Chapter 4
Tank
My blades cut through the ice as I push out into the middle of the rink. I know the season hasn’t started yet but I’m in the top position for becoming Captain this season and not a damn thing is going to stop me from earning it. So here I am, taking absolutely every chance I can get to improve myself, to push myself to my absolute limits.
I will be captain of the L.A Storm. No. Matter. What.
Besides, I’m about to have a son who is going to look up to his Daddy and when he does, I want to see pride radiating back out of those eyes that I hope are going to look just like Sophie’s. It amazing what that thought does to me. The knowledge of knowing I have a beautiful little boy growing inside my wife’s stomach fills me with something I’ve never felt before, in fact, I have absolutely no fucking idea what it is.
Pride? Love? Excitement? I have no idea. Maybe it’s a mix of it all but whatever the hell it is, it spurs me on to be the best possible version of myself.
When my son grows up, I want him to be proud of his Daddy, to brag to all his little friends that his Daddy is better than theirs and if that’s taking it too far, then I don’t give a shit.
It’s first thing in the morning and I crept out of bed earlier than normal today. Usually, I have no problem getting up and out in the morning except today, I did. Ever since Sophie got home from her Spa day with Dani, she has been off… well, maybe off is the wrong word. She has been distant.
To anyone who doesn’t know her, they would assume she is hiding something, whereas I know she only gets like this when she is deep in thought and is planning a strategy to get the next biggest story.
Don’t get me wrong. I love that she loves her job. It’s fun and exciting and she also gets to be a part of putting some slimy bastard behind bars but she is five months pregnant and she needs to slow down rather than start a new project.
This couldn’t be healthy for the baby, right?
I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me being too overprotective as she likes to remind me all the time. Maybe I should just let her do her thing.
Then again, if she was to get hurt, I would never forgive myself.
Why can’t she just be satisfied writing stories about clothes and makeup?
Damn it.
Someone pushing out onto the ice has my attention finally snapping away from the horrors of my own mind and I’m thankful that now I’ll actually be able to concentrate.
Coach Larsden skates up to me with a chin lift. “How’s it going, Tank?” he asks as he comes to a standstill beside me.
“Pretty good,” I say to the guy who has been my Coach for the past four seasons. “It’s a bit early for you,” I comment.
“Yeah, wanted to get an early start,” he grunts, “the season’s starting soon and I have a shit-load of work to get through.”
“Sounds exciting,” I scoff.
He rolls his eye as he pulls a puck from his pocket at drops it at his skates. “How’s your training going? I’ve noticed you’ve been logging a lot of hours in the gym,” he says.
“Yep,” I say. “I’m feeling good. I’m ready for the season.”
“I know you are,” he says with pride. “That’s why you’re at the top of my list for being this season’s Captain.”
I nod my head, trying not to let my ego soak that in but it feels damn good to hear those words, no matter how much I’ve heard it over the past few months. “Thanks, Coach.”
He shrugs off my thanks, just as I knew he would. He isn’t one for accepting thanks. He’s a believer in getting what you deserve. If you’ve put the work in then why shouldn’t you be rewarded but, either way, I’m not going to accept this position without letting him know how thankful I am.
“How’s Sophie?” he asks as he pulls the goals into position.
“Great,” I smile as I head over and grab a few more pucks out of the bucket by the barrier door. “I think she’s starting to get uncomfortable but she’s too stubborn to admit it.”
He lets out a scoff, knowing I’m right. “Just wait a few more months, then she’ll be telling you all about it.”
I grin at his comment. Most guys can’t stand it when their women complain about shit but me, I love it. Gives me a chance to fix it which makes her see me as some type of hero and that always comes with the benefits. “Can’t wait,” I smirk.
Coach Larsden shakes his head and leaves me be so I can concentrate on my training. I get to work and soon enough a few of the other boys have joined me. As the season hasn’t started, the boys don’t have to be logging as many hours but I’m glad they’re here, pushing themselves to better the team.
This year is our year. I can just feel it.
Miller cuts past me, being the smart-ass he usually is and steals the puck right out from under my unexpecting feet. He smirks as he flies by but the fucker isn’t going to live that down.
I take off like a bull after him. He looks behind him and I have to grin as his eyes widen in shock. He hadn’t expected me to come after him but now that I’ve started… I ain’t stopping.
He pushes forward and I cut across the ice, knowing his tells, after-all, I’ve been skating with the guy for over eight years. Back in college, we were known as the ‘dream team’, hell, some people still call us that. Miller was the big playboy on campus, the king of the fucking ice but right now, he’s a sleep-deprived new father who just messed with the wrong guy.
