Chapter 21—Hat Trick

Vi sat with Matt at the kitchen nook going over the lease on her soon-to-be dance studio when Mrs. Pratt, the new nanny, arrived with the boys from their hockey practice. Matt stood, and Vi followed to greet the boys on the front porch.

Andy stared at his feet with his Sockeyes baseball cap pulled down over his eyes. Instead of running to them and hugging them both, he hung back and kicked at a rock on the sidewalk.

“Andy, what’s wrong?” his father said, immediately sensing something was off. Not that it took the Dad of the Year to figure than one out.

“Nothin’.” Andy tried to slip past them, but Matt reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him around. He knelt and swept his son’s hat off his head.

“What happened?” Matt asked, while Vi fretted behind him.

Merdi. The poor kid had a shiner the size of a grapefruit.

“I got in a fight.”

“I can see that.”

“Fighting is never good, Andy,” Vi said, then wondered if she hadn’t overstepped her bounds. She was Matt’s girlfriend, not their mother or even stepmother.

Andy didn’t seem to notice or care.

“Why were you fighting?” Matt carefully touched around Andy’s eye, checking the damage.

Andy glanced at Vi. “Because some guys said some mean things about Vi.”

Vi’s heart sank. And so it started. She’d been in la-la land thinking her past wouldn’t eventually surface in some manner when it came to the boys. “Wha—what did they say?” Vi croaked, hating the shaky tone of her voice.

“They said you’ve been in jail. That you were a bad person and had to be locked up. They said you danced naked for men.”

Wow, those little pricks didn’t miss anything.

“Who said that?” Anger reverberated through Matt’s body as he held his son by the shoulders and held his gaze.

“Dezi Clark. He told all the guys on my team.”

“Luke’s son?”

Andy nodded.

Vi looked to Matt for clarification. “Luke?”

“New guy on the team. Veteran brought on for our playoff run. I’m not a fan. Obviously, his kid has his attitude.” Matt turned to Andy and Joey. “Get in the house and wash up for dinner. We’ll talk more later. Put some ice on that shiner.” He smacked his boys affectionately on the butts and scooted them in the door.

“Matt, they’re talking about me and taking it out on your sons. I knew this would happen.”

“Yeah, me too.” He raised his troubled gaze to hers. “I don’t want to make a big deal out of this. I’d like to downplay it.”

How did one downplay the fact that one’s girlfriend was a former stripper and ex-con? Vi wasn’t exactly sure. She’d been a fool to think this would all work out. Her protective bubble had just burst, and the outside world rushed in, flooding her with all those old feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.

“Matt, it’s affecting your boys.”

“My boys are tough. They can handle it. I’ll talk to Luke. Put a stop to it at the source.”

“Do you really think that’ll make any difference?” Vi was beyond skeptical. Of course it wouldn’t. Not if the guy had attitude like Matt said.

Matt shrugged. At least he wasn’t trying to blow smoke up her ass. “Sometimes the best way to handle a problem is head-on.”

“What do you mean?”

“Not sure yet. I need to talk to Ethan.”

“How could Ethan possibly fix this?” The team owner wouldn’t be thrilled about her history, especially her involvement with one of his captains.

Matt grabbed her hand. “Don’t think for one minute you’re going to run away to save me and the boys from a little trouble. We can handle it.”

She didn’t believe him, but she let it go for now.

Several minutes later, they sat at the dinner table to a hearty pot roast cooked by Steph.

“Now this is food.” Matt grinned and brandished his fork in the air. “Isn’t it, boys?”

They grinned back and shoved the savory pot roast into their mouths as if it were the first meal they’d had in months.

After a while, Andy rested his fork on his plate and looked from Vi to his dad and back. “Why were you in jail, Vi?”

She was chewing a mouthful of pot roast and took her time, trying to come up with an answer that’d make sense to the boys, but before she responded, Matt spoke.

“Andy, do you remember when Joey stole all the cookies Grandma made and hid them under your bed? Grandma blamed you because she found them in your dresser drawer. Even though you weren’t guilty and didn’t know how they got there, she wouldn’t believe you, so you got grounded from your video games for a week.”

“Yeah, that was a sucky thing to do.” He stuck his tongue out at Joey. Joey did the same.

Matt rolled his eyes and waited for the boys to quit antagonizing each other. “The same thing happened to Vi. Her sister did something bad, and Vi got blamed for it and was punished.”

“I’m sorry, Vi.” Andy reached across the table and patted Vi’s hand.

Joey ducked his head for a moment, then lifted it. “I’m sorry, too, Vi.” He looked at his brother. “And I’m sorry I did that to you.”

“It’s okay. I forgive you.” Andy smiled at his brother.

