Team Player: A Sports Romance Anthology Read online

  As our breathing evens out, Stella’s head tucked into my neck, I shake my head. She definitely put a spell on me. Still inside her and already I’m thinking of what I want to do to her once I get her into a bed.

  “I know I should know better and that this shouldn’t have happened, but I don’t even care right now. All I know is once won’t be enough.” I lean back to look down at her. Dark hair draped over my arms, her eyes pools of ink, lit with satisfaction wearing nothing but a smug, content smile. She’s fucking stunning. I’m hardening even as I’m still inside her.

  “What are you doing this weekend, Stella?

  “You.” She answers soft and sure.

  “Good answer.”

  3

  Jason

  Six months later…

  My leg bounces as the plane bumps across the tarmac in a rough landing. I’m on edge and this flight didn’t help in the least. It’s good to be home even if I have shit to do while I’m here. Back to check in on the team’s golden boy, being on top of the list. Since I’m the assistant captain and what they call a veteran player, I’ve been playing with Chicago for ten years now, it’s part of my job to also mentor one of our incoming new guys.

  Every year I have at minimum, one draft pick out of Fulton University to babysit since it’s where I went and Boston is my hometown. At least it allows me to come home a couple times a year to see the family. This trip is perfect with Christmas being in a few days. Two birds, one stone. Then get back to Chi-town and back on the ice.

  The flight attendant comes over the PA and announces that we’ve arrived in Boston and that the temperature is a chilly twenty degrees. Fuck. It’s not any warmer here than it was in Chicago. I really need to think about splitting my time between Chicago and someplace tropical. There’s only so much cold a man can take, even if I do live my life on the ice.

  I unbuckle and stand, careful not to bump my head on the bins. As I wait for them to let us off, I catch the pretty attendant giving me one last look over. She spent the entire flight catering to my every need. If I wasn’t so sore from last night’s game I might have let her cater to another need of mine. Maybe. Probably not though. She’s not my type.

  Hell, lately nobody is. Still, a slow grin steals across my face as I make my way past her and she discretely brushes her chest against my arm slipping something into the palm of my hand. I’m guessing it’s her number. Not slowing to check, I shove the scrap of paper in the pocket of my jeans until I can toss it. I’m not here for that. Normally, I would be all over that but not this trip.

  My sister offered to pick me up from the airport but I turned her down insisting on taking a cab to my place. I needed the down time to relax before being surrounded by the whole family. There would be plenty of time for that in the coming week. It’s the longest break I’ve had mid- season. The NHL doesn’t stop for the holidays typically. By some freakish stroke of luck, our team has a seven-day blackout while they do some work on our stadium and practice facility. That it came at Christmas time is truly a miracle. This will be the first Christmas that I’ve been home in the ten years I’ve played in the NHL, unless we were in town playing Boston.

  Bypassing luggage, one nice thing about maintaining a house here, and heading straight for the curb and the lineup of taxis, I pull my beanie out of my back pocket and pull it low on my forehead doing my best not to make eye contact with anyone. It’s not the norm for me to be recognized, but hockey is a big deal here in Boston and this is my hometown. So it has been known to happen from time to time.

  I’m almost in the clear when the guy putting people in cabs recognizes me and asks for my autograph which then draws the attention of other people, most of whom probably still don’t know who I am, but don’t want to miss out on the possibility of meeting someone who may or may not be famous. For ten minutes in the freezing ass cold, I smile and sign autographs.

  The only one I didn’t mind was a kid, Jake, about ten or so, who came over reciting stats and telling me he’s going to play for FU when he’s older just like I did. Him I liked and made sure to take extra time with, even getting an email address from his mom so I could send him some stuff. He reminded me of myself when I was that age. With a two finger wave, I climb into the waiting cab and give him my address and we head out to the harbor and home.

  We pull up in front of my building on Commercial Wharf and I can’t help but smile. I love Chicago, but this is home. After paying the cabbie, I slide out of the backseat, the crisp winter air swirls around bringing with it the smell of the harbor.

