Page 79 of Dump and Chase

“I told the guys what had happened. We decided that if Rothesay didn’t do something about it, we were, so I’m glad this worked out.”

“Jim and I decided not to make police reports. I get where he’s coming from, and I didn’t push it. But how sad is hockey culture that you can’t complain about assault in fear of retribution?”

“It can be that way, but in this case, I think you and Jim would have had everyone’s support. I don’t know Dube all that well, but the few times he’s been called up, he’s rubbed me the wrong way. He’s too aggressive and always angry. It was about more than the game for him. He has a lot of issues, and drug addiction sounds like one of them.”

I left him to his video game and dropped off my lunch bag in the kitchen. I was cleaning plastic containers when my phone chimed.

You okay???

Ethan had confirmed that all the guys knew about the incident, so getting a text from Brandon was no surprise.

I’m okay.

I don’t want to be pushy, but if you want to cancel tomorrow I totally understand.

I stared at that text for a long time. I thought about canceling, but how many evenings out had I had? Almost none.

I’ll be there. See you tomorrow.

* * *

Ethan was out with the guys before I left, so I didn’t have to tell him where I was going, not that it was his business. I’d had a long day at work with the mounting Ravens injuries, so my feet hurt as I slipped on my brand-new maternity jeans. I wore a cute pink knit sweater and blue and pink sneakers. I couldn’t believe it was December already and I was still wearing shoes. By now in Minnesota, I’d be pulling on my winter boots.

Mario’s was pretty busy, but Brandon was in what I guessed was his usual booth when I arrived. I shimmied into the booth and couldn’t hold back a yawn.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “It was a long day of one treatment after another. I swear, half the Ravens are injured.”

“It’s that time of year.”

“How is your knee holding up?” I asked, settling into my seat. I grabbed a menu and perused it even though I wanted pizza. I needed all the carbs and cheese I could get.

“Pretty good, although the Kodiaks PT is not as interesting as you.”

I wasn’t sure how to take the compliment, so I laughed it off and set my menu down. Brandon waved over the server and we ordered. I got my cheesy pizza with salami, mushrooms, and black olives while Brandon ordered lasagna with a side of grilled chicken. We were sharing a salad again, and I asked for extra garlic toast.

“Didn’t you just order pizza?”

“I did, but I’m eating carbs for two,” I said, pointing to my tummy. “I’m also famished.”

We got our drinks, my tea and his beer, and he leaned toward me. “You’ve got a lot to update me on. What happened with Dube?”

I groaned. “I don’t know what got into him, but Dube was possessed. I was sure he was going to hurt Jim. I tried to talk him down, but when he looked at me, his eyes, they were like a wild animal’s. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but I hope he turns his life around.”

Brandon scratched at the scruff on his jaw. He looked good with the five o’clock shadow. It made him ruggedly handsome, not that he wasn’t handsome before. “I would have decked him. Were the three of you alone?”

Oh boy. “No. There were a few guys, but they all seemed too stunned to react.”

Brandon’s face crumpled in confusion. “Let me understand this. There were guys around, and they were watching?”

“One was recording on their phone.”

“And they let you get in the middle of it?”

I’d opened a can of worms. Thankfully Brandon was with the Kodiaks and wouldn’t have to be in the same locker room as the Ravens. “Seems so. But Ilya did help me when I fell. And he wasn’t one of the spectators. He came in at the very end.”

“Fucking cowards,” Brandson spat. “I know Dube is bigger than me, but I still would have clocked him.”

“It’s fine now. Clay met with us and Chris is gone. How was the road trip?” I had to get him off this subject before he got more pissed off.

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