Cage's Misconduct (NHL Scorpions #3) (13 page)

***

Cage

It would be so much easier if someone would have simply killed me rather than lying here feeling like my entire stomach was going to come up the next time I puked. Never. I was never going to drink like that again. And something was bothering me. I had that weird feeling, you know what I mean? Like I did something I shouldn’t have or someone was sick or, I don’t know. Something was just …off.

The bathroom mirror was filled with steam from my much needed shower. I was staring at my emerging reflection when thoughts of Karen sprang into my head, and then that disturbing feeling settled over me once more.

I remember her picking me up. I remember puking—not my best moment. And then something else. Shit! Did we have sex? I really don’t think she’d have sex with me. “Would she?” My favorite part of my anatomy was being uncooperative, and didn’t answer. There was one thing I had no doubt about, though. I owed Karen an apology. For something.

***

It was after seven o’clock that evening by the time I felt well enough to venture out. I walked back to Slow Sam’s and picked up my car. From there it pretty much drove itself to Karen’s. The house was aglow with a faint light coming from the living room, co-mingling with shadows that were dancing along the walls, suggesting she had the fireplace lit.

Once I was there, I had no idea what to do. I got out of the car and continued to look at her house. What was I going to say? I’m sorry for—for what? I repeat. I would never drink like that again.

“You just going to stand there looking in my windows?”

Karen appeared on the porch above me wrapped in the throw from the back of her couch. I liked that throw. We’d been under it together many times. I was glad the April nights were still on the cool side.

“No?” I needed to get a grip. To my delight, she laughed at me, motioning me into the house.

“Get in here.”

“Thanks.” I smelled something fresh when I walked in. It smelled like Karen. Fresh and clean, nothing fussy. More like clean laundry. “I feel like I need to apologize.”

Her face went up in flames. Interesting—and somewhat scary. Jesus, what did I do? “For?”

“Well, that’s the tricky part. I’m not sure.” My stomach clenched tight in fear of saying the wrong thing. Let’s face it. Karen was my biggest supporter. I didn’t want to disappoint her, and I feared I already had.

She froze at the realization that I had no clue what I’d done. I needed to know. If I hurt her in some way, I’d never forgive myself.

“God, Karen. I’m sorry. For what I’m not sure, but I can tell you for an absolute fact that I would never hurt you on purpose. Tell me I didn’t.” She stood there with a blank expression. I’d fucked up. I could feel it in my bones. And then a beautiful sound—albeit maybe a bit sarcastic. She laughed.

“Oh my God. You don’t remember anything!” I heard her mumbling to herself. “Of course he doesn’t.”

I looked down in shame, and what did she do? She pulled my chin up. It was surreal. I wasn’t the kind of guy who gave a thought to these things. I saw a girl I wanted to bang, I took her home, banged her, and that was that. Karen made me feel shame, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. She made me want to be better, but it kind of pissed me off.

“This was a mistake. Really. I’m sorry if I offended you last night, but that’s it. I am who I am. I’ll see you later.” I didn’t make it halfway to the door before she stopped me with a softly uttered, “Dalton.”

“Oh, we’re back to Dalton are we?”

“I’m not making fun of you, really. I’m just—okay maybe I am laughing at you a little bit. But not because I think you’re pathetic or anything of that nature. I know you’re not the type to get shit-faced every night. That’s what makes last night so comical. You should have seen yourself! You were all, ‘I’m man, do what I tell you, and get in my bed, woman.’ And then you were all, ‘Shit, I have to puke.’”

She had a way of making me laugh at myself. “That paints a pretty picture.”

“It really wasn’t. Anyway, you have nothing to apologize for. Everything is fine.”

It most certainly was not fine. With those words, she again went up in flames. Something happened. I had to know. “We um, we didn’t …have sex?”

“No! Cage, you’re my friend. My very good friend. I wouldn’t do anything to mess that up. Neither would you.”

She was so wrong. I would do anything to get beyond the friend zone, but now wasn’t the time. “Err, yeah. Of course not. So, do you want to grab some dinner? I’m actually getting hungry for some, um, saltines.”

Her belly laugh rewarded me again. “Oh, you poor thing. I’m sorry, but I sort of have plans.”

“Ah. Going to see that cute niece of yours?”