  “Hey, hey, hey! It’s the man with the plan. Welcome home!” The doorman, old enough to be my grandfather, greets.

  “What does that even mean, Harry?” I chuckle, taking the hand he holds out for a firm shake.

  “You know, the plan.” The old guy is looking at me with an expectant look, waiting for me to get it.

  “Whatever you say, old man. You’ll send my mail up?”

  “You got it, kid. You need anything else? You got food up there?” Harry is more than the doorman here. He’s a little bit of everything. Concierge, locksmith, handyman. Hell, I’ve even had him go on a beer run a time or two.

  “Nah, should be good. Thank you, sir.” I give him a mock salute and walk into the lobby and out of the cold. As I wait for the elevator, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and grin, “Hey, ma.”

  “You home, sweetie?”

  “Yeah, just got here. I need a shower and a nap, maybe a massage before I head your way though.”

  “It was a rough game last night, huh? That Slejek kid hit you hard.”

  I can’t help but chuckle. The “Slejek kid” is a six foot four goon. My ma has always been my biggest fan and the one to drag my ass all over the damn country to freeze her ass of in one rink or another. “Yeah he did. Few times.”

  “I saw. Dad wasn’t real happy about it. Said he always was a dirty player.”

  The elevator opens on my floor as I listen to her go on.

  “It happens. I gave it back to him though.”

  “You sure did, sweetie.” She says, pride in her voice. Only a true hockey mom would be proud of her son for knocking a player on his ass.

  “Okay, ma. I’ll be by in a couple hours. I promise.”

  “We’ll be here. Your sisters are coming for dinner to see you.”

  “Sounds good. Bye.”

  Shortest conversation I think I’ve ever had with the woman. Letting myself in and tossing my stuff onto the counter, I make my way over to the floor to ceiling windows to take in the view of the harbor, park and the city. All right there. My eyes drift to the hot tub and I can’t help but think about the last time I was in it and what I was doing.

  “What if the neighbors look out their windows? They’ll see us.”

  “Let em’ watch, Stella.”

  I scrub a hand over my face willing the thought away. After our last run, in I can guarantee there won’t be a repeat of that performance. No matter how often I think about it and her. She got under my skin in four days. How?

  With a groan I walk to my bedroom, stripping along the way to wash off the plane ride. I’ll hit the shower then head over to the Fulton University campus to talk to coach and Levi and maybe even get that massage from one of the Athletic Departments techs. It won’t have the happy ending calling Shelly, the masseuse from the service I use in town, but it will do the trick.

  I tell myself that I can’t decide if I want Stella to be there or not. I know the truth, though. It’s the reason I take an extra couple minutes to get ready. Like the spray of cologne and the washed hair is going to make her happier to see me somehow. Can’t blame a guy for trying I guess.

  “Dagger! What’s up, man? I didn’t know you were coming this week.” Levi says standing from the bench extending his hand for me to take. The kid is stand up. He’s hell on the ice and he’s great off it. I look forward to playing with him next season. He’ll be a great addition to the team.

  “Th
at’s the point, Sexton. If I give you a warning, you’ll be ready and I can’t you getting into any shit.” I tell him slapping him on the back.

  “Ha! Only thing you’ll ever catch me in is pussy.” Levi says, grinning.

  “Nothing wrong with that.” Shrugging, I look around the empty locker room. “Where is everyone?”

  “Mostly home for Christmas. I was just running drills with the few guys who haven’t left yet.” As the captain of the team, it’s his job to make sure nobody gets lazy. “About to go pick my dad up from the airport, you wanna ride?”

  “Nah, I’m gonna go see coach really quick before I head out to Cambridge to see the fam. Where’s your dad?”

  “Connecticut working on getting a pitcher. He’s got two prospects he’s looking at.” Levi says as he stuffs his gear in his locker.

