CALDER LIFTED HIS HEAD, like a predator catching the scent of his prey. “You know, I was going to get a touch of fresh air. Would you like me to accompany you wherever you are going?”
Katrina’s eyes widened. I could tell she was both flattered and impressed. She was weighing her options between a disinterested hockey player and an interested member of an elite world she so desperately wanted to be part of. Her ambitions won out. “That’d be appreciated.”
Calder stood up with a flourish and walked around the table to pull out her chair. I watched as he tucked her arm over his. As they walked away, I could hear her girlish giggle.
Max continued to give me the death stare.
I took a sip of water.
He continued to glare, all riled up.
I glanced around the table. We were the only ones that remained sitting. Most people were mingling before the dance portion of the evening started. The band started the first song of the night.
“Max, why are you trying to kill me with your gaze?”
“Your date is a complete punk.”
I played indifferent. “Calder?”
His eyes looked away from me for a long moment before returning to my face. “He’s one of the Baby Men.”
“You and Katrina make a lovely couple.”
“We’re not a couple.”
“She doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo.”
He stood up and walked around to my side of the table and offered me his hand. “Would you like to dance?”
His shift in mood threw me. Nerves jangled in the pit of my belly as I placed my hand in his and let him lead me out to the dance floor where couples already moved together to the music.
The song changed to Unforgettable by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole. I stifled my gasp when Max swung me into his arms. One hand wrapped around my waist, and the other hand held my hand. I tentatively put my hand on his shoulder. Together we started to dance. Max was light on his feet, and confident in his ability to guide me around the dance floor.
I stared up at him in amazement.
“What?” His eyes caressed my mouth.
“You’re a good dancer.”
White teeth flashed in amusement. “You’re surprised?”
“A bit.”
“I’ve got a few talents.”
“What else?”
He spun me around. “Well, I make a mean grilled cheese.”
I tried to imagine Max cooking. The thought of him in the kitchen with a pair of oven mitts was somehow both domestic and intoxicating. “You should try my pancakes.”
“I guess we have breakfast and lunch covered.”
I could feel the heat of his hand on my back through the thin fabric of my dress. “It appears we do.”
His blue gaze clashed with mine. “What about you? Any secret hidden talents I should know about?”
“I used to belong to a marching band.”
A smile spread over his face. “A marching band?”
“I’ll have you know that in grade 6, that was the epitome of cool.”
“Did you play an instrument?”
“No, I twirled the baton.”
His smile was close to a laugh. “That’s adorable. Was that a lifelong passion of yours?”
“The tassel boots and sparkly outfits drew me in.”
“Will you baton twirl for me?”
“Only if you make a grilled cheese sandwich for me.”
His eyes were on my mouth again. “I think we could make that a date.”
I gasped as he spun me around again. I clung to his shoulder.
“You need to warn a girl.”
“And miss that little noise you make?”
Our eyes met again. “Max.”
“So, not sure if I mentioned this, but your date’s a punk.”
My smile broadened. “Funny. He was hand picked by my mom.”
“So, you’re not dating him?”
“Not that I know of.”
“How do you know him?”
“Old family friend. I’ve known Calder since we were toddlers. Why do you think he’s a punk?”
He cleared his throat.
“What, Max?”
I could see his internal debate on how much he wanted to tell me. “I think your date is trying to sleep with my date.”
“Yes, he told me his plan.”
Shock crossed his face. “You don’t mind?”
“Do you?”
“Couldn’t care less.”
“Same.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
We both smiled.
“Excuse me,” Dad’s voice spoke from beside me. “But I think this next dance belongs to me.”
“Absolutely.” Max let go of me and stepped back. “Thank you for the dance, Miss Ashford.”
“Thank you.”
Dad swept me into his arms. We moved across the dance floor in silence.
“Rory, how is your night?”
“It’s good.”
“Where did Calder disappear to?”
“Not sure.”
His eyes were on my face. “Be careful.”
“Dad, I’m not actually dating Calder. You do know that Mom set us up tonight?”
“I’m not talking about Calder.”
“Who are you talking about?”
He raised his eyebrows at me.
“Max?” I sputtered. “That’s ridiculous. He’s a hockey player.”
“Yes, and you’d be wise to remember that.”
I felt my heart sink at his warning while working to cover up my feelings. “I think he felt bad for me that Calder took off.”
“Even if Max wasn’t part of our team, I wouldn’t approve of him.”
“Why don’t you like him? He’s an incredible hockey player.”
“He reminds me of someone.”
Oh, this old story again. I refrained from rolling my eyes. “Who?”
