Playing the Game

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREETyler dried his hair and got his bag out of his locker. The sounds of the players leaving the ice filled the locker room. s**t, I wanted to be out of here by now. The last thing he wanted to see right now was Patrick.

Patrick scowled at him as he entered the room. “Ty, I know you have your issues with me, but you need to get over it.” Pat flung his things into his locker. “I’m not going anywhere, so figure out how to work with me, dude. Gia has done her best to stay out of your way, plus I thought you two were okay? Maybe you just need to grow the hell up; we’re all adults here.”

“Grow up? f**k you.” Tyler growled. Standing up to meet Patrick’s glare, he pulled his arm back to hit him.

“Whoa.” Ben appeared out of nowhere, cupping his hand over Tyler’s fist. “Pat, please excuse us.” The team owner, Ben, rarely made an appearance in the locker room.

“Whatever,” Pat mumbled. He tossed a towel over his shoulder and headed to the shower stall.

“Didn’t Coach Walker just tell you that if you can’t stop this stupid s**t, you’ll be sitting the next game?”

“But I—”

“I don’t want to hear it. You were warned. You have to obey the rules, too. You’re sitting the next game.”

“But Ben, I’m the captain. You can’t do that.”

“I can, and I just did. This is not up for discussion, Tyler. This feud between you and Pat needs to end. Now.”

The accent he put on the word now made Tyler’s stomach flop and his jaw tighten. “But, I—”

“I don’t care. It needs to end. Period.”

Tyler grabbed his bag and rushed out of the arena. He threw the bag in the back seat of his Aston Martin, and gunned the engine. The roar of the sports car echoed off the cement walls as he sped out of the parking garage.

“Who the f**k do they think they are? Sitting me?”

The tires squealed as he took a turn too tight.

The hockey player part of him knew Ben and Coach were right. This needed to stop. But the damaged part of him, the one hurt by Gia’s betrayal wasn’t so levelheaded. Coach Walker had kept them separated until today. Tyler was never on the ice with Pat and it worked beautifully. But today, staring him in the face, it was too much and he lost it. Now this.

Fuck.

The bright orange OPEN sign outside of Mannie’s Bar grabbed his attention and he pulled his sports car into the parking lot.

“Tyler, you’re early today.” The barkeep called.

“Yeah, I guess. Been one of those days, Marco.” He looked around the empty bar. “Pretty quiet in here?”

“For now. It’ll start picking up in about an hour or two. Guinness?”

“Yep. Keep ‘em coming.”

By the time the bar started to fill up with people, empty bottles sat in front of him and Tyler wasn’t seeing very clearly. His head was heavy and the room blurred as he turned. The horrible day pushed out of his mind, his body was numb to the whole stressful situation.

“Well if it isn’t Tyler Kidd.” A blonde with large breasts and luscious red lips approached him. “You want to buy me a drink, handsome?” She cooed into his ear.

“Marco! Get the lady whatever she wants.” He spoke slowly to get the words out. What I really want is to see those red lips around my d**k.

“And you are?” He arched his brow and his lip curved. She would do for the night.

“Veronica.” She purred.

Veronica waved to another girl. A brunette with even larger breasts approached. She molded to Tyler’s side, pressing her fun bags against his arm.

“Tyler, this is my friend Beth. Beth, this is—”

“Tyler Kidd.” Beth finished her friend’s sentence. Her warm lips ran against his jaw and slid towards his ear. “I always wanted to touch the Tyler Kidd’s stick. Is it as big as everyone says?”

He might be drunk, but his d**k was at full attention. Damn, I’d love for her to touch my stick.

“Marco, keep the beer flowing.”

Marco shook his head but kept serving the group.

Veronica’s hand slid up Tyler’s thigh, stopping at his crotch. He choked on his beer, as Veronica massaged his d**k through his slacks. She certainly wasn’t shy.

“Keep it PG, kids.” Marco handed them more beers before clearing the empty bottles.

Beth pouted. “Well, PG is no fun, Mr. Bartender.”

