Chapter 19: Chapter 19

KATE

“That bitch,” I mumbled to Piper. “They were supposed to go over everything with me. I can’t believe she did that.”

Kenton drove Piper and me home in the Suburban. I finally had Piper’s apartment ready and couldn’t wait to show her.

Also, I was hoping it would distract me from that horrible interview. What a shitty first experience that was.

I was losing my mind sitting in that uncomfortable chair. The interview was a reminder of why I avoided the media at all costs. And I probably sounded like an idiot, trying to cover up my relationship with Tyler.

My uncles had basically yelled at Piper for even thinking about an owner dating a player, then the interview… Ugh. I couldn’t win. I’d never win that battle.

“So what should we do?” Piper asked. “Order fried food and lay on your couch?”

I pulled her head to my lips and kissed her shiny brown hair. “That’s the best plan I’ve heard in a long time.”

Kenton pulled in front of my building and kindly opened the door for us. I couldn’t wait to get out of my interview dress and get into my sweatpants.

“Why are you keying the eleventh floor?” Piper asked, stepping into the elevator with me. “Oh, Bill and Tessa!”

I was bursting with excitement. The ride up was oddly slow, and I was getting antsy.

Bill’s door was the third one down, and Piper’s was the first one. At least, we didn’t have to walk past Bill’s apartment. That would make her ask more questions.

We stepped off the elevator, and my best friend was seemingly excited to see Bill and Tessa. We wouldn’t be seeing them though.

I halted at the first door and tried to pull out the keys as quickly as possible to nip in the bud all opportunities for inquiry.

“What the—”

I pushed open the door, Piper following me inside the open-concept apartment. “You like?”

“Are you moving down here?” she asked, running her fingers along the freshly painted walls of the entryway.

“It’s for you, babes.”

“CUT THE SHIT”

I pushed past her and made my way to the living room. “I’m writing it off as a business expense, anyway. Just accept it and don’t be weird.”

Piper ran into me and squeezed me tight. “I fucking love you, Kate.”

We walked around, checking out the stainless steel appliances and comparing them with her old barely working ones.

“Let’s bribe Ben and Tyler to move all my stuff for me,” she said, winking. “And move it shirtless.”

“I’m down for a bribe; but after recent events, Tyler and I have to really keep our stuff under wraps.” Piper placed her hands over her ears and pretended not to listen.

I ran up to my apartment, grabbing a bottle of champagne and two glasses. Once returning to Piper, we celebrated, drinking the whole bottle in only a few minutes.

I awoke slightly hungover the next morning. Piper was asleep on my couch. We were hoping Tyler would come the next day with Ben after his morning skate and move Piper’s stuff.

I could hire movers for her, but she seemed particularly interested in the idea of a sweaty Ben lifting her belongings for her.

“Game tonight, right?” Piper mumbled, rolling over on the couch.

I was making coffee in my kitchen, even though it was one in the afternoon. Piper was about to fall off my couch, with one hand planted on the hardwood floors for support.

I wasn’t sure why she was sleeping there; I had multiple spare bedrooms.

“Yeah,” I replied. “Seven o’clock, and it’s parents’ night.”

“Which is?” she asked, finally making her way to the kitchen.

“We invite all the players’ parents to sit in the owners’ suite with us.”

She carefully sipped at her steaming coffee and looked over the brim. “Tyler’s parents will be there too?”

“Doubtful,” I said. “They live in Toronto.”

Piper laughed. “Probably better that way.”

We lounged around for the rest of the day. I finally decided to text Tyler back. I wasn’t sure how to respond to his last text. My players were so happy and proud, and I was steaming with anger.

Kate

Thanks for the support. I was ready to kill her. Could you see the bruises on my face?

He responded in less than a minute.

Tyler

Your face was flawless, couldn’t see a thing. I missed you last night.

Kate

I missed you too. A lot.

I’d only set my phone down for a moment when it rang. I picked it up and saw Tyler’s name flash across my screen; I smiled to myself.

He groaned when I answered the phone. “You make me horny when you say things like that.”

