Whatever Happens Next (Triplets Book 2)

by Stacy Lane

  Alex reaches for a brownie once she pulls back the lid. I smack his hand away.

  “Standing in the heat isn’t punishment enough for being a jerk this morning?” Alex asks.

  “They’re pot brownies.”

  “One won’t hurt him,” Addy says around a mouth full of the gooey, narcotized treat.

  “I’ll pass,” he responds.

  Addy shrugs, disappearing inside. I peek behind me to find Mel is the only one lingering nearby.

  Pushing Alex back, I step outside and pull the door closed behind me. Down my hallway are four apartments. The elevator is at one end, and an open balcony at the other. My door is right by the balcony. It’s hot outside, but at least there’s a breeze passing through the halls.

  “I’m going to work for you, but only because you’re going to give my name to all your fancy suit friends.”

  “Done.”

  “I-I meant after the work was complete but okay.” I stammered over how quick his faith was in my new business.

  Alex tucks his hands into the pockets on his form-fitting slacks. The dark navy suit jacket is open, a white dress shirt underneath with the top button undone, and a peach colored pocket square on the left side. His body faces me, but he’s turned his head to peer over the balcony.

  I should go back inside, but the pull to be near him is too strong.

  “I’m taking my sisters to Triplets tonight. You should come.”

  He stares at me for a long pause before responding. “Then I’ll be there.”

  I force my feet to move toward my door. Before I turn the knob, I look back at him once more. “We may not be together the way we desire, but I would like it if we could try and be friends. If I’ve learned anything, I think I’m better off if you are in my life whatever way I can have you, Alex.”

  CHAPTER 21

  ALEX

  MY WHOLE LIFE I’ve done what’s expected of me. I never had a problem with the choices I’ve made to get to where I am. I wasn’t forced or coerced into doing anything, I just always made the decisions that I knew was what others wanted out of me. Luckily, what was expected worked in my favor.

  I played hockey as a kid, perfected my craft and loved the game. I busted my ass to make it a career. Dad coached my brothers and me through our entire childhood, whether he was on the rink with us, or at home and in the stands. To have been as great as we were at hockey, giving up a gift people would kill for would have been reprehensible.

  When I went first round in the draft, I prided myself for all that hard work paying off. I was thankful I had a family to push me for greatness. The job was far from over, and I never let myself forget that.

  Brooks and Cam could separate their hockey careers and their personal lives. For each of them, one was more important than the other. Brooks only cared about hockey, and Cam gave it all up when his young wife needed him more. I shuffled both.

  I wanted both my career and family. I had focus. My brain is wired to plan and follow the rules and work hard to have it all.

  I’m not saying my brothers aren’t hard workers, they are. It’s the one attribute we all share in common. We just have different ways of going about how to get it. There was no inner, deep-set longing to be more relaxed in life like they are. If we were lost in the woods, I’d be the one they would look to to keep us alive. I know that first hand. We were fourteen and Brooks wanted to camp out in the forest behind our childhood home. Cam decided to explore further than we were allowed to go. Let’s just say it was a long night with one dramatic brother, while the other kept pranking us with noises of wolves and bears.

  I was always a leader. I mapped everything out.

  But no one can plan the unexpected.

  I went into my last game with a little back pain, but nothing I hadn’t been dealing with already. Before the game, I went through a routine of stretches to reduce potential injury to damage my lumbar any further. The trainers worked with me on stretching my hamstrings and glutes, and on strengthening my hip flexors.

  It was a typical day at work. I was slammed into the boards, cross-checked and hip checked. I took a lot of hits. It was only a matter of time for the right one to take me out.

  Resentment toward every individual in my life dragged me down a very dark path. My girlfriend dumped me. I was sick of my family’s hovering. I was jealous of Brooks for still having his career and mad at Cam for giving his up over a girl. I was bitter and found nothing promising about waking up alive every morning.

  No one knew how bad I got. I hid the anger and self-pity and drinking from everyone. I became someone else on the outside, but subconsciously I could never hurt my family by letting them see how far I had fallen.

  Living in California is how I got away with it. I told them I was fine when I wasn’t. They would call to check-in, and I would say to them PT was going great when I was actually sitting on my couch with a bottle of whiskey and pain pills. They always asked if I needed anything and could fly out right away if I did. I didn’t need them because I had a girlfriend who was at my beck and call trying to get back in my good graces. That was never going to happen, so I took advantage of her.

  This went on for a year. Elle is the reason I climbed out of the darkness. Not her specifically, but a part of her. A part of me.

  I’m grateful for that even though it was all lies. Those falsities gave me a reason to get back on track. I finally saw how far I spiraled out of control. I was someone I didn’t recognize. I couldn’t let down my family like that ever again.

  I thought the only reason I was taking this job in Tampa was for my family. It’s what they wanted, to have me living close by, to see me as close to the ice as I would ever be allowed again.

  I did it all for them because I could never be completely honest about my time after the accident.

  As it turns out, I’m loving my job more than I gave it credit for. When it was offered, I was expected to take it. I don’t regret it now. I did it for my family.