Tyler adjusted himself on the stool, but slid off and almost fell over. He caught himself against her large chest. “Whoa! Good thing these were there to catch me.” Mmm, his mouth watered as he grabbed at her boobs.

“Okay guys. Like I said, PG or take it home.” Marco reminded them. “Ty, you know I can’t have this in here.”

“I know, Marco, I’m sorry.” He looked at the girls. He just needed to get off, and there two seemed willing. “My place?”

“Definitely.”

Standing up, he stumbled backwards and laughed. “Whew. No way I can drive. Who wants them?” He dangled his keys in the air.

****

Pounding on the door woke Tyler from a sound sleep. “What? Where am I?” He looked around his living room; he must have passed out on the couch. He was pretty sure he came home with two girls, but he seemed to be alone. He vaguely remembered giving his keys to one of them and then squeezing in with the other.

More pounding on his door.

“What?” he yelled, then cradled his throbbing head in his hands. God dammit, my f*****g head.

“Tyler? It’s Trina. Open up,” his sister called.

“Trina?” Tyler stumbled to the door. Damn, his head hurt. Looking down, he checked to see if he was dressed. He had no recollection of what had gone on last night. Nope. n***d as a jaybird. Grabbing a pair of shorts off the bathroom door, he quickly dressed. He barely had the door unlocked before Trina pushed her way inside.

“Tyler, you look like hell.” Trina looked around his living room. “Ugh, what a mess. Oh and what’s that smell? You could at least spring for a maid.”

“Ty, w’sup bro?” Sam butted his fist up against Tyler’s as he moved into the living room.

“I forgot you were coming to town today.” Tyler sighed, his head still fuzzy. “Where’re the dogs?”

“Actually we got in yesterday.” Trina walked around his living room, then poked her head in the bathroom. “Ew.”

“You look lucky that you even know your own name, bro.” Sam laughed. “The dogs are at our house.”

Tyler had been so wrapped up in the drama of yesterday that he forgot they were flying in from California. They’d bought a house right down the street from him. “You’re all moved in already?”

“Sure are. So what exactly happened here? Is this mess from last night’s party or does it always look like this?” Trina gagged.

“Tri, can you keep it down a little? My head is pounding. Oh s**t—” He ran to the bathroom and slammed the door shut. Hugging the toilet didn’t make him feel any better. As soon as he emptied all the alcohol out of his system he went to the sink and splashed cool water on his face. What the hell is that? There was writing on the mirror in red lipstick. Veronica and Beth’s phone numbers. Like he had any intention of calling them again. He swung open the door and hung on the door frame for a minute.

“Dumbass never could hold his liquor.” Trina teased. “Sam, would you please go make my loser brother some coffee? Thanks, babe.”

“f**k you, Tri.” Tyler hissed.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m not the hung over drunk still pining over my lost love, sleeping with everything that moves to forget her.”

“Oh my God… I’m not pining… Go away…” Tyler flopped down on the couch. Her hounding wasn’t helping his pounding head.

“No chance, little bro!” Trina laughed.

“Is that what this is all about?” Sam asked, sitting down beside Tyler.

“Of course it is. The saga of Gia. Will it ever end?” Trina pinched the bridge of her nose. “Now it’s giving me a f*****g headache too.”

“Trina, don’t say her name again. Sis, I love you but I’m in no mood to put up with your s**t right now. My Goddamn head is pounding like a motherfucker.”

“You eat yet?” Sam asked.

“No, why? Wait, what time is it?” Tyler fumbled for his phone.

“Ty, it’s three in the afternoon. What time did you and”—she pointed toward the bathroom—“your two friends get in last night?”

“I don’t even know.” He looked around at the mess of empty beer bottles. This place was a damn pig sty.

“You all had quite the party.” Sam laughed.

“Sam, you have no idea. You’re missing out being tied down. Trust me.” He sounded convincing, but he wanted what they had.

Trina glared at him. “Shut up Ty. You’re a mean drunk. Just drink your coffee.”

After setting his coffee mug down on the table, Tyler tried to sit up, and then the room went black.