Steph said nothing but seemed surprised at all the brotherly love floating around. Maybe her family wasn’t any better than Vi’s had been growing up. Vi’s sibs fought like crazy and never made up.

“Did you dance naked?” Joey asked while shoving another bite of pot roast in his mouth. His father shot him a withering look, but Joey just stared at Vi, all wide-eyed and innocent.

“I love to dance. Clothes are irrelevant.”

“What’s irrelant?” Andy asked.

“It means clothes don’t matter. It’s what’s inside that matters,” Matt responded. “Vi doesn’t dance that way anymore, but when she did, it was her job, and she enjoyed it. There’s nothing wrong with the human body, boys. It’s a beautiful thing, and Vi likes to express herself more freely than most people have the guts to do.”

Vi could’ve hugged him. The boys nodded, accepting his explanation. She smiled gratefully at Matt, and he winked at her. Even Steph lifted her head and managed a feeble smile.

Baby steps.

Andy jumped off his chair and launched himself at Vi, hugging her. Joey joined him, not to be outdone by his big brother.

“We love you, Vi!” Andy shouted.

“We love you. We love you. We love you,” Joey chorused.

Vi wrapped her arms around them. Over the tops of their heads, Matt grinned proudly.

Things were going to be okay. It might be rocky for a while, but it’d be okay.

She had love, and love conquered all.

 

* * * *

 

The Sockeyes were tied for the final playoff berth. The postgame locker room buzzed with activity. After showering, Matt slumped onto the bench. He was bone-dead tired, not just physically but emotionally and mentally. It’d been a rough week.

The Sockeyes had just won a tough one in two overtimes against the Canucks, their archrivals. Matt had scored early on, something that, as a defenseman, he didn’t often do, but the puck had streaked toward his stick and the opening had been there. He’d played well, and he felt good about that.

Coop and Cedric each scored once, including a slap shot between the goalie’s legs by Coop in the last seconds of overtime to win the game. Rod had played like a demon, slamming guys against the boards, stealing pucks, blocking passes. The guy was possessed. Matt had heard he’d filed for divorce, but he wasn’t talking much about it. Matt was glad for the kid, even if he didn’t say as much. Divorce wasn’t a happy matter, but sometimes it was a necessary evil.

His own ex had signed over any parental rights to get her greedy hands on a six-figure check she’d most likely burn through in a few months. He hated that she’d put a price on their boys, even though he was glad to see her part in their lives neutralized. She was the boys’ mother, and he’d hoped to see regret or some display of motherly love. He’d seen none.

Vi showed them more love and affection than their mother ever had. How sad was that?

He scratched his head. Maybe not so sad.

He looked up as a shadow loomed over him. A local reporter he had a lot of respect for was standing over him.

“Hey, Mick,” he said, ready to give his standard non-replies to any questions he might be asked.

“Hey, Matt. Good game.”

“Thanks.”

“I wanted to give you a heads-up.”

Matt’s eyes narrowed. “About what?”

“The Seattle Beat has some dirt on your girlfriend.” Mick glanced around, checking to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

“Shit.” Matt knew it’d only be a matter of time, but this timing sucked, just before their final playoff push. The team didn’t need this drama, and his family certainly didn’t. Ethan had been working with the publicity department on plans, but he hadn’t shared them yet with Matt.

“Yeah, shit is right. She has a history.” Mick seemed genuinely sympathetic, but he would be. Mick was the consummate professional and a hockey fan, big-time. And he wouldn’t want to see the team jerked off its game because of off-ice gossip.

Ethan suddenly appeared, as if he’d heard the conversation. Matt didn’t have a clue how the guy did that, but the team swore he had some kind of sixth sense when it came to potential trouble brewing. He put his arm across Mick’s shoulders in a comradely gesture. “Mick, my man, how would you like an exclusive?”

“Always.” Mick nodded, his eyes narrowed as if he wasn’t sure what Ethan had up his sleeve this time.

“Come with me. Let’s discuss.”

Just like that, the entire thing was taken out of Matt’s hands. He breathed a sigh of relief, trusting Ethan to handle this issue as best he could. Still, he needed to get to Vi to warn her. She’d be waiting in the hallway.

Matt yanked on his clothes and left the locker room. Lots of the WAGs waited in the family area, but a group had gathered near the door, including Izzy, Amelia, Ethan’s wife Lauren, Avery, Bella, and best of all, Vi. She and Bella were comparing tattoos when he walked up behind Vi and grabbed her around the waist. She screeched and turned in his arms, giving him a loud, smacking kiss on the lips.

Before he could react, The Seattle Beat reporter, a thin, pimply-faced guy with rumpled clothes he’d probably slept in last night approached them. Matt glanced around, but Ethan had disappeared with Mick. Ned sidled up to him as if they were buddies and gave him a slimy smile. It was all Matt could do not to retract in disgust. He forced a friendly grin, which probably looked more like a grimace. The women’s body language reflected Matt’s own revulsion.