“No. Actually, I have a date. As a matter of fact, I need to go get dressed now. He’ll be here in about a half hour.”

My stomach turned over anew at the thought. She had a date? A damn date? I swallowed my ire and played it cool. Teeth clenched—okay, maybe not so cool—I asked who she was going out with.

She hastily muttered her answer. “Carl.”

“Carl!? As in, Carl Rush?”

“Um, yeah?”

No way. No fucking way was I letting Carl take her out. “You really don’t want to do that.”

“Why? He seems nice.”

“Rush is a major player. All he wants is to get in your pants. Do you really want to wake up next to him tomorrow morning?”

Well, that did it. With both hands on her hips, she lit into me. “Oh, so you automatically think that I’m going to fuck him?” Wow. She must really be ticked. Karen didn’t say ‘fuck’. “Or is it your pride? You’ve tried to get me naked, and since you’ve mostly failed you’re going to insult me? Is it your pride that’s hurting now, Dalton?”

I was beginning to suspect that her use of ‘Dalton’ was no longer friendly. And …wait—mostly? “No, that’s not what I meant. I just meant that he only wants to get you in bed.”

“Oh, okay. So, what you’re actually saying is that the only reason he would want to take me out is to have sex.”

“Yes! Wait …no. That’s not what I meant.” Well, how about that? I’d fucked up again. Imagine.

She shook her hair back, took a deep breath and looked me in the eyes, hands still on her hips. “Okay. What did you mean then?”

My temper got the best of me—you’re astonished, I know. “I don’t know, Karen. All I know is that Carl fucks anything he gets his hands on. He doesn’t respect any of those women either. He’ll brag about his conquest in the locker room, and you’ll be the butt of his jokes.” I wasn’t good enough for her, but the roving Casanova was? I’d be shocked if Rush didn’t have some kind of STD—he slept with everyone.

“So again, you’re back to assuming I’m like him and will fuck anything I get my hands on? Well, I didn’t fuck you, did I?”

Direct hit.

“You’ve tried and tried to get me to though, haven’t you? Even after I offered you my friendship. After I battled Jody to give you another chance. After I cleaned up your puke! I’m still nothing but a piece of ass to you that you haven’t managed to conquer. I really thought we were friends. Obviously I was mistaken. Get out, Cage.”

She pushed me continually until I was out the door. I didn’t even put up a fight. I didn’t deserve her friendship now. I never had.

Karen

I felt bad about the whole Cage situation, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it too long. After I pushed him out the door, there were only minutes left for me to get ready for my date with Carl. I only agreed to go out with him to try and get Cage off my sexual radar. Put things back into perspective. In hindsight, I should have stayed home and did yoga or something.

Carl spent our entire date trying to convince me to let him give me a night I’d never forget, which made me feel bad all over again about my heated exchange with Cage. Holy smokes, was he right on the money! He may have been categorically wrong in his assumptions that I’d sleep with Carl, but I couldn’t help feeling that those comments came from his own insecurities and not any imagined promiscuity on my part.

Cage and I didn’t talk for an entire week after the incident. I wasn’t sure if he left me alone because he was mad that I went out with Carl or he felt bad for the way he talked to me. Thinking about that conversation, I realized I could have been more understanding. I knew Cage had a hot temper, and words seemed to fly right out of his mouth without his permission. That didn’t mean I’d just give him a free pass all the time, but I knew he’d been hungover and having a shitty day.

He was so distraught after losing that sixth game to the Sharks, and I wasn’t even there for him when they played the seventh game two days later. Thank goodness they’d won and advanced to the next round. The Scorpions were now in the second game of the second round against the Coyotes, and I was there at the arena watching with the gang. Even little Addie was in attendance. It was her first game.

***

“If Cage doesn’t close up the gap in that fucking corner over his left shoulder, they’re done. What is it with that spot for him?” Vlad was more heated about goalie moves than the rest of us, being that he was the former number one.

“Language!” Zoe reprimanded him as Crystal laughed at her father’s outburst.

“Sorry. Chances are you’re going to have to deal with it when I watch this kid play.”

