Page 27 of The Tape Job
Chapter 7
Liam
The season opener victory has lifted everyone’s spirits. Even Ryan is joining in the social event planned for this evening. But my head is in a different place. Despite my stinging knuckles, all I can think about is Vicky and that kiss.
“Is that going to become a habit?” Ryan says, tossing his jersey in the laundry bin. He’s referring to the fight, because despite what the crowd now think, I’m not a fighter.
“It depends,” I shrug. I don’t need to tell him what it depends on because he knows.
I’m just about to unlace my skates when the dressing room door creaks open and Vicky’s blonde hair comes into view, causing my stomach to flip into my mouth.
“Everyone decent?” she calls and waits for grunts of approval before striding in.
“Lee, you’re needed,” she says, her cheeks pink.
It takes me a moment to remember what I’m needed for. “Shit, yeah. The signing. I’m on my way.”
She disappears with the turn of her heel, and I take a deep breath, needing to compose myself before having to face her again. Ryan winks at me, and I put my guards on before I head out to the tunnels, spotting Vicky waiting at the barrier with Hal, the security guy.
Her teeth gleam bright as she laughs at something he says, and it irks me—what the fuck is so funny?
“Ah, there he is,” Hal says as I approach them.
Vicky doesn’t meet my eyes; instead she mumbles for me to follow her and starts walking towards the bar. I want to ask her what the fuck she’s playing at, but in an attempt to stay professional, I follow her in silence. She leads me through the double doors to the bar area where there’s a table set up with a chair behind it.
A crowd of fans queue to the right of the table and a stack of photos that I recognise to be ones of me from pre-season. I sit myself down, my knees uncomfortably crammed underneath the table, and wait for Vicky to do whatever the hell it is she does.
“Thanks for coming along, everyone!” She smiles at the crowd, and warmth spreads through my body. “I’m sure I don’t need to introduce you to Liam Preston, our newest forward, who had a fantastic season opener for the club! Scoring a goal and finishing the night with four points is a great way to introduce himself to you.”
There’s a few cheers, claps and whoops. I grin appreciatively at the crowd.
“Please try to stick to one signature and one quick picture each. I do have some photos here for sale, if you’d like to get those autographed,” Vicky indicates towards the pile on the table.
I pick up the Sharpie and un-cap it, readying myself. Vicky stands near the table, and I can feel the tension. I have to put all my concentration into focusing on the signing, trying my best to ignore her perfume floating towards me.
I’m asked to sign a mix of things, from team sweaters to pucks to photos—even someone with a ‘Preston’ Leafs jersey, which was a surprise. But I work my way through the line, taking selfies and a few group shots before the line thins out.
Vicky has loitered the whole time, taking a few photos here and there, probably for the socials.
“Thanks, Lee,” she says finally, once the last of the fans have left.
Since we’re alone, I want to ask her why the fuck she’s lying to me. I also want to ask her how we can move past this and get to a point of tolerating each other and learning to live in each other’s space. But I don’t because I’m so furious and I know I’ll end up saying something I regret or pushing her against the nearest wall and giving her a taste of her own medicine.
I take my leave and head back to the locker room, feeling Vicky’s eyes watching me go.
Danny and Jani are finishing up as I push the door to the dressing room open. They make idle conversation while I undress.
“We’ll meet the boys at the bar,” Danny says, sitting back in his cubby and looking in my direction.
“No ladies tonight?” Jani says to him, wiggling his eyebrows.
Jani must be referring to Becca, but Danny ignores him, busying himself with packing his bag instead.
“Nah, just us boys. Cept Jen, most likely, since her and Prez are glued together. Oh, and Vicky is probably coming too.”
Vicky.
As I head into the shower, I try not to think about her. Her kiss set me up for an evening of extra wanting, and I wasn’t prepared for that. I’m supposed to be keeping things platonic and civil, but all I actually want to do is pin her to the wall and fuck some sense into her since she’s being a fucking brat.
