“Yeah. I mean, kind of?” I licked my lips, refusing to say more. “We talked about it later, but now, I’m afraid…”
Naomi took a big sip of her drink. “Girl, you need the horizontal mambo.”
“Might ruin her for other men,” Nicole mused.
Naomi scoffed. “Of course it will. He’s a professional athlete. They have to fuck like they play—all out.”
Ida Jane took my hand, and I appreciated her silent support. “Why, Keelie?” she asked. “I know you have a good reason.” When the women turned their attention to Ida Jane, she flushed but lifted her chin. “I’m not ready to jump into bed or a relationship with Maxim, so I appreciate that y’all are taking things slower.”
I squeezed her hand, thankful for her presence here. I liked Ida Jane a lot. She had a deep strength, steel will under the softness of a Southern accent. Ida Jane was the real deal, genuine to her convictions. And I liked that she had Maxim in a tangle. These men were used to getting what they wanted when they wanted it. Cormac hadn’t seemed to let that go to his head, but it had to shape his—their—expectations. Like Ida Jane and Naomi, I wanted to continue to be me, with my career and interests, even if I also wanted a relationship with Cormac. And I wanted that with a deep, terrible hunger.
Naomi flopped back and turned toward the screen. The Wildcatters had the puck. Cormac passed it forward to Naese as someone on the other team brought his stick up and sent Cormac sprawling.
A moment later, Maxim slammed the player into the boards.
“Sounds to me like you need to talk to each other,” Naomi said, turning back to face me, her expression serious. “Adam and I usually have deep conversations on the phone—something about not having to look at each other helps, I think.” She shrugged. “But I tell him all the stuff that frightens me, leaves me feeling weak, vulnerable. It’s harder for him, but he’s trying. And he’s protective of the scared me that just needs some good loving.”
“Oh, you turned it into a joke,” Mimi complained. “And you’d been doing so well.”
Nicole took a sip of her drink, contemplating me over the rim. “Don’t we all have baggage? I was a single mother before Quentin and I began dating. Naomi had an abusive ex. Cormac’s ex flaunted her one-night stand with the league’s resident asshole.”
“I don’t like her,” I muttered.
“Neither do we,” Naomi said. “She’s big for her britches.” She shot Ida Jane a wink, and she giggled.
“My point is Naomi’s right: you have to talk those uncomfortable, scary bits through,” Nicole said. “Especially the hard feelings. These men travel about half the time, and women throw themselves at them constantly.” She frowned, as did Naomi and Mimi.
Naomi shook her head. “I hate when women do that to each other. And I hate that Adam slept with so many of them.” She grimaced. “But I can’t change his past, so I accept it. Sometimes it sticks in my throat and makes me gag. But I try. Because I love him.” Her lovely eyes turned softer, dreamier. “And he loves me. Takes such good care of me.”
“When you’re ready, have the sexy times.” Nicole winked. “Cormac will rock your world—”
“And then you can tell us about it, and I can live vicariously through you,” Mimi piped in.
I wrinkled my nose. “I’m not telling you details of my sex life.”
“You’d have to be having sex to have a sex life,” Naomi pointed out.
“Well, aren’t you Ms. Semantics?” I shook my head. “Do you want to watch the game or not?” I motioned to the television. “Looks like the Wildcatters just scored.”
Naomi scrambled for the remote.
Chapter41
Cormac
After our two-one win against Montreal, I tromped out after the guys, looking forward to a celebratory drink. Settled in at the bar, I sipped my beer, enjoying the accolades and backslaps from my teammates.
Pete sent me a text:Great goal. Bet it felt good to get one on Dukovsky.
It did. Not going to lie, but I thought about Keelie. I knew, from both her and Adam, that she’d watched the game with Naomi, Mimi, Nicole, and Ida Jane.
“If they scared off Ida Jane, I’m going to beat you to a pulp,” Maxim growled, shooting daggers at Adam and Quentin. He set his empty beer glass on the counter and stormed off, phone to his ear.
“I guess he really likes her,” Adam said, eyes wide.
I nodded. “Guess so.” A hand brushed my arm, squeezing my biceps. I turned, already tugging myself away. “Oh, Shannon,” I said as I realized who it was. I hugged her, just like I always had. “Nice to see you.”
“I wanted to congratulate you on beating your former team.” Her smile turned strained. “And also on your new relationship.”