I liked to listen to the games on the radio when I attended so I didn’t miss anything from the announcers, but I’d had about enough. I took out my ear piece long enough to engage Vlad in Cage’s defense. “Hey! That’s not fair. Cage has one of the best records in the league. He’s got an incredible goal against average. Be a little more supportive. I seem to remember you dumping some pivotal games, Vlad.”

Zoe threw back her head in laughter, and grabbed Crystal’s arm. “Oh, she’s so right. Your father had his share of screw ups. It’s par for the course. Being a goalie is tough—he’s just conveniently forgotten that part.”

“Yeah, fine. He’s doing a good job. Whatever.”

“The green monster rearing its ugly head again?” I liked Vlad, but that chip on his shoulder regarding Cage was a bit much for me to take at the moment. And I have to say, I was surprised my dear, sweet brother hadn’t uttered a word. “No comment from you, Jody?”

“Nope. Kid’s doing a stand-up job.”

My eyes about flew out of my head. “Are you serious?”

Lacey gave him a smile that promised untold treasures. He smiled back. “Yup. Good job.”

You know what? I didn’t care that Lacey was pulling Jody’s strings. It was a start.

With my ear piece back in, I listened to the play-by-play as I watched the action below. “And what do we have here?” The announcer was referring to Rush being put on the ice against the Coyotes’ top line. “They’re sending a message. Must have been that sneaky hit on Lambert. No one messes with the Scorpions’ captain and gets away with it.”

I couldn’t deny that Carl Rush was pleasing to look at. Okay, pleasing isn’t the right word. He was pretty damn hot. Not Cage hot, but hot enough for me to wish I was the kind of woman who would jump in the sack on the first date. My heartbeat quickened, and I sat on the edge of my seat as he dropped his gloves and tore off his helmet. I loved a good hockey fight.

Rush and Henrique circled round and round, each waiting for the other to make the first move. They were right in front of Cage’s net. Henrique had just gotten a hold of Rush’s jersey when Rush went down without either of them throwing a punch.

Cage’s stick went flying across the ice after Rush pulled it from beneath his skate.

“What the hell was that?” Vlad was on his feet again. I waved my hand to shush him so I could hear the radio better.

“Well, that’s a new one. It looks like Booker took down his own player! Surely he was aiming for Henrique, but none the less, Rush is down with no punches thrown on either side. Quite a waste of a five minute penalty, if you ask me.”

Zoe grabbed my arm and gasped. “He did not just do that.”

“Oh, he sure did.” I was shocked.

“I like this kid even more tonight.” Jody sat back with a smile on his face and nodded to me. I was sure it wasn’t surprising to find out that Jody didn’t like me going out with Carl any more than Cage did.

“Oh, shut up.” What was I going to do with him? At this point, I was wondering if it would be best to avoid Cage altogether. He was responsible for his own actions, of course, but I couldn’t in good conscience add to his irresponsible behavior. He was definitely a doer, not a thinker. And dammit, I had been feeling bad for him earlier.

The others were looking at me, eyes raised. “What? Maybe it was an accident.”

“Oh, God. Rush is going after Cage now. Coach is going to slay them alive.” Jody was standing now too in order to catch all the action, a wide grin on his face. Me? I covered my eyes.

“This can’t be happening. It’s the playoffs! They’re grown men.” I peeked through my fingers and saw Cage skating off and walking down the tunnel into the locker room, throwing his stick against the wall as he went. I sure didn’t blame the coach, but damn, I hated seeing Cage get pulled in such an important game. Guilt filled me. I should never have told him about my date. Not now, during playoffs. Why didn’t I just say no? I didn’t have a burning need to go out with Carl. What a mess.

I relayed what I’d heard the announcer say about the whole situation. “They said since the penalty against Cage would have been against his own team, the officials are letting it go. They’re sure Cage will, at the very least, be fined though, and possibly have a hearing with the disciplinary board, although I’m not sure about that. I’ve never seen anything quite like that.”

We watched the rest of the game, but my heart wasn’t in it. With a score of four-to-two, the Scorpions took the win without their number one in the net.

***

I was sitting on my deck enjoying a glass of wine when, once again, I saw Cage walking down the sidewalk in front of me. I wasn’t even sure if I was mad at him or not. Part of me wanted to be and part of me didn’t. Being angry took too much energy. Maybe I was a sucker, but I felt bad for him. Like I said, he had such a hard time controlling his anger.