28
Two weeks later
SANTO
“Okay, killer,” I mutter under my breath from the stands. “Please don’t die.”
Somehow, Marilyn got Caelia, Levon, and Miles to agree to the charity game. Our girl has been practicing her slapshots on her downtime at the rink, and I have to admit that she’s really good.
I don’t think there’s anything she can’t do. My concern as I lean forward to watch her, is how small she is compared to the other players. Marilyn recruited female police officers, firefighters, etc for this game, but Caelia is still the shortest of them all.
The rules are clear that the game has to be clean, without any checking or rough play. I don’t exactly know how that works in hockey. Regardless, Levon and Miles stick close to protect her as she plays.
I can see Miles’ talent on the ice from here, and people cheer as he and Caelia pass the puck between them. A quick glance to the side has Caelia passing to someone on their team, and I can see her grin from here as the player shoots a goal.
The buzzer sounds for us to take a slight break, and the players glide off the ice. There’s a silent auction portion to this game to help raise money for Nashville Helping Hands, and we all scan the code to open up the website.
I can’t help the smile on my face as I scroll through and see the drawing that Caelia drew of Levon at practice. She decided to anonymously donate it. On a whim, I bid a thousand dollars on it, and then settle in to enjoy the rest of the game. Bidding will continue until the last buzzer.
I’m glad I’m here, watching my pack in their element. Levon is simply enjoying the game, there’s no pressure to perform, and I can see how much he loves it. This is why I sometimes worry about what his life after hockey might be like.
Money isn’t really a concern for him because along with his hockey and endorsements, he’s investing in real estate to lease out. Levon is young and takes care of himself, but I know the wear and tear that sports have on a player’s body. So I worry.
Caelia’s team wins the charity game, and I can’t keep from grinning as I watch Miles pick her up and spin her around. A part of me wants to remind him of his back, however, he doesn’t seem to be showing any pain. I’ll probably also force the man to take it easy later.
Yes, I’m definitely the caretaker. I can’t help it.
Making my way out to wait for my pack, I spy Marilyn talking with someone. Checking the app, I see that Caelia’s sketch went for twenty grand.Dios mio.
“Marilyn, you have to tell me who the artist of that sketch is,” the alpha groans. “I know it’s anonymous, but I truly believethe artist would be perfect for the work I need for the sports museum.”
My lips twitch in amusement at his desperation, and I decide to stand to the side behind the man so that I can eavesdrop. I know he’s talking about Caelia since she’s the only anonymous artist that submitted a sketch.
“What type of work? I don’t know if the artist is commissioning artwork at this time,” Marilyn hedges, meeting my gaze behind the man with a twinkle in her eyes.
“I want pieces of the current hockey team to display at the entry hallway,” he explains. “Their technique is beautiful.”
“Well, I’ll have to ask them if they’re interested,” Marilyn says. “Is there anything I should share along with this?”
“I want twelve images, so I’ll be willing to pay them eighty thousand dollars for the collection,” the man says with a nod. “I also want to spread the word about this artist so she’ll have continued work, Marilyn. You know how passionate I am about paying artists what they’re worth.”
“I do, Harry,” she chuckles. “I’ll call you with their response, okay?”
Harry nods with a small sigh, realizing he won’t get more from her. Marilyn is a hard nut to crack. She threads her arm in mine once Harry meanders off, a definite pep in her step.
“Can you believe this?” she asks, practically vibrating with excitement. “Caelia is between jobs at the moment, right?”
“She is,” I say, trying to keep up with her energy. I’m honestly surprised that she’s this excited about this. “Caelia was fired for her involvement with a rival team by her boss.”
“I’d like to think that I’m up to date on everything that happens, but I wasn’t aware of this,” Marilyn muses. “I didn’t think that would be a consequence of my matchmaking, despite the fact that you didn’t need very much help from me.”
“He was an ass about it,” I sigh. “We’re currently countersuing him for wrongful termination.”
Caelia didn’t initially want to sue Friedrick, but she agreed that calling her a whore was really low.
“Well, that’s the only way some people learn,” Marilyn admits, walking through the back hallways to the locker rooms.
Levon is leaning, freshly showered, against the visitors locker room, which is being used for the women who played today. There were about six of them I think.
