The Captain and the Broken Girl (New Hampshire Bears Book 6)

by Mary Smith

  “Thanks, Captain.” Alden jumps in front as Nathan and Teo say the same.

  “No problem. How’ve you been, Teo? I’ve not seen you.”

  “I’m good, Baer. Thanks.”

  “I should make an announcement. I’m going to have sex in two days since my dick will be almost healed.” Alden beams with pride.

  “Great. I’m sure the girls in Manchester thank you.” Teo groans.

  “You all are just jealous.” Alden taunts them.

  I glance at Teo through the rearview mirror thinking about Nova’s crush. Teo is a nice guy but doesn’t have the same work ethic as a lot of us.

  The convention arena is already packed but thankfully we have special parking. The guys and I wave to some screaming fans… mainly females yelling for Alden, since everyone knows he’s the residential manwhore.

  We make our way into the arena. Most of the team and family members are already there. My eyes immediately land on Janan, who is standing with Coach Long, Nova, and Coach’s girlfriend, Macy. I had met her when I came back into town and ran into them at the store. She seems nice and Coach looks happy. Janan is smiling at something they’re saying.

  “Oh looky, looky.” Alden leans in close to me. “Janan is looking mighty fine today.”

  I glare at him, making him chuckle.

  Kian, Kyson Wick’s brother and also our public relations manager, greets us. “Hey, guys.” He hands us our jerseys and tells us where to line up. “Hamilton, you’ll be last.”

  I always am since I’m the captain.

  “You guys will be given your schedule at the end of the opening. Have fun.” He nods to us and heads off in another direction.

  We all put on our jerseys, and I head over to Coach and mainly Janan.

  “Hammy!” Nova exclaims and hugs me.

  “Hey, Nova.” I hug her back.

  “Well, hello, Janan.” Alden comes over and puts his arm around her shoulders. “When are we going to run away together?”

  “Are you still fucking everything that walks?”

  “I’ve not been with you.” He winks. “But we’ll have to wait two more days.”

  “Why? Is that when your antibiotics run out for the syphilis?”

  Janan’s joke makes us laugh.

  “No, silly bird. I got my dick pierced and that’s when it’s all healed up.”

  I groan, as does Coach Long.

  “You pierced your penis?” Nova looks as if she’s gonna be sick.

  “Want to see?” Alden reaches for his belt.

  “No,” I tell him as Janan says, “Yes.”

  “A girl in my group got her clit pierced and it’s the craziest thing I ever saw. Did you get a bar or a ring?” Janan is genuinely interested.

  “A bar,” Alden answers.

  “Did it hurt?” Janan continues.

  “Worse pain I ever felt, but it’s worth it.” He beams.

  Kian calls for us to line up and I hear Janan say, “You’ll have to send me pictures.” She rushes off with Nova and Macy as I grab the back of Alden’s neck.

  “If you even think about sending her pictures of your dick, I will not be happy.”

  Alden laughs. “She’s a single woman, Captain.”

  I glare at him, making him laugh harder as he goes to line up. One by one the announcer calls out the players of the New Hampshire Bears until I’m the only one left standing in the room.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, your captain, Hamilton Baer.” The crowd roars with cheers and loud clapping as the curtain opens and I come out. It’ll never get old hearing a crowd of fans chanting your name and wearing your number. I wave to the cheering fans and take my seat next to Coach Long.

  Our General Manager Connor Philips gets up to the mic and gives a moving speech about how we’re sorry for last season but we’ve all worked hard over the summer to bring the championship cup back to Manchester.

  When he’s finished, it’s Coach’s turn. He receives a standing ovation, even from the team. It had been all over the news about his abuse and the death of Sharon. I think a lot of people look up to him now—more so than before. Like Connor, he gives a rousing speech, motivating the crowd some more.

  Then it’s my turn. Public speaking isn’t my top favorite thing to do, but it comes with the job. I simply reiterate what was said before me and promise we’ll work harder this season than ever before.

  The cheers and clapping were loud as a highlight reel began to play. Luckily they picked some good ones of the guys. When I’m on the screen I usually look away. I’ve never been a fan of watching myself on TV.

