Must Love Dogs...and Hockey
Page 23
She laughs. “Okay, let’s go get naked.”
Chapter 23
Lilly
“One point five million dollars.”
I hear that number. Is that for real? I look at Ruth, my lawyer, sitting next to me in the courtroom. She nods and smiles.
The jury has found in the plaintiff’s favor—that’s me!—and has awarded me one point five million dollars in damages.
And then, even better, they’ve ruled that Lexington Resorts has to make changes to their policies and procedures that will prevent this from happening in the future.
I close my eyes. And I start to cry.
That’s what this was about. I could have had their offer months ago and walked away. This is what I wanted.
And I’m so, so relieved it’s over. The trial was stressful and exhausting. I hated reliving not only my experiences at Lexington and how I was treated, but how my life changed after that. It was humiliating telling the world about my depression and debt, my inability to find a job, and the loss of my relationship. The trial lasted just over a week, and then we only had to wait two days for the jury to make their decision.
It’s done now, and I can move on.
I can give Grammy money to make up for what she lost and pay a lawyer to get her out of the scammy time-share she bought into. I can pay back my parents and Carlin, pay off my loan. I can give a big donation to the animal shelter. I can pay for Carlin’s freakin’ wedding!
And…I’ll have enough to start the doggie daycare business I want to open. Penelope and I have talked more about it and she’s all in. We even found a space for it, which is perfect but which I never thought we’d be able to afford. It’s on the main floor of the apartment building where Igor and Nadia Barbashev live, where Loki is already my client along with another recent addition to my dog roster. It’s the perfect location for dog walking and daycare and grooming, with nearby parks and all the professionals living in that area.
Ruth hugs me and I collect myself. I turn, finding Easton sitting behind me. He’s grinning hugely and I smile back at him. He’s been here as much as he can, supporting me through the trial and then while waiting for the verdict. I could have done it without him. But I’m so, so glad I didn’t have to.
We rise as the judge leaves and the courtroom begins to empty. I make my way over to Easton and leap into his arms. He squeezes me so tightly I almost can’t breathe, but I love it. I bury my face in the side of his neck and a sob rises in my throat.
“You’re okay,” he whispers, stroking my hair. “You’re okay.”
“Yes. I am. Oh my God, Easton.”
“I know. You did so good, baby. So good. You were so strong. So brave.”
He’s been my rock and my anchor. My home. My love.
And I’ve been there for him, because he’s also been going through some shit.
A few days after the investigation into Tim Simmons’s behavior, he publicly acknowledged that he had indeed used a racial slur against Jamal…and he resigned.
After that happened, things kind of exploded. Other players from all over the league came forward with their own stories of abuse, by Tim Simmons but also other coaches, and it pushed the league to work on a new code of coaching conduct.
I was bursting with pride and love for Easton. And he’s been playing better than ever. As of right now they’re in a playoff spot, and there are trade rumors heating up about some changes they might make to help their chances.
We leave the courthouse, emerging into a freakin’ blizzard. Snow is blowing and swirling in the sharp wind, tugging at my coat and scarf as we make our way through downtown streets to the parking garage where Easton left his car. I’m breathless by the time I’m seated in his car but still jubilant, and I start laughing.
Easton starts the engine and grins at me. “Want to go for a celebration lunch?”
I shake my head. “No. I want to go home. I mean, to your place.” His place feels like home to me. “You have a game tonight. You need to nap.”
His eyes darken. “Ah. That’s how you want to celebrate. A ‘nap.’ ” He makes air quotes and smirks.
I lean over to kiss him. “Yes. It is. I want you.”
“Hmm. I want you too.” He smooches my lips softly. “I want us.” Another kiss. “I want it all.” Kiss. “With you.” He meets my eyes. “Only you.”
My heart floods with warmth, sparkles floating through my veins. “I want the same.”
Epilogue
Easton
“Holy shit.”
I’m dressed in my game day suit and ready to leave for the arena when my phone blows up with messages and notifications.
“What’s wrong?” Lilly’s still in my bed, naked, sleepy, and gorgeous. Fuck, it’s hard to leave her there, but I know she’ll be here when I get home and that’s all I want.
I scroll through messages. “The team just made a trade. Holy shit.” I blink and stare at my phone. “Larry’s gone, and we gave up a second-round draft pick.”
She sits up, pushing her hair off her face. “In exchange for…?”
My gut seizes up like a giant hand is squeezing. And twisting. I’m paralyzed for a moment. Then I blink and swallow. I look up at her. “Josh Heller.”
