“Oh God, don’t even joke about that,” he warns. He finishes his beer and glances at the time on his phone. “I’m going to head up to my room and call Jessie.”
I stand up when he does and give him another hug. “Congrats, man. Seriously.”
“Please, you probably think it’s a death sentence,” he laughs.
“Maybe for me, but not for you,” I reply honestly.
“It’s terrifying,” he admits quietly.
I slap his shoulder. “You’ve always stumbled fearlessly into any challenge. You’ve got this.”
He grins. “Looks like someone wants to beyournext challenge.”
His eyes are looking at something over my shoulder and I turn and see the girl I raised my glass to earlier walking toward me. She’s cute. Pretty, even. I’m sure she knows exactly who I am and exactly what will happen if she comes over here. But for some reason, I’m not in the mood tonight. I haven’t been in the mood the entire trip. So I gulp back the rest of my beer and follow Jordan out into the lobby before she gets close enough to even say hello.
He looks at me with a confused stare. “Again? You didn’t score in Toronto or Montreal either. And you always say Montreal has the best bunnies.”
“I’m focusing on my game,” I explain, which is true. “Coach hasn’t scratched me once this trip and I intend to keep it that way.”
“Yeah but we’re going home in the morning,” he reminds me. “And I’m sure he doesn’t expect you to be a monk. None of us were ever monks.”
“I’m not being a monk. I just…I’m not in the mood.”
We step into the elevator and he looks more than confused now, he looks stupefied. “You lead the league in sleepovers. You’re always in the mood.”
It’s a line I used to proudly boast about. Jordan might lead the league in short-handed goals, Avery in regular goals, Devin in points, Seb in penalties, Luc in hits and me in bedding women. Only this year, statistically I’d be way off. I’ve seen women come out of other players’ rooms every road trip and I’m yet to bed a bunny. It’s not a conscious decision, I just haven’t wanted to. It should be as shocking to me as it is to Jordan, but I don’t feel shocked. I don’t feel much of anything because it doesn’t feel like I’m giving up much.
“I’ll make up the points in the back end of the season,” I tell him jokingly. “A threesome or two after Christmas break and I’ll be leading the league again.”
“Yeah, there’s the Alex I know and love.” He laughs as the elevator opens on our floor and we say good night, since our rooms are in opposite directions. His comment leaves a cold feeling swirling in my gut and I can’t figure out if it’s because he’s relieved he thinks I haven’t changed or because, deep down, I think I have.
The next day we land around noon and, since we don’t have practice or a game, I head straight to Daphne’s House. Selena opens the door when I buzz and greets me with a big smile. “Hey! Are you scheduled to volunteer today?”
I shake my head. “No. But I have the tickets for the kids for the upcoming home game. And I was hoping to see Mac. Is she living here?” Selena’s smile slides right off her face and my heart slides right into my boots. “She’s not here?”
“Not living here, no,” Selena replies and I heave out a heavy sigh. “Brie can explain. She’s in her office.”
I storm back there before Selena can say another word. They had an appointment with the judge first thing this morning. I was worried when Brie didn’t text me, but I convinced myself it was because she knew I was flying home. And instead of texting her when I landed I decided to just come here. Now I’m worried and angry and most of all frustrated.
I shouldn’t care this much. This is why I don’t get involved. The door is open and I don’t bother knocking. I just march right in. She’s at her desk, typing away on her laptop. She looks startled when I barge in, her big brown eyes getting bigger. She stands up and she is incredible. That thought forces itself into my head even though it’s completely inappropriate. She’s in a formfitting skirt similar to the one she was wearing in the Starbucks the first time I saw her. It might even be the same one, I don’t remember. Her sweater is also snug. I hadn’t realized until right this second that her breasts were as enticing as her ass. The revelation disturbs me, and that adds to the negative feelings swirling inside me.
“You’re not going to let her live here?”
The startled look on her face morphs into annoyance. “I’m good, thanks. How was your trip? Nice to see you made it home safe.”
She’s making me look like an ass and even though that observation would be accurate right about now, it only serves to anger me more. “Selena said Mac isn’t living here. You said Laurie was petitioning the court this morning to get her placed here.”
“She was and she did,” Brie replies tersely. “Turns out with Mackenzie’s history they aren’t inclined to give her a shot at independent living right now. She skipped school a lot her last year in foster care and ran away more than once.”
“So they’ll just take away her chance at something that might work?” I accuse and she marches around the desk.
“Don’t growl at me,” she warns angrily. “I’m doing what I can.”
“Yeah, everyone said that to me too,” I reply before I even realize it. My eyes fly to hers. She doesn’t look shocked.
“How long were you on the street as a kid?” she asks calmly, leaning her perfect butt against her desk.
“So what happened to her?” I ask trying to sound less angry because Brie has already done more than I could imagine and I need to remember that. “Is she in juvie? Did they put her in another home? Has she already run away?”