“When I say I miss you?” I asked.

“Mhm.” He breathed raggedly. “Are you alone?”

“Piper’s here.”

“Shit,” he mumbled. “I want you bad.”

“Secret rendezvous after the game tonight?” I tempted.

I could practically hear the smile in his voice. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. My place or yours?” he asked, voice husky and low.

“Yours,” I replied. “I saw a reporter waiting in front of my building earlier.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah. Okay, I’ve got to go get ready.”

“Okay,” he said. “Looking forward to tonight, gorgeous.”

We hung up and Piper walked back into the room, stark naked. I raised my brows at her, and she told me she was just going to look through my closet.

She wanted to pick out an outfit for the next day when the guys were hopefully coming over to help her move.

She also tried to dress me for parents’ night, but I wanted to take a different route than her.

Piper wanted me in a fancy dress, but I was dead against it. It was a hockey game, a sporting event; I wanted to dress casually.

Furthermore, I wanted my players’ parents to see me as a regular person, not a spoiled rich kid who got lucky.

I decided on black jeans with knee-high black leather boots. A loose-fitting white blouse fell just below my waist, and a leather jacket covered it.

I thought I looked cute, but sophisticated enough and appropriately casual for a hockey game.

“Please let me do your makeup,” Piper begged as I straightened my hair. She pranced about my bathroom, dancing in front of my mirror once the music boomed through the penthouse speakers.

“Are you going to make me look like a prostitute?” I asked.

“Maybe.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me.

I shoved my makeup bag into her hands. She laid everything out on the marble countertops in an organized manner.

It was taking her a few minutes to decide what she’d be using on me; so I hopped on the counter and sat patiently, like a good friend.

She began with my eye makeup. “Have you talked to the girls lately?” she asked, referring to Sara and Eliza.

“No. I’m still pissed about the ecstasy.”

Piper sighed. “They’ve both started dating. And literally, they haven’t answered even one of my phone calls since. At least I still see you every day!”

“Even if Tyler and I were officially dating, you’d still see me every day. But we’re not.”

She moved on to the lipstick, narrowing her brown eyes at me. “You’re acting dumb.”

“What?”

Piper looked exasperated. “Have you even thought about another man since you met Tyler?” I didn’t answer her. “Have you been able to get him off your mind, like at all?” I still didn’t answer.

“Do you miss him when he’s not with you?”

“Okay, fine. We’re practically dating. I’ve just never been in a relationship where it’s a secret. If word about us got out, it would destroy us both.”

“I know, honey,” she said, and then we dropped the dreaded conversation.

I stared at myself in the mirror when she finished my makeup. “I should let you do this more often,” I said with a laugh.

The midnight blue shadow she’d applied was making my blue eyes pop out like never before. A lot of mascara had my lashes looking long and luscious. My thick hair cascaded down my back fluidly.

“Thank you.” I looked pretty hot, even if I could admit it.

Piper and I parted ways; she had to pack up her apartment and deal with her landlord and the fees she’d have to pay for leaving early. Of course, I tried to give her that money, but she wouldn’t have that.

She was my number one; I just wanted everything to always be perfect for her. Money didn’t mean anything, but friendship? You couldn’t put a price on friendship. It gave me more than a dollar would ever be able to buy me.

Kenton took me to the game, dropping me off in the private parking lot at the back. I proceeded in, my heels clicking against the pavement, until I saw a flash of a camera from the other side of the street.

I turned my head away quickly and rushed inside the building. After the interview, it seemed as if the public had their eye on me more than ever. I still couldn’t understand why anyone found me that interesting.

I pushed the heavy doors open and shrugged off the freezing winter air. I headed straight for the locker room, wanting to see Tyler and the guys before the game to wish them luck.

I knocked on the door and stepped inside. No one was naked, but they definitely weren’t completely dressed either. I saw about eleven six-packs, hard as stone, staring me right in the face. I swallowed hard.

This is why women weren’t allowed in a men’s dressing room; these guys were smoking hot.

