Unsportsmanlike Conduct

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

After the baptismal mass, they all headed over to River View Towers, the hotel next to Rivers Arena, for lunch.

"You did a wonderful job setting this up, Kris. Everything looks beautiful." Gia peeked inside the ballroom marked “Lafleur Baptism”.

"It was mostly your sister; I just made the reservations."

Kat just smiled and gave her handsome hubby a kiss.

"Yinz guys are too cute for words ..." Gia mumbled.

The team always held its functions here. The Renegades had just won their second straight Cup, and River View Towers would host anything for a Renegades player. As Gia talked to Kris, Tyler snuck in to the ballroom.

Kris gave Tyler a head nod, and then quietly chuckled. "Doesn't look like Pat will be so lucky."

Patrick walked in the front door of the hotel. Two giggling young girls who had been waiting in the lobby ran over and surrounded him.

"Dubois! Can we get a picture with you? Please?" They both had on Renegades Dubois jerseys.

Gia just stood there and laughed; the girls must have been all of seventeen. They circled him with markers and cameras and didn't look like they would let Patrick go anytime soon.

"Pat's making new friends," Matt said, laughing. Matt was a Renegades player too, and a good friend of Kris and Patrick's. "I knew he liked them young but damn!" Matt joked.

"Can't go anywhere, can you Pat?" Kris teased. "I know you like it when those fan girls trip all over themselves to see you."

"Whatever, bro …" Patrick rubbed the back of his neck, a heavy sigh leaving his lips. "The same two chicks seem to be everywhere I go. It's a little unnerving, like they know where I'm going to be before I do!" Pat shook his head and looked back at the young girls. "Ty, how'd you get in here unnoticed? Why don't they ever go after you?"

"I'm sure they would if they weren't always so busy looking for you!" Tyler answered.

Gia never understood why Tyler was so nice to Patrick. He just said something about him wanting to be the bigger man since he was the team captain.

After all the guests arrived, the ballroom doors were shut, and they sat down to enjoy lunch. Gia and Tyler sat at a table with Kris and Kat. Patrick joined them, grinning at Gia as he sat across from her at the round table.

"I wonder if Mom and Dad would want us to sit over with them?" Gia said as she began to stand, grabbing Tyler's hand. She couldn’t sit at this table with Patrick’s eyes on her the whole time.

"Their table is full Gia, just sit down," Kat said sternly through her smile and a glance that said behave.

Gia never told Kat what happened. She wanted to run to Kat as soon as they returned from their honeymoon, burst out crying and confess to her big sister. But she was a big girl and needed to deal with this herself. No use ruining their newlywed bliss with her stupid drama. Instead, she went right to Tyler and told him everything. He had stared her down for what felt like forever, and then said he had to think and left.

After cheating on him with one of his teammates, he just needed time? She still couldn’t grasp why he didn't go ape s**t on her.

Apparently he went to see Patrick before returning two hours later. Gia remembered she was still crying. Tyler found her crying and held her. He said that if he hadn't left her with a drunken Patrick, this would never have happened.

But she had been a willing participant.

Gia put the thoughts from her mind when Tyler put his arm around her as she sat back down at the table. He whispered in her ear, "It's okay, relax. I'm here."

Gia looked into his eyes and smiled. Tyler made her feel so safe. She snuggled in next to him. His scent calmed her nerves as his full lips brushed against her temple.

"I hate the thought of leaving you again," he whispered in Gia's ear and kissed her cheek.

"I know," she whispered. She didn't want him to go either. He visited his family and met with his trainer at this time every year. "Don't worry about me." She smiled at him, wishing she could just pick up and go to Canada with him.

"I wish you would come with me," Tyler whispered.

"I can't, I have to work. I have rent to pay." They already talked about this.

"I told you, you don't have to if you would just move in with me."

Gia just shook her head, and waved for the waiter to bring her another mimosa. "Ty, we can talk about this as soon as you get back, okay? I’ll think about it while you're away. Deal?" She wanted to spend all her time with Tyler she just wasn’t ready. It had been a whole year so why did it feel like he was rushing things?

