Kassie
Kassie held tight to Luc’s arm as they made their rounds through the team Halloween party. She swore that she and Luc had had their photo taken twenty times within the last hour. That didn’t include the tons of selfies Luc had taken of them both, or the ones where he shoved his phone at whoever was standing around them and had them take their picture. Maybe it was their sweet Superman and Supergirl costumes, or maybe it was just the fact of them being together in public that folks were over-excited about.
This was one of the first big team events she had accompanied Luc to. She didn’t expect anyone to care who she was or that she was even there. Except everyone did take notice, and she realized all the photo ops were definitely because of who she was there with, and not what they were dressed like.
Kassie detoured off their route to take them right by the bar. She downed a shot of whatever the bartender gave her, and grabbed a Jack and Coke to take with her.
A single guy that she wasn’t familiar with waved at Luc and passed by him, giving a fist bump. He was dressed like a banana. It was creepy and funny all at the same time.
Before she could ask Luc who that was, Trina approached them with a big smile on her face. She was decked out in a chef’s hat and white t-shirt that had an image of an oven with a bun cooking inside. The shirt read, “bun in the oven.” Clever. Kassie had already seen Sam, decked out in a matching chef’s hat and white t-shirt, with a black apron with the words “bun maker” on it.
“Trina, do you two ever get tired of being so adorable?” Kassie asked. “You’re like the perfect couple.” Her words were filled with sarcasm, but she wasn’t lying; they were so cute.
Trina’s face darkened. She grabbed at her belly for a second, then let out a little breath.
“Tri, you okay?” Kassie asked.
“Yeah. Oh, yeah, fine.” Trina kept her hand on her stomach, but forced a smile. “I just wanted to ask you how it felt to lock down the team’s most eligible bachelor?”
“Excuse me?”
“Kass, you’ve been the talk of the party all night. No one ever thought there’d be a girl out there that could get the Rock-Star to finally settle down. Then you came along. I don’t know how you did it, but kudos, girl! You’ve got that boy under your spell.”
Kassie ruffled her brow. “I hope that’s a good thing?”
“Absolutely! Just look at him.” Trina pointed to Luc, who was now a few feet away, grabbing them bottled water. “He radiates happiness. He needed someone like you. Sam says all he ever talks about is you. Kass, he is really head over heels, and it’s so sweet!” Trina practically squealed. Then she sucked in a hard gasp of air and grabbed at her belly again.
“Tri, are you sure you’re okay? Do you need me to find Sam?” Kassie was concerned by how Trina was acting.
“No.” Trina waved Kassie off. “I’m fine. It’s just gas, or maybe too many chips and dip. But I do have to run to the bathroom again, excuse me. I swear these days my bladder is the size of a pea. Thank goodness this costume is simple and easy to get off!”
Kassie thought about what Trina had said. That was why there had been so many photos taken of her and Luc together. “Wait! Trina, does that mean—” But Trina was already halfway to the bathroom.
“Mean what?” Luc looped his arm around her back and pulled her close. He held his phone out in front of him and snapped a selfie. “Say cheese!”
“Apparently, there have been lots of photos of us taken tonight. Besides you and your selfies,” Kassie said, as Luc messed with his phone.
“Yeah, I noticed. Hold that thought, and say Supergirl.” Luc snapped another selfie, only this time he planted a kiss on her cheek in the photo. He fiddled with his phone for a second before continuing his thought. “They always take a lot of photos at the Halloween party. It’s kind of a big deal.”
Dom came up beside them. “Talking about all the pictures?” He was decked out as one of the Suicide Squad characters, while Hailee was the girl with the crazy makeup and funky hair.
Luc flexed his Superman muscles that were actually his muscles, accented with only a little padding. It was kind of sexy that he didn’t need all the padding that came with the costume. “Yeah. Kass said there have been lots of pictures taken. I was telling her they do that all the time. We’re just used to it, and it’s kind of fun now.”
“Yeah, I think it’s just the normal team Halloween party pictures for the internet. The ones that go on the team page, and the PR stuff. Mel probably knows,” Dom added.
“The internet?” Oh crap, she hadn’t considered that. Of course they were going on the internet.
“You shy, sweets?” Luc asked her. “Don’t need to be. I love showing you off in that Supergirl costume.” His words were dripping with lust. She was surprised he wasn’t drooling. Then Luc shoved his phone in Dom’s direction. “Zanetti, take our picture. Hailee, jump in here, too.”
“Yeah, we’ll be on the team’s web pages,” Hailee agreed. “They highlight the players’ costumes every year. But this year the team’s most sought-after bachelor has a beautiful lady on his arm. I’m sure the fangirls will eat that up. Sorry Kass, but your name is going to be everywhere by the end of the night,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “It’s really not that bad. You’re a sweet girl, and you’re good for Luc.”
“Wait, so you’re serious? I’m really going to be on the team’s web pages?” Kassie questioned, while trying to keep her cool.
“Honey, you’re going to be on the WAGS pages, too,” Paige added. “And you will be retweeted and shared and whatever else they do online. We all will. Every single girl is going to want to see who finally tied down Luc Marcella.”
