I point at Graham. “And that is why I don’t feel the need to go out with the guys.”
“Although it is fun to watch him get shut down every now and again.”
“Well, you wouldn’t see me getting shut down.”
Graham rolls his eyes. “Why, because no one can say no to you?”
I shake my head and ignore his reaction. Apparently all we need is alcohol for things to soften between us. “Because I doubt any of the guys would go to the gay bars with me.”
“Marcus and Jasper would. Dax tends to be the only person to keep Bode in line, so he’d likely go with him.”
“Good to know.”
See? I can be the bigger person and learn things from Graham that I might not have gleaned otherwise about my teammates.
The silence comes back, but this time, it’s not nearly as heavy as before. It has some of the tension loosening in my chest.
Maybe this won’t be so bad. Playing hockey is hard. Having to make nice with your enemy to keep playing?
I can do this.
“Want to watch the Vancouver game?” Graham asks.
“Sure.”
He flips the TV on and finds the game.
“Figure we can learn about our opponent and get a leg up on them.”
“Could even help the guys out in practice. Get back in their good graces.”
Graham grabs another tiny bottle and swallows the amber liquid down in one go. “I’ll drink to that.”
By the time the game is over, even though we haven’t talked much, the tension has eased. Who knew all you needed was a few tiny bottles of hotel liquor and a hockey game to break the ice?
Chapter Five
NOAH
“Are you serious?”
“I apologize, but the building didn’t pass inspection due to bad electric work, and it’ll be a few more months before it gets corrected.”
“And there’s nothing you can do until then?” I scrub a hand across my forehead. “You said it would only be until the end of the week.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Fields, but the building cannot be occupied until final inspection.”
“If that day ever comes.”
I end the call and toss my phone into my bag, not caring that I was more curt than I should have been. This is not what I needed today. I thought for sure that I’d be able to get moved in once we were back from our road trip, yet I’m still waiting through another seemingly endless delay.
I figured a brand-new high-rise in the city would be the perfect place for me. Quiet because it wouldn’t be filled to capacity. A doorman to prevent any wayward fans from finding me. And most important, a place to rest my head that is my own. It’s why I kept waiting on this place. Well after last season even.
Now, I have no place to go except the cheap hotel that I chose only because it’s close to the rink.
Can one thing go right since being traded?
I head toward the weight room for the optional morning workout before our preseason game tonight, hoping to clear my head. Half the guys are here, but I know more will come later.
