Chapter Thirty #2
Eventually, when the plane’s half empty, I grab my bags and shuffle out with the remaining passengers. I’m barely through the exit doors when I hear my name over the din of the airport arrivals.
“Celery!”
I startle at my brother’s voice. Turning around, I find my mom and Karson standing nearby, both wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, shorts, and flip flops. Karson towers over my mom, but they’re mirror images with the same ash-brown hair and gray eyes.
“Surprise!” Mom yells with a beaming smile.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask.
“We’re flying off to Hawaii,” Karson snarks. “Merry Christmas Eve and see you later.”
“Asshat.”
“Boys,” Mom warns.
I drop my luggage as all three of us come together in a bone-crushing group hug.
“Let’s get out of here before someone recognizes you, kleine wolf,” my mom urges.
“Him? Here in Cali? Doubtful.” Karson’s put-out expression makes me want to laugh. “And what about me? I’m famous too.”
“Yes, you are, Karson. I’m sorry,” she mutters and rolls her eyes at me. “How did I raise a quiet son with so much ego?”
“I’m not quiet anymore. And I can’t help it if the hockey fans adore me,” Karson preens.
His comment reminds me of someone, but I decide it’s best for familial peace to keep my mouth shut.
“I don’t care how popular you are,” Mom insists. “If you want my Christmas dinner, stop talking, start walking.”
She doesn’t need to tell us twice. Mom’s tiny compared to her sons, but her personality is bigger than all three of us combined.
Karson grabs one of my bags and we haul ass out of the terminal and into the balmy California day.
The sunshine in Santa Barbara is welcome, but the chill that’s lingered since leaving Omaha doesn’t let go.
It’s not only about missing Finn, it’s the nervous anticipation about telling my family what’s really going on.
Either way, I’m not relaxed, and I’m not even sure if I’ll be able to eat dinner tonight, never mind tomorrow.
Karson leads us to his SUV rental, and it doesn’t take long for us to hit the road.
“Is Finn’s mother feeling any better? And Finn?”
I turn around and look at my mom in the back seat. She’s got her sunglasses perched on the top of her head and the knowing expression in her eyes has me swallowing hard.
“She’s doing good,” I offer. “Seems like she’s on the road to a full recovery from the infection. And Finn is… he’s there every day helping his dad. He’ll stay on until she’s released from the hospital.”
“Family means a lot to him,” she murmurs with a smile.
I nod.
“Everything.”
He’s my everything too.
“That was very sweet of you to visit them.”
I wave that off and turn around before my mom catches the blush creeping up my face.
My brother, however, isn’t so nuanced…
“It sure is,” Karson muses with a smirk. “I’ve never known you to take time off your break to visit a buddy’s family before.”
“We’re close. It’s different.”
“Do tell.”
“Karson, don’t bug your brother. You would do the same for a friend,” Mom interrupts before I can answer him.
“Yeah, I would,” he murmurs.
Thankfully, my brother relents and switches to small talk, so we chat while waiting in traffic.
An hour later, we pull up the hillside drive to the Spanish-style casa that we’ve called home for more than a decade.
The property was run-down when mom bought it, but now it includes a pool and a private casita with views of the city and the ocean that can’t be beat.
Stepping inside the tiled foyer, I’m greeted by the loud barking of Coco and Bean, mom’s mini poodles.
“Hey guys.” I set my bag down and crouch to give the dogs scritches while they nudge their noses into my hands and wiggle their fluffy blond tails. “Yeah, I’ve missed you too. We’ll cuddle later, okay?”
After a few more chin rubs for the canine duo, I stand up again.
“I’m going for a swim,” I announce.
Karson nods. “I’ll join you.”
“Wait, sorry, are we calling Atticus now?” I ask.
Mom shakes her head. “In a couple of hours.”
“Won’t that be the middle of the night over there?”
“You know him, he’s got lots of parties lined up. He said he’ll be awake all night.” Mom shrugs. “He insisted.”
Karson smirks. “Sounds like he’s already buzzed.”
“Hey, I did the same when I was young, staying out until sunrise,” Mom comments. “It’s the European way.”
“It’s gonna be an interesting conversation,” Karson quips.
“Karson, it doesn’t matter when he calls, we talk,” Mom warns. “Now, if you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen.”
Mom heads off down the hallway, the dogs following her.
Karson smacks my shoulder. “Come on, you need to relax. Let’s hit the pool.”
“I’ll meet you there in a few.”
After dropping off my luggage in my bedroom, I unpack my toiletries and leave the rest for later. I head for the pool house, change, and when I step out, I spot Karson waiting for me, poised to jump into the water.
“Finally!” he calls out.