Tyler stood front and center; he raised his eyebrows when he caught me checking out the half-naked men in front of me. I turned my gaze, but he laughed a quiet laugh.

“I just wanted to wish you all good luck tonight!” I yelled.

Tyler stretched his arms high above his head, flexing his muscles before putting his jersey on. Tingles crept all over my skin. I jumped when I heard my name.

“Kate,” Julian walked from around a corner. “We all love when you stop in before a game.”

“Yeah well, this visit is hard to pass up.” I gestured to the half-naked bodies surrounding me.

He laughed, placing a supportive hand on my shoulder, and squeezed. My uncles walked in behind us, both reaching out to hug me.

“Kate,” John began. “You stuck up for yourself in that interview. We’re proud. Don’t let the media portray you as someone you’re not.”

My uncle Fred nodded along and said, “We all stand behind you.”

I thanked them all and spoke a few words to Jaromir before walking out, making sure Annabelle still hadn’t gone into labor. He promised he’d let me know as soon as he knew.

“The parents are rolling in,” Fred pointed out. “We should probably head back up.”

My uncles left before me; I’d told them I wanted to have a few more words with the head coach. Really, I was just stalling due to nerves. That night we were opening up the owner’s suite to all of our players’ parents.

Mostly the families that lived locally were going to make it. But either way, my dad and uncles had a long history of doing this, so it was important. This was all new to me as an owner.

A wished the guys good luck once more before taking my time returning to the suite. I hadn’t met any of my players’ parents. That was one of those moments I felt simultaneously crappy about my age but also empowered.

I was happy Tyler’s parents lived in Toronto; I wasn’t sure I’d know how to speak with them. I’d probably slip up and say something stupid like “Hey, I’m sleeping with your son!”

I stood outside the door of the suite and breathed in deeply before pushing it open to introduce myself to a bunch of people I didn’t know.

Walking in was easier than expected. Heads turned to look at me, but no one knew who I was. I took my time making my way around the room.

“You’re Kate Martin?” Mathieu’s father asked, his eyebrows raised all the way into his hairline.

“That’d be me,” I answered, nodding. “Your son is an incredible addition to our team this season. He’s fast, one of the lead goal scorers, and honestly, just so genuinely kind.”

His father smiled an award-winning smile at me. “That’s very nice of you to mention. Thank you.” He looked young, about forty. It made sense since Mathieu was only nineteen, the baby of the team.

I moved around the room gracefully, finding small talk much easier than anticipated. I had worried myself for no reason at all. Anxiety was going to be the death of me.

A gray-haired man, probably in his seventies, stopped me. “My son has very good things to say about you.”

“Hm. Let me guess,” I said, looking at his features. The butt chin gave away his identity. “Hans’s father?” I asked.

“How’d you know?”

“He looks just like you.”

We talked for a few minutes, him telling me stories about how Hans had begun playing hockey at only three years of age.

My stomach growled throughout the conversation, so I allowed myself a break and darted to the tables sprawled with food. I was biting into a juicy buffalo wing when someone touched my arm.

I turned with the red hot sauce dripping down my face, looking like an idiot.

“Katherine Martin?” the voice asked. I slapped a napkin to my mouth, wiping away the sauce.

“Please call me Kate,” I replied to the woman. She was about the same height as me, maybe in her fifties with short dark hair. She looked like an old Italian mother you’d see in the movies.

“My husband and I,” she grabbed his arm, pulling the man to stand before me. “We watched a replay of your interview. We just wanted to say we’re very impressed with the way you handled yourself.”

“Thank you very much,” I said, still unsure of who I was speaking to. “It was a little offsetting, but I pulled through.” I smiled.

The woman’s husband smiled down at her while she spoke. Love shined through his dark eyes. There was something familiar about them that I couldn’t quite place.

“Oh, how silly of me,” she said before sticking a hand out.

“I’m Pat, and this is my husband, Tom.” Tom’s black hair shined under the lights of the suite, and I wondered if they were perhaps younger than I’d originally thought.

“Hi, Pat. Hi, Tom.” I smiled nervously, then brought the glass of beer up to my mouth.

