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She hadn’t mentioned it, not that she gave us a lot of information to go by. That’s one thing that had frustrated Ro and me, she wasn’t giving us a lot, especially about that dom wannabe who took advantage of her. Rage like I had never felt before always surfaced when I thought about the twat waffle.

“You got it bad, sweetheart,” my mother said, pulling me out of a murderous rage.

“No more than usual,” I said, taking a sip of my whiskey.

“I think it's a lot more than usual, not even Ty made you look like that,” she said, making me wince at the thought of my ex who I had thought might have been the one.

“I was naive and now I know better; I just think Valencia is amazing and gorgeous,” I said, finding her easily in the crowd.

“Be careful, she works for the team and while you might just get a slap on the wrist, you have to know it won't be the same for her,” she said, looking in the same direction I was. “The team will protect you before they protect her, and they might make her take the fall for something you both agreed to.”

Valencia had said the same thing. While I knew she would get in trouble, I guess I didn’t think about what would happen and how they might make her take the fall. She was a social media manager, someone could replace her in an instant, but we were under contract and that offered us some protection.

“I know, I would never do anything to put her in harm's way,” I said, trying not to sound defensive.

“Not intentionally, but you can’t control everything,” my mother said. “Just be careful, for her sake.”

“I will,” I said, as an announcer came on the speaker, and we turned our attention to the MC for the evening.

It was the auction portion of the event and then we could dance afterwards. It was my first event attending a Love4all event and I had to say, Easton had done a great job with this community. I bid on a few things, winning a trip to Lake Como. It was a lot of money, but I didn’t feel so bad after seeing Easton so happy. And thinking about what that money could do, made me happy.

Valencia took a photo of me, and I gave her a small smile, hoping to ease whatever she was feeling. She didn’t linger, giving me her own small smile and I counted that as a win. After the auction, the dance started and many people started dancing, including my mom and me.

The band was great except the singer kept eye-fucking Valencia and it was starting to piss me off. After a few dances, my stepmom called. She was outside, ready to pick my mom up, since her shift at the hospital had ended early.

“Thank you for bringing me and giving this old lady a chance to wear something nice for the evening,” she said, as I helped her put on her coat.

“Anything for you, Mom,” I said, kissing her forehead.

She raised me all by herself until I was fourteen and then she met Helen. I would do anything for this woman who put me in hockey because I was hyper, and she needed a break. It was the best thing she ever did for me, and I owe everything to her, working herself to the bone to make sure I had everything I needed for sports.

“Please put Valencia first, even if that means you don’t pursue anything,” she said, cupping my cheek.

I wish I could tell her I promised, but I had already done what she said not to do.

“Ok,” I said, being vague.

“You’re so bad,” she chuckled. “Have fun tonight.”

She winked at me before walking out the door to the waiting Mercedes that had my stepmom. I told my mom plenty of things, except about my sex life. We had always been close, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Making sure she got into the car, I walked back to my table where Webber and Jude were talking and laughing. I studied them as I walked closer, and I was like ninety percent sure Jude was in love with oblivious Webber. I saw it in the subtle longing looks he gave him and how he ate up every word. Webber was bisexual and I was curious why Jude had never tried for anything else if he knew he liked men.

I sat down with them as we joked, and a few women came up to us. They clearly were looking for something more when Webber pulled Jude against him like they were together. The moment he did it, I got nervous for Jude. This didn’t look like it was the first time Webber had done it, and from the look on Jude’s face, he looked like he couldn’t decide whether to enjoy it or be upset.

The puck bunnies were desperate and stubborn lingering longer than necessary. Webber was increasingly touching Jude and I flat out gave them a no, and they gave up. The moment they left, Jude excused himself and I felt bad for the guy. I watched him walk away, stopping to talk to Luke Malone. As I watched them I noticed a few similarities and I wondered if they were related.

I looked over to Webber who was completely oblivious and just as I was about to say something, Valencia walked by us talking with Gage, engrossed in what he was saying.

“Damn, dude, he’s trying to steal your woman,” Webber said, with an evil glint in his eye. “I see the way you and Gomez look at her.”

“What makes you think she’s my woman? You know that can never happen,” I said, hating that he was more perceptive than he thought. Damn him for not being a dumb jock.

“Just like with you and Gomez, gotcha,” he said, getting up.

“Please, you know?—”

“I bet the hate orgasms were fucking phenomenal,” Webber chuckled. “I’ll see ya later man, don’t go too rough on her and I won’t tell a soul.”

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