AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Another teammate, Ben, leans his head around the seat in front of me and gives me a warning look. “Thinking what?”
“A lot of things, I guess.”
Tess’s emerald eyes have occupied my thoughts a lot since I left her house a few days ago. I know they flash darker when she’s angry, but what do they look like when she’s sad? And when’s the last time anyone made the effort to put a smile on her face?
“Don’t mess around with single moms,” Ben says. “There are plenty of childless women out there who just want to have a good time like you.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m not saying I’m thinking about sleeping with her.”
“You’re not not saying it, though,” Beau says.
I grin. My teammates know me well. Did I immediately think Tess was gorgeous when I saw her? Of course, because she is. But our interactions so far haven’t exactly been flirtatious.
“She pretty much hates me, so it doesn’t even matter.”
“Why does she hate you?” Ben asks.
I shrug, not wanting to tell them about Zane and my wallet. “We just met under unusual circumstances.”
“She’s married, isn’t she?” Beau asks.
“No.” I scowl at him. “I don’t knowingly sleep with married women.”
“Bullshit.” Ben leans farther into the aisle. “What about that nurse whose husband tried to jump you at Mountain Top?”
I bristle. “She told me they were separated and the divorce just wasn’t finalized. I’m not a home-wrecker.”
“What about the time we went out after a game in Vegas and you met a bride at her bachelorette party?” Beau asks. “Didn’t the two of you go back to your room together?”
“She wasn’t married yet. And she texted her fiancé that she was having second thoughts.”
“Okay, Mr. Morally Gray.” Ben turns back around.
“What the fuck? I’m morally gray?”
He turns back around. “Yeah, you’re the exact definition of it. Too bad to be considered good, but too good to be considered bad.”
“At least I didn’t steal my twin brother’s wife.”
He smiles. “They were never married. And I know who I am. Call me morally dead if you want. I don’t give a fuck. I know the truth.”
He turns around to sit in his seat and I scowl at nothing. He’s right—his accusation that I’m morally gray wouldn’t bother me so much if there wasn’t truth to it.
Fuck it. We can’t all be choirboys. I’m not a bad guy just because I haven’t wanted to settle down and have a family yet. I’m still in my prime—loving the game of hockey and banking a hell of a lot of money playing it. Maybe when I’m older, I’ll want something different, but for now, I’m good.
I spot Tess’s van in the player lot at the community college as soon as our bus from the airport pulls in. Not wanting to deal with questions from my teammates about who she is and why she’s here, I take my time getting my bag so they’re on the way to their cars before I walk over to Tess.
Her window is down. She doesn’t smile when she sees me, but she doesn’t look like she wants me dead, either. I’ll take it.
“Hey,” I say. “How are you guys?”
“Good.”
She manually cranks up the window of her ancient van and gets out, Zane stepping out of the passenger side.
“So what’s he doing?” Tess asks me.
“Sweeping.” I make eye contact with Zane. “Ready to work?”
