CHAPTER NINETEEN
Noah
Morning skate felt like the longest morning of his life. Noah wished he could go back to bed and start the day over. He already had to skate way too many laps for missing the net in drills.
Last night hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped. First of all, Jordan had texted him that she couldn’t come to the game after all. And when he’d texted back asking if everything was okay, she’d given him some vague reply. His mind went to that skeevy reporter who’d asked her out. Was he what had come up?
The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became with himself. He’d made the rules, and Jordan could do whatever she liked.
Then during the game he had lost focus. He’d taken what should’ve been an easy shot at goal, instead he shot the puck right at the goalie’s chest–right in the bread basket; an easy save. At the end of the game, the Renegades had lost by one point, and he felt like that was on him. If he’d had his head on straight, he’d have made that shot.
Afterwards, he’d gone home alone, despite the fact that there had been a number of willing puck bunnies waiting outside the arena. But he hadn’t been interested in any of them. And when he’d called Jordan to see if she wanted to come over to his place, there was no answer. No replies to his texts, either.
That started him wondering what she could be doing, which caused him to overthink again, and ended with his having a night of broken sleep. Before he knew it, his alarm had gone off, and here he was now, trying unsuccessfully to focus on the drills.
“Dude, what’s wrong with you? You look like hell out there,” Harrison said with a laugh. He stood by the bench and took a drink of water.
“Did you forget how to play?” Kaden teased.
“I don’t know.” Noah shook his head. “My head isn’t in it.”
That was the truth. His mind was on Jordan. He’d been enjoying spending time together and he’d been looking forward to last night. As much as he protested, he feared his heart was hooked. She was smart, funny, and sexy as hell.
“Woman problems?” Patrick asked.
“Sort of,” he responded. “Not problems per se, but I am starting to think keeping things casual is more work than—”
“—than being in a relationship?” Sam added his two cents, arching his eyebrow.
Noah nodded.
“Do you think about her all the time?” asked Kris.
“And wonder what she’s doing when you’re not together?” added Kyler.
Noah felt his face drain of blood. That’s exactly what he’d been doing.
“And do you think of ways you can help her out, make her life easier?” Harrison asked.
It was almost as if they’d been following him.
“And what about her quirks and habits? I bet you think they’re cute and you wouldn’t want to change a thing,” Travis suggested.
Noah thought for a moment. He couldn’t think of one thing Jordan did that bothered him, but plenty of things he liked. Her all-business persona, and the sexy way she smoothed her skirt when she stood up. There were a dozen more things he could add to that list. Not to mention those cute little noises she made when they were—
“What about if you imagine her with another guy? Kind of rips your heart out, am I right?” asked Luc.
“That’s enough,” Noah said, swallowing hard. “I think I’m screwed.”
“Seems like you’re already in a relationship, but you just didn’t know it,” Patrick said, shaking his head. “Typical numbnuts.”
Noah had never used the word relationship before this. He’d never even considered it, not until he met Jordan. Now he couldn’t get the thought out of his head. He obviously didn’t like the idea of her being with other guys, and he hadn’t even looked at another woman since being with her. Weren’t they sort of already in a relationship?
It wasn’t just about the sex, either. She was all he ever thought about. And when he wasn’t with her, he wanted to be.
“If you hens don’t stop squawking, there will be more laps in your future,” Coach Walker called.
Noah didn’t want the whole team in on his misery, and he needed to snap out of it.
“This is big news coming from the infamous playboy Noah Rodgers!” Harrison teased.
“Shut up,” Noah retorted.
Maybe this come-to-Jesus moment was a bad idea.
“Sorry, I know this isn’t an easy revelation for you,” Harrison added.
“Noah, it’s not rocket science. When you know, you know. And there’s no fighting it,” Tyler said. “Trust me. I know how irresistible those feisty, all-business women can be.”
Sam hit Noah’s pads with his stick as he skated by. “It’s true. That is just how it works.”
“Who’s the lucky lady?” Patrick asked.
“What?” Noah acted like he couldn’t hear them and skated down the ice. They’d been in his business enough today and he needed space to think. “Sorry, can’t hear you.”
Coach Walker blew the whistle. “Alright ladies, hit the showers. We have a plane to catch.”
As the team filed off the ice, Patrick added, “Here we come, Nashville!”
As if being back in the Nashville arena wasn’t awkward enough, after the game there was a group of bunnies waiting for him by their team bus. All wore his name and number somewhere on their bodies. He had a suspicion that he had signed a few of those breasts when he played here.
“Look at your fan club, Rodgers. They really miss you in the Music City!” Dom stated.
Nashville didn’t miss him; the bunnies missed him. He had never been popular amongst the Nashville hockey fans when he played here. They never warmed up to him. He was the bad boy that was traded from Toronto to Nashville, in return for a Smashville fan favorite. He’d come into this city the underdog, and he had left no different.
To add insult to injury, tonight the Renegades played their worst game yet this season, losing 4–1 when it was all said and done. To add insult to injury, the fans relished their team’s win with a lively “Pittsburgh Sucks!” chant. The only bright side to tonight was that he’d been sent to The Sin Bin twice, once for elbowing their captain, and another for fighting.
“Go sign some autographs, Rodgers!” Luc called, egging him on.
“Your adoring fans are waiting.” Kaden added with a chuckle.
“No thanks.” Noah laughed as he sat down on the bus. “They’re looking for a lot more than an autograph.”
“And you’re still sitting on the bus?” Kyler asked.
Ignoring that last comment, he didn’t move from the bus. Looking out the window at the bunnies, not even one tiny twinge of interest bubbled inside him. Nothing.
The Noah Rodgers who once upon a time entertained those bunnies was young, naive, and was an afterthought to his new team. That Noah Rodgers had searched for affection anywhere he could get it, and if the fans weren’t going to give it to him, the bunnies would.
That Noah Rodgers no longer existed. Now he was on a team that had welcomed him with open arms, and the fans were just as welcoming. He was putting down roots in Pittsburgh, including opening a business. He was growing up.
The realization seemed to hit him all at once. Somehow, along the way he had turned into a one-woman man, even if he hadn’t admitted to her—or himself.
He would have a discussion with Jordan and iron this out. It was true, he enjoyed every minute of being with her, thought about her more often than he probably should, and he wasn’t interested in looking elsewhere.
But he was losing focus on the game. He needed to get his head straight. Because the last time he checked, nothing had changed in their lives. When his contract was up he was still likely to be signed who knew where. Jordan still didn’t want to leave her job. They were meant to stay casual for a reason.
He thought for a moment. Maybe they just needed to revise the rules.