  They deserved the very best of me. Except, I’ve realized I’m only giving them half of who I am.

  Similar to two years ago, I was not prepared for the unexpected.

  The hit I took just as hard as the one from my accident is falling for Chelsea. She’s turned it all upside down again.

  Circumstances have forced me to stay away from her. I have followed the rules for my parents, my brothers, and my new team. This is the last opportunity I will ever get in professional hockey, and I knew without a doubt I was willing to mess it all up for her.

  She took the job, at least. That’s what I went there for. I could help her start over, to succeed. I can have pieces of her for a little while longer.

  Telling myself pieces are all I need has run its course. She’s the scavenger hunt showing me little by little that I haven’t really been happy. I created the plan and the steps toward an ending I thought I wanted.

  She’s what I want.

  I’ll forfeit my contract with the Fury if that’s what it takes.

  The new clause implemented by Mr. Kendricks and Peters last year was put in place to protect the team. From a professional point of view, I understood that. In fact, I breezed right over that section when I signed. Starting a relationship with a teammate and/or a teammate’s partner was something I would never do. That was unrealistic and unprofessional.

  But when falling for someone, the heart doesn’t factor in realism or careers. Ignore it all you want, but the heart is as real as a human being can get. It holds truths and lies. It speaks with hastened beats. The heart is the first part of you to substantiate pain no matter what you bring in to support it otherwise.

  Decisions come down to whether you choose to listen to your heart or not.

  I’ve been ignoring mine for two years. After Chelsea, my heart is screaming too loud to continue that any longer.

  “Alex, Cam and I think it’s time for an intervention,” Brooks says.

  I tear my reluctant gaze away from the small stage set up
inside Triplets for karaoke night. Before Chelsea asked me to come here tonight, I was going to stay away. It’s what I’ve been doing for the last two weeks.

  Not anymore.

  Sitting at the bar with Brooks on one side and Cam across from us. Jo, Chelsea, and her sisters were taking turns and completely ruling karaoke night.

  “A what?” I heard him, I’m just hoping any part of it was misinterpreted.

  “Told you to phrase it differently.” Cam’s standing in his regular spot at the bar, the left corner, but he’s not tending to anyone else.

  “An intervention.” Brooks ignores him. “We wanted to say something a couple weeks ago on the island, but Jo…wouldn’t let us.”

  “Yeah, that deserves rephrasing too. I didn’t know Jo-Jo had such a mean streak.”

  “Listen to your girlfriend.” I slide my empty glass toward Cam.

  “You don’t even know what this is about.”

  “Convincing me to do something about Chelsea.”

  “Oh. Okay, this is starting off easy. You’re already admitting to the problem, so next,” Brooks’s voice trails off as he seeks Cam for guidance.

  “Next, I tell you to mind your fucking business.”

  “Not happening. You butted in when I was screwing it up with Jo.”

  I let loose a haughty laugh. “And you’re welcome.”

  “We’re your brothers. We butt in. It’s what we do.” Cam pushes the refilled glass back to me.

  “Except, everyone is putting their opinion in the hat as if it matters. This is not charades. I’m not going to read someone’s suggestion and guess who it is from. This is between Chelsea and me. This is exactly why we didn’t tell anyone we were hooking up in the first place.”

  “Alright alright. We won’t bring it up again.” Brooks raises his hands in surrender.

  Cam wanders off down the bar, and Brooks turns to watch the stage as Jo and Chelsea take a turn with a new song. Her sisters stand right in front of the stage, dancing and singing and getting completely trashed. Chelsea felt the need to explain their behavior. There’s an age gap between her and the second youngest, Lill.

  Mel’s the oldest, married and has three kids. Addy is two years younger, single and has never been married and never wants kids. Lill is a year under her, married with two kids, the youngest turning one soon. They were nothing like I expected them to be. I met them once on that brief chat with Chelsea’s laptop.

  They’ve gone heavy on the alcohol, which Chelsea said is due to them not having much time without all the kids. Well, for two of them at least. Addy was a definite party girl and a man-eater.

  As Chelsea carried on with too much detail about her sisters’ personal lives, it was the first time in awhile I’d seen that flicker go out in her eyes. Her shine never faded on the island. I thought her sisters were embarrassing her at first. But she was joining them in their fun. I realized it wasn’t about her sisters. It was Vic again.

  He likely had something negative to say about Chelsea’s family that made her feel the need to explain their behavior with everyone. Her ex-husband was not going to disappear from her life as easy as it was to sign those divorce papers. Only time would heal those deep-rooted scars.

  That notion would have worried me a couple of months ago. Two weeks ago, even.

  “There’s a clause in my contract.” My lips lift when Chelsea belts the song way off key. Brooks spins in his stool. Cam, near us again in our corner of the bar, listens carefully. “An addendum was made last year to all future contracts signed with the Fury. It was put in place to protect the team, both in regards to morale and financials.”

  “Shit. I forgot all about that.” Brooks watches me with a clear understanding now.

  “What is it?” Cam questions.

  “Two of the players started seeing each other a few years back.” It was well known the league supported relationships of all kinds. That support only goes so far when it begins to affect the dynamics of the team. “It didn’t end well. One of the guys was married.”