We cannonball into the pool like we’re teenagers again. I race him to the end, but I lose. I’m the faster swimmer, but my mind is a million miles away.
“Okay, slowpoke, what’s up? It’s obvious you need to get something off your chest,” Karson says as we rest our arms on the edge of the pool to catch our breath.
“Later.”
“It’s something big.”
I swipe at the drops of water on my face and nod.
“Does this have to do with Finn?” Karson whispers.
“Yes.”
Karson squints and nudges my arm, but I shake my head.
“Okay, we’ll save the deep conversation for later. How about another race?”
“You’re on.”
I win the second one but lose again in the third and call for a time out.
My brother and I spend the next hour soaking up the last rays of the sun, and when we’re fully dry, we head for the kitchen to see if we can help with dinner.
Marinated steaks are ready to grill, and I’m put on Caesar salad duty.
When the meal’s prepared, we sit out on the patio, the weather still balmy and beautiful despite the darkened sky.
“I have something I want to discuss with you guys after dinner,” I announce. “It won’t take long.”
“Is everything alright?” Mom asks.
“Yes. Sort of.”
Karson opens a beer bottle and offers it to me. I don’t hesitate to take it. My brother steers the dinner convo to the rest of the hockey season and aligning our schedules so all four of us can get together in person. I’m about to suggest a summer getaway in Italy when my phone starts to chime.
It’s messages from Miki and Hugo asking me to call them. My stomach clenches so hard I’m in danger of losing my supper.
What now?
“I’ve gotta call my agent and PR rep. I’ll be right back.”
Heading inside the house, I tap Miki’s contact info, and he answers on the first ring.
“Apologies for interrupting your vacation Sel, but have you looked at socials lately?”
“No, not for a few days. I’ve been busy. Why?”
“Taylor was spotted with another guy and confirmed you two have broken up.”
I sigh with relief.
“That’s it? What’s the big deal? We agreed that was done.”
Not until January, but what’s another week?
“The media want confirmation from your side,” Miki explains.
“But there’s another, more important reason I called.
Brady went to the press this morning and it’s all about you.
You and Finn. I’m sending you the links.
Basically, Brady called you an ‘arrogant, overpaid defenseman who can’t keep his personal life off the ice.
’ He stated that your ‘relationship with Taylor was distracting to the team,’ and that your ‘situation with the Rush rookie is more than a bromance.”
“That fucking prick!” I hiss.
“That’s not all. Brady claims you’re the one who caused disruption on the recent road trip and that’s why it wasn’t a success.”
“Brady’s not doing a damn thing out there and he wants to blame anyone but himself,” I counter, my temper rising. “He knows his time with the Rush is up. And Finn’s been on the injured list, he hasn’t been around for weeks, so Brady’s comment doesn’t fit.”
“He implied that you weren’t playing your best without Finn.”
“That’s bullshit!”
“I know, Sel, but the press loves locker room drama, even if it’s half-truths. His comments are sweeping the sports and entertainment gossip sites.”
“Let him talk,” I snap. “He can’t prove what he doesn’t know.”
I hear another beep on the line and glance at the name. Fuck, Merry Christmas Eve to me…
“Hugo’s calling,” I explain. “Let’s add him and see what he has to say about this.”
“Of course.”
I tap my phone. “Hugo.”
“Have you seen the news?”
“It’s not news; it’s Brady shooting his dumb mouth off. How did you allow that to happen?” I demand. “By the way, I’ve got my agent Miki on the line.”
“Good, that saves us time. Can you include Finn? I know he’s dealing with family stuff, but he needs to be part of this conversation.”
“I’ll try.”
I put them on hold while I call Finn.
“I thought I missed you more?” he answers, making me chuckle.
“Not possible and that’s not the reason I’m calling. Have you checked socials?”
“No, why?”
“Brady’s been shooting his mouth off to the press, insinuating shit about my playing, saying there’s something going on between us. He can’t back it up, but you need to be prepared. I’ve got Hugo and Miki on the other line.”
“Let’s hear what they have to say.”
I connect all four of us and Hugo offers the rundown again. Finn’s response is a lot of swearing.
“Before you ask, I don’t know why Brady did this—” Hugo starts.
“You know why. He’s had it in for me from the start.”
“He’s a fucking dickhead,” Finn grumbles.
“I can’t get through to him anymore. Neither can Range.
Brady’s not answering my calls, neither is his agent, and unfortunately, what’s done is done.
He’ll be dealt with,” Hugo adds. “For now, we—and I mean you personally and the Rush organization—need to issue a statement about the Taylor situation and respond to Brady’s comments. ”
“Why do we have to say anything?” I ask.
“I agree with Hugo,” Miki murmurs. “The sooner, the better.”
I rub a frustrated hand down my face.