Chapter 15—Chirping

The next night in Game 7, Drew skated like a man on a mission. He was everywhere, stealing the puck, passing to his teammates, shooting for the net. No one could match his speed or accuracy when he was giving everything he had. He was in the zone. He could see the puck before it got to him, see scoring opportunities a split second before they materialized, and predict where his teammates were going before they went there.

It was like an out-of-body experience, a natural high he’d never had before in hockey. This had to be what his father had been referring to when he’d said over and over that hockey was better than the best orgasm. Drew wouldn’t go that far, but playing at this level with this intensity had energized him in ways he’d never imagined.

Drew scored at the beginning of the third period to tie the hard-fought game at two to two. As the clock wore down, the first line had been on the ice a little too long, but this was do or die. Gorst knew his guys were gassed, and Drew readied himself for the shift change. As soon as Gorst gave the signal, he leaped over the boards and streaked toward the puck. He had it in his possession before the San Jose defenseman realized what had happened. He raced to the other end of the arena with a good two strides on the closest San Jose player. Their goalie crouched down, watching and waiting. Drew didn’t analyze his options, just let his instincts take over, something he’d been getting better at thanks to Marina’s figure skating lessons. As he neared the net, a slight movement from the goalie to the right gave him all the advantage he needed. He shot the puck to the left and it slid between the goalie’s elbow and thigh pads. The red light behind the net lit up, and Drew pumped his stick in the air. His teammates surrounded him with hugs and slaps on the back.

Five minutes were left in the period, plenty of time for San Jose to score, but they didn’t, and the Sockeyes won three to two, moving on to the Conference Finals against Nashville. One last stepping stone to the Stanley Cup. They’d made it this far once before when they were still a Florida team.

Drew shook hands with the San Jose players and skated to the exit. He couldn’t help glancing in the crowd for his father. Even he had to be impressed with Drew’s performance, only he didn’t see him anywhere. He could’ve been in one of the boxes, but usually he liked to be right down on the ice, reliving the experience of playing hockey. Drew’s heart ached just a little that his father didn’t appear to be present.

He glanced over at Marina, who was standing near the bench, congratulating guys as they walked by. She gave him a broad smile. He wanted to hug her, but he couldn’t, not in front of an arena full of fans, teammates, and staff.

He grinned back at her.

“Good job,” she said, still beaming. The words were simple, but her proud smile was just for him.

“Thanks.” He forced his feet to carry him past her as if her praise meant nothing to him, when it meant the world, especially in his father’s absence.

When Drew walked through the door, he was mugged again by his cheering teammates. He was grinning from ear to ear and enjoying every minute of the evening.

Gorst entered and stood in the middle of the locker room. He, too, was wearing a huge smile. He waited until the group quieted, which took several minutes, but he didn’t seem to mind. Marina stuck her head in the door then slid inside, leaning against the wall.

“Guys, I can’t tell you how good it was to win this game. You fought hard, you didn’t let up. You attacked the puck and played like champions. We still have a long way to go before claiming that title, but we can do it. I have faith in every one of you.” He turned his gaze on Drew. “One of you performed beyond expectations. His two goals in the third sealed our win and moved us on to the Conference Finals.”

Drew could feel his face getting red, but he couldn’t stop grinning. He felt good. Really damn good.

“I’m going to award Socks the Fish to Drew Delacorte.” Gorst tossed Socks, a large salmon mounted on a wooden plaque and purchased at a thrift store by Mina. Rumor had it Socks was over a hundred years old and had been caught by Chief Sealth himself. Nobody really believed it, but it made a good story. The fish had seen better days, but none of the guys cared. Drew gratefully took the plaque and held it above his head.

“Thanks, guys. I’m humbled. This was a team effort, and none of us can do it solely on our own. I’m glad I could help. I’d like to thank Marina for all those figure skating lessons. They did make a difference. If you think they aren’t, you aren’t trying hard enough.”

The guys cheered Marina, and it was her turn for her beautiful face to turn bright red. Drew forced his gaze away from her, afraid any guy here could see he was falling for her. His feelings were probably written on his face as clear as a neon sign. He hoped they’d chalk it up to the win.

Coach hustled them off to the showers, as they had a plane waiting for them. It was time to go home and start this all over again in a few days against Nashville, a team which had proven tough in the playoffs, winning round one in five games and round two in four games. They’d been resting at home while the Sockeyes played three more games.

