Strictly for Now by Carrie Elks

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

ELI

With two days to go, every member of the team is feeling it. The laughter and teasing of a few days ago are gone, replaced by determination and concentration as we practice penalty corners. I’ve already reminded them we have one advantage – we’re already a team. Greg’s side is good. Each man as an individual is absolutely better than us.

But together? I’m pretty certain we can run circles around them.

I’ve spent the past few weeks watching each one of them play. Trying to anticipate how they’ll mesh as a team. Assessing their weaknesses and working out how we can profit from them.

As we come to the last minute of practice, I glance up to see Mackenzie sitting in the bleachers. She catches me looking and smiles, and damn, I can’t help but grin back.

I tap my watch so she knows I’m keeping time. Ten minutes and I’ll go up to her office to see her. Her smile widens and I’m about to wink when I hear voices echoing from the tunnel.

The rest of the team does, too, and they stop passing the puck momentarily. Then the cause of the commotion appears rink side, his every move being recorded by two camera men who follow him like sheep.

“Hey, that’s him,” Carter says, nudging Goran in the chest.

“Who?”

“Greg Gauthier,” he says.

“Is it?” Goran asks, taking off his helmet and squinting. “He looks old.”

“He is old, doofus.”

“You see that big stick with the furry end?” I say, pointing at the boom one of the camera team is carrying.

“Yeah?” Goran replies.

“That’s a microphone,” I tell him. “It picks up everything.”

“Ohhh.” Goran nods. “Oops.”

Next to Greg is a beautiful woman. Mac’s mom, I assume. And behind him are some faces I recognize.

His team of All Stars. They’re all talking and the cameras are still rolling and I’m keeping an even expression even though I’m feeling slightly annoyed that they’re recording this without clearing it with me first.

And also annoyed because this isn’t the way I wanted to meet Mac’s parents. I glance up at the bleachers to see her reaction, but she’s gone.

“Eli Salinger,” Greg says, his voice full of bonhomie. “I hope you don’t mind me coming to spy on the opposition.”

I push a smile onto my face and skate over to where he’s standing. He reaches his hand out and I shake it.

Maybe a bit too hard.

He winces a little as I release his palm, and I’m left with the smallest sense of satisfaction.

“We’re just finishing up,” I say, glancing over his shoulder. “Did you want me to get the ice cleaned up so you can get on here?”

“Oh no,” he says. “We start practicing tomorrow.”

Between his team, our team, and Isabella’s ice dancing, that’s three sets of practice taking place on the ice. It’s annoying because we still need more time but there it is.

“We just wanted to say hi.”

“Hi,” I say deadpan.

“And cut…” a voice calls out. A man pushes his way through, holding a clipboard. The director, maybe? Do reality shows even have directors? Maybe he’s a producer, I’ve no idea. “Eric, is it?” he asks, looking at me.

“Eli,” I tell him.

“Sure. Can we do that again? Could you ask your team to play for a minute and we’ll walk in?” he asks. “It won’t take long.”

“Seriously?” Isn’t Reality TV meant to be… reality?

“Sorry,” Greg says. “We won’t take much of your time.” He smiles widely at the rest of the Mavericks. “Then when we’re done that I’d love for you guys to introduce yourselves. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you all.”

The team talks excitedly to each other because Greg is the Olympic hero they all grew up with. So I nod and we do it all over again, except this time Goran doesn’t mention Greg’s age and the producer / director / whatever he is looks pleased and nods.

“That’s a wrap for today, gentlemen.” He shakes my hand. “Eric, good to meet you.”

I don’t bother to correct him this time. I’m too intent on getting into the locker room and reminding the guys that we have a game in two days so they need to get rid of the stars in their eyes. It’s going to be aired on the network – nationally. And yes, there’s no real skin in the game, at least not when it comes to the league.

But for these players the skin is about exposure. Their future careers. I don’t want them to be known as part of the team that failed.

Once again, I wait until they’ve all left before I call the cleaning crew and let them know we’re done. When I walk out of the door, I see Mac and her sister in some kind of intense conversation by the exit into the parking lot.

Mac looks up and sees me watching them. Does she want me to pretend I haven’t seen her?

I can’t. I just can’t.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, walking toward them. Isabella’s wearing a pair of yoga pants and a cropped hoodie, her skate bag in her hand. She turns to look at me, and her furrowed brow immediately smooths.

So much for sisterly love.

“I’m trying to persuade Mackenzie to come to dinner.” She winks at me. “Since I don’t have an excuse I have to go. But she’s not having any of it.”

“Not hungry?” I ask Mackenzie.

“I… ah…” She blows out a mouthful of air. “No.”

“It’s been a long day,” I say. Oh well done, Salinger. Great repartee.

“It has,” Mac agrees. “I just want to go home.”

I shift my feet. “Actually, there was an issue I needed to discuss with you,” I say to Mackenzie. “Boring team stuff.”

“Okay,” Isabella says, shrugging as she looks at Mac. “I’ll meet you at the car.”

Then she looks at me and gives me a beaming smile. “You were good on the ice today,” she says. “You’re gonna give my dad’s team a run for their money.”

She turns around before I can say anything and pushes through the door, the cool air rushing in and making Mac shiver. I wait until it closes before I walk over to her.

“Are you okay?”

She nods. “I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all.”

I reach out to cup her face. Damn, I want to kiss her. She looks so vulnerable and it tugs at something inside of me.