  As the highlights end, Connor announces the rooms for the panels and where the signings will be. Kian hands us the flyer stating where we need to go. Of course, I’m signing first and I’ll be with Nathan and Teo. At least, it’s not Alden. He takes too long because he flirts with every female.

  The three of us head to our designated area as other PR reps set up the table for us. There’s a stack of photos and several sharpies. The line is already longer than I can see. This means there’s going to be a lot of talking.

  For two hours, I sign my name, smile, and listen to almost every fan saying I’m their favorite and I love it. It’s tiring, but I love it. Players sometimes forget we have a paycheck because of them. Without fans—we’d have nothing.

  “Okay, all that’s left is family,” the rep says.

  Family is family of the team. They receive all access badges and even though they can get our autographs any time they usually bring friends with them.

  As the line continues to move I notice Janan and Nova at the very end. I can feel Janan staring at me, and I desperately want to kiss her lips again. However, I need to remain calm because I still want to know what happened with the guy.

  “Hey, Hammy.”

  “Hey, Novabear.” I pick up the picture of me and sign it: To the greatest Novabear.

  “Aw.” She smiles and goes to hug me. “You’re awesome.”

  I give her a quick hug in return and sit down to sign one for Janan. For hers I put: With all my heart, Love Hamilton. She rolls her eyes but doesn’t yell at me and there’s a small hint of a smile.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re most welcome.” I smirk.

  I turn my attention to Teo and Nova. Her cheeks are bright red and Teo has no clue as he asks her about school. She answers in her soft voice, but as she stares at him, he obviously doesn’t see her. Such a shame, Nova has a heart of gold and would be good for Teo.

  I stand up and the PR assistant begins to clean up our table as I head off to my next event. I’ll be on one of the panels with Vance, Bas, and Alden. I don’t know why, but I think they just want most of them to talk because they have accents. Vance from Northern Ireland, Bas from England, and Alden from Montreal. That dude has a tinge of a French accent but can spout it off and make all the girls swoon. They use me because of—what they call—my southern charm.

  I slap Alden’s back a little harder than I should as we make it to the room and we wait for our names to be called. The moderators are different for each panel. This time it’s Cabel. I like Cabel and I hope it’s a fun panel, but I can only pray he keeps Alden in line. Cabel announces us one by one and of course the crowd, which are mainly females, go wild. This is going to be a long hour.

  I try my best not to roll my eyes or sigh heavily with each girly, silly question. Thankfully, they were mostly directed to Alden, since everyone knows he’s the player of the Bears. Fans talk a lot and I know what his Instagram page looks like, though I do my best to stay off it.

  Thankfully, the hour goes by fast, and there aren’t too many crazy questions directed to me. I think they enjoy the other guys’ accent more than mine. Honestly I don’t think I have one. Although, I do say y’all a little too much when I get upset.

  I gather Alden, Nathan, and Teo to take them back to Alden’s place. They invite me to go out with them, but I decline. Instead I go home, shower, grab some food, and go to be
d.

  Such an exciting life.

  DAY TWO AND three of the convention is the same. Meet more fans, take more photos, sign my name a thousand more times and try not to look in the crowd for Janan. I know she’s here because I’ve seen Nova.

  “Hey, Teo.” I nudge his shoulder as we wait for Kian to tell us we can leave. “Are you still single?” Why am I playing matchmaker?

  “Yes. Why?” He seems baffled by my question about his relationship status.

  “I know someone who likes you and I was curious.” I shrug as if it’s no big deal.

  “Really? Who?” Now he’s interested.

  “I bet I know.” Alden jumps in the conversation.

  “Who do you think?” I ask.

  “Nova.” He smirks.

  “How did you know?” I’m a little surprised he guesses correctly on the first try.

  “That beauty has been drooling over him since last season. I can read the female body and she is saying, ‘take me now.’” Alden jokes.

  I growl at him. “That’s not what she’s saying.”

  Alden ignores me and continues with Teo. “You should hook up with her.”

