“I am,” he confirmed. “I left for a few years then played for three other teams before I finally got transferred back. I’m hoping to impress Kingsford enough that he keeps me around. The Narwhals are honestly one of the teams that trade the least.”
“Oh, wow,” I said, realizing those statistics were something I needed to look up about the team I’d agreed to work for. I wanted to know the ins and outs, which was exactly why I was having these conversations.
“What do you think the next several years will look like for you? On and off the ice.”
He considered my question before answering, which I appreciated.
“I’d like to think that I would still be out here, playing for the Narwhals. I believe in this team, and I think that we can give it life again if we’re given half a chance.”
I smiled softly. Him approaching me made perfect sense. At least he was being genuine. We had to start these interviews somewhere.
It was nice to see the players be proud of the team they were building here, and as a journalist, that told me I was getting the truth out of him.
He wasn’t just blowing smoke up my ass or saying something easy, he was giving me his truth. I appreciated it.
“Thank you for being forthcoming. Not everyone is going to give it to me that easily,” I admitted. Just like Coach Hayes, not everyone was happy with my presence.
“Oh, yeah. I’ve already heard them grumbling a little bit about it here and there, but they’ll come around. What you’re doing is important. It’ll be better for us if everyone just talks.”
“Feel free to tell me this is as much as my interviews entail. I’d much rather have a candid conversation.”
“Will do. But don’t worry. At the end of the day, we’re all here to be Narwhals. Even Greer’s grumpy ass.”
“I don’t know about grumpy at the moment. Have you seen him with his puppy? Anyone with a dog that cute can’t be too grumpy. I bet that scowl is just an act and inside he’s just a squishy teddy bear.”
I whispered it conspiratorially and Sam barked out a laugh.
“No shit, he’s got a puppy? Here?!”
I pointed over at the shallow end where the puppy was still diving into the water like a fuzzy psycho and the team was gathered around, encouraging it.
Chorizo would climb the ramp then run around the side before jumping in and paddling back to do it again. All while Greer hovered over him like a terrified parent. It was way too adorable.
My inner-omega was practically swooning already and we barely knew him. I just hoped the rest of my pack would be welcoming. Hell, if you could even consider us a pack yet.
“Hey, Breckner! Are you going to stay there and gab, or are you going to join the game?” One of the other players called out, finally spotting us.
He rolled his eyes but gave me a good-natured smile.
“Thanks for chatting with me, Roxie. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Have fun,” I said, waving him off.
He stood up and went to join the other guys.
I turned off the recorder and sat back, pulling the platter into my lap, nibbling at the food and watching the team interact.
My gaze found Hayes who was lounging in the deep end. He was stiff now and I swear I could feel him watching me every time I looked away.
Maybe it was the fact we were in this incredible resort or the fact that the negativity had been siphoned from the team, but it felt like everyone was taking a collective breath here and giving this team-bonding experience an actual chance.
Which wasn’t something I expected.
The more I got to know the players, the more I realized that maybe I had been unfair to judge them all based on my father.
In fact, it seemed I was scent-matched to three men in hockey. Fate had a twisted sense of humor.
Chapter