A little notch appears between her eyebrows, then disappears as her eyebrows fly up. “Ohhh…wow.”
She recognizes the name.
Josh Heller was one of my best friends on the Swift Current Warriors. He played defense, and along with our other buddy Hunter, the three of us were pegged to make it into the NHL. Then the bus crash happened.
Josh was one of the guys who was injured, with both his legs fractured and a few other broken bones. They weren’t sure he’d ever walk again, never mind play hockey. He’s from Winnipeg and they moved him right away to the hospital there so he could be near his family. He was a year younger than me and ended up getting drafted the year after I did. I didn’t see him for years. He ended up playing in Dallas, but when I was in Vancouver we only played them three times in one season, two of which I was injured for, then once the next season before I got traded here. We’ve barely spoken two words to each other since the accident.
I’ve tried to leave my past behind me. I don’t talk about it to people here. I really don’t want to be reminded of it every fucking day.
And I bet Josh feels the same.
Acknowledgments
Writing a book during a pandemic is hard, yo.
On March 6, 2020, I flew to New York on a research trip while writing this book. I was conflicted about whether to go, given what was happening with Covid-19. There had been a couple (I think?) of cases in New York at that point, but I knew it was going to hit them and hit hard. We had zero cases here in Winnipeg, and I didn’t want to be the one to bring it back. I decided I would slip in and out of New York in five days and take precautions while there, because I had a feeling if I didn’t go then, I wouldn’t be able to go for a long time.
While there, I toured Lilly and Easton’s neighborhood, explored, took pictures, walked miles through the city and Central Park, shopped, and ate in restaurants. I didn’t know those would be my last “normal” memories. I debated going to a Broadway show, but opted not to because of all the people in an enclosed space. Life seemed normal there, but I was using hand sanitizer like crazy, trying not to touch doorknobs and railings, and washing my hands every chance I got.
The day after I got home, Broadway shut down all the theaters and we had our first Covid-19 case here. I’d planned to self-isolate for two weeks anyway, but it turned out to be a lot longer than two weeks as our city shut down.
I wasn’t freaked out. I wasn’t worried about getting the virus. But it consumed all my attention and energy. I was so worried for the people who were getting sick and dying. I watched the news from New York in horror a
s the virus exploded there, where I had just been. All I could do was watch TV and Twitter news and eat and sleep a lot. I was exhausted. I couldn’t write, much as I tried. It felt pointless and unimportant.
Around the end of April, I got the most wonderful email from a reader, who said, “With the virus the world really sucks right now and I hope you know that what you do is important, vital even, and has helped me stay sane. Your words are the best escape in these troubling times. Thank you.” It helped so much to know that what I do isn’t pointless or unimportant.
I ended up getting this book done and to my editor a week past the due date, which is amazing considering I spent about a month on my couch. I am so grateful to Gina Wachtel for being understanding about this and managing to keep the release date. Even though I struggled, I really loved writing this story—I love Lilly and Easton (and Otis!) and the New York setting.
As always thanks to everyone who supports me in this crazy writing business—my author friends who reassured me I would finish the book; my daughter, who does the numbers stuff; my amazing assistant, Stacey Price, who does all the “other stuff”; my publicist, Heather Robertson, who makes sure people know about my books; my agent, Emily Kim, who somehow pulled this book deal out of a hat! And again, thanks to Gina—for giving me this chance to write more hockey romance for PRH, as well as thanks to the entire team at PRH who work on my books.
Most of all, thank you to my readers. I’m honored every time someone buys and reads my books, and I hope that in difficult times they provide a little escape, a little laughter, and a reminder that love really is the most important thing in the world.
BY KELLY JAMIESON
Aces Hockey
Major Misconduct
Off Limits
Icing
Top Shelf
Back Check
Slap Shot
Playing Hurt
Big Stick
Game On
Bayard Hockey
Shut Out
Cross Check
Last Shot
Body Shot
Hot Shot
Long Shot
Wynn Hockey
Play to Win
In It to Win It
Win Big
For the Win
Other Books
Dancing in the Rain
Must Love Dogs…and Hockey
PHOTO: LANCE THOMSON PHOTOGRAPHIC
USA Today bestselling author KELLY JAMIESON is the author of more than fifty contemporary romance novels. She writes the kind of books she loves to read—sexy romance with heat, humor, and emotion. She likes coffee (black), wine (mostly white), and shoes (high!). She also loves watching hockey.
kellyjamieson.com
Twitter: @KellyJamieson
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