“It’s in the past.”
He piqued my interest. “Was he a hockey player?”
“Come on,” he led me off the dance floor. “Your mom is waiting for me.”
I wanted to tell Dad he wasn’t giving Max a fair chance, but this was not the time nor the place for that conversation.
“I’m going to the powder room.”
Dad kissed me on the temple.
I made my way to the ladies room to freshen my lipstick. Voices from behind stall doors were talking.
“Did you see the latest tweet by Hockey Gurl?”
I froze and listened.
“No what?”
“Apparently Miss Stuck Up has been fucking her way through the entire team.”
“Shut up.”
“Someone told me she threatens the players with their contracts, forcing them to service her. They said one night she had three different guys.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah, and even though she’s cute, the players hate her. They see her coming and they dread it when it’s their turn.”
“That’s disgusting.”
“Yeah, well, I heard she’s a total nymphomaniac.”
I heard a toilet flush. I tossed my lipstick in my bag and fled. Tears blinded me. That was the rumor that was going around about me? Mortification washed over me. Did Dad know?
I bumped into a broad chest and lifted my head when two strong arms grabbed my shoulders.
“Rory.”
I stared up at Max’s concerned face. Did he hear these rumors? Did he believe these things about me?
“Sorry, excuse me.”
“Rory,” he took my hand and pulled me off to the side. He leaned against the wall. “Talk.”
I shook my head. “Nothing to talk about.”
“You’re upset.”
I steeled my lip, willing myself not to cry. “It’s nothing.”
“Did someone say something to you?
“Not to my face.”
“What?”
“Have you heard of Hockey Gurl?”
Max’s face darkened. “Don’t tell me you’re buying into that shit.”
“You’ve heard of her?”
“Rory, everyone knows she’s some idiot spouting her mouth off.”
My shoulders sagged. “She says such terrible things about me.”
“Lies. Everyone knows they are lies.”
“How do you know?”
He shrugged. “Why do you think anyone believes that shit?”
“I heard two women talking about it in the washroom and trust me, they believe what they are reading!”
“Fuck em.”
I swallowed. Thinking.
“I mean it. You’re tough-as-nails-Rory-Ashford. You’re not going to let a tweet take you down.”
I squinted up at him. “We both know I’m not tough.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You’ve seen me at my worst.”
“And that’s how I know you’re tough.”
I took a long-winded sigh. “Thanks.”
“No one believes that shit.”
I knew he was lying to make me feel better, but knowing he didn’t believe those lies, made all the difference.
“Okay.”
He studied me. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I guess I should get back to the table. In case my date shows up.”
He snorted. “You do that.”
Without turning back, I walked away from Max, but I felt strong. He was right. There was no reason for me to get wound up about lies that were being posted on social media.
When I returned to the table, Calder and Katrina had yet to return. Dad was off to the side, talking to someone and Mom sat by herself.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Darling,” she smiled up at me. “I saw you dancing and might I say that you were gorgeous out there.”
“Thanks.”
“Come,” she stood up. “Time to do the rounds.”
I protested. “Mom.”
“Rory, when you host a gala, you need to be a gracious hostess.”
I groaned.
The next two hours, I worked the crowd with Mom. She knew everyone. She said hello to various players and their significant others. She talked to the coaching staff and their wives. She tried to speak to everyone. I admired how she seemed to have a personal connection with everyone, but it was exhausting following in her wake.
I stiffened when we approached Baxter’s table.
“Helene!” Baxter’s face was red, compliments of the amber liquor in the glass he clutched.
“Hello Baxter and Carly,” she bent down to kiss a woman who wore a sour expression. “You look lovely tonight.”
“I see that you are as gorgeous as ever, Helene.” Baxter ogled my mom through his whiskey goggles. “Hey,” he caught sight of me. His tone sounded jovial despite the cold glint in his eyes. “How’s my favorite assistant GM in training?”
“Hello, Baxter.” I tried to infuse warmth into my voice.
Mom turned towards me. “Have you met Baxter’s wife, Carly?”
I reached forward and shook her limp hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
Instead of responding, she vacantly stared at me.
After a few minutes of painstaking conversation, we moved away from their table.
“You missed your calling,” I could not keep the dry tone from my voice.
She smiled at me. “And what is that?”
“Politician.”
“I enjoy talking to people.”
“I could move to a deserted island and I don’t think I’d miss talking.”
She touched my face with her palm. “Rory, you look exhausted.”
I yawned. “I could sleep for a week.”
“Why don’t you take the car home and send it back to us. We will be here for a couple more hours.”
