Page 51 of Hot for the Hockey Player
“I, uh … sure.”I stepped inside and closed the door behind me.
“Mom!”Laurel called out, stepping deeper into the house through the kitchen.“Mav wants to talk to you.”She faced me again.“Thanks again, Mav.”Then she gave me a wave before disappearing down the hallway.
I stood awkwardly in the entryway that led to the kitchen, shifting back and forth on my feet as I waited for Gabrielle.I wasn’t exactly surewhatI wanted to speak to her about, I just knew I needed to see her.
But it wasn’t Gabrielle that came around the corner, it was Laurel again.Her brows were pinched in slight confusion.“Mom is … in the bath.”She shook her head like she couldn’t quite believe what she was saying.“Which is so weird because she never takes baths.Anyway, she asked if you guys could chat later?”
“S-sure.”I nodded.“Not a problem.”I reached behind me for the doorknob.“I’ll see you soon, Laurel.Have a great night.”
“You too.”Then she was gone again.
I headed back to my truck, confused about what was going on with Gabrielle.If she never took baths, why was she having a bath now?Was it to avoid me?Shit.Now all I could do was picture her in the tub, naked, covered in bubbles, with her hair piled high on her head and her cheeks flushed from the warm water.My cock grew stiff against my zipper as I climbed behind the steering wheel.I winced a little when my back twinged from the weird way I had pivoted.I needed to be more careful and conscientious about how I moved my torso.
It was only seven forty-five, and my intention for the rest of the evening was to listen to a few of Germaine Pratt’s douche podcasts, just to see what kind of shit the boys in Damon’s school were getting brainwashed with.I’d planned to listen to Jasmine Greengrass’ podcasts, since my interview with her was tomorrow, but after chatting with Damon, I knew I needed to tackle the douche-casts first.
I decided it was best if I gave the Campbell family some space.I’d been over there every day since arriving on the island, and while Damon might not have a problem with it, Gabrielle clearly did.And I needed to respect that.I was just pulling out of the vineyard driveway when my phone vibrated.I stopped to check it.It was a message from Logan.
Working tonight.Come by for a drink.
I replied back.
Just one.Be there in a few.
Maybe he’d heard of Germaine Pratt and could give me some insight on what to expect.I fully anticipated being disgusted, but it was always nice to know just what level of disgust to expect.
I arrived back at my cabin shortly after nine, parked, and didn’t bother to go inside before walking down the grassy laneway toward the pub.The parking lot was full, and music and laughter echoed out through the open kitchen doors at the back of the building.
I entered through the front and Logan lifted his chin in greeting at me since his hands were busy mixing a drink.I grabbed the seat at the bar closest to him.“You ever heard of Germaine Pratt?”I asked him, not bothering with pleasantries, since our friendship seemed beyond that now.
He made a face like he’d just bit into a lemon.“Why?”
“A few of the guys in Damon’s class listen to him.I was going to check it out, just to see what kind of toxic masculinity is marinating at San Camanez High.”
“The most toxic you can ever imagine, if they listen to that twat,” he confirmed, placing the cocktail on the bar just in time for Renée to come up and grab it.
“Hey, Mav!”She gave my bicep a friendly little squeeze before cocking her head to the side at Logan, curiously.“What’s got you making that face?”
“Mav asked about Germaine Pratt.Apparently, a bunch of the high school boys listen to him.”
“Oh, gross,” she said, gagging with her tongue out.“He’s a vile human being, if you can even consider him human.Does Damon listen to him too?”
I shook my head.“He said he doesn’t.And I don’t see Gabrielle letting him either.Damon said as much.He doesn’t actually like the kids that are listening to that stuff.”
“Slim pickings for friends on a small island like this,” Renée said with a sad face.
“That’s what Damon said.I went to visit him at school today so his ‘friends’ could meet me.And the stuff coming out of these kids’ mouths was revolting.I thought maybe they were just trying to impress me, but Damon said that’s how they talk all the time.”
Logan and Renée both made similar faces of revulsion.
“Witbier?”Logan asked me.I nodded.“Honestly, dude,” he started, grabbing a pint glass from behind the bar and sticking it under the tap for the Belgian brew, “save your ears.Don’t listen to that shit-stain for brains.”
“I feel like I need to.Just to … I dunno … help Damon in some way.The kid is really struggling.”
“You couldn’t pay me to go back to being a teenager in high school,” Logan said, setting my beer down in front of me.“And I went to a preppy charter school.It was hell.”
I blanched and brought my beer to my lips to take a sip.“My high school was small.Small town, big sports pride.We loved our hockey and our basketball.”I made a fist and pumped it with my elbow resting on the bar.“Wolverine pride.”
He snorted and started to make another drink that came up on the ticket machine.“We were the … wait for it …” His blue eyes widened.“The Lions.”He scoffed.“So original, right?Our coat of arms isexactlywhat you think it would look like.”
