Offside (55 page)

“Shit.” Scott dragged his jeans up over the boxers he’d slept in. He gave her a quick kiss, ignoring her surprised stuttering, and headed toward the window. “Stall him. I’ll disappear.”

“Scott, you don’t need to—” Becky ground her teeth and hurried to grab her robe as she heard Landon on the stairs. She opened the door a crack. “I’m coming!”

“Are you still in bed?” Landon sounded shocked. No wonder. She
never
slept in like this. “You feeling okay?”

The window opened and closed behind her. She braced her forehead against the doorframe, wondering if Scott was more likely to break his neck if she went and shouted for him to get his ass back in here. Was he really that scared of her brother?

“I’ll be right out.” She smirked, knowing from experience exactly how to get her brother to back off. “I just started my period last night and—”

Landon grumbled something and his footsteps sounded down the stairs twice as fast as he’d come up. She hurried to the window, opening it quietly and sticking her head out to try and see Scott. She spotted his hands on the ledge. They disappeared.

No scream of pain. He was all right.

But by the large crab apple tree in her backyard, stood Zach. His expression shifted from relief to anger. He met her eyes briefly before moving forward, probably closer to Scott.

And there was no mistaking that look. He thought she’d used Scott, treated him like the snack she’d called him, then kicked him out. Damn it, she needed to let him know . . .

Only, she couldn’t. Not until after the party. She wished he knew her well enough, that he’d trust her enough—and yet, she’d already proven he didn’t. He couldn’t.

She had no one to blame but herself. She just hoped he’d give her a chance to explain.

* * * *

Zach rolled his shoulders and inhaled slowly, forcing a smile as Scott righted himself from his dangerously high drop. Fine, it was no different than a teen jumping off the monkey bars in the park, but no less stupid. And said teen wasn’t inching close to thirty, with a professional hockey team that needed him healthy and whole.

Damn it,
I
need him healthy and whole.

This wasn’t the time or place to come down on Scott about being careless, or Becky for being . . . what exactly? Heartless? She wasn’t that. And yet, a big part of their issues were about her making Scott feel like he was a negligible part of the relationship. Or not part of it at all. He didn’t expect her to announce what went on in her bedroom to the world, but would it have been so hard to say Scott had shown up early to help?

Scott stared at Zach, barefoot and shirtless, a blush staining his cheeks. He cleared his throat as he pulled on the pale blue T-shirt he’d had tucked into the back of his jeans. “Ah . . . hey, Zach.”

“Hey.” Zach shook his head, laughing as he reached out and pulled Scott against his side, one arm draped over his shoulders. “You dumbass. Tim would kill you if he saw that.”

“Yeah, well Landon would freak if he knew I spent the night.” Scott glanced toward the front of the house as another car pulled up, then drew Zach closer to the house, out of sight. “You’re not pissed, are you? I’m not sure how this is supposed to work. You said it was okay and—I don’t have to ask every time, do I? That would be—”

“No. You don’t have to ask.” He fisted his hand in Scott’s shirt, brushing his lips over Scott’s, not quite kissing him. “So long as you always come back to me.”

They didn’t have much time. He shouldn’t be doing this here. But Zach couldn’t help himself. He slid his hand up to Scott’s throat, feeling the rapid pulse under his palm. Teased the crease of Scott’s lips with his tongue until Scott groaned and let him in. And then did the best he could to show Scott exactly how much he meant to him.

“You coming, Pearce?” Tim shouted from the front of the house.

Zach eased away from Scott, his hand on Scott’s shoulder, not ready to let him go just yet. He replied loud and clear, “I’ll be right there!” Then locked his eyes with Scott’s passion-glazed blue ones. “I hope you enjoyed your night. And I’ll tell you the same thing I told her. I won’t get in between you, but—”

“We’ve all got to be open and honest. Got it.” Scott gave himself a little shake. “You two are gonna drive me nuts. All this talkin’ can’t be healthy.” He winked to show he was joking, then adjusted himself in his jeans and strode out to meet Tim and the next car pulling in. “Carter! Long time no see!”