  “I know it’s not something quite so open to the public, but I knew guys on my old team that were gay.” Cam shrugs, not seeing my point.

  “Yes. Just because it’s supported doesn’t mean it’s accepted yet. It’s unfair, but what the Fury did was business.”

  “C’mon, Alex,” Cam scoffs.

  “Cam, he’s not arguing what’s right or wrong. Let him finish.”

  The management of the Fury did what any other company of any type is allowed to do. They put in a policy that restricted employees who became romantically involved. It’s a league made almost entirely of all men. Being gay is something open and talked about these days. The Fury did not want to tell their people how to live their lives just because they were gay and may have met their partner at work. But all it takes is one person to ruin something for everyone else.

  “When I say it was about business, I meant money. Peters re-signed one of the guys in a short contract with a trade option. He knew about the two players seeing each other. He knew one of them was cheating on his wife. He let the fear of outside politics play a hand with trading a good player he should have kept, for a guy who was not worth keeping just because he was the boyfriend.”

  “Then that boyfriend dumped the other,” Brooks finishes. “The wife found out. The two guys fought in the locker room over every little thing. Then the wife started dating a new guy who didn’t know she was his teammate’s ex. It was a fucking nightmare.”

  “So the Fury put a no dating rule for new personnel in effect?” Cam asks.

  “Not entirely. They allow it, but there are restrictions. If teammates or any other colleagues date but then break up, it cannot interfere with work. If it does, contracts will be reviewed and potentially forfeited.”

  “Forfeited?” Brooks didn’t know about that part.

  “Yes. I could be released from the original signed agreement with no backlash to the Fury.”

  “I’m confused,” Cam shakes his head. “We were talking about Chelsea. Not you and another player.”

  “Remember the wife who hooked up with another teammate?” Light bulbs appear over their heads. “If anyone from the Fury begins seeing their colleague’s ex, there is a time period.”

  “Let me guess. Time is still ticking on that clock,” Brooks leans back in his chair, watching the crowd.

  “Yep.” I empty my whiskey.

  “And if you two hook up again, and it’s found out, your contract will be void. Because there’s no way in hell Vic wouldn’t go after that to get you fired,” Brooks says.

  “If that wasn’t in the way, would you want to see Chelsea beyond the short fling you had?” Cam asks.

  “It no longer matters.” I stand from my stool. “I can’t stay away from her. I won’t. Fuck Vic and fuck the contract.”

  Brooks and Cam stare in silence. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen them so still and quiet before.

  The bar erupts in shouts as Jo and Chelsea finish their song. The majority of the yelling comes from Chelsea’s sisters.

  I meant every word I told my brothers. As I watch her hop off the stage, smiling big and bright, lighting up the whole room, that piece of her from afar is like a shot injected straight to my heart.

  I’m done with pieces. Whatever happens next, Chelsea’s worth giving it all for.

  “Are you leaving?” Brooks asks hurriedly.

  “Aren’t you going to tell her?” Cam glances toward the women. A stranger is on stage so they will probably be coming back to the bar area soon.

  “Not tonight. She’s with her sisters. I can wait a little longer.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To see Kendricks.”

  CHAPTER 22

  ALEX

  CHELSEA HAS EMBEDDED her bright light into my home. She’s been coming and going for two days. Ignoring me by directing any questions about the redesign to Marcus. Even if he’s not here.

  And yes, I told her he would be h
er contact, but still, I was the one creeping around my own house, trying to end up in the same room as her coincidentally.

  Yesterday she came by to take measurements of the rooms. I stalked her. I was so engrossed in attempting to catch her alone that when I did, it was inside my closet.

  Always a damn closet.

  Never intentional.

  Always stimulating.

  I thought about saying something to her then. Maybe explaining the dilemma with my contract. But that wasn’t how I wanted to begin this. Not with excuses.

  Watching her work—I already admitted to being a creeper—I decided she didn’t need me bombarding her with my plans and intentions. The renovation would take weeks. I had plenty of time to wait for her.

  Chelsea was focused and all smiles. Her high heels clicked all throughout my home. She was all up in my space.

  I could wait.

  Waiting lasted not even a full day.

  Chelsea hired a crew who showed up with her on the second day. Marcus was here for a couple hours in the morning. He explained to me she had people coming by to pack and toss any furniture that I was getting rid of.

  It was a task Marcus could have handled. He had a list of everything I wanted to keep.

  So I sent him home for the day, with pay.

  Chelsea and I inventoried the five rooms with my personal belongings I brought over from California. She had color coded stickers labeled for keep, toss, and donate. The men she hired for the day were boxing up everything I planned to donate.

  To be frank, I did not get much say in what stayed and what went.

  “Do you have any idea how expensive that was when I bought it?” I stood guard beside a small table that I’ve owned for five years. It was in perfect condition.

  “I can guess. Handcrafted, exquisite detail on the legs, looks quite pricey.” Her admiration was taunting. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t go with anything I’m redecorating.”

  “It’s a table made of solid wood. Wood goes with everything.”