Having Ash meet my mother went well enough. As expected, she fell instantly in love with him, and my calls with her now involve a deluge of questions about him, half of which I have to evade since they’re about our sex life. I have no intention of divulging any of that to my mother.
Unsurprisingly, her reaction to the kidnapping ordeal in general was to take up Judo, kickboxing, and Krav Maga.
Dean, the other security guy, is nice too. I just haven’t quite connected with him the way I have with Sully. I associate him too much with stalking me and car chases, but he doesn’t seem to have taken my preference for Sully personally.
“Any news on Barry?” Celena asks.
“Denied bail,” I say. “I think I have Kaladin to thank for that. The man seems to know a lot of judges.”
Celena gives me a look that says that doesn’t surprise her.
“I’m getting a restraining order in the meantime, just in case,” I say.
“Can’t hurt,” Celena says. She pauses, then says, “And you’re sure-”
“No gun,” I tell her. “Although I wouldn’t mind getting a taser.”
She sighs. “I suppose that’s a start.”
“Uh, ma’am,” Dean says from next to Celena. “I think someone wants your attention.”
Celena and I turn toward the ice, and we both jolt to find Kingston, mask on, looking at us through the glass. Well, looking at Celena. It’s clearhis attention is on her.
Kingston slams a large, gloved hand on the glass in a dark imitation of Ash’s gesture. I look at Celena, but she just crosses her arms as she scowls at him, refusing to engage in whatever game he’s playing.
He cocks his head slowly at her, then reaches down to pull up his shirt a little. I catch a flash of something red that looks like it’s pinned to the inside of his pants.
I’m about to ask Celena what it is when she launches out of her seat and throws herself against the glass to bang on it.
“You fucking bastard!” she yells at him.
I look at Sully and Dean, but they’re just as shocked as I am.
Kingston puts his shirt down, and I swear I see him smile behind his mask before he skates away.
Celena growls and throws herself back into her seat.
“What the hell was that about?” I ask her. “What was that red thing?”
“Those were my panties,” Celena bites out under her breath. “He won’t give them back.”
I stare at her. “How the fuck did he get them in the first place?”
She glances at Sully and Dean. “I’ll tell you later.”
I want to press her, but the game is getting ready to start, and we have to stand for the anthem. I turn to her when we’re seated again, intent on getting an answer, but Celena points out onto the ice. “Look!”
I look where she’s pointing, and my heart leaps.
Ash is at center ice for the faceoff. He’s starting for the first time this season.
Chapter 46
Ash
I should be nervous. It’s been a long time since I’ve started and most other players would be worried about making sure they don’t screw up, but I’m strangely calm as I wait for the puck drop.
I’m almost certain I have Kaladin to thank for the start. He’s been trying to ride the media attention surrounding what happened to Gray to promote the team, and I’m pretty sure he told Coach Davis to get me on the ice early. I’m still officially second line, but I intend to change that.