The group converged on Becky’s living room, talking loudly, all excited for the birthday girl to get there. Zach was a little surprised to see both Landon and Dean there without Amia. Neither seemed to leave the baby’s side for long. Dean spent most of his time on the phone—likely organizing last minute details for Casey’s
other
party. Laura left Tyler and Chicklet with Landon, arguing about the cameras and video recorders, and joined Becky in the kitchen to help set up lunch. Scott followed her and, after a moment, Zach did as well.

“Thank you so much!” Becky smiled at Laura as she took over peeling cucumbers. She gave Scott a shy look, handing him a plate of pigs in a blanket. Then her smile faded as she turned to Zach. “Umm . . . we should probably talk.”

He agreed, but it could wait. Casey didn’t need to see her mother stressed-out because of him on her birthday. So he shook his head, giving her an easy smile. “Later, little doe. What can I do to help?”

Becky looked uncertain but quickly pulled it together and nodded at the fridge. “I made sandwiches. Five different kinds. Can you put them on those trays?” She gestured to a stack of trays on the counter. “And bring them to the dining room table?”

“Sure.” Zach stepped up to her side, kissing her cheek and whispering in her ear. “I meant what I said on the card. Things are going to be okay.”

That brightened her up considerably. She flushed, then scurried off as someone rang the doorbell. Soon the house was even noisier, with little boys running around, demanding autographs and chatting with the players. He had to stop his task several times to sign hats and jerseys. But, by the time Casey arrived with Jami, Silver, and Amia, everything was in order.

Casey screamed as she stepped into the living room, bouncing up and down and pressing her hands to her cheeks. She spun around in a circle to take in all the streamers, the signs, and the party accessories with Cobra logos on every available surface. She ran up to her mother, hugging Becky’s legs and screaming “Thank you!” over and over.

The excitement startled Amia and she burst out in shrill cries. Silver patted her back awkwardly, looking ready to cry herself. The second Landon took Amia, Silver excused herself and hid in the kitchen.

Becky’s hand went to her throat. She glanced at Casey who had been distracted by Carter furtively handing her one of her gifts. Then she slipped away from the crowd as though to follow Silver. Dean caught Zach’s eye from across the dining room. Shook his head before going after Silver himself.

Zach reached Becky by the doorway, his hand on her arm, speaking low. “Silver will feel even worse if she thinks she’s taken you away from Casey. Enjoy the party.” He kept his arm around her as she nodded, knowing how hard this would be for her. Nothing was more important than her family. Yes, her daughter came first, but she’d be torn, seeing how distracted Casey was and how broken Silver looked. But she listened to him. She stayed. And seemed to find strength in having him at her side.

Which somehow made it easier for Zach to breathe, to relax and enjoy the party himself. He ate a few sandwiches, grinning when Becky laughed at the face he made when he stuffed a banana and peanut butter one in his mouth. She rescued him with a glass of root beer as he scraped his tongue with his teeth and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Not a fan of bananas?” She asked.

He shook his head. “Peanut butter. I can’t stand the texture. It’s an insult to the banana to put them together.” He gulped down the root beer, then took an egg salad sandwich. “These, however, I could eat every day.”

She bit her bottom lip. Her blush made her adorable as she whispered, “I’d make it for you, Sir.”

He took another and winked at her. “I may take you up on that.”

When it came time for presents, he took Becky aside, speaking quietly as he pulled an envelope out of the back pocket of his jeans. “I meant to ask you earlier—I figured I should before I give it to her. With how passionate she is about hockey, I thought she might like to join a minor novice team. I got a gift certificate to cover the equipment and paid the registration . . . it can all be refunded if you don’t like the idea, though, so don’t worry about—”

“Oh, Zach, it’s too much!” Becky took a deep breath, staring at the envelope as though he’d just signed over a million dollar check. She covered her mouth with a hand. “I know how expensive it is—I looked into it last year when she asked to join.”

In other words, you shouldn’t have. Seriously. Idiot.
He kept his smile in place. “I can get her something—”

“I could strangle you and Scott. No, you don’t have to get her something else.” Becky folded her arms over her breasts, giving him a stern look. “Yes, my pride is grumbling because I couldn’t afford to do this for her, but I won’t let it deny her the opportunity.”

