Chapter 10
1239 Words
Damien's POV
I thank everyone, and then I stand up, loosening my tie. My body buzzes with adrenaline and the high of starting the season strong.
A few players remain after the media circus and I find my friends waiting for me. It’s only taken me a couple minutes to grab my stuff and already Adam’s phone has pinged fifty times.
“Looks like you’re set for tonight.”
He smirks, reading what are undoubtedly a plethora of invites for a good time.
“You’re not wrong about that, Cap. Are we going to the Full Moon or what?”
“I’m out, boys. Gonna go celebrate with my wife, if you know what I mean?” Rex says with a big smile that splits his face. We do. His wife is hot, we get it.
He jogs off as I turn back to Adam.
“I’m down for it, let’s just go and see Jack and everyone and dump our stuff.”
They all agree, but I see Gunner visibly swallow.
“Yeah, let’s go see the kid,” he mumbles.
I spy Jack sleepily sitting on my brother’s lap as we make our way into the Wolves family room, but as soon as he sees us, he jumps up and rushes over. Bending down to hug him, he proceeds to give the four of us a play-by-play of the game, as if we weren’t on the ice and didn’t see it ourselves.
“Your goal in the first period, it must have been like a hundred miles per hour, right? And then when Callan took that guy out… what’s his name, umm Anderson, heard his body crash into the boards… right, right in front of us. It was AWESOME!”
After he takes a breath, he says,
“Hey, Gunner, where’s Mrs. Grey and Mrs. Johnson?”
“Mrs. J had a fall and so my mom is looking after her for a few months. They’ll be back soon enough.”
“Okay. They said they were going to make me a t-shirt, the same as theirs, but in my size.”
Gunner rolls his eyes as we laugh, and Theo walks over with the girls and pretty blonde. She’s wearing a leather jacket and chucks. It’s casual but sexy. Theo catches me staring at her behind Sia and mouths, “No.”
Sia sees and chuckles at Theo before I can ask any questions.
“Hi, hockey star. Good game. This is Vivi, my best friend. Vivi, this is Damien, Theo’s cousin.”
I stretch out my hand and she takes it in hers and I’m immediately hit with a zap of electricity. Looking up, I hear her breath hitch. She felt it, too. I side eye Theo who choke-coughs.
“Put her fuckin’ down,” he whispers into my ear so only I can hear, then louder for everyone else’s benefit,
“Will you be gracing us with your presence at the bar tonight or are you going home with the wolf cub?”
“Nah, Charlotte can drive home. Let me just get them to the car. We’ll be with you at fifteen.”
Theo motions for Sia and her friend, who dutifully follow behind him.
“Scott, you get Jackie boy.”
He nods at me and then bundles a very tired Jack into his arms while I collect up all our bags, my three teammates and Charlotte trailing behind us.
My brother straps Jack in his seat, I throw the gear in the trunk, then lose the jacket and tie, rolling up my sleeves to the elbow because it’s too hot for that s**t.
Charlotte takes my keys and tells us goodnight. She drives off and the five of us head to the bar.
As we enter ‘Full Moon’, we’re blasted by the much-needed AC. I only get a minute to take it all in before we’re respectfully surrounded by the die-hard fans who come to celebrate or commiserate with us after every home game.
It’s busy but people tend to take care of each other, and with them knowing we won’t leave anyone out, they take it in turns to approach us. I’m throwing my arm around dudes and air-gunning or devil signing, with both hands in plain sight for the girls. None of those photos are going to end up giving the wrong impression.
The owner, Sean, keeps us a little section that is separated by a couple steps and a wooden railing that wraps around the whole area and the staff don’t seem phased by us anymore, so it’s exactly the right place for us to come. We need somewhere that’s ours, somewhere we know the place won’t monopolize on us being there and the security do a good enough job of keeping out anyone looking for trouble.
The music they play is an eclectic mix. Not only is it a sports bar, it’s a fan bar, attracting both the young and old, so they play a range of music that keeps everyone happy. The walls are chocked full of Wolves and hockey memorabilia.
Once all the selfies and autographs are done, people usually leave us alone. We slip through to the ‘Players’ section, where Theo and the others are already seated at a table piled high with food and drink.
Theo rises out of the brown leather booth with drinks, hustling my brother and me into a corner, out of the way of everyone at the table, and I can’t hold it in any longer.
“What the f**k is up with you tonight, T? You’re being weird as shit.”
I drink from the glass Scott just thrust into my hand as we wait for a reply.
“I’m trying to save Vivienne from you.”
I’m confused.
“Who the f**k is Vivienne?”
He looks at Scott and then back to me, exasperated.
“Vivienne is Vivi, Vivi is Vivienne. Sia just calls her that. Anyway, Vivienne is going through some serious s**t right now and you need to keep your d**k away from her.”
Scott bursts out laughing, muttering,
“She’s hotter than a five alarm. Good luck with that.”
That gets him an elbow from Theo.
“I’ve been your wingman every goddamn time, but if you’re not in this with all you’ve got, which you aren’t because you’ve met her for all of two minutes, then stay the f**k away.”
He jabs my chest for emphasis and then adds,
“Now come on, enjoy your beer. Your bro and I have a few pointers for you.”
He smiles a s**t-eating grin. Leave it up to my family to keep me grounded.
The atmosphere in the bar is good tonight. I think it’s more than just our win, it’s more that there is a sense of hope. I hope that this season will be different from the last. From my vantage point I can take the unusual scene in.
People dance where they stand or perch. Groups laugh and joke, standing at high-top tables. There are couples, families, and friends, who all have one thing in common, they’re all wearing my team colors. The team I’m captain of. My eyes are drawn to the photo above the table our group is gathered at. It's me and my four friends in our team jerseys smiling into the camera.
- Writer
