Chapter 46
Chapter Forty-Six
Hockey star Alexei Nazarov Secretly Marries his College Sweetheart!
Russian-born power forward Alexei Nazarov hasn’t even started playing for his new team, the Chicago Rebels, but he’s already making headlines in the Windy City.
The news out of Las Vegas is that Alexei got hitched to former hockey pro, now sports agent, Lauren Yates, in September of last year.
The two met at the University of Michigan fifteen years ago when they went through the hockey programs there.
Shockingly in this media-drenched world, the happy couple managed to hide their nuptials for almost a year, even going so far as to have Lauren provide cover in a relationship with another man.
(Yikes!) But recent events have overtaken them, as Lauren’s boyfriend, Thad Covington, is currently under investigation for securities and investment fraud, with many of the targets professional athletes. (Yes, we’re confused, too!)
While there is no evidence that Alexei knew how involved his wife was in Covington’s schemes to defraud players, some of whom were her clients, this development has certainly cast a shadow over the Russian’s upcoming Chicago debut.
As for Lauren, we hear she’s losing clients faster than the wicked slapshot for which she was known back when she was one of the first female superstars in the women’s game. What a tangled web …
Congrats, Alexei and Lauren! We here in the Hot Goss bullpen have no doubt that secret nuptials, federal investigations, and investment scams aside, the two of you can make it work.
-@Hot Goss
Alexei
Theo
Let me be the first on this text chain to congratulate you, Nazarov. Can’t believe you kept that to yourself. And I made you sliders at the weekend!
NoBo
Yeah, congrats, Naz. What’s this about sliders?
Me
Thank you. It is good to be out in the open.
Jacob “Dingaling” Bell
But she was with that other guy, right? The one who stole players’ money?
Me
Mere details. She has been my wife for a long time.
NoBo
Can’t believe Covington pulled this crap. Glad I never invested in anything.
More important, where were these sliders and why am I only hearing about them now?
NyQuil
Congrats, Nazarov. Makes me think I should get a move on.
Theo
Ahem, better ask my permission first. That’s my daughter we’re talking about.
Gaultier
Oh no. Daddy and Daddy are fighting again.
NyQuil
No fighting, and the first person who will hear about any proposal is Adeline.
Me
And everyone in this group.
NoBo
Yeah, good deal. And if someone doesn’t fill me in on these sliders, I will not be fucking responsible.
“You have been ignoring my calls and texts.”
Lauren looked up from behind her laptop and frowned upon seeing me. “Esme?” she called out.
“She is not here. But if she was, I’m sure she wouldn’t refuse entry to her boss’s husband.”
“True, that girl’s an incurable romantic.” She slumped back in her seat. “How did they find out, Alexei?”
“Someone is always combing the Las Vegas marriage records, looking for stories. I’m just surprised they recognized our names.”
“That Hot Goss site is obsessed with the Rebels. And of course, they put the worst possible spin on it, accusing me of being in cahoots with Thad.”
They would see what they wanted to see. “I did contact them to correct the record.”
“What?” She placed her hands on the desk, ready to spring and attack.
“It did not specify that Brad was your ex-boyfriend. That is an important detail.”
“Agh! I told you that making this public would only make it worse.” She shook her head. “Never mind that. How’s Sasha?”
“Asking when he can play chess again.” I moved to the window. “The day did not end well for you, Lauren, but it was a good one for my father. Thank you for making it happen.”
She rose from her desk and joined me. “I’m glad to hear it. It’s a small thing but maybe we can find more activities for him.”
I was encouraged by the use of “we.” With that in mind, I offered a suggestion.
“I think we should put out some public statement. About us.” Curling my hand around her hip, I pulled her toward me, so gratified when she leaned her forehead on my shoulder.
This was what I wanted: to be her comfort, her protector, her everything.
“We might have been drunk, but it was not a mistake. We have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“But the timing. It’s all so messed up.”
I raised her chin. “I am proud to be your husband, so why not tell the world this? Or do you still want to take it slow?”
She raised an eyebrow. “I think events have overtaken us. I just want to freeze everything in place and fix each problem one by one.”
“Together we can solve this. Let me take care of you, zhena.”
“I-I want that. I want … us. I just wish it didn’t look like I married you and then cheated on you with my boyfriend. How do we explain it?”
“We say you didn’t know.”
“Well, neither did you.”
If this was to truly work, we had to be honest with one another. I didn’t want to start my life with Lauren on a lie.
“It is time I told you the truth.”