“The Puck-Star,” Luc added.
Kassie shook her head at Luc’s comment, but her bigger concern was the social media. “Yeah, I really doubt that, Paige. No one even knows who I am. And I doubt they even care. I’m just the chick in the Supergirl costume.” This was all too much. She wasn’t a WAG; she was just dating Luc. But that did make her a WAG, didn’t it?
“They do now.” Paige pointed at the many people taking pictures. “Most of those are going to end up on the internet sometime tonight or tomorrow.”
“I need a drink.” Kassie turned to look for the bar, but Luc grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into a warm, loving hug. It relaxed her enough for the moment.
“Hey, have you seen my wife? I think I lost her in the crowd somewhere,” Sam asked, scratching under his chef hat.
“Nice apron, surfer dude,” Luc commented. “Does it come with a surfboard?”
Why wasn’t Luc worried like she was, about all the attention she was going to get tonight? Maybe because there’s nothing to be worried about. She tried to think back to when Ali started to date Kaden, when the paparazzi did the same thing, taking candid pics of them and putting them online. This time it was team members posting them. But it was really no different.
“Not now, Rock-Star.” Sam cocked his head, changing his mind. “Okay, maybe for a second. No surfboard, but nice tights, boy wonder.”
“Hey, as long as my Supergirl likes them, that’s all that matters.”
“Oh, she likes them.” Trina appeared behind Sam.
“There you are! You doing okay, babe?” Sam asked.
“Fine, just fine.” Trina rubbed her belly and took a few quick breaths. “Did you try the buffalo dip? I think you’d like it. I may have already had too much.”
“There’s buffalo dip? Where?” Sam’s attention shifted to the search for the dip, and he and Trina wandered off.
“I think something is going on with Trina,” Kassie whispered to Luc.
“Why do you say that?” Luc ran his fingers down the back of her neck, tickling her and causing chills up and down her arms under her superhero costume.
“She keeps grabbing at her belly. Isn’t she due like any day now?” Kassie asked.
“I don’t know, I guess. She does look like she’s ready to pop.” Luc’s attention got pulled away from their conversation and to a commotion in the corner. “What the hell is going on over there?”
“Oh no.” Kassie moaned once she saw what was happening. It was Quinn and her boy toys.
Quinn was in the corner with JJ and Travis. She was dressed as a sexy teacher, and they were both dressed as nerds. They were the perfect costume choices, because the guys followed Quinn around like puppy dogs, and that was on a normal day, not just while they were dressed up for Halloween. Party goers were hooting and hollering as Quinn drank from a beer bong that Travis was holding, and JJ was cheering her on.
“Who’s the girl with Travis and JJ?” Patrick asked, joining the conversation. His wife was at his side. They were dressed as Super Mario and Princess Peach from the video game.
“Quinn, their date. She’s also Kassie’s friend,” Luc answered, fighting a smirk.
“Ugh.” Kassie attempted to hide her embarrassment. “She’s actually a really nice girl,” Kassie said.
“Yeah, she looks very friendly,” Dom said, before Hailee smacked him. Then he backpedaled. “What’s wrong with that? Hailee, you can’t say she doesn’t seem friendly.”
Kassie loved Quinn like a sister, and she knew what a wonderful person she was. But right now, Kassie had her own nerves to deal with, being here at the team Halloween party. She didn’t have the mental capacity to deal with Quinn and her boy toys as well. Plus, she trusted that Quinn knew what she was doing and could handle it. She was a grown woman, and this wasn’t her first rodeo.
“I think the ones you need to worry about are those boys. Quinn just might chew them up and spit them out,” Kassie laughed. “Are any of you going to be there to pick up the pieces after she’s done with them?”
All the guys shook their heads no.
“I’m sure someone back on their AHL team will be more than willing to deal with that, if it came to it,” Patrick said, observing the three of them. “But I’ve had limited interaction with them, and it appears they can handle anything she has to offer. They seem to be holding their own so far.”
“Enough about them.” Paige took a picture of them all and did a few things on her phone. “We need to worry about getting photos out there of you all. The fans love to see what you’re all dressed up as. A lot of them look very forward to this time of year.”
“Paige, you need to get in there, too. I’ll take the photo,” Kassie offered, but for her own selfish reasons.
“No way, Kassie. You need to be with your man. People want to see you guys,” Paige countered. “Mel, can you take our photo, please?”
Melanie, the other public relations person, took over Paige’s phone. “Say Renegades!”
As soon as Paige got her phone back, the DJ turned up the music, and people started to dance. It was a rap song, and Sam grabbed Trina, dragging her to the dance floor. He had their attention as he danced like a fool, singing to the music like a rap star.
Luc recorded it on his phone, most likely for later blackmail, but Sam didn’t seem to mind. “You go, surfer boy! Shake what your mama gave you!”
Sam only responded with flipping Luc the bird. He continued to sing and dance until the rap song was over. Once the song changed to one with more of a dance beat, Luc turned to her.
“Hey Supergirl, wanna dance with a real superhero?” Luc smirked at her with half-lidded eyes. He held out his hand to her, and pulled her away from the others, who were still laughing and drinking.
