Puck Battles: A Complete Sports Romance Series

by Kristen Echo

  Her daughter smacked her shoulder. “No pity parties. That’s what you always tell me. You’re usually the happy, silver lining finding person and I’m the doom and gloom girl. The role reversal is throwing me off balance,” Wes joked.

  She pulled her closer, hugging her tight. “Miss Doom-and-Gloom, how are you with all this? Apart from the peeling wallpaper and lack of amenities, how do you feel about moving here?”

  A shrug was the answer she received. That wasn’t good enough.

  “Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.” She tapped her daughter’s head.

  A loud sigh followed. “You know the first thought I had when we stepped off the bus the other night, was I wonder if he would like Winnipeg. I wondered what he would think of the Northcote’s house. God, he loved to swim and would have totally done a cannonball into that massive pool. It’s stupid, and I hate myself for thinking about him all the time. Cause if he was alive, we wouldn’t be here.”

  So many words ached to be said, but Gwen held her tongue. Westlyn’s boyfriend of two years had lost his battle with drug addiction a few months prior. He hadn’t been a heavy drug user, but he’d enjoyed partying with friends and experimenting. One wrong choice and he was gone. Fentanyl claimed far too many lives.

  His passing had hit Wes hard. The depression crept in almost immediately. Then the bullying from the kids at her school pushed her over the edge. They blamed her for his death. It wasn’t her fault. Her smart decision to say no that night was the only reason she was still alive. Gwen patted her hand, encouraging her to continue. It was important to get these feelings out.

  “I just miss him,” she said, rubbing over her heart. “It’s not fair. It’s June and we should be prom planning and talking about graduation. Instead, I’m skipping all of it.”

  The school had done nothing to stop the kids from tormenting her daughter and making her life hell. Wes’s suicide attempt was the final straw. Gwen had to take action. She refused to lose her daughter. After a brief stint at the hospital, she’d arranged for Wes to take her exams virtually. She’d handed in her notice and bought their bus tickets. Her lack of planning landed them in this decrepit motel. She nodded and blinked away the tears.

  “For the record, I’m okay with leaving Vancouver. I… um… definitely think this place stinks worse than that place on East Hastings did.”

  Gwen burst out laughing. “You’re right. It’s brutal, but it’s temporary. I promise once I find work, we’ll get someplace way better.”

  It wouldn’t take much to upgrade. Between looking for jobs, she’d been apartment hunting as well. The prices were much lower than on the west coast. The cost of living had played a role in her decision to bring them to the prairies.

  “Thanks, Mom.” Wes wrapped her arms around her waist and they sat that way for a long while.

  They feasted on peanut butter and jam sandwiches and watched TV until Wes fell asleep. Gwen checked her daