“But you’re a girl.”
Mark reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell.
“That doesn’t mean I was born with a burning desire to brown meat and grate cheese.”
He hit redial on his phone, and Chelsea’s Black-Berry lit up a split second before the line about “messing with a son of a bitch” played from the vicinity of her waist. She reached for the cell, pushed a few buttons, then turned toward him.
He raised a brow and she explained, “I thought I’d just stick with the Guess Who. Kind of a ringtone theme.”
Sam laughed.
“Have fun guys,” she said, and practically ran out of the room and down the long hall.
The boys watched her go, and the room fell into silence. Of course Sam was the one to break it.
“She’s cute.”
Mark watched the white stripes on her skirt disappear from sight. Sure she was an attractive girl, but they didn’t know the real Chelsea.
Kidt220;I like ze short womenz.”
“You like any womenz.”
Vlad shrugged his big Russian shoulders and pointed toward the doorway. “And bringz the beer too.”
“Damn. I need myself an assistant.” Sam raised his Corona to his lips and too
k a long drink. “Better than a wife. Less trouble than a girlfriend.”
Mark shook his head. “You just saw her good side. She’s pushy and annoying. She’s a mini pit bull.” He pointed his stiff middle finger at them. “Just like her twin sister. Remember that.”
At the thought of Bo Ross they all winced, except Andre. “I’ve always thought Mini Pit was cute. Kind of feisty.”
“I like ze feizty womenz.”
They room fell quiet for several moments. The guys all looked at one another as if they were waiting for something. Then Walker leaned forward and placed his forearms on his thighs. “Listen, Mark. We all need to know something.” He dangled the Corona from one hand and got to the real reason they’d all shown up on his doorstep. “Where were you the other night?” He turned his head and looked at Mark. “We thought you’d be there.”
He didn’t have to elaborate. Mark knew what night he meant.
“We all talked about it beforehand. If we won, Savage was going to immediately hand the cup to you because you were our captain long before him. He did a hell of a job filling your shoes after the accident. He was great and all the guys like and respect him, but he isn’t you. He could never be you, and to his credit, he never tried.” Walker looked at the other men in the room. He was the alternate captain. The second in charge when the captain wasn’t around. He was a good man and a leader, and there was a reason he wore the A on his jersey. “Playing without you wasn’t easy on anyone. We were worried about you, trying to get used to Savage, and battling for the cup. You were on this team for eight years. You built it and you led us to the playoffs. We didn’t win the cup because we had Savage. He’s a damn good hockey player and we were lucky to get him. We won because of the hard work we all put into it. The hard work that you put into it, and you should have been there the night we won. Why weren’t you?”
They needed an answer, and he supposed he could lie and they’d all go home happy. But they deserved better, and he’d always told them the truth. “I have really mixed feelings about that night,” he said, and unscrewed the top to his Evian. “I could lie to you all, but I won’t. I’m glad you guys won. Beyond happy for every one of you. You deserve it, and I mean that to my core.” He placed his right hand against his chest. “But at the same time, I am pissed that I couldn’t win the cup with you. I am pissed that it was Savage and not me. I could have gone that night and pretended it didn’t matter. That everything was sunshine and rainbows, but you all would have seen through the bullshit.”
He took a drink of water, then screwed the cap back on. “My whole life, that’s the only dream I’ve ever had. The one thing I’ve ever really wanted, but a freak accident took it from me.” He dropped his hand to his side. “Everyone tells me that I should just feel grateful to be alive. Well, I don’t. I Kon&don’t feel much of anything at all. Just anger.” A burning ball of anger that he didn’t know how to get rid of. “I’m sorry. I’m a selfish dick. I’m sorry if I let you down. You’re right. I should have been there with you guys, but I just couldn’t.”
“Thanks for being honest.” Walker sat back. “I can’t say that I understand, though. More than anyone in this room, you deserved to be the first man to hold the cup. The fact that you didn’t play in the playoffs doesn’t change that.”
Sam agreed. “That’s right.”
Mark looked across at Sam. “Just because I wasn’t there, doesn’t mean I didn’t see the game. I watched right here.” He pointed to the couch. “And that penalty you drew in the second frame was stupid and could have cost the game. And instead of partying and pouring beer from the cup onto women in bikinis, you’d be bawling your eyes out like a girl.”
“Savage was thrown in the box too.”
“Savage was hit from behind. You weren’t. When are you going to get it into your head that you’re not an enforcer? That’s Andre’s job.”
Sam grinned.
Daniel chuckled.