Luc
The plane sat on the tarmac, waiting to take off from the Chicago airport. The Renegades were flying home after their loss to Chicago. Coach Walker hadn’t yelled too much after the game. They only lost 1–0 in overtime, after a fluke goal won the game for Chicago.
Luc looked up from checking his phone when Coach stood at the front of the plane, clearing his throat. “All right guys, let me just say something before we head back to Pittsburgh. That game could’ve gone either way. You held them off through three periods. Shake off the loss, and let’s prepare for the next game. Okay, sit back and enjoy the flight home.”
Coach returned to his seat, closed his eyes, and put on his in-flight headphones, and Luc sat back, listening to the conversation of the guys around him.
“Dom, it was a nice game, almost a shut-out, bro,” Tyler commented.
“Almost isn’t good enough.” Dom grunted. “We should’ve won that damn game. One fucking shot off the post. I should’ve stopped it. I need a drink.” Dom waved for the flight attendant.
Kaden spoke up. “Z, don’t go there.”
“Dom, Kaden is right. Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Tyler said. “Like Coach said, we need to move on to the next game.” But Dom wasn’t listening. He was now quietly brooding and enjoying a Jack and Coke.
In the past, Dom had been hard on himself after a loss. Unfortunately, one of those bad games had lost them the finals. Lucky for them, they had the best PR people in the league. They knew how to handle everyone, including the players having a bad day.
Melanie strutted up the aisle with purpose, her pencil skirt, suit jacket, and high heels demanding respect as she walked. Stopping right at his seat, she handed Dominic a cell phone. “Dominic, it’s your wife. You’re welcome.” She smirked at Tyler with a thumb’s up motion as she went back to her seat beside Paige.
“Hey Rock-Star, maybe you should talk to Mel about your girl situation.” Sam nodded towards Melanie.
“You got a girl situation, Marcella?” Kaden asked with a grin.
Well shit. This isn’t going to go well at all. “O’Conner, you wouldn’t be interested. You’ve got the old ball and chain now. You can’t possibly remember what it’s like to have all the honeys after you. And not for your on-ice skill.” Luc laid it on extra thick in the hope that Kaden would back off.
“Oh, I remember. Don’t worry,” Kaden responded, sitting back with a big smile on his face.
“O’Conner, is there something I need to tell Ali?” Paige commented with sass from the back of the plane.
Kaden sat back and slid on his headphones, directing his attention to his iPad as he calmly said, “Nope. Not a thing, Paige.”
The plane took off, and everyone was seated and quiet until the captain turned off the seatbelt sign.
Melanie sat in the empty seat in front of Luc and turned around to face him. “So, tell me about your girl problem.”
“Girl problem? Please. I don’t have girl problems.” Luc didn’t want to do this now, with Kaden sitting right across the plane from him.
“Look at me, Luc. I know when someone has relationship problems. And you, my friend, have problems. So, talk.” Melanie stared at him and waited patiently.
Sam started, with a smirk. “So, there’s this girl…”
“Dude, shut up.” He didn’t want to do this at all, but specifically not with Kaden here.
“I’m waiting.” Melanie pulled out a nail file from her purse and started to file her nails. “And I have nowhere to be, not for about the next hour. So, it’s best to spill it, Marcella.”
“Fine.” Luc sighed. He knew Mel wouldn’t let this go. “Yeah, there’s a girl.”
“Isn’t there always?” Kaden interjected.
“Except there’s usually more than just one,” Patrick added.
“Guys, let Luc talk,” Melanie said with a smile. “Go on, Marcella. So, there’s a girl…”
“We’ve been seeing a lot of each other.” Some catcalls came from the back of the plane. “Shut up, morons. Don’t be assholes. They’re like a bunch of fucking eight graders.”
“So, you’re dating this girl?” Melanie prodded.
“Um, kind of. It’s nothing serious.” Luc shrugged her off.
“But you want it to be?” Melanie suggested.
“Yeah, I guess. Doesn’t everybody want that?” Luc said, his voice lower than before.
“Absolutely. It’s no fun to always be by yourself.”
“Yeah. We have fun together, no matter what we do. It’s just… it’s easy.” That was something it had never been before. Fangirls were clingy and needy or just around for a notch on their lipstick case. It had never been easy like it was with Kassie.
Mel tilted her head with a look of understanding. “Luc.” She moved in closer and her voice was low. “It’s supposed to be easy. You really like this girl?”
Luc nodded.
“Luc, all I can tell you is, when you meet that someone special, she’ll change your life and everything you know will be turned upside down. And you’ll love every minute of it. No one will have to tell you she’s the one for you; you’ll just know.”
“Is that what this is, Rock-Star?” Sam asked.
Luc knew what he was asking, since he knew who this mystery woman was. All he could do was nod. He couldn’t give away his secret yet.
“Wow. Luc has eyes for one special lady! Alert the presses!” Patrick commented.
“Hear that? That’s the sound of bunnies everywhere crying,” Roman remarked from a few rows back.
“Ha, ha. You guys are so fucking funny.” Luc snarled. If any of them knew who the girl was, they’d keep their comments to themselves, if for no other reason than for fear of getting their asses kicked.
“So, Puck-Star is contemplating an actual relationship? Wow, what magic did this girl use on you?” Kaden asked.
This conversation was uncomfortable, even though Kaden didn’t know who they were talking about. “Let’s stop talking about me; it’s really not that unbelievable.”
“Rock-Star is in a relationship, but nothing to see here folks!” Kyler called. “Please! That news should be on the front page of TMZ.”
Luc took a deep breath and looked at Melanie. She mouthed the words “I’m sorry,” and snuck back to her seat.
Sam nudged his elbow as the guys were still making dumb and crude remarks about his status. “Dude, are you for real?”
“I am,” Luc whispered.
“You seriously have a death wish, don’t you?” Sam remarked. “I still can’t believe you—”
Kaden looked at them, and nodded to the conversation.
Sam completed his sentence, obviously a little differently than he planned. “—are serious about a girl. You dawg.”
Luc didn’t want to talk about this anymore. Sitting back in his seat, he slipped on the in-flight earphones, and pulled out his cell phone. He quickly typed a text message to Kassie, since she was on his mind.
Luc: I’m looking forward to dinner tomorrow.
Kassie: You on your way home?
Okay, so she was avoiding talking about dinner. Luc’s heart sank, and he wondered if she was thinking about backing out of the date. He decided not to push it, and texted an answer to her question.
Luc: Yep, in the air now. Did you see the game?
Kassie: I did.
Luc: Yeah. You don’t have to say anything.
Kassie: Sorry. But either of you could’ve got that OT goal.
Luc: Yeah. Dom is pretty mad. You probably know how he gets.
Kassie: I do. Is he okay?
Luc: Yeah. Melanie took care of it. He’s fine now.
Luc: So, do you know where you want to go to dinner tomorrow?
Kassie: I do. There’s a steakhouse on Fifth Avenue that I’ve been wanting to try.
Luc: Then that’s where we’ll go.
He wanted to add that he missed her and couldn’t wait to see her, but that might be pushing things.
Kassie: Hey Luc.
Luc: Yeah? What’s up, Kass?
Kassie: I’m looking forward to dinner, too.
Luc: Me too.
That was better than nothing. His heart lifted, and a smile crept onto his lips. Maybe she did feel the same way he did.