Page 7 of Full Tilt
I set the glass on the nightstand beside me, not bothering to risk it. I’ve hooked up plenty of times since Lee and I split, and I’ve never felt so unsure as I do now. Perhaps the magic of one-night stands is wearing off. Not that they’re all they’re cracked up to be anyway.
“I’m a big hockey fan,” he continues, pushing some hair away from my face. “I genuinely thought the Blades were going to lift the Cup last season.” In the soft glow of the room, his easy face turns harder. “We need to offload Tommy Schneider—and fast. All the guy does is warm the penalty box. That powerplay deep in the third of the final game last season cost us everything.”
Every inch of my body tenses, including my jaw.
“You’re a big fan of him too, I see?”
He drops his arm from the headboard and rests it around my shoulders. I hate it, but I’m too distracted by the face of the one person I hate more to shrug off his advances.
“He’s a prick,” I bite out, unable to hide my disdain.
“Shouldn’t you be defending his honor since he’s a fellow player?”
A single bubble of my sarcastic laughter fills the room. “No! I happen to agree with you. The Blades general manager made a huge mistake when he signed Schneider, and he absolutely cost us the Cup. If veteran defenseman, Emmett Richards, hadn’t busted his knee, there’s no doubt that he would’ve been on the ice and not serving major penalty time like Tommy.”
He shrugs, not looking as sure as he did before. “I guess the Flames guy did have it com?—”
“Their winger did nothing wrong,” I say, cutting him off. “Tommy is looking for a fight every time he enters the rink, and he’s a fucking liability. You know his dad nearly killed a Scorpions defenseman, right?”
He nods along, already looking bored with the conversation. I continue anyway, hatred turning into word vomit. I know it looks like my anger appears unjustified, but really, it isn’t.
“He’s a dangerous thug, and he needs taking out of the game.”
Retracting his arm, my hookup pulls back the duvet and rises from the bed. “Sounds to me like I touched a nerve. Did you sleep with him and now there’s bad blood?”
I scoff. “I would rather eat myself.”
On a light chuckle, he pulls on a pair of boxers and heads for the en suite. “I’m going to grab a shower; I’ll be back in a second.”
When he closes the door, I flip back the duvet and stalk across the room toward my bag, pulling out my cell to see multiple messages from my girls.
Kendra
$100 says Jenna went home with Jason.
Collins
I see your bet and raise you another $100.
Darcy
I didn’t think she was into blond dudes, but he’s a lawyer, and he drives a Maserati.
Oh, so that’s his name.
I type out a quick text with one hand as I begin getting dressed.
Me
I did, in fact, go home with him. Although I am now leaving. He’s in the shower.
Collins
It sounds like I’m the only one winning from tonight. He was that bad that you’re already sneaking out? It’s only eleven p.m.
Kendra
She needs to leave now; we have practice in the morning.