“We’re Tyler Carlson’s parents.” I choked on the beer.

“Oh, honey. Are you alright?” she asked, placing a hand on my back.

I cleared my throat and nodded. Pat was grinning at me, like she knew the truth behind why I’d choked.

“Yes, just went down the wrong pipe. I apologize,” I said, praying I’d recovered myself. I waited another thirty seconds before continuing. “Your son is an outstanding player. I’m extraordinarily happy that we acquired him.”

The husband and wife looked at each other with a knowing grin. “I’m sure you are.”

~Oh my God.~ ~My cheeks were surely as red as a strawberry, my pulse beating erratically in my neck. I had to walk away from them; and just as I was about to do so, Tyler’s father touched my arm gently.

“He’s quite happy too. To be in New York, of course.” His eyes glinted, and then the couple turned away from me.

I sent a quick text to Tyler, hoping he’d answer.

Kate

Your parents are here! Do they know about us?

Tyler

Christ, no. My mother would bombard you.

Kate

Yeah. I’m pretty sure they know…

Twenty minutes later, the players entered the suite a few at a time, carrying their jerseys to hand over to their moms and dads.

Pictures were taken, many of the parents asking for me and my uncles to be in them. The most awkward one was when Pat and Tom requested me in theirs.

They wanted to see if their suspicions were right. I don’t know how they saw through me, but they did.

Tyler assured me nothing was said to them, and that he had no idea how they were able to figure it out. He did tell me though that his mother always had a way of knowing everything.

As the photographer readied herself in front of us, Tyler’s mom ushered me beside him, while she and her husband happily stood to my left. They weren’t even next to their son, they’d chosen to stand next to me.~ Ugh.~

Tyler smirked and placed a hand around my waist, resting it on my hip bone. Pat glanced down, then grinned at the camera.

The players left to finish getting ready. I chatted with the parents some more before the Blades theme song boomed around us.

Smiles were plastered on everyone’s faces; I took up my usual spot, standing, pressed against the glass.

Mathieu scored with five minutes left in the first period. I found his father, and he squeezed me in a bear hug.

“That’s my boy,” he said, staring at me in a way that indicated that maybe his hug wasn’t just because of the goal.

I was struggling to untangle myself from his grasp when the other parents came up to offer congratulatory handshakes to him.

The spirits were unbelievably high in the suite that night with abundant smiles and cheers. Pure happiness floated in the air.

I’d never been prouder to have such a wonderful relationship with my team, and now with their families as well. I tried to avoid Pat and Tom, not wanting to answer their questions.

They did meet my gaze more than once, and now Tom was walking toward me. “Great game, huh?” he asked.

“Absolutely,” I replied. “Tyler is averaging two goals per game. You should be very proud.”

He chuckled. “Honestly,” he said, “I am mighty proud. He used to be a real pain in my ass during his teenage years.”

I couldn’t stop laughing, imagining a sixteen-year-old Tyler—cocky, cute, and a shithead. Not too different from the Tyler I knew then.

Tom told me how when Tyler was in high school and his team had a hockey game against a rival school, the fights got so intense that Tyler was suspended for three games.

“Was he the only one suspended?”

“And one guy from the other team. They threw their gloves and helmets off and mauled each other’s faces.

“The other guy had a broken nose, and Tyler had a tooth knocked out.” Tom was laughing now, but I had a feeling he wasn’t back then.

“Were they at each other’s throats from the beginning of the game?” I asked, thoroughly amused by the story.

“Tyler and Brandon had been wanting to kill one another for that whole year. His sophomore year, he dated this girl, Tiffany.

“It only lasted a few months, but she cheated on him with the star hockey player of a nearby school, Brandon.”

I cringed. “Ouch.”

“His anger dissolved after that fight, and he moved on to become the player the media likes to write about now.”

I reached behind me and filled my cup with more beer, then looked back at Tom. I could finally see the similarities between him and Tyler.

“The media likes to portray us all as the devil himself.” I grinned and excused myself before we got into any conversations about my relationship with his son.