  “No.” I punch him in the shoulder and then turn to Teo. “You should talk to her and see where it goes. Don’t be like him.” I thumb over at Alden.

  “You don’t want him to be a sex god? You’re a lousy friend,” Alden says.

  I roll my eyes. “Sex god? Aren’t you reaching a bit, Alden?”

  “Nope. I’m actually not giving myself enough credit.” He holds out his arms as if it’s supposed to be the answer.

  Kian speaks up and thanks us all for everything and tells us we can go. Alden smirks at me. “Want to go grab a bite, Captain?”

  I am hungry. “Who’s all going?”

  “Us four.” He nods to Nathan and Teo. “Come on let’s hit the steakhouse.”

  “Sure, why not?” I sigh because I know this could become a mistake. Alden will eventually drive me insane.

  “Let’s hit it.” Alden claps his hands once loudly and almost skips to my car.

  “I’m going to start making you chauffer me around,” I tell Alden as I drive all of us to the steakhouse.

  “I don’t know if I can be your bitch. I tend to be a dominate one.” He winks.

  Nathan begins to talk about the convention, and I welcome the new direction of conversation. Once I park we all hop out and head in, I smirk seeing Nova behind the hostess stand. I notice Alden nudging Teo too.

  “Hey, Hammy.” Nova smiles.

  “Hey, Novabear, we need a table.”

  “Not a problem.” She grabs some menus and leads us toward the back. “Have a good dinner, guys.”

  I watch Teo as his stare lingers on her a little longer.

  “See, Elgin, you should talk to her.” Alden slaps his shoulder and sits down.

  “I don’t really think she likes me. We all know she’s just a huge Bears fan.”

  The waitress comes over and shamefully flirts with each and every one of us as we order our beers.

  “Teo, she doesn’t look at me like that, and I’m way hotter than you.” Alden slaps his back. “The chick wants you.”

  Teo shrugs, but I see him glance up at the hostess station. I wish I was back in the early stages of my crush with Janan. Everything had been nerve wracking, exciting, and fun. Stealing a touch or kiss, gazing at her from across the room, hearing her laugh.

  Man, I fucked up.

  Chapter Seven

  Janan

  I STARE AT the massive bouquet of daisies on the kitchen table. They were delivered yesterday with a card saying: These are the flowers I think of when I think of you.

  Hamilton is laying it on thick this time.

  “Jan, you home?” Nova calls when she comes through the door.

  “Kitchen.” I wave my hand for her to see me. We have an open floor plan but the breakfast bar is a corner bar and it’s hard to see. Plus, we’re not the tallest of people.

  “Guess who I saw today?” She grabs a bottled water.

  “Please say Chris Pine or Chris Hemsworth?” I beg her.

  “Don’t I wish.” She sits next to me. Even though she works as a hostess, she always smells like steak. “No, it was Mr. Eubanks.”

  “What did he want?”

  “Said he was happy you and him worked out your friendship.” She smirks.

  I roll my eyes. “Look, I told him I forgave him for his comments at the rally. He explained he didn’t realize what he said was offensive to me. We agreed to be friends.”

  “Does he know you’re just friends?” Nova seems confused.

  “Yes. I told him. Firmly.” He and I had a long talk at The Latte Bean. I laid out everything for him. I’m not one to beat around the point. I say it and it’s the end of subject. I’m sure Alex understands. Hell, he told me he did. “You need to get ready because we have to meet Macy soon.”

  “Right.” Nova hops up from the chair and rushes off to her bedroom.

  I continue to stare at the daisies. I never thought of myself as a flower type of girl, but I can’t say my heart didn’t flutter when I saw these. Every day since Hamilton has been back in town, I’ve received a gift. I’m enjoying each and every one of them. They all have cheesy notes with them, which is very unlike Hamilton, but I love them.

  Love?

  No, just like. I’m not going down the love trail again. I’m okay being a single woman with no attachments.

  I’m interrupted as I hear Daddy and Macy coming into the apartment. “Girls,” Daddy announces.

