Page 74 of Dump and Chase

“I actually didn’t. What does your ass have to do with making friends?”

Ryan clenched his teeth. “Are you fucking done?”

“Fine, whatever. Just pointing out—”

“So, anyway, he’s changed his outlook on life. Is that better? He’s being nice to people. He’s not expecting everyone to put in ten thousand percent. And before you say it, I know, it can’t be more than one hundred.”

That was his new angle, making friends? It would serve him well. Before he’d come to the Kodiaks two years ago, he’d outworn his welcome in Boston. In one season with the Kodiaks, he’d done the same. Some of the guys were happy when Warde torn his ACL early in the spring. None of us had to deal with him. Why he’d suddenly had this great awakening was odd. Although Tangihadsaid she’d encouraged him to play nice…

“That reminds me. About your Thanksgiving party,” Ryan continued as if reading my mind, “Amanda wouldn’t stop talking about how you and Warde were making fools of yourselves trying to win over Tangi. She thought it was weird that you’d both be chasing after a pregnant woman.”

I turned to face Ryan who had picked up his phone again. “You didn’t tell her, right?”

“Hell no! The whole team would know by now. But she is definitely confused and curious. I told her Tangi was single, but I’m not sure she really bought that it was just that. You guys were acting stupid.”

“I was not.”

“You were. And if you really want Tangi back, which you obviously do, you better get cracking before she goes on more dinner dates with Warde.”

I choked on the water I’d been sipping. “Sorry, what?”

Ryan frowned. “You didn’t know? They went to Mario’s for dinner. I thought you knew. Everyone is talking about it.” He stopped as an idea struck him. “Right, I guess they wouldn’t talk to you about it. Totally awkward.”

What the hell! My best friend hadn’t told me Tangi had gone out with Warde? Tangi hadn’t even mentioned it. “Spill the details.”

“It was a while back. They went to Mario’s. Mario told Bell because Bell goes there all the time. He mentioned that Warde was there with someone named Angie. Obviously got her name wrong. Bell told Jeremy and he told me.”

“Jeremy knows!”

Ryan smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, man. We figured you knew. That Bell had told you.”

“Maybe it wasn’t Tangi and really was an Angie.”

Ryan shook his head. “Bell remembers Tangi, and he’s seen her around the arena, so he described her to Mario. Mario confirmed.”

I closed my eyes to hold in my rage. Some friends I had. I took a few deep breaths and opened my eyes. I looked over at Warde again and we briefly made eye contact. He nodded before getting back to his card game. I was going to kill him when I got my hands on him.

* * *

I didn’t get a chance to talk to Warde until we were in Calgary. We had a day off before back-to-back games. The guys had broken off into a few groups to go for dinner and a night on the town. I made sure I was in Warde’s group, and I made sure to drag Ryan and Jeremy along.

Bell had picked the place, an Indian restaurant with a massive buffet. They were going to lose money on us tonight. We had a huge table and some of the guys couldn’t wait to hit the buffet. I hung back, waiting for Warde to be alone. He was talking to Andre St. Hilaire, our goalie, and I waited until they were finished. Then I made my move before Warde wandered off to the buffet.

“Got a minute?” I asked.

Warde stared at me, and I was sure his blue eyes were laughing at me. I wanted to punch him in the gut.

“Sure. Something wrong?”

“I hear you and Tangi went on a date.”

Warde tilted his head, probably to piss me off more, trying to look all innocent. “It wasn’t a date. She mentioned looking for new friends, and I mentioned that Mario has a couple of daughters she might hit it off with. So we went there for dinner.”

“Let’s cut the bullshit, all right? Are you interested in Tangi?”

Warde shifted to plant his feet. “Are you?”

“I asked you first.”

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