Chapter 22: Chapter 22

TYLER

It was the week after Christmas, but lights were still strung up around the city. I thought they should be gone by the day after Christmas. I guess I could be called somewhat of a Scrooge.

I was particularly channeling Scrooge energy that year. Kate had refused to spend the holiday with me or Piper, which I couldn’t understand.

I think she assumed she’d be imposing, but on Christmas day, I wanted her with me more than anything. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, no matter what I did.

I had a great day with my family, but it didn’t feel the same as the previous years.

Kate and I argued a few times about exchanging gifts. She won, obviously. She could be pretty stubborn and terrifying when she was mad.

I brought her flowers on Christmas night as a gift, even though we’d agreed we wouldn’t.

She told me she’d be having Christmas dinner with her uncles. I went over to her penthouse to deliver the flowers myself at six in the evening. Only because I knew she was lying.

Kate needed me. After making excuses for not being able to spend the holiday with anyone, she hugged me tightly. We stayed like that for a while before she requested me to stay the night.

I hadn’t planned on leaving, anyway*

“Yo,” Chris said, waving a hand in front of my face. “You’re ignoring us.”

I was sitting on the Blades chartered jet in my usual spot with Chris and Mathieu. They were both staring at me.

“I was just thinking about the game,” I replied. “We better win, or my buddies there will give me a ration of shit for leaving.”

My friends grinned at me. “Is ~The Punisher~ going to remind them how much they need him?”

I loved my nickname in the NHL. Tyler “The Punisher” Carlson. Sounded badass. When my mom heard it for the first time, she freaked out.

She didn’t think fighting was appropriate or necessary; she still had ~a lot~ to learn about hockey.

“Fuck yeah,” I answered.

Chris hit play on the Liam Neeson movie we were watching. I leaned back and closed my eyes. A quick nap right then was what I needed.

That nap didn’t last long, ending abruptly when Coach’s voice boomed throughout the plane.

“No bullshit tonight,” he yelled. “We have a game tomorrow. Yes, I know it’s New Year’s Eve, but that doesn’t mean you can act like idiots. Make me proud.”

We climbed off the plane and stood by the side of the runway. Minutes later, multiple SUVs pulled up to take us to our destination: The Regency. I hadn’t stayed there before.

We pulled up to the hotel and waited in the car while the coaches went inside. They returned sometime later after checking us in, keys in hand. We thanked them and quickly moved to find our rooms.

We were booed by a few men in the lobby, but in reality, they were only booing me. No fan liked to see their player leave their hometown for another team.

We parted ways to find our respective rooms. Unlocking my door, I set my duffel bag down, taking a minute to check myself out in the mirror.

We always wore suits when we were away from New York, and Kate had picked my suit for me. Her impeccable taste had me looking sophisticated without compromising my rugged side.

I hardened at the mere thought of her. Unfortunately, I wasn’t going to be seeing her until later. She had damage control to do at the office but had promised to spend New Year’s Eve with me.

She was flying out that evening in her private jet, meaning I still had four hours to kill until she arrived.

My room was amazing. The mini-fridge, however, only had water, as per Coach’s request. Coach Julian had the same requirements for every away trip, and the hotels were more than happy to comply.

I lay on the bed, scrolling through the pictures on my phone, mostly of Kate. A few minutes later, I showered and threw on some boxer briefs and a t-shirt.

I assumed Kate would sneak into my room once she arrived, and we wouldn’t leave my bed until game time tomorrow.

I must have dozed off because a loud commotion outside woke me. I rolled over and checked the time on my phone. It was just after ten o’clock.

Fists pounded against my door; I jumped up and swung it open. “Happy New Year’s Eve,” Kate said with a smile that could light an entire room.

Most of my teammates surrounded her, dressed to the nines. “Are we going out or something?” I asked.

“I’m taking you all out,” Kate answered. “But we have to be on good behavior or Julian will yell at me.”

The guys and I laughed. She was Coach’s boss, but even she was scared of him. Kate had mentioned in passing that he was her godfather, so perhaps she respected everything he had to say. She was good like that.

I was pumping with excitement at the idea of a normal night out with Kate and my team. I knew I had to keep my hands off her though. That part sucked.

“Alright,” I said. “I’ll get ready.”

Kate turned to the rowdy group of guys standing in the hotel hallway. “I have to change,” she said. “I’ll meet you all at the restaurant bar in fifteen minutes.”

Everyone agreed, and the hallway was soon empty. The guys moved to the elevators on the left, while Kate walked in the opposite direction.