  “A pitcher? What about Stella?” I try to act casual, nobody knows about Stella and I spending that weekend together. Especially not Levi.

  “Out for the season.”

  “The whole season?” What the hell?

  “Yup.” I’m staring at the top of his head as he ties his shoes, wanting to shake the information from him. It’s like pulling fucking teeth.

  “Why?” My tone is clipped in frustration. Levi must pick up on it. He looks up at me puzzled.

  “She’s knocked up. Big ol’ belly. It’s kinda hot.”

  His grin grates my nerves even as I try to let what he said sink in. Stella is pregnant. Stella. Is. Pregnant.

  “She drop out?” I manage to ask.

  “Nah, she’s working in the treatment room to keep part of her scholarship and then someone said that she was also working at Ruma.” Ruma was an upscale restaurant, there were a few of them around the states.

  “She’s working pregnant? Where the fuck is her boyfriend?” I can’t hide my disgust. This is not the trip home I was expecting. I thought I’d let Stella be pissed at me and I’d convince her to get over it and then lock her in my apartment again for the next few days.

  “No boyfriend. In fact, in all the time I’ve known her I don’t think she’s ever had a boyfriend. Girl that fine should never be alone.” He tries to joke. When I don’t laugh he clears his throat. “Anyway, no boyfriend and she won’t say shit about who her baby daddy is.”

  All of a sudden, my whole body goes solid with tension. Vertebrae by vertebrae, ice dances up my spine trying to do the math in my head but not being able to quiet the roar in my ears long enough.

  Doing my best to swallow so I can speak I manage to croak out, “How pregnant is she?”

  “I don’t know bro. Pregnant, pregnant.” Levi holds his hands in front of his stomach to indicate how far her belly is. Son of a bitch. “Shit. I’m gonna be late. My dad will kill me.”

  “Go on. I’m going to see if Charlie has time for a massage.” I lie. I need to go find Stella.

  “Maybe Cruz is down there. Ask for her. All the guys do. Perverts love a pregnant chick rubbing on them.” He shakes his head and laughs. “Like any of them wants any part of that.”

  The muscle in my jaws begins ticking at the thought of those fuckers making her work them over while she’s pregnant. Or at all. I do my best to play along though

  “Maybe. Get out of here. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  Levi gives me a high five and then jogs out of the locker room leaving me alone to try to get my thoughts straight.

  Fuck. Is Stella pregnant with my kid? Fuck.

  4

  Jason

  After going down to the Treatment room and finding no Stella, I called my ma and told her I was going to be late. There was no way I was driving to Cambridge without answers. I don’t even have Stella’s number and when I stopped at the apartment on campus I remembered dropping her off at they said she didn’t live there anymore so Ruma it is.

  I’m furious and I don’t even know why. It’s probably not even my kid. I mean she’s in college. I can’t be the only guy she was fucking. She said I was but isn’t that what all chicks say? Whipping my truck into the full parking lot, I curse under my breath. Of course, it’s fucking busy. A couple deep breaths later, I’m getting out of the car and walking through the doors into the dimly lit restaurant. Fucking hell.

  “Hi, welcome to Ruma.” The bubbly hostess greets.

  “Is Stella Cruz working?” Her smile slips at my question and her eyes narrow.

  “Stella’s shift is just about to end” She looks at her watch, “in about five minutes.”

  “Great. Can you seat me in her section?”

  “No.”

  I blink, confused. “Didn’t you say she was here?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, then I’d like a table in her section.” I’m starting to get aggravated with this one.

  “Do you have a reservation?” The once cordial hostess asks smugly. What is with this chick?

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Then I can’t seat you in the dining room. You can have a seat in the bar though.”

  “Is Stella in the bar?”

  “No.”

  Okay. I’m done with her shit. “Listen. I want to sit down and I want Stella to be my server. It’s not a difficult or even unheard of fucking request.”

  Her eyes widen at the flare of my temper. Then narrow back to slits. “Oh look, her shift is over.” She gestures with a flourish to the bar area, “shall I seat you in our lounge?”