I glanced around, wondering if I should find Calder. “Yeah, okay.”
“Let me walk you out.”
We got to the front foyer, and I saw Max leaning up against the bar. He was talking to another player. Calder and Katrina were nowhere in sight.
“Mom, did something happen between a player and Dad?”
“What do you mean?”
“Dad doesn’t like Max Logan, because he says he reminds him of someone.”
Mom’s eyes studied Max and then it was like the ball dropped. She put a hand over her mouth. “Oh no.”
“Mom! What is it?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
“You know who Dad is talking about? You know who Max reminds him of?”
Mom squeezed my hand too tight. “Don’t go there, Rory, please.”
“Go where?”
“Leave the past in the past. And stay away from Max Logan.”
I protested when someone put their arm around my waist.
“Calder!” Mom gave a relieved smile to my dinner date. “We were searching for you.”
I unwrapped his grabby hand from my waist. “I’m going home.”
“Great,” he pulled out his phone. “Let me text my driver.” He lifted his head up. “He’ll be out front in ten minutes. Just going to get a drink, want one?”
I shook my head. “No thanks.”
Mom and I watched as he made his way to the bar. I turned back to Mom. “Please tell me what you are talking about, Mom. This is important. Dad is so biased against Max for no reason other than he reminds him of someone? This is Max’s career, Mom.”
She shook her head. “Sorry, Rory. I can’t.”
“Mom. That’s not fair.”
“Please, Rory. I’m asking you. Drop it.”
“Fine.”
She gave me a quick hug. “Have a good night.”
I watched as she moved away from me. What had happened? And who did Max remind them of? What was going on? And why wouldn’t they talk about it with me?
A shout sounded behind me. I spun around in time to see Calder shove Max against the chest. Max didn’t budge and stepped closer, towering over Calder. Calder wasn’t backing down. Another hockey player stepped in between them and pushed Max away from the bar. Max lifted his hands in disgust and walked away.
I rushed to Calder’s side and hissed. “What are you doing?”
He smoothed his hair back off his forehead. “Your lover is feisty.”
“Okay, let’s go. Right now.”
“I’m not done with my drink.”
I pulled the glass out of his limp fingers. “You’re done.”
“You’re so bossy.” But he slung his arm around my shoulder. “Lead the way.”
Once we got into the car, I turned on him. “What happened between you and Max?”
“Loverboy?”
I ignored his jab. “Did you say something that upset him?”
“He seems quite protective of you.”
“Calder!”
“Relax. It’s not my fault if your boyfriend can’t take a joke.”
I rolled my eyes and stared out the window.
“Roar, don’t be like that.” He tossed something towards me.
“What is this?”
I picked up something lacy. In horror, I realized that I was holding a pair of female panties. I tossed them back at him, hitting him on the face. “Calder!”
“I have a secret about the fox,” he taunted as he held the fabric to his nose and breathed deeply.
“Those are Katrina’s? You slept with her?”
“Let’s say, based on my performance tonight, you owe me tickets for more than one game.”
“Ewww.”
“She’s not the innocent she pretends to be.”
My mind was still trying to comprehend that Katrina hooked up with Calder. “What are you talking about?”
“The fox has been in the chicken coop.”
“Can you please speak English?”
“She’s sleeping with a married man. Hot and heavy. Her marriage broke up over it.”
My heart zinged with joy over the fact she was not sleeping with Max. “Who?”
“Baxter.”
My mouth dropped open. “The head coach? Baxter Nicols?”
Calder shrugged, already bored with this conversation. “Yup.”
My mind raced. “But I met his wife.”
“He wants to leave her.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“The fox is up in arms because he hasn’t left his wife yet. He was supposed to get a promotion, but he didn’t so he refuses to leave his wife until that happens.”
“Promotion? What promotion? He’s already the head coach!”
“No clue.” He shrugged and shut his eyes. “Wake me when we get home.”
My mind raced as I tried to process what Calder has told me. What promotion was he talking about? I couldn’t even comprehend that Katrina and Baxter were sleeping together. So why was she always making such a big play for Max? I thought back to the media fiasco that had transpired. I had thought she had called the media so she could be seen as his girlfriend. Now it appeared she had tried to set Max up. Was she doing that to help Baxter?
Calder snored beside me. The driver pulled up to my family home. Without waking him or saying goodbye, I let myself out of the vehicle. I wondered if Max knew about Baxter and Katrina? I decided, even though I didn’t like to spread gossip, it warranted talking to Max about. Perhaps he could shed light on Katrina’s motivation. If anything, he needed to be on his guard with her.