  “I’m here.” I raise my hand again, since I know they can’t see me. Daddy smiles and kisses my forehead and Macy smiles at me. I like Macy and am totally jealous of her killer style. She always seems so put together. “Are you going to dinner with us, Daddy? We’ll be having deep discussions about men, penis’, and periods.” I joke because I know it makes him a bit uncomfortable.

  “Janan.” He pinches the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes and Macy bursts into laughter. “I’m not going with you all. I’m going to put Nova’s new bookshelf together. Do you need anything done while I’m here?”

  I shake my head. “Nope, but thank you.”

  “Uncle Tad. Macy.” Nova comes back, changed, and cleaned up. She hugs them both. She’s always been the touchy-feely one. I can be at times, but it depends on the person. I always touched Hamilton. We were like magnets to each other.

  “Nova, I’m going to work on your bookshelf while you girls are out,” Daddy tells her.

  “Great.” She beams. “I’m ready when you two are.”

  “Let’s go.” I get up, grab my purse, and head toward the door with my cousin and my dad’s girlfriend.

  Macy drove her car to a new restaurant which just opened and on the way over talked about her apartment. She finally has it all decorated and fully unpacked. Nova and I offered to help her, but she said she didn’t want to bother us with it.

  When we walk in, we find a booth in the corner. After we order food and drinks, Nova’s eyes go wide.

  “What is it?” I ask, turning to see what she’s staring at. Across the restaurant is Teo, Nathan, Alden, and of course... Hamilton. Man, I could fuck him right here.

  “My oh my, Hamilton is looking... nice.” Macy smirks at me.

  “I guess.” I shrug.

  “How does Teo look?” Macy nods over to Nova.

  “Teo?” I’m baffled on why Nova cares about Teo’s looks. Then it hits me and I gasp. “Do you like Teo?”

  “Shhhh!” She scolds me. “Don’t be so loud because I don’t want him to know.”

  It all makes sense now. All the times she defended him when he became backup. The flirting at the convention and all the blushing she does around him. Not as if they’re around a lot but there’s still blushing.

  “Holy shit! Why didn’t you tell me?” I slap her shoulder.

  “Because I didn’t so drop it.” She sighs, trying to hide her face.


  “Hey.” I’m stunned. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She tells me everything. We tell each other everything.

  “Because you were all upset about Hamilton and the last thing you needed was me talking about how I was falling for a Bear.” She’s sad.

  Sad?

  Damn, I made her sad.

  “Oh Nova.” I grip her hand. “Don’t ever think I wouldn’t be happy for you or be there for you, no matter what’s going on in my life. Never. Ever.” I reach over and hug her neck. “You’re one of the frogs.”

  She laughs. “You’re my favorite frog.”

  “Mine too.” I kiss her cheek.

  “You two are the sweetest beings ever.” Macy beams.

  Nova and I both giggle and I sit back in my seat. I take a large gulp of my water and Nova asks Macy about her job. Macy begins talking about her new position as Vice President of Marketing as the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I can feel Hamilton’s eyes on me. I don’t have to look to see if it’s true because I know it’s him.

  Thankfully, our food comes and Nova begins talking about school and the steakhouse. School is okay for me. I have officially changed my major and luckily my classes aren’t too crazy. Macy continues to talk about work and the fact she received her season tickets. I giggle. Macy is a huge hockey fan but not of the Bears. We’re trying to convert her. Although, right now, I’m not the biggest fan either. I shouldn’t say that because I love the team and I love Hamilton.

  No, stop it.

  It’s over. He’s still trying, yet it doesn’t mean anything to me. He had his chance and blew it.

  Stay strong.

  “What do you think, Janan?” Macy asks.

  “I’m sorry, what?” I hadn’t heard a single thing she said.

  “I asked if you and Nova wanted to join a self-defense class with me.” She has a hopeful tone in her voice.

  “Actually, that’s a brilliant idea.” I had thought about it before but never really had the chance to look further into it.

  “Great.” Macy beams.

  The waiter comes back and Macy asks for the check. “It’s already taken care of.” He smiles.