  She knows god damn well she can’t. Not sure what I did to piss her off, I storm out the front door before I start cursing at her again. Days like this I wish I didn’t have to watch the way I acted in public because I would love nothing more than to go in there and flip a couple tables I’m so frustrated. I should call the fucking manager and have her fired.

  At my car, I turn to walk back in there when I hear her. Stella is walking out the front door with two other servers, laughing at something the guy said. Levi wasn’t kidding, she’s pregnant as fuck and it’s hot. Even in her black pants and white dress shirt I can see the swell of her belly.

  “Stella.” She stops in her tracks whipping her head in my direction. Much like the hostess her eyes narrow into thin slits.

  “What are you doing here?” She’s not happy to see me.

  “Holy shit man! You’re Jason Dagger.” The guy that was making Stella laugh says excitedly. “Holy shit! Can I get your autograph? Oh my god, the guys aren’t going to believe this. Can we get a picture?”

  He never lets me answer, just keeps rattling off questions as he pulls a pen and paper from his book all while juggling his phone. Figuring it will be faster just to get it over with, I pose for the picture and sign his paper with a hasty scribble, the whole time keeping my eyes on Stella.

  “Oh man, thank you! This is awesome.” He finally notices that I haven’t said anything and that I have Stella in my sights. “Sorry. I’ll let you guys do whatever. Stella, do you need me to wait to give you a ride?” Before she can answer, I make the decision for her.

  “I’ll take her.”

  “Like hell.” She responds.

  “Stella.”

  “You can go ahead, Eric. I’ll catch a bus or an Uber.” He looks uncertain so she reassures him again. We both watch him walk to his car before speaking.

  “What are you doing here, Jason?”

  “Looking for you.” She looks tired. Beautiful. But tired, which pisses me off.

  “Well, you found me. Can I go now?”

  “We need to talk.”

  “I have nothing to say.” She says stubbornly.

  “Is the baby mine?” Go big or go home right? No bullshitting around with her.

  “Oh, nooowww you want to talk, huh?” She drags out, taunting me.

  “God damned right I want to talk, Stella. You’re clearly pregnant. I want to know if the baby is mine.”

  I say it through clenched teeth, not liking that we’re doing this in public and doing my best to keep myself in check. Half of me is feeling sheer terror, we were
careful, every time. The other half of me is elated. The thought of being a father exciting. How fucked up is that?

  “Why do you care, Jason? You sure didn’t care about anything I had to say when I came to see you a couple months ago.” Stella says, hand fisted on her rounded out hip

  I treated her like shit that day and regretted it ever since. I don’t know why I cared so much about anyone finding out. Especially the guys. The league would definitely not be thrilled, but my boys wouldn’t have given a shit. Hell, they’d probably be jealous. The only twenty-year-olds that we have a shot of banging are Puck Bunnies and Stella wasn’t even close.

  “Is that what you came to tell me that day?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know.” She bites out, pulling her scarf around her neck to ward of the cold air around us.

  I think back to that day and try to do the math. It was my turn to have the Cup and I came home with it. And then Stella showed up at my door and I acted a fucking fool.

  The guys are posing with the Cup and snapping pictures when the doorbell rings. I put my bottle of beer down and go to answer, it’s gotta be our takeout.

  “Coming!” I call, although I’m sure the delivery guy can’t hear me over the noise in my apartment. Throwing the door open, I can feel the smile fall from my face as if it were melting off. Stella stands in front of me holding up two brown paper bags of food. Quickly, I close the door behind me, snuffing out the sound of the raucous laughter from my friends.

  “Caught the delivery boy in the lobby, and told him I’d bring it up. Hope you don’t mind, I gave him a tip and signed the slip for you.” She shrugs.

  “Stella, what are you doing here? You can’t be here like this. I mean, we’re not...like that.” I bite out with a little less tact than I probably should have.