“All right.” Zach frowned at the envelope. Would a six-year-old really understand a gift like this? Maybe he should have gotten some equipment to go along with the papers, but he’d thought she’d want to pick it out with her mother. He handed the envelope to Becky. “This doesn’t fit with everything else she’s gotten, so—”

“Oh yes, it does.” Becky snickered as Casey unwrapped an Under Armour shirt and leggings. The little girl looked confused for a bit, but when Chicklet explained what it was for, she got excited and decided she needed to try it on right away. Becky stopped her daughter from stripping right there. “
Poupée
, not here. Unwrap the rest of your gifts, and then I’ll help you try them on upstairs.”

“Sorry,
Maman
.” Casey giggled, then tore into her next gift. Hockey books from Carter and Ramos. She gave Ramos pretty eyes, scooting up next to him on the sofa as she asked him to read
Z is for Zamboni
to her. At Becky’s shrug, Ramos cleared his throat, and the other children all sat on the floor around him.

The way Jami was staring at Ramos—Zach glanced over to where Richter stepped in with Silver tucked to his side, then exchanged a look with Becky as Richter shook his head and loosened his tie as though it was suddenly strangling him.

Scott sidled up to Zach’s other side, nudging him with an elbow. “I think boss man’s going to be a grandpa soon.”

“I think you’re right,” Becky said, jutting her chin toward Carter, who was standing at the other side of the room, cooing to Amia who he’d temporarily gotten Landon to hand over. “One way or another.”

“You’re going to be the next Karen Koch. Yes, you are. You are.” Carter didn’t seem to notice there was anyone else in the room. And only Vanek seemed likely to tease him about the baby talk.

Vanek’s lips barely parted when Chicklet leaned close to him, a smile on her lips, but her eyes hard enough to crack cement. A few quiet words from her and it didn’t look like Vanek would open his mouth again during the party.

When Ramos finished reading, Casey grabbed her next gift. New skates from Landon and Richter. Becky moved forward to stop her from stuffing her feet in them. Had her open the next few gifts, leaving Zach’s and the largest one for last.

“This is from Scott,” Becky said as Casey knelt in front of the huge present.

Casey swallowed, opening the gift slowly, peeling off each piece of tape as though to prolong the reveal. The chatter around the room quieted as Casey let out a loud gasp. Her eyes were bright as she ran her hand over the wood. Stared at the unicorns on the top. Opened it and peered inside.

“Oh, Mr. Demyan! All my babies have a home now!” She jumped up and launched herself at Scott. “You are the bestest!”

Surprisingly, Scott didn’t look uncomfortable with Casey hugging him. He crouched down, hugged her back, and flicked one of her ribbon-tied pigtails. “I’m glad you like it, pipsqueak. But it’s either Scott or just Demyan if you want to call me what all the other guys do.”

“Demyan, then,” Casey said after careful consideration. “That’s what I yell when you miss an easy shot.”

The men and Chicklet burst out laughing. Becky let out a surprised “Casey!” in her mom voice. Scott snorted, then picked Casey up to sit on his shoulders. He grinned up at her. “I’ll keep that in mind next time I’m on the ice. I wouldn’t want you to be disappointed in me.”

“Besides Uncle Landon, you’re the best player in the league.” Casey giggled at the chorus of “Hey!” from the other men. “You’re all a close third.”

“All right, last present. This is from Zach.” Becky handed the envelope up to Casey. “Then we’ll have some party games.”

Casey clutched the envelope, then glanced over at the small pile of equipment by the sofa. Her lips parted, but she quickly pressed them shut and went to work on opening the envelope. She blinked at the papers after pulling them out, sounding out the words slowly since she often had trouble reading out loud. “Minor no . . . vice. Hockey . . . hockey team?” She seemed confused at first. Then her mouth formed a wide O. “Really? Really, truly I can, Mommy?”

“Yes, Casey,” Becky said, beaming up at Zach in a way that made him feel like the king of the freakin’ world. Like he’d just offered her daughter the moon and the stars. His chest swelled, and he laughed as Casey shook her head like she still couldn’t believe it.

“
Arrête ton char, maman! Vraiment?
”

Landon choked back a laugh from across the room. “Casey, that’s rude. Your mother wouldn’t bluff about something like this.”

Wiggling until Scott put her down, Casey came over to Zach. She was much more hesitant with him than she’d been with Scott, but something about her tone squeezed his heart. “Thank you, Zach. I love all my presents, but . . . this is something I’ve wanted for so long.”