While little Cammi suckled away, I outlined the major issues of the Thad situation like I was giving a PowerPoint presentation. Both baby and I finished about the same time.
Jason picked her up and held her close for a burp. “You were thinking of getting engaged to this guy, Lo. I know it’s not as easy as acknowledging he’s a jerk and that you’re well out of it.”
“No, it’s not. It stings more than cuts, though. Why I’m really here is to find out why you went blabbing about my situation to Nazarov.”
He smirked. “He came running, then?”
“He showed up, looking like a Brava enforcer, but prettier. Hovered all night until I felt sorry enough for the guy to let him take me home. And then he got into it with Thad.”
His eyes went wide. “He punched your ex?”
“No, he did not punch him.” Why did hockey players assume violence was the default response? “He basically growled and told him to unhand me, like a Regency era fop. All he was missing was the glove-slap in Thad’s face.”
Jason rubbed Cammi’s back. “I can’t believe I didn’t pick up on this. I guess you were sneaky about it in college, but what I’ve seen over the years should have clued me in.”
“Over the years?” I snapped to attention, desperate for any morsel he could provide. “What does that mean?”
“Naz used to come to your games.”
“Yeah, I know. And I went to his. That’s what the teams did for each other.”
He shook his head. “Not college. When you were pro with the Athenas. I can’t say for sure how many, and our road warrior status can’t have allowed for much free time, but I ran into him maybe four or five times over the years. And that’s just the ones I knew about. He would always tell me not to mention it because he didn’t want to piss you off.”
“Why would I—he said that?”
“Yep. We’d get a drink, and then I’d run into him again when we played against each other, and I’d bring you up, but he’d shut it down.”
My heart stuttered. Why would he keep that to himself?
So he was a fan of women’s hockey. It wasn’t that strange, was it? But to go out of his way to see me play?
I didn’t want to think about what it might mean.
But I also had to know.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Alexei
* * *
NyQuil
You’re saying bay leaves are a scam?
NoBo
Yep. Cooked up by Big Bay Leaf to make us buy five tiny leaves in a jar that cost eight bucks and have no fucking impact on a meal.
Jacob “Dingaling” Bell
Sounds like you’re buying inferior bay leaves. They actually make a difference.
NoBo
Oh yeah? Answer me this. Why do you have to take them out before you eat? Because they are a total grift.
NyQuil