“Hey, Ned, good to see you. Great game, eh?”

Ned blinked several times, as if he’d forgotten a game had been played that night. “So, tell me about your stripper, ex-con girlfriend.” The asshole got right to the point. He leered at Vi. You could’ve heard a pin drop in the wide corridor. All eyes had turned to Matt, and Vi gripped his arm tightly.

Matt glanced at Vi, expecting to see fear or dread, but instead he saw a simmering anger. He almost smiled. That was his girl. She was a fighter. The other women didn’t look too happy, either.

She stepped forward, and Matt didn’t stop her. He held her hand, letting her know he had her back.

“Yes, I was an exotic dancer. A showgirl. I also served time in prison for a crime I didn’t commit.”

“That’s what they all say,” Ned smirked.

“You’re doubting my girlfriend’s word?” Matt growled at the little prick. In his peripheral vision, he noticed that Coop, Cedric, Rod, Brick, and Ice were all standing around him, like a huge line of bodyguards. This poor dude wouldn’t know what hit him, but he wasn’t smart enough to shut up.

“I saw your show. Nice ink, and nice that you shared your artwork with so many people. What do you charge for a private show?” He sneered at Vi. She merely looked down her nose at him.

“I’m a dancer. I love to dance. I’m not ashamed of my body, nor am I ashamed of being a dancer. I danced. That’s all. If you’re insinuating all dancers are prostitutes, you’re sorely misinformed.”

Before he could respond, Izzy, Lauren, and Bella attacked, throwing around words like “body-shaming,” “misogynist,” and “sexist,” and backing the poor guy against the wall. All the while, they shook their fingers at him as if shaming a wayward child. The guy shrank to half his already small size, as if trying to crawl inside the wall and disappear.

Ethan walked up, assessed the situation, and grinned. “I’ll leave them to take care of him. God help him.”

Matt and his teammates chuckled, and Ethan turned to Vi. “A while ago, my family started an organization to help women who’ve been victimized. Bella is part of it. We’d like you to be one of our spokeswomen. considering all you’ve experienced, you’re perfect for the job.”

Vi seemed speechless. “I—I would love to.” She looked to Matt. “Matt, are you okay with this?”

“Absolutely. Now let’s get the hell out of here.” He grabbed Vi’s hand and led her from the chaos.

“I’m proud of you,” he said as they crossed the parking garage to the SUV.

“Thank you for being proud of me.”

“I am.”

He backed up her up against his SUV and lowered his head, showing her just how proud he was.

 

* * * *

 

Vi woke early the next morning as the sun was rising. Yes, sun. She hadn’t seen sun in a month or more. The rain had been relentless. Next to her, Matt was sprawled on the bed with Luther sleeping near his shoulder on his pillow.

Vi’s mouth twitched in a smile. Matt loved that cat, even if he wouldn’t admit it. She cuddled next to him, putting one leg over his hip and nestling her head against his shoulder. He didn’t wake. The man was a sound sleeper and an early riser. The opposite of her, of course; she liked to go to sleep late and get up later.

A month ago, she’d been filled with doubts as to whether or not this could ever work. If she’d had any doubts left, last night would’ve erased the last of them. He hadn’t been ashamed of her; he’d defended her, as had the WAGs. They’d treated her with respect and left that reporter begging for mercy.

Now Ethan wanted her to tell her story to help all women with similar backgrounds and insecurities. She would do it, and Matt would support her. The boys might have to deal with some teasing, but Vi had no doubt they could handle it. They were popular boys and had lots of friends.

“Are you ogling me while I sleep?” Matt asked, opening one eye.

“Always. You’re everything I’ve ever dreamed of ogling.”

“That’s it? I must be more than a hard body to you.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.”

He laughed and kissed the top of her head.

“You really believe we can do this, don’t you?”

He sobered quickly. “Do what?”

“Have a life together.”

“Hell ya. Are you having doubts?”

“No, just checking on you.”

“I’ve come too far to turn back now.”

She playfully punched his arm and drew back her fist, rubbing her knuckles.

“I’m a man of steel. Watch yourself.”

Vi nipped his ear, and he yelped.

“Now that was uncalled for.” He flipped her onto her back and straddled her. His eyes glowed with passion and joy as he gazed down at her naked body. She ran her hands over his broad shoulders and down his arms, loving the hard muscles and how they flexed under her fingers.

She gazed into those deep brown eyes and saw the love reflected there. The man truly did love her, and a man like Matt loved long and hard and forever—unless the woman proved unworthy of love.

Vi was going to prove herself worthy over and over again.

She was going to look ahead, dance like no one was watching, and love with all the love she had to give.

Because this man was worth it, and so was she.