Drew hoped that would be to their disadvantage. They’d hopefully start out flat and lacking energy. If the Sockeyes could steal one or two games from them before they hit their stride, they had a good chance of winning.

Surely, Coach would move him back to the first line now. Drew missed playing with Coop and Smooth. He’d played with them for so long, he knew all their idiosyncrasies and could easily predict their next moves. More surprisingly, he cared about being on the first line. He wanted to be there. Funny how you never missed something until it was gone, like his father.

Stafford hadn’t been at the game, but Drew would bet his right arm his father watched it. Drew almost smiled as he thought of the look on his father’s face when he brought it that third period. Knowing Dad, though, he’d be pissed Drew didn’t score in the other two periods.

Drew sighed. He couldn’t win with that man, and it was pathetic he kept trying.

He had Marina to thank for his renewed play, not just the skating lessons, but the sex. He’d been relaxed instead of wound tight. She’d done that for him. He’d find a way to convince her to work her brand of magic through the remainder of the playoffs. For the good of the team.

They could pull it off. He didn’t like sneaking around, but he’d gladly do it if it meant he could be with her, and he kept his mojo.

* * * *

Kaley dropped into the seat next to Marina on the plane. Marina knew the moment her friend sat down that she was angling for answers, and unfortunately, she’d already guessed the questions.

“Drew played well tonight. I don’t believe he’s played that well in a few years, if ever.”

“Yes, he did.”

“He got the Fish Award.”

“I know. I was there.”

Kaley glanced around and lowered her voice. “He credited you for helping him with his game. How did you help him with his game, Marina?”

“Skating tips. Helped him skate more freely without being so tense.”

Kaley cocked a brow and grinned at her. “I bet you helped him some other ways, too. I’ve seen the heated looks that’ve passed between the two of you. You aren’t fooling me.”

Marina opened her mouth to protest, but nothing she said would convince Kaley differently. “Is it that obvious?”

“To me it is. Can’t speak for anyone else. The sparks have been flying between the two of you since you first met. I haven’t missed that, either.”

“We— Nothing happened.”

Her friend’s brows rose slightly. “Nothing?”

“OK, it only happened once. It won’t happen again. Just once. You can’t breathe a word to a soul.”

“My lips are sealed. What are friends for, after all? I do have one question; how do you think this is going to end? If Drew keeps playing like he did tonight, they’ll offer him a new contract. If you keep improving players, they’ll offer you a coaching position.”

“I know,” Marina said miserably. She should be thrilled at the prospect of this job, and she was, in a way. She also knew it would signal a death sentence for their relationship.

“Don’t sound so excited about it.”

Marina grimaced at her friend and stared out the window as the plane took off. She had no answers to her dilemma—at least none she liked.

“I’m curious, what would be your dream job?”

Marina blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes, considering Kaley’s question. She wasn’t sure she knew how to answer that or wanted to answer it.

“I bet it wouldn’t be working with hockey players.”

“Probably not,” Marina admitted with a wry smile. Kaley might be a recent friend, but she knew her too well. The fact that they were friends at all was odd, since Kaley was best friends with Lauren. Spilling her heart to the owner’s wife probably wasn’t the smartest move in the world, yet Kaley had proven trustworthy.

“So, what would it be?”

“I’d be coaching Olympic-level figure skaters.”

“Then why don’t you?”

“Uh, SkateGate, duh…”

“To hell with SkateGate. You can prove you’re not that person.”

“I’m working on it. Completing this season and doing my part to help the Sockeyes goes a long way toward repairing my reputation.”

“And after that? Have you considered trying to get a job at the new skating complex Ethan is funding? I understand they’re shooting toward having a world-class training facility for up-and-coming skaters and hockey players.”

“I’ve heard about that, but I haven’t really pursued it.”

She was lying. She’d heard about the facility being built in a Seattle suburb, and she dreamed of getting a job there.

“You should think about it. Ethan likes you, so does Lauren. They’ve seen how hard you’ve worked and the improvements you’ve made to the team. Hell, if you only improved Drew’s play, they’d be thrilled, but you’ve also helped many of the others, too. Even Smooth, whose skating was just about the best on the team seems a little faster and more fluid.”

“I’ll think about it. Any idea who they’re naming as the director of the figure skating program?” She felt Kaley out to see what she knew.

