Page 4 of Whirlwind
“Gaming chairs are a bitch to nap in, though,” I say. “I’ll probably have to find a way to fit both of them in.”
“What games do you play?”
“Any one that lets me shoot a gun or kill a dragon.”
“Call of Duty?”
“No. Not anymore. There are far too many jerks there who think a woman is only good for making sandwiches,” I say, crinkling my nose in disgust. It’s not easy being a girl gamer in online communities. Mostly, I can hold my own with them, but sometimes, it simply gets to be more work than value.
“You ever want to play it again; you join up with me and my boys.”
“Ah, you gonna protect me, big guy?”
“I would if you’d ever give me the chance, Kit Kat.” He rises from his chair and moves to chat with some of the other guys.
“That guy has a big crush on you,” Willa says.
“He has a big crush on lots of women, I suspect.”
“You’re not wrong there, Kit,” Cillian says. “I think he’s still hung up on that movie star friend of Odette’s, too.”
“Can’t blame him; Britton Macy is gorgeous.” The starlet filmed a movie here not too long ago, and was a permanent fixture not only in the Blades’ social events, but Hugo’s bed, as well.
“So are you,” Willa says with a smile before turning to her brother-in-law. “Where’s my sister at?”
“She wasn’t feeling too hot; she stayed home with Sadie,” Cillian answers.
“Why didn’t she call me?”
“She didn’t want you to mother hen her instead of coming out with your crew and having a good time. So,” he says, tapping her on the nose. “Have a good time. She’s okay. You know if it was something serious, I’d be home with her.”
“Maybe she’s queasy because her ex is joining the team,” Letty, another of the players, says, from a couple feet away.
“Wait, what?” Willa asks.
“We made a trade for Murphy, today,” Cillian says. “He’ll be here as soon as his visa shit clears.”
“Oh, damn,” I say. “Bet you don’t love that.”
Tyson Murphy is the only other man Isla ever gave a shot. And it was only when she and Cillian were on the outs for a few years. Tyson wanted more with her, but her heart was never fully available. Not since she gave it to Cillian at sixteen years old.
I knew Tyson before I knew Cillian. Truth be told, I was rooting for him to win her heart. Even for a while after Cillian came back into her life. She picked the right man for her; I know that now. I’ve seen how much he loves her and the lengths he’ll go for his family.
It’s not like I knew the guy well or anything. But, from what little I saw, Tyson was a good man, too. He was great with Isla’s daughter. I felt bad for him. Especially because he plays against Cillian. He can’t avoid the situation altogether. The NHL is a small family; they run into each other more than probably any of them would like. Now, it’s going to be so much worse.
“I don’t love it for me on a personal level, no. It’s a great move for the team, though.”
“Sadie is going to be excited, she loved Tyson,” Willa says.
“You don’t need to remind me that my daughter had his hockey memorabilia before she had any of mine,” he says with an exaggerated pout.
Cillian didn’t know he had a daughter with Isla until Sadie was a toddler. Over the years, there have been some huge misunderstandings between the two of them. As well as mistrust and a healthy dose of postpartum depression. Well, and a crazed groupie woman who didn’t understand consent.
That’s all in their rearview mirror, now. Other than Willa’s parents, I don’t know of a more solid couple than Isla and Cillian Wylder. If I were looking to have a relationship of my own, I’d want one as honest as theirs. That’s not in the cards for me, perhaps.
Maybe twenty-seven is too young to be saying that. When you’ve gone as long as I have with little to no interest in developing a romantic relationship, it’s easy to convince yourself it isn’t part of your future.
And, really, that’s okay. I’ve seen enough awful relationships to understand that not everyone is meant to be in one. Plus, I’m happy. I’m fulfilled. I have a career, friends, and a good life.
