer there, but they’ll be taking photos of everyone, and no, you aren’t working tonight. You get to relax and enjoy a night out.” I grin, but that seems to make her frown.
“So no one in the fashion industry will be there?” Her whole demeanor radiates disappointment.
“Maybe someone will be.” I shrug, not knowing what to tell her. I’m getting the impression that Marlena prefers tonight to be a job instead of a date. “Don’t worry, I’ll introduce you to everyone and make sure they know you’re a fashion model for hire.”
She surprises me by changing subjects and asks about where I grew up. We discuss our backgrounds, and then she gets quiet and stops talking altogether. She looks out the window of the car and completely ignores me unless I say something to her.
Okay, definitely not very talkative.
We haven’t even gotten to the arena yet, and I’m already regretting letting Creed set me up.
Fortunately, we pull up to the outside entrance five minutes later, and I’m relieved to get out of this car.
An arena staff member opens the door and helps Marlena.
I get out, and when I reach her side, the staff member instructs us on where we need to go.
I hold out my arm for her to take, and she reluctantly accepts.
As we walk, I can feel how tense she is by her tight grip on my forearm.
“Relax and have fun tonight, Marlena. I’m sure you can use it.” My tone has a hint of sarcasm because this girl is wound up tight.
“I am relaxed.”
If this is her relaxed, I would hate to see what she’s like stressed or angry.
I get stopped by a couple of people as we make our way inside. I try to engage Marlena by introducing her and telling them what she does, but she barely makes small talk. She checks out the décor instead of paying attention to the conversation.
Tonight is going to be a long night.
“Do you want a tour?” I politely ask when we excuse ourselves from the people we were talking to.
“No, I want a drink.”
“Sounds great to me,” I answer dryly and steer her to the nearest bar, where I see some of the players gathered.
“Look at that sexy beast,” Harry greets before engulfing me in a hug. The group consists of Tony “Hutch” Hutchinson, Kai “Beau”Beaulieu, Easton Jackson and Lincoln “Linc” Slade with their dates. I hang back with Marlena, not wanting to interrupt the conversation that the other couples are having.
“Jax, let me introduce you to Brayleigh, my girlfriend.” Linc motions to Brayleigh by his side, and I hold out my hand for her to shake.
“Right, kiss cam girl.” I give her a wink, and chuckle at the blush that stains her cheeks. Lincoln was caught kissing Brayleigh on the kiss cam at one of the games back in October, and we haven’t let him live it down since. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Likewise.” Her gaze wanders over to Marlena, who is standing beside me. “Hi, I’m Brayleigh.” She waves at Marlena, who smiles coldly and nods. A couple more players have joined our group, and now everyone has stopped talking and are waiting for an introduction to the mystery woman by my side.
“Everyone, this is Marlena Markovi?.” One by one, everyone greets her with an introduction.
“You look very familiar to me,” Ava, Easton’s girlfriend, tells Marlena with a mystified expression. “But I can’t place where I’ve seen you before.”
“If you’ve been to the Chanel store, then you’ve probably seen my photos there,” Marlena responds, and Ava still seems confused.
“Marlena is a fashion model,” I confirm.