“Not yet. They’ll have to name someone soon as it’s supposed to open this fall. Talk to them. Let them know you’d be interested in being a part of their team.”

“Won’t that jeopardize my chances here?”

“That’s a chance you’ll have to take.”

Marina nodded grimly. A bird in the hand… But she didn’t have a clue if she had a bird in the hand or even one in the bush. She stared ahead and could barely make out the top of Drew’s head as he talked animatedly to Jared. He’d been on cloud nine after the performance tonight, and he’d played inspired hockey.

She wouldn’t stand in his way, either. Even if it meant losing her own dreams.

* * * *

The team flew back to Seattle, a short flight from San Jose, and Marina was in bed before midnight.

The next day, she took a day off, claiming a headache. She needed time away from the team, especially Drew, and they were only holding an optional practice. The team had a bit of a reprieve, not playing again until Saturday night. That’d give her plenty of time to get her head on straight and her mind off Drew.

Or so she hoped.

On Thursday, Marina met Drew at the SHAC for figure skating practice in the afternoon. They didn’t practice long, and she kept it strictly business, even though it was hard not to show emotion when he executed a near-perfect jump or did a flawless lift.

She worked one-on-one with a few of the guys and in small groups with others before finishing up later in the afternoon with Cave and Gibs, who were getting tougher to handle with each session.

She should have a conversation with Coop before Coach noticed she was losing control over them.

Cave stopped next to her before skating off the ice. He was standing too close, and she considered giving him a hard shove backward. Instead, she stood her ground and gazed up as if his invasion of her space was of little or no consequence.

“You know this is horseshit, right? I don’t need to learn this crap to be a good hockey player. I wouldn’t be here if Coach wasn’t being a dick and insisting on it.”

“You wouldn’t be here if your skating skills were as good as your stick handling skills.”

“I am good at stick handling.” A slow, predatory smile crossed his face, and he inched closer. “I could show you sometime.”

“I’m not interested.” He was about to get a knee between the legs. She lifted her chin and glared up at him. Something in her eyes must have cued him in to her lack of amusement regarding his remark. He slid backward a foot or two.

Shrugging, he said, “Too bad. Your loss.”

“Cave, let’s go,” Gibs shouted from the tunnel to the locker room. Gibs shot her one last look and followed his buddy off the ice.

Marina blew out a long breath and sank down on the bench to calm her nerves before she went into the bowels of the building and possibly ran into any players or staff. He’d shaken her, and she didn’t want anyone to witness it.

“You handled him well, I’d say.” She jumped slightly and turned to see Coop, in street clothes, standing nearby.

“Did you catch all of it?”

“Enough. I came out here for that purpose. I’ve heard some rumors he was giving you shit but seems like you’re handling him.”

“I don’t know if I’d go that far.” She gave Coop a shaky smile.

“Do you want me to straighten him out?”

Marina considered Coop’s offer. If he did speak to her tougher students, what did that say about her ability to handle a hockey team? Not much, not much at all. She’d be hard pressed to gain any respect from the ones who were grudgingly with the program, not to mention the few who were against it.

“I’m good.”

“You sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“If you change your mind, I’m here.” He smiled at her and disappeared down the tunnel.

Marina slipped on her blade guards and followed him. Several minutes later, Drew was waiting near her car when she exited the building.

“Hey, I thought I’d head over to Gone Missing and work on some stuff. You want to join me? See what we do there?”

He sounded so hopeful, she couldn’t come up with a reason to say no, other than the obvious—they shouldn’t spend any more time together than necessary, but she didn’t have anything better to do. What could it hurt to hang out with him as long as they were properly chaperoned?

“Will your friend be there?”

He nodded with a smile. “Yeah, we won’t be alone, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

There he went. Reading her mind again. She was worried about being alone with him because she doubted she’d be strong enough to say no next time he asked. She’d spent a few lonely nights, and they’d been pure torture, worse than before she’d slept with him because now she knew what she was missing.

“Give me the address, and I’ll meet you there.” She dug in her purse and pulled out a business card and a pen.

“Here you go.” Drew scribbled an address on it and handed it back.

“I’m starving. Think we could get takeout?”

“Yeah, Bronson will be hungry, too. He doesn’t cook.” Drew grinned at her as she got in her car. She gave him a little wave and drove off.

Minutes later, Marina pulled up in front of Gone Missing and prayed she hadn’t made yet another disastrous decision.