The waiter returned to the table and handed her a mimosa. Hallelujah! She took a sip, then another large one. How long could she use the drink to avoid looking at the other side of the table? She stared into her glass and picked at the sweet roll in front of her.

Tyler didn't look angry or stressed. He just smiled a really genuine smile. How did he not have any animosity towards Patrick? And why didn't he hate me?

The pressure was building and she thought her head just might explode. She had to get out of there for a minute and regroup. "I'll be right back." Gia stood up and quickly walked into the hallway. "Now, where is the–"

"Gia! Hi, babe!" It was Trish. "I haven't seen you in forever, where have you been hiding?"

"Oh, working and stuff."

"I've missed you, sweetie!" Trish threw her arms around Gia.

"So, what have I missed around the arena?"

"Oh, not much. Same old s**t, you know."

No, she really didn't know. But she played along. "Patrick parading all his girls around, huh?"

"Well, no. Quite the opposite."

"Huh?" Gia's face scrunched up in confusion. Of course, he had to be parading his women around; he never made a secret about how much he got laid.

The girls walked in to the empty ladies room. Trish disappeared into a stall, while Gia just washed her hands. She really didn't need to go, she just needed some air.

She looked in the mirror and was glad that Trish could not see the shock written all over her face. Maybe a bit of relief too? Oh, hell.

"Yeah, he's been at everything stag."

Stag? "You mean no puck bunnies in the luxury suite with you girls?" Gia tried hard to check her interest, but it wasn't working. Curiosity got the best of her.

"Nope." Trish exited the stall and washed her hands. "No puck bunnies."

"Huh," is all Gia could come up with.

"So what's new with you, lady? How's life with super-hunk Tyler? You know, you two would make adorable kids together. You should consider it."

She wasn't wrong about that. But kids? She shook her head. "Not much new, I've been working a lot."

"Obviously." Trish made a face. "So, how are you love birds?"

"Oh, good. It's been nice." She turned away, pretending to grab for a paper towel. "Quiet." Actually, it had been very quiet. Too quiet. Almost boring.

Trish started to talk about Tanner and the house he just bought. Gia half listened while she thought about her own comment, quiet. She had never been one to enjoy quiet--always needed some kind of drama or excitement.

No. Gia pushed the doubt from her mind. Ty was stable and good for her. He was busy: always in the gym, on the ice or working with the conditioning coach. Coach Walker demanded a lot of his time to plan plays and talk strategy. Tyler was well regarded in the front office and involved in a lot of things. He promised Gia he would slow down. Apparently, he forgot to tell the team ownership.

She smiled at Trish who continued talking as they walked back to the ballroom. She was still in her own little world and more concerned with looking at the floor than where she was going--until she ran smack into a hard body.

"What the–" She looked up and locked eyes with Patrick.

"Sorry, short stuff." He smiled that damn cocky smile.

Gia couldn't help the fire she felt between her legs. Dammit! Her hormones were a bit wonky, and the fact that just his damn smile turned her on proved it. Tyler had been busy with the team even during the off-season. She appreciated his dedication, but she was lonely. He had a self-imposed early bedtime, even earlier wake up calls and in between that, he was at the gym. So, there wasn't any time for much else. Maybe she needed more? She definitely needed s*x. Her best friend these past few months ran on batteries.

"Patty!" Trish squealed and threw her arms around him. "Missed you at the last team dinner, doll-face!"

"Yeah, well, maybe next time," he said as he moved his gaze back to Gia.

"I was just telling Gia that we haven’t seen any puck bunnies around this season ... "

"Huh, yeah." Patrick shuffled his weight and Gia swore she saw some pink flood his cheeks. "Excuse me, ladies." Patrick slid out of the ballroom. He disappeared down the hallway, but not before looking back to give Gia one more glance.

"I think I embarrassed the poor guy," Trish giggled.

"What's the deal with no puck bunnies anyway?"

"I don’t know." Trish shrugged. "Something about him growing up. Who knows what he's talking about half of the time. Oh well, I better get back to Tanner. It was great to see you, Gia. And I want to see you at the next team dinner too . In the meantime, if you want to hang out give me a call." She put her hand up to her ear like she had a phone.

No puck bunnies, huh?

But it still didn't change anything. She was with Tyler, period.