The Trouble with #9 by Piper Rayne

Malcolm has become a great skater. I’ve been able to teach him how to do a slap shot while he’s standing in front of the net, but he still struggles with stick handling when he’s on the move. But our first game isn’t for a few weeks.

“I don’t understand why I have to be the goalie.” Dru skates out wearing all the pads. “How do I even stop a little black puck I can’t see?”

Roadie calls the kid over. Since we have a long way to go, I recruited a few teammates to help out. Tweetie’s got Marin. Aiden’s got Lark. I’m handling Malcolm. Poor Paisley has everyone else who’s taking a bit longer to get the feel of the skates.

During our break, I skate over to Aiden. I’m sure Paisley and I are just going through normal relationship problems, but I want his advice because I don’t enjoy these little tiffs we keep finding ourselves in. Except for the makeup sex.

“You available for a drink after?” I ask.

“Sure. Why?”

“We’ll talk about it then.”

I steal the puck away from him because I don’t want him to corner me here with Paisley’s eyes on us. He skates after me, and before I know it, all the Fury members are having a little game of pick up. Roadie gets in front of the goal when Tweetie skates near it and almost scores.

I forgot how fun hockey is when you’re not playing for a living. Not that I don’t love it, I do, but not having the pressures of ownership, coaches, and fans is a nice change too.

The kids get a kick out of watching us. Each one cheers on the player who’s been helping them the most, which only gets our blood pumping.

“Look at the way they skate backward like it’s nothing,” Malcolm says.

“And the fact you can barely see where the puck is,” Lark comments back.

I can’t speak for the other guys, but the kids going on about our skills only drives me harder to score, to be the one they all love. None of us have pads on though, so we’re going easy on one another. When we finish, the kids join us, asking a million questions, and I’m out of breath and head to the bench.

Paisley hands me a water. “Impressive. I like seeing you having fun out there.”

I look at her. Her dark hair is pulled back in an unruly bun, and her wide smile deepens her dimples. I don’t think she meant anything by her comment.

“What do I look like when I’m playing?”

She stares at me, and I already know I won’t like the answer. “Normally?”

“Yeah.” I nod.

“Angry. Pissed off. You have to be because you’re playing a role out there, right?”

Suddenly something clicks. Gerhardt wanting me to loosen up. The fans thinking I’m scary. The opposing team’s fans hating me. But I enjoy going out every game, don’t I? Blyat. Maybe I don’t—I sure as hell don’t feel happy like this after a Fury game.

After the kids are driving away on the bus, Aiden and I head to Carmelo’s.

We take a corner booth and order our meals. Since game day is tomorrow, I opt for a chicken meal with a side of pasta, and Aiden decides on the same. I forgot how in sync we were before Saige came into his life and Paisley into mine.

“We’re not making the playoffs,” he says, staring at his water with a frown.

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You had a bit of a bad run, but you bounced back. You don’t carry the whole team on your shoulders. We’ve rebounded well this last bit of the season.”

He nods. “You know Gerhardt will make trades, get some new guys in for next year.”

I nod. I hate it, but it’s the nature of the business. If I don’t watch myself, I might be one who gets traded.

“You assholes hiding out from me?” Ford comes to the edge of our booth and motions for me to slide over.

“We’re talking about relationship shit. Stuff you don’t care about,” I say, hoping Ford will leave. I didn’t invite him because he won’t give me any valuable advice and he doesn’t know about my relationship with Paisley.

He feigns insult. “Excuse me, but I’m about to have the most meaningful relationship possible in a few weeks.”

“And thankfully that little one has a mom who will really take care of him or her.” Aiden raises his glass and I tap it with mine.

“You guys are assholes. You watch. I’m gonna be a DILF. The dad all the women wanna fuck.”

Aiden laughs. “You know you have to change diapers, feed the baby, stay up with the baby. You don’t just get visitation to stroll around the park with the baby to pick up women?”

Ford narrows his eyes. If I’m honest, I think he has what it takes to be a good dad, but it’s gonna take a come to Jesus moment for him. Maybe once the baby is born and he holds his offspring for the first time.

Still, I guarantee the mother will be doing the brunt of the child-rearing. Ford’s been going back and forth to New York to attend the doctor’s appointments with his one-night stand. His mom is over the moon and his dad is still pissed off. But once that baby comes, Ford’s life is gonna change. I hope he’s ready.

“Of course I know that. Don’t worry, I’ll have a hot nanny too.”

Aiden shakes his head. The waitress comes over and takes Ford’s order. I don’t really want to talk about Paisley now, but I have no choice because we all live busy lives and I want to smash these small barriers that keep popping up between Paisley and me for good.

