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Chapter One
Spade
I hear my teammate throwing shit and using choice words when I come around the corner. I know and work with a lot of the guys on the team, so I am fairly sure I know who is going nuts before I see him.
“Sometimes, man, I just really can’t some days.”
Yep, it’s Roman. He’s usually really chill. Probably second only to me. “What’s up, brother?”
“Murder. Murder is looking real damned good right about now.”
I would be worried if I didn’t know this man so well. He might look like a tank coming at you but inside he’s a powder-puff… like me and everyone else on the team. People say kids and animals can tell what kind of human being a person really is and if you give any of these guys a baby or a puppy we turn into a bowl of Jello. Happens every time. So, I don't think I have to worry about an actual homicide.
“You want to talk about it, or should I just go get the shovel and start digging?” He laughs and my job here is done, folks. I sit down beside him. “Who are we killing?”
“My mother and father.”
“Oh, patricide and matricide. Seems messy. I’d drink and hire a therapist instead. Seems cheaper in the long run. And there’s no jail time involved.”
“If it were just me I would but they’re fucking up my sister’s life right alongside mine. And that is what is pissing me off.”
“Oh, that’s a good reason to be pissed man.”
“They waited until she was in college to pull this shit and drop the bomb that they’ve never loved each other - couldn’t even stand to be in the same room as one another and are divorcing.”
I wince. That is tough but at least the kid is far enough away from it she doesn’t have to see it implode…I guess. “Shit, sorry man!”
“That’s not the problem. We knew they hated one another. No, what is pissing me off enough to commit murder is that Dad isn’t going to pay tuition for her anymore and they don’t want her to come home for the summer because Mom is going on a cruise and Dad doesn’t want her underfoot when he fucks his secretary.” He looks up at me with a sense of misery in his eyes.
“Do you need help with her tuition because we can help…”
“No, no. I can handle that. It’s just…it’s like they are punishing her for being born, you know. And what the hell do I know about nineteen-year-old girls, Spade? I’ve not been nineteen in years.”
I think about what he is saying as I put a hand on his back before saying a word, “Well… you know you love her right? You know all you want is for her to be happy and the best for her no matter what that is. I would say, nothing else really matters. “You’ll figure all the rest out together, so don’t sweat it. And she’s probably just happy her big brother is there for her when her parents aren’t. Happy you still want her, you know.”
Roman sits back and gives me a long look before saying anything, “You know…you are really good at this shit. You should think of becoming the therapist, brother.”
“No way, man!” I laugh and stand so I can walk to my locker, “I like numbers a shit ton more than I do people. Numbers always make sense, people are crazy.”
We both laugh as he finally stands himself.
“You should bring her to the game next Saturday. Introduce her to the girls.” I don’t have to tell him who the girls are. Everyone on the team knows who they are and calls them The Girls as well. They’re Whit and Bear’s women. “They’ll know what to do. A hell of a lot better than we would.”
“Yeah…yeah, maybe I should. Having women to talk to might be good for her.”
“Hell yeah. They like to talk and figure shit out like that. They’ll take care of her, no worries.”
We leave the locker room and I notice Roman seems like he is in a lighter mood than when he came in making me feel better about walking away from him. I hate seeing any of my friends be down or stressed or having a hard time and I meant what I said about helping Roman with his sister’s tuition - no questions asked. I feel that way because most of the men I play hockey with would do the same for me. When it comes right down to it, we’re family. The only family I’ve ever known.
Chapter Two
Spade
The next Saturday, I’m already on the ice and waiting for the rest of the guys to come out here with me when my eyes fasten on something in the stands that’s going to make playing awfully hard…considering my attention is going to be on her most of the game. And those killer curves she’s hiding under that cute little dress. I can’t help but wonder what her story is. Who is she with? Is it serious? And will she consider going home with me?
“Hey, brother." Roman slaps me on the shoulder, "Thanks for the idea of bringing Pearl with me today, Spade. She seems to be hitting it off with The Girls.”
I visually search for the sister in question giving him a happy smile and a firm thump on the back too, even as my heart starts to sink with foreboding. The only person I can see even close to the girls…is the hot mystery woman I was eye fucking before Roman came out here. Life cannot be this cruel to me…can it?