I leaned my head out and stared at her walking away. She was wearing tall black high heels that made her legs appear even longer. A long white coat hugged over her ass quite nicely.

She turned, caught me staring, and blew me a kiss. Finally, the hall was silent. The scent of Kate’s perfume lingered in the hallway. I breathed it in, wishing she was right beside me.

I must have had a genie or some shit for my wish was granted. She came from the left and stopped a few steps short of my door. “I made a full circle of the floor, waiting for the boys to go downstairs.”

I pulled her into my arms. “Clever,” I said, kicking the door shut behind me. “You know we don’t have enough time. You should have told them longer than fifteen minutes.”

A smirk played on her flawless face. “I just wanted us to see each other before the night began.” She kissed me. “You know, like a tease.”

Kate pulled away, taking a few steps back. Slowly, her fingers danced across the buttons of her coat. I prayed she was naked under there, especially with her high heels still on.

She turned her back to me, but I could still see her arms moving in front of her.

When her coat finally dropped to the floor, I was looking at something even sexier than nudity, far sexier, something I hadn’t realized I wanted to see so badly.

I groaned a low groan, and when she looked at me over her shoulder with her blue eyes gleaming, I almost died and went to heaven.

Kate had my name on her. A black and red Blades jersey hung to her mid-thighs with “CARLSON” and “11” written across the back. “You like?” she asked sweetly.

“You…you have my name on you,” I stuttered. “This is the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”

She laughed and pulled closer. I grabbed the back of her neck, holding her against my lips with the desperation that I always felt for her. Pulling away, Kate rummaged through her leather purse.

“Piper had these specially made,” she said, handing me a pile of sewed names in the same font as our last names on the jerseys. I looked at her, confused.

“I can stick any of these names and numbers over yours if I choose not to fuel the fire by wearing your jersey all night.”

“Fuel the fire,” I challenged. “It’ll be especially fun being in my hometown.”

Kate kissed me again, that needy kiss she so often blessed me with. Afterward, I swung the closet open and dressed in record time.

I wore a suit because that’s what most of the other guys were wearing. No matter what I wore, I knew no one would notice me upon seeing Kate standing there practically naked.

“We need to meet the guys now,” she said.

I picked her coat up off the floor, and she draped it over her arm. As we made our way to the door, watching her ass shake under my jersey sent a shiver down my spine. Her calf muscles flexed with every step she took in those heels.

“Are you sure you want to wear that out?” I asked, not wanting every other guy looking at her the way my perverted ass was.

“It’s New Year’s Eve, the only night I can get away with this. Actually, I could on Halloween too.”

I laughed and walked a few steps behind her, not wanting to give up that view. When the elevator doors closed behind us, I lifted her in my arms, sliding my hand up her jersey.

Well, my jersey, really. The other hand gripped her ass, which was covered in black underwear. Sexy underwear, might I add.

The door dinged, and we quickly pulled apart. A few more people entered—a man, his wife, and two teenage boys. They did a double take seeing me. “You never should’ve left,” one of the boys said.

Kate’s eyebrows rose, and she stifled a laugh. That brought the boys’ attention to her. They attempted to look her up and down without being too obvious, but I caught their eyes.

“Toronto’s my home, kid,” I said. “But New York is treating me very well. And the Blades are an incredible team.”

The other teenage boy spoke up. “Except when they choked two years ago in the second round of playoffs.”

Kate giggled and held her hand out to the young boys. “You have a point there,” she said, charming them with her smile. “This year the Blades are looking much better though.

“I’m Kate, owner of the Blades, by the way.”

Their eyes widened, and I laughed at their sudden discomfort. Most people appeared to get intimidated when Kate was around, except for insane people like my parents.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude,” the boy said.

“Oh no. You weren’t rude. You were right, actually.

“Except for the part where you said he shouldn’t have ever left,” she said, shooting the boy a wink before the elevator doors opened and we all stepped out.

I shook hands with them, as did Kate, and we made our way to the bar.

My teammates cheered obnoxiously when Kate and I entered. They all noticed her outfit; any man would notice her. Their excitement intensified seemingly.

When Hans yelled out that she better be sporting his number, she turned around, smiled, and then held her hands up in front of her face.

“It’s interchangeable,” she said, pulling the names out of her bag again. “I can wear any of you guys tonight.” Most of them laughed at her choice of words.

Jaromir asked above the noise, “You’re wearing Carlson on purpose, aren’t you? After the interview…,” he said, knowingly.