****

Tyler yawned and rolled over. His eyes were crusty and he had been drooling. The spicy aroma of pepperoni invaded his nose. Opening his eyes and trying to sit up, he mumbled, “Pizza?”

“Well good morning, beautiful. Your friend Veronica stopped by. She forgot her shoe. I’m not even going to ask how she managed that, but she also found her undergarments.” Trina grimaced.

“Oh God—I don’t even remember which one she was.” He shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs.

“Maybe it’s time to take it easy on the beer?” Sam said, then took a bite of pizza.

Trina handed him a slice of pizza. “I think it’s a good thing that Sam got traded here. Now I can watch out for you, little bro.” She picked at the pepperoni on her slice.

“I don’t need a babysitter, Tri.”

“I disagree, but I do think you need me and Sam. I know she hurt you and I’m not real thrilled to run into her, but I know I will eventually.”

A knock on the door interrupted them.

“Ty? You okay in there?” Kris called.

Tyler sighed as he got up. I really must’ve f****d up last night if even Kris is coming to check on me. He opened the door. “Kris, what are you doing here?”

“Checking on you. You okay?”

“Come on in. Join the party.” Tyler left the door open and walked back to the couch.

“Party?” Kris looked around at Sam and Trina.

“He’s exaggerating. I’m Trina, Ty’s sister.” She held out her hand to Kris.

“Tyler’s sister? Well it’s nice to meet you, Trina. And you must be Sam Morris.” Kris shook Sam’s hand as well. “The team is looking forward to your arrival.”

“Pizza?” Trina offered Kris.

“Oh, no thanks.” He turned back to Tyler. “You weren’t answering your phone yesterday, and you missed morning skate. Is everything okay? After practice yesterday I wanted to make sure you were all right.” He frowned. “I guess you went straight for the bar, huh?”

Tyler nodded.

“What happened yesterday?” Trina raised her eyebrow.

“Nothing, Tri.”

“Obviously something sent you on your drinking binge yesterday. Spill it, bro.”

Tyler sighed hard. Maybe it was a mistake trading for Sam. He thought it would be fun having Trina here. Not so far. “I had some problems at practice yesterday. Okay?” Then he quietly added, “And Coach Walker sat me for tonight’s game.”

Trina groaned. “Well, that explains the heavy drinking.”

“Yes, that explains the heavy drinking.” He mocked her high pitched voice. “I am an adult, Tri. I can drink why and whenever I want.”

“I’m playing tomorrow night,” Sam said. “Is there more I need to know about the situation? I don’t really want to go in there clueless. After all, I’m Tyler’s brother- in-law. It’d look weird if I didn’t know what was going on.”

“What are you talking about, Sam? Brother-in-law?” Tyler shot him a pointed look. He looked at his sister confused. “Tri?”

Trina held out her ring finger where a large sparkly diamond sat. “Ty, we got married on the beach in Cali.”

“Why didn’t I—”

“You were moping over Gia at the time. We wanted to do it at home with Sam’s sister Amy and her daughter Morgan. I wanted you there too, but you weren’t answering my calls. I tried, I really tried. Of course I wanted my little brother there, but no one could get hold of you. What was I supposed to do?”

“Oh.” Tyler’s heart fell as his eyes dropped to the floor. He let his heartbreak over Gia take over his life, and he’d ended up missing his sister’s wedding because of his pathetic pity party. “I’m sorry, Tri. I should’ve been there for you.”

“Tyler, it isn’t a big deal. But don’t you think this has gone on a bit too long? All the drinking, and the women, and your shitty attitude? It seems to me this isn’t about you being heartbroken over a woman. Are you sure this whole thing isn’t just about your bruised ego that she left you for someone else?”

“When did you turn into an armchair psychologist, Tri?” Tyler said.

“It’s obvious, Ty. You’re trying to build up your ego by bringing home all these willing participants. But I know you. You’re too nice a guy to treat women the way you have been, so you’re using alcohol as a pathetic excuse to forget what you’ve done the night before.”

Ty shook his aching head. “You don’t f*****g know what you’re talking about.”

Kris made a cutting motion by his throat trying to avoid a fight.

But little did she know she was right.