My inner knight in fucking armor.

Instead, I incline my head and we walk up to her office. There are still a few people around because there’s so much to do before game night, and I know she doesn’t want me to show affection in public.

“Just a couple of days and this will be over,” I tell her. She smiles at that, and I do, too.

I miss taking her home every night. I miss waking up with her in the mornings.

“I can’t wait,” she tells me. “I know this is for Gramps, but it’s all too much. The people, the cameras. My family.”

I reach for her waist, pulling her against me. It takes a second or two, but finally she relaxes and I hear her breathing start to even.

“Just tell them,” I say. “If that’s easier. Tell them who I am, tell them what I know. I’ll tell the team who you are.”

“It’s okay,” she says. “It can wait. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay then.” I tighten my hold on her. “You want me to come over while your sister’s out?”

She shakes her head against me. “You need an early night. You’re rostered at six tomorrow morning for practice.”

The joys of sharing the ice with another team, plus Isabella and her partner. But Mac is right. If I’m telling the team they can’t go out and need to be in bed by ten, I can’t exactly go over to hers and spend the night buried inside of her.

As much as that’s what I need right now.

“Okay,” I say softly. “I’m gonna kiss you now, and then I’m going to leave.”

She looks up, her eyes sparkling. “I’m good with the kissing part.”

Yeah, me too. I cup her face with my hands, my mouth hungry against hers as I show her exactly how good I am with it.

* * *

MACKENZIE

The rest of my dad’s team – including my brothers – arrive the next morning as the Mavericks are practicing on the ice. This time they don’t disturb them with cameras, but I still hang back as Brad and Johnny throw their arms around Dad and Mom.

Brad grins when he sees me, holding his hands out wide. And I’m ashamed to say I check for cameras before I walk into his arms and let him envelop me in a bear hug.

“Sis,” he says. “Missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” I manage to say, even though my face is squashed against his stupidly hard chest. Like my dad, Brad and Johnny have this natural ease with life. Nothing phases them. Not even me reminding them that when the cameras roll I’m not related to them at all.

“Where is the rest of the team?” I ask Dad.

“Sent them to get some breakfast. We start practicing at noon.” He pulls Mom against him and gives me a smile. “We missed you at dinner last night.”

“I had some work to do.”

“All work and no play makes Mackenzie a dull girl,” Brad says, earning him a punch in the arm from Johnny. “What?” he asks. “I was just kidding.”

“She wasn’t so dull when she bailed your ass out of jail,” Johnny reminds him. “Twice.”

“Speaking of work,” Dad says, ignoring their squabbles, “I need to talk to your security guy. I’ve had to change a couple of players around because we have some injuries and they’ll need passes.”

“Who?” Brad asks.

“Stanton tore his achilles playing football with his kid,” Dad says. “And Ryker is sick.”

“So who’s playing instead of them?” Brad looks unhappy.

Dad ruffles his hair, even though Brad is taller than him. And probably has twenty pounds on him, too. “Don’t worry, I got it covered. I think you’ll be happy.”

“Brad’s just scared he’ll let in too many goals,” Johnny says. “He can’t cope without a decent defenseman.”

“Good thing he has you then,” Dad says lightly. I call our security guy and explain the situation. He tells me to send Dad over with the details.

And then finally they all leave. Except Mom, who lingers as my two hulking brothers bump into each other as they walk out of the door.

“Is everything okay?” Mom asks. “You look anxious.”

I let out a mouthful of air. “I’m just worried about everything going smoothly tomorrow night. It’s a big night for the team. And for Gramps.”

She nods. “I know. But you’re doing a wonderful job.” She reaches out to touch my cheek. “Thank you for letting Isabella stay with you. She hates hotel rooms.”

“It’s fine. I’m happy to have her.”

“She said you two had reconnected.”

“It’s been good to talk with her,” I say. I know Mom hated the fact that we barely spoke to each other for years.

“Sisters are important,” she says. “There’s nobody like a sister to give you some support.” She looks at me carefully, as though she’s trying to weigh what to say. “She was so upset when you told her you didn’t want anybody to know you were related.”

Mom’s not only talking about Isabella. And she’s not just talking about this week either. I know it hurt her when I changed my name. It must have felt like I was rejecting our family.

But it was the only way I knew how to protect myself at the time. Looking back maybe I should have brazened it out, been stronger. But when you’re in the eye of the storm the only thing you can think about is how to get out.

“I know,” I say, patting Mom’s arm. “I’m sorry.”

“I’d like us to all get along. It’s been lovely working with Isabella,” she continues. “And your dad loves watching the boys. But I want my other daughter, too.” She slides her hand into mine. “I’m proud of you, sweetheart. I wish you’d let me show that.”

“I know,” I say, my voice thick as she pulls me in for a hug. She’s so tiny it feels like hugging a twig. But she smells just like I remember. It makes me feel like I’m fourteen again. Desperate for her love. But maybe it was there all along.

“Okay, the security is all done.” Dad walks back into the room. “I’m gonna head down to the guest locker room. You coming?” he asks Mom.

“I’ll pass,” she says, wrinkling her nose. “I’ve done my fair share of locker rooms.”

Dad winks. “I know that, baby.”

Ugh. Gag alert. But the way mom smiles at him is kind of sweet. There’s still chemistry between my parents after all this time.

And it makes me yearn for Eli more than I can say.