She remembered how hot their prior dancing situations got. This time she was all his. He didn’t have to worry about any other guy dancing with her. He pulled her to the dance floor. The heavy bass pounded through the speakers, leading their movements. Luc towered over her, and she could feel the heat radiating off him as their bodies molded together in a sensual rhythm.
Kassie forgot all about the other people and whatever Quinn was doing now. The only thing that mattered at that moment was Luc. This was turning out to be a great night. Anything she did with Luc always ended up amazing. Maybe it was the atmosphere, maybe it was the alcohol from earlier, but she danced closer and closer to Luc, their bodies against one another like they did that night in the club.
Luc moved his lips close to her ear. His breath was hot and it tickled her ear. “Sweets, what do you say we get out of he—”
“Marcella!” Sam called as he hurried towards them, interrupting the dirty dancing they’d just started. Sam was out of breath, and he was gasping for air.
“Uh, you okay, dude?” Luc asked, as he continued to dance with Kassie.
“No. I mean, yes. Uh… I don’t even know! Trina’s in labor! Apparently, she’s been having contractions on and off all evening, but she figured they were just Braxton Hicks because she’s not due for another month.”
“Braxton who?” Luc stopped dancing and tilted his head in confusion.
Sam ignored him, and rushed on. “We’ve been through this before, yet I’m still a damn mess! Dude, you’ve got to help me out, tell me what I need to do first. My brain is like swiss cheese!”
“You’re looking to me for directions?” Luc frowned. “Wait, now? Are you sure?”
“Braxton Hicks contractions,” Kassie said. “Women get them when they’re in the final stages of pregnancy.” Ali had gotten them a few times when she was pregnant with Kaleb. Kassie learned the hard way that they were normal and not the actual labor. She made Ali go to the hospital once while the team was out of town, only to be utterly embarrassed to find out they were just Braxton Hicks. “She’s sure they aren’t?”
“She’s sure. Her water broke! We’re leaving for the hospital now.” Sam ran around with no purpose until he grabbed hold of his wife.
“Good luck, man. You got this!” Luc shook his hand before Sam rushed Trina to the door.
“We’re right behind you, Tri!” Tyler called, as he and Paige followed closely behind the soon-to-be new parents. The party quieted down a bit, with some of the guys busy talking about Trina and Sam now.
She saw the look of concern on Luc’s face as Sam and Trina hurried out. “You okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, sure. People have babies every day.” Luc waved her off. “But she’s not due for another month. She’ll be okay, right?”
Kassie tilted her head to the side. “She’ll be fine. I know you’re concerned. Do you want to go to the hospital and wait? We could sit with Tyler and his wife. They ran out right after Sam and Trina.”
“Uh, I don’t know. Do people do that? I mean, other than the people having the baby?”
Luc’s words were so cute; he had no idea how this went. Obviously, he had never cared enough about someone to be there for them during something like this before.
“Do people wait at the hospital? Sometimes, sure. I mean, we could be there for a long time though. Some babies are born quickly, and some take hours. I’m talking like ten to twenty hours.”
“Ten to twenty hours? Holy shit.” Luc twisted his face up.
“Tyler will be there, so we can always sit with him. If you want to go, that is. We don’t have to.” She really wasn’t sure which way he was leaning. Luc had been there for Sam when he needed him during his injury last season, and there was no reason he wouldn’t want to be there for him now.
“But the party?”
“It’s almost over, isn’t it?” Kassie asked. They had been here for four hours, mingled with the entire team, did all the important things like eat, dance, drink, and party. It did look like some of these guys could party for four more hours, though.
“Yeah, Kassie, I’d like to go support Sam and Trina. But first, one more picture. Kris? Could you get a picture of us?” Luc waved Lafleur over to where they were standing.
“Don’t you think you’ve taken enough pictures of us?” Kassie asked.
Luc had been snapping selfies and getting people to take their picture all night, not to mention all the other people that were taking pictures.
But Kris took the phone from Luc. “Okay you two, say Happy Halloween!”
Luc took the phone back and did a few things on the screen before he finally looked up at her.
“What are you doing? Every time you take a picture, you’re messing around on your phone.” Her voice wavered as she tried to hide the annoyance. His hands had been over her all night, and she should just be happy about that. Except what was he doing on his phone?
“Relax, sweets. I’m not playing on my phone. I’ve been posting our photos on social media.” Luc smiled, very satisfied with himself.
“What? Why?”
“Because I like to show you off.”
“Show me off? What does that even mean?”
“I’ll show you.” Luc pulled up his Twitter account and scrolled through his posts. There were all the photos of them tonight. In each post, he tagged her and added the words, “My Love.” He put his phone back in his pocket and smiled. “I think we’ll head over to the hospital. Ready, sweets?”
“Uh, yeah. I guess.” She was still reeling from knowing about all the photos that he’d posted. Luc was proving to her and anyone who would listen, that she was his one and only. There would be no doubt in anyone’s mind after seeing his posts. My hockey boy is stepping up his game. And she liked it.