“Of you at least. I’d get another lecture about how my coping mechanisms are shit.”
“Because your coping mechanisms are shit.”
“It could always be drugs, Hud. Consensual sex never hurt anyone.” I look at the time and sigh. “Shit. I gotta go. Coach is going to chew me out for being late.”
“You’re not going to watch Emerson’s tapes first?”
“Don’t have time. It’ll be fine.” I jump off the stool and give him a thumbs up. “Thanks for the nourishment, Dad.”
He laughs and flips me off. “You can walk your one-night stands to the door from now on. And no more pancakes for you either.”
I grin on the way to my bedroom to get changed for the arena.
I’ve played with thousands of guys over the course of my career, and I hate to be the realist, especially after hearing Hud so optimistic, but I doubt Emerson Hartwell is going to be what turns our team around.
No fucking way.
FOUR
MAVERICK
I love beingat the rink, but on a Friday when the sun is shining and the temperature is hovering around eighty without a cloud in the sky, I’d much rather be with my teammates by the pool enjoying one last hurrah before late fall rolls in.
I park my Mercedes in the arena garage and twirl my keys around my fingers. My head is still pounding, and I hope this session is quick. An introduction and a few laps around the rink should be enough to get to know this guy and make Coach happy.
“What are you doing here, Mav?” Bill, the security guard who’s worked for the Stars for nearly two decades, closes his newspaper and looks at me. “Thought you kids were all off today.”
“Captain duties,” I explain. “We’re bringing in another guy to try to fill the left winger position. I’m meeting him now.”
“I sure hope this season is the turning point.” Bill shakes his head, and I can feel the years of disappointment in the movement. “I was sorry to hear about Adams. That kid is going places.”
“Me too, Bill. Maybe we’ll have a shot next year.”
“I have a lot of respect for you,” he says. “Other players would’ve demanded a trade years ago, but you’ve stuck around. With you and Coach Saunders changing the mindset around here, I think we might come out on top one of these days.”
“Thanks for your support, sir.” I reach out my arm and we shake hands. “I better run. I’m already a few minutes behind schedule.”
Bill waves and goes back to his newspaper as I head for the players’ entrance. It’s tucked away from the doors the fans use so we can slip into the locker room unnoticed.
I turn the corner and stop in my tracks.
There’s a woman hanging around security screening in a spot the general public isn’t allowed. Her elbows rest on the metal railing, and her head is tipped toward the ceiling like she’s lost in thought.
I’ve never seen her before.
She’s not one of my teammates’ girls or someone I’ve slept with, which means she snuck in here without anyone noticing her.
I grin.
I’ve always liked rule breakers.
Her eyes are closed and her red hair is up in a high ponytail that hangs halfway down her back. The black pants she’s wearing hug her curves so well, there’s nothing left to the imagination—I can see every line of her body.
God damn.
She’s hot as sin.
Exactly the kind of woman I could get into trouble with.