“What’s the secret meeting about?” Ford asks, opening the conversation.

“I’m dating Paisley,” I say to him and point. “And you cannot tell a soul. No one.”

“The hot therapist? Damn, I wanted to nail her too, but thought she might be a little prudish for me.”

“Shut the fuck up, Ford, and listen,” Aiden tells him.

If he only knew her sex drive is as insatiable as mine and that the only time I’ve gotten her in missionary was when I made love to her in Nashville. Both of us needed to feel that connection between us.

“Anyway, we’re starting to have these little fights. Like about Nadiya and stuff.”

Aiden nods. “I’m not sure Saige would’ve been cool about a hot blonde living with me.”

“But she’s a lesbian, so who cares?” Ford shrugs.

“I never told Paisley that.”

They both stop drinking and glance at me, then at one another.

“Why not?” Aiden asks.

I shrug.

“Fess up,” Ford says.

These two guys know me better than anyone. Probably even better than Armen did when he was alive. So I say, “You know all the shit we deal with… how everyone thinks we fuck around all the time and any time we get a girlfriend, they can’t handle life on the road, the puck bunnies always hanging around…”

Aiden nods.

Ford, surprisingly, doesn’t say anything. Although he’s kind of a playboy, he’s not nearly as big a one as the press makes out. And he doesn’t have a girlfriend, so he’s free to do what he wants.

“I didn’t want to be invested in her and have it all blow up because she couldn’t deal. I wanted to see how she’d react. I was gonna tell her though, and does it really matter in the end?”

Aiden laughs. “Man, I thought you could handle a woman, but it turns out you suck. Honesty and open communication.” He holds up his two fingers. “You need those for a relationship to survive. Even if you think she doesn’t need to know, she does. Whether it’s why you bought a different brand of toilet paper or why she doesn’t need to be concerned that you live with another woman. Tell her that shit before she finds out. Because she’ll always find out.”

“You’re even more whipped than I thought. What the hell, man?” Ford says.

Aiden isn’t apologetic about it though. “Surprises are never good unless it’s their birthday, an anniversary, or a proposal.”

I blow out a breath.

“You have to put yourself in their shoes,” Aiden continues. “What if she had some hot guy living with her and failed to tell you he’s gay?”

“I’d be pissed,” I say. Listening to Aiden and looking back, I realize I’m the cause of most of our relationship hiccups. “My mama wants me to marry Nadiya to keep her in the country.”

Both of them freeze mid-sip of their drinks.

“Yeah, you heard me, and I didn’t tell Paisley that either. Nadiya did.”

Ford shakes his head. “You’re worse at relationships than me.”

“You don’t have relationships,” I remind him.

“True.” He leans back in the booth.

“If I were you, I’d apologize and tell her everything. Getting through things together is what’s going to make you strong enough to remain together when the next thing comes along. If that’s something you’re worried about, just get it all out in the open.” Aiden is a straight shooter, and that’s why I appreciate having him as a friend.

“Yeah, maybe.”

“You like her though, huh?” Aiden asks, and Ford studies me.

“I really do.” I sip my drink.

Ford looks between Aiden and me. “How did I not know you’re fucking the team shrink?”

My hand squeezes tighter around my drink. “I’m not fucking her, I’m dating her.”

“And you’re fucking her,” he says pointedly.

I shrug. He has a point.

Ford throws his hands in the air. “Great, now you’re both done for. What the hell am I gonna do now?”

Aiden and I laugh.

“What you always do. Go out, drink, and party,” I say.

“But you guys keep me in line.” He frowns.

The food comes and we all dive in.

“I guess you’ll have to keep yourself in line.” I raise an eyebrow at Ford.

“We’ll prepare ourselves to see your name in the media a helluva lot more,” Aiden says around a mouthful of food.

I laugh.

Ford doesn’t. He knows this could mean more trouble. We’ve both helped keep him in check. Lena, his family’s publicist, might just have to hunker down in Florida until he gets his act together.

After we finish, we head out to a driving range. Might as well start working on our golf game since we’re not making the playoffs.

As I watch the small white balls sail through the air, I think of all the balls I have up in the air. Nadiya and my parents’ insistence that I marry her. My parents’ visit in a few weeks and introducing them to Paisley. The therapy Paisley keeps demanding I go to. After today and how I felt on the ice when we were just messing around, I think maybe I should talk to someone about Armen.

What happened to my easy life? The one where I played hockey, chilled on the beach, and got laid every so often? Where my mind wasn’t consumed with a certain brunette and how our future would pan out? Those were the good old days, because I’ll never get Paisley out of my head now. She’s seared her name onto my heart like a brand whether I wanted her to or not. Now I have to figure out how to make us work for the long haul.