He flies around the bottom of the net and I distantly notice a few of the guys move away, knowing if they get in the way, their asses are going to get laid out. I cut across the front of the net and end up right in front of him. Miller attempt some of his fancy-ass footwork but I come at him with brute force. I mean, they don’t call me Tank for nothing.
He gets closer and I see the look in his eye. He thinks he’s got this in the bag.
My eyes come down on the puck and a split moment before he passes, my stick cuts out in front of him and scoops it up. He continues past me, enjoying his win far too much to notice he no-longer possess the puck. A mistake made by someone whose head clearly isn’t in the game yet.
I shoot around and fly up the other side of the rink with Miller heavy on my heels after realising he’s got to step it up a bit. I shoot the puck forward and watch as it beautifully flies through the air before slamming into the back of the nets and dropping to the ice.
“Fuck, dude,” Miller pants, coming to a stop beside me. “You’ve picked up speed.”
“Nah, you lost it when you left your balls back there,” I laugh, pointing out the patch of ice where I took the puck from him and notice some of the younger guys applauding my efforts.
“Fuck off,” he grins. “Give me a few weeks, then I want a re-match.”
“You’re on,” I smirk. “But you better be ready before the season starts.”
“You know I will be,” he states before taking off with another puck and running some drills with the guys.
I continue for another few hours before getting off the ice and heading into the locker room. I have a quick shower and get myself dressed before pulling out my phone to call Sophie, only I find an unread text message.
Crazy Jill – Tank, I love you. I can’t wait to be together.
Far out. This chick is relentless. Jillian, her name is. She’s been texting and calling for the past four years. It’s getting ridiculous, Sophie and I even make bets on how long she’ll wait between texts.
At the beginning, I would reply and tell her to stop but that only spurred her on. I started blocking her number so she got new ones. I changed my numbers but she kept working them out. So now, I just let it go. She messages and I ignore it. She calls and I decline it. Everything has been harmless so far, just a really enthusiastic fan so I guess it comes with the territory.
Sophie will get a kick out of it though, she always wins these bets and as usual, today isn’t any different which means I’m on cooking nude duty but I must admit, I really don’t mind it. All it means is that Sophie is going to walk by me a million times, groping me until I give it to her on the kitchen bench.
A smile comes to my face as I make my way out of the ice rink. I press on Sophie’s contact details and hold the phone up, listening as it rings out. I get her voicemail and leave a message. “Babe, crazy Jill messaged so it’s on tonight. You better be ready. Call me back when you can.”
I hang up before trying her office number.
“Daily Star, this is Jen,” the receptionist greets.
“Jen, hey, it’s Tank. Is Sophie around?”
“No, sorry,” she says with a slight cringe in her voice. “She hasn’t been in all morning.”
“Damn,” I grunt. “Do you know where she is?”
“Ahh… let me have a look,” she says as I hear the familiar sound of her fingernails tapping away on the keyboard. “It says she is working on that story about that guy who wanted to clear his name.”
“No,” I tell her. “She wrapped that one up last week. The guy was guilty of that and more.”
“Shit, seriously?” she grunts. “I could have sworn he was innocent.” For fuck's sake. Is this chick serious? How could she not know that the story was done by now? Sophie sent it in days ago and it’s probably in the middle of being printed in their latest issue. “Look,” she continues. “This is Sophie we're talking about. If her last story is wrapped and she isn’t here, she’s probably following a new lead.”
“Hmmm…,” I sigh. “That’s what I was afraid of,” I tell her before hanging up.
I jump into my truck and write her a text.
Tank – Babe, where are you? Hope you’re being safe. Don’t get yourself in any trouble.
I hit send and shoot off to grab some lunch and am back at the ice rink an hour later.
“Dude,” Cameron, one of the guys says with a scoff. “Where’d you fuck off to?”
“Lunch,” I reply. “I was here four hours before the rest of you.”
“Shit,” he grunts, half impressed and half embarrassed for even asking.
I walk straight past him and dump my shit in the locker room before grabbing my drink bottle and music.
I head off towards the gym to find Miller right beside me. Apparently my win this morning has pulled his motivation right back where it needs to be.
Miller was pretty much in the same position as I was come the end of last season. We were both top of the list for taking the position as Captain but since Mia came along, he is more than happy to take a backseat on this one. I know it’s always been a dream of his to be Captain in the professional league but I guess things change when you have kids. Now, he is just happy to go along for the ride. Don’t get me wrong, he still works his ass off for his team and is one of the best players in the whole league.
But me, I want this like you’ll never believe and I’ll stop at nothing until I’ve succeeded. That doesn’t just count for the title. I want to earn the position and be the best damn Captain the L.A Storm have ever had.
I’m going to lead this team to victory.
We did it for the last few years and we’ll be damn sure to do it again this season.