Chapter 1 #2
“You and your fucking karma and superstitions.” Chuckling, Jett shook his head.
I glanced toward Julian and Chad, but Julian wasn’t there, so no wonder they’d gone quiet.
“Hey, I have to piss. Be right back.” The beer had gone right through me.
I strolled toward the dark hallway at the end of the bar, which led to the restrooms. Shit, would Julian be in here? Oh well, my bladder couldn’t wait.
After shoving the door open, I spied Julian at the urinal. “Oh, look, Daddy followed me in here.” With a smirk playing across his lips, he zipped his shorts and faced me. “Wanna play?” He planted his hand on the grey wall tiles and leaned in.
My jaw dropped. Was he propositioning me? “I…no, I don’t.” Fuck, should I? No, Mason and Jett were right outside. “I don’t swing that way.” My gaze flicked to the urinal. Awkward. Should I use a stall? Then he’d think I was shitting.
“You don’t, huh? I didn’t get that vibe from you or your friends, but whatever.” He traced his tongue along his plump lips. “It’s okay. I changed my mind. There are higher-caliber men at the Spur.” Lifting his chin with a smirk, he strutted out of the restroom.
“Holy fuck, what an asshole.” I stared at the urinal for a moment, replaying the scene in my mind.
He got a gay vibe from me? How? I’d never heard that before.
It must have been because I was with Mason and Jett—queer by association?
Shaking my head, I stepped up to the urinal.
The fucker could find higher caliber men at the Spur?
What did that mean? Heat filtered through my chest. What a conceited little dickhead.
He didn’t know what he was missing. But then, I wouldn’t have taken him up on his offer, anyway. Not here.
After doing my business, I strode from the restroom, scanning the empty space where Julian and Chad had been. An extra seafood tower stood next to ours. “What happened?” I hauled my ass onto my barstool.
“Don’t know exactly. That Julian fucker decided it was time to go, so they downed their margaritas and gave us their seafood tower. He paid for it and everything.” Mason ate some crab.
“I’d call it a win. Those guys were obnoxious anyway.” After drinking his beer, Jett pulled meat from a lobster tail shell.
“Yeah, they sure were.” I studied the extra food. Good thing we were hockey players. We could eat a hell of a lot.
We’d played well last year. The team cohesion had reached levels I hadn’t experienced in all my years of hockey, even during my early days with the Bruins.
Which led to winning the Cup. I sprawled on my couch, watching game footage from last year.
My goal was to harness this energy again this year.
I had one more day to prepare before development camp started.
My phone buzzed on the coffee table, and I read the name before answering, Margot scrolling across it.
With a deep inhale, I answered. “Hey, Margot.” I hadn’t heard from my ex in a few months, which was unusual.
We’d attempted to remain friends after we’d ended things back in Boston, before my trade came through for the Coyotes three years ago.
“Alexey, you’ll never guess what happened,” she said in a cheerful voice.
I cringed. She was one of the few people who still used my given name. “If I’ll never guess, then you’ll have to tell me.” Picking up the remote from the sofa cushion, I paused the game footage.
“I got a job in Scottsdale with a PR firm. I’m moving there in two weeks.”
My eyes popped open as my chest pinched. That meant she’d need a friend…me. “Oh, that’s great.” I tucked my legs to the side. “Do you have a place lined up?” How did moving for a corporate job work?
“The firm is providing a corporate apartment for me for the first month, but I thought…” She sucked in a breath. “I thought maybe, you know, since you have that gigantic house, I could stay with you?”
My brows shot up as I perused my surroundings—the large space housing my kitchen and main room, the glass pocket doors that opened into my backyard pool and views of the McDowell Mountains.
I certainly had room, but I enjoyed living by myself.
I enjoyed being able to hang out in my underwear if I wanted.
Fuck, how could I say no? “Uh, I suppose we could arrange that. How long would you need to stay?”
“I don’t know, maybe a month? Enough time to secure a lease on my own place and move. The company hired movers who’ll store my things in a facility until I find an apartment or something,” she said.
“O-kay.” I breathed in deeply, calming my fluttering nerves. This meant she’d be here into October, when the season started. I’d be traveling, so how bad could it be?
“I’d do my part. I’ll make you dinner every night, and when you travel, I can watch the place for you.”
“Sure…” Make dinner for me? Like what, a girlfriend? “You, uh, you don’t have to make dinner for me. I can handle it myself.” I picked at a thread in the hem of my team shirt.
“But we’ll both need to eat. There’s no sense in each of us cooking dinner for ourselves if we’re living together.” She huffed.
Living together…My gut tightened. This sounded unpleasant. “Well, it’s only temporary, right?” There needed to be some boundaries.
“Yes, of course. I’m not moving in with you permanently, silly.” She giggled. “Don’t worry, I won’t get in your way. I know how you are.” She clicked her tongue. “If I can show the company that I’m cost-conscious right away, it’ll make me look good.”
She had a point. I brushed my fingers along the rustic leather on my couch. “Let me know when you’ll arrive and I’ll arrange anything you need.” I’d caved, but how could I not?
“Great. Thank you so much, Alexey. You have such a pleasant home. I’m looking forward to this move and not facing another cold Boston winter.”
“But summers here can feel like living in the depths of hell.” I snickered. People didn’t understand just how hot the summers were until they experienced them. Which is why I visited my family back in New York in the summer.
“I’ll handle that when the time comes.” She drew a deep inhale. “So, I have to ask. Are you seeing anyone?”
Julian’s stunning face popped into my head, and my pulse quickened. What made me think of him? Because he was the last man who’d expressed interest. “No, not at the moment.” My gaze flicked to the wooden beams lining the high ceiling.
“Good. Then maybe we can spend more time together. Are you still hiking that peak close by?” she asked.
“You mean Pinnacle Peak. Yes, I’ve been running it when I get a chance, even when it’s hot outside. I think with the heat, it’s even better for building stamina.” I bit my lower lip. Boundaries, we’d have to talk boundaries when she got here.
“I’ve been doing a lot of trail running lately. I’d like to try it with you.” A stuttered laugh escaped her. “I’m sure I can’t keep up, but it would still be fun, don’t you think?”
“Sure.” I glanced at the paused game footage on my television. “Hey, I’m preparing for our first day of camp tomorrow. Can you send me your arrival date and any necessary details? I can have the refrigerator stocked for you.” I already had a guest room to accommodate her.
“Of course. I know you’re a busy guy this time of year. I’ll speak with you soon.”
“Thank you. Take care, Margot.” I grabbed the remote from the cushion.
I’d contemplate boundaries and how to best communicate them with her so I wouldn’t look like a dick.
She took things the wrong way if I wasn’t careful.
It was one thing that led to our demise, besides our less than stellar sex life.
“Bye now.” She ended the call.