Her face brightened, and the guys cheered again. She didn’t agree or disagree with Jaromir, but it was a story worth sticking to. No one needed to know why she was truly wearing my name on her back.

Hans strode closer to us and hugged Kate. “So, what do you have planned?” he asked. “Don’t keep us out too late, I’m too old for that shit.”

Hans was thirty-seven, which was old for the hockey world. He had two kids and a wife at home, so he rarely went out. He would for Kate though.

She placed a hand on his arm and squeezed. “You can come back and go to bed whenever you please, but I would love to watch the ball drop with all of you.”

After we each had a beer, a large limousine pulled up outside of the hotel. Kate had spared no expense that night because that’s just how she was.

We all climbed in and were welcomed by alcohol bottles stocked all over the back of the limo. We popped the bottles almost instantly. Kate held up a glass, and the players immediately fell silent.

“For those of you who’ve been with the Blades for a while know that my dad took the team out three years ago when away for New Year’s Eve.

“I will keep his traditions and create my own.” Her eyes sparkled, tears welling up to the surface but not quite falling.

“Thank you all for treating me as you would my father and for blessing me with the most talented team in the NHL.” We cheered, and she smiled. “That may be a biased opinion, but I have faith.

“I also have faith that we’ll bring home the cup this year. Cheers to the best players in the world!”

Glasses lifted in the air, alcohol spilling, but no one cared. There were about twenty of us in that limo; it was crowded, and we were just having fun.

The city lights shined as we drove through downtown. No one cared where we were going, everyone content with even just riding around in the limo all night.

The music was turned up; every face was smiling, and random conversations passed through my ears.

Kate sat to my left, face full of life, chatting up Jace Crocker who was a really good player. He didn’t play on my line, but we had good chemistry during practices and such.

Her hands waved excitedly in front of her while she shared something about a work meeting she had had to endure that day. My jersey rode up her thighs, and she crossed her legs as she faced Jace.

She shifted slightly in her seat, allowing me a quick glimpse of her butt. I jerked my leg closer to her, not wanting anyone else to have the view I had.

She had done that on purpose. I could tell she enjoyed teasing me, just like I enjoyed teasing her.

“Kate!” Mathieu yelled from the other end of the car. With his head near the driver window, he seemed fifty feet away. When Kate finally heard him above the noise, she turned her ear in his direction.

“You know I’m not twenty-one, right?”

Her grin grew mischievous. “The drinking age is nineteen here.” She giggled; the alcohol was beginning to make its way into her bloodstream.

She winked at Mathieu and then moved over to the other side of the car. She squeezed in between Hans and Jaromir, both not minding the close proximity.

I was impressed by how easygoing she seemed. That had always been my mantra in life: go with the flow. She seemed to be emulating that. When I’d first met her, she was more intense and uptight, but I still wanted her.

Now she was relaxed and calm; but now, I was falling in love with her.

Her face shined like the sun when she spoke to the veteran players. She loved them like family. This whole team was like family, definitely unlike any other NHL club. I was a lucky man to be there.

When we arrived at the first bar, two guys marched out of the building, heading straight toward our limo. One was wearing an expensive suit, and the other was in a black t-shirt and jeans.

Kate giggled again. “Be good, boys.” Our driver opened one of the doors for her, and she managed not to stumble out of the car. Her face sobered, and she turned all corporate for the moment.

We all watched through the open door. She shook hands with the men and introduced herself. They were all smiles in her presence, like most were, especially men.

“We have our VIP section set up for you. I’ll walk you there,” the man in the suit said. He was the owner of the bar.

“No,” she said. “I don’t want a VIP section. We just want to get some drinks and have fun.”

He looked skeptical. “I’ll keep the VIP section reserved for you and your team. If you don’t use it, it’s fine, but if you want it, it’s there.” In other words, he still wanted money for it.

They spoke for a few more minutes and then he asked her to have a drink with him. I couldn’t hear her answer over all of my teammates talking about him asking her out.

A part of me wanted to yell to the world that she was all mine, but I knew that wouldn’t be an intelligent thing to do.

I kept my mouth shut and tried to enjoy the fact that the world was in love with Kate. It would always surprise me that she had chosen me over any other man.

A minute later, she popped her head back into the limo. “Let’s go!”

The bar had dim lighting, or mood lighting as some called it. Scantily clad girls who barely appeared to be of legal age carried trays of brightly colored shots.

I figured we’d be spotted soon. Even if the other patrons were drunk, they would notice who we were. And that happened just thirty seconds later. Screams from females at a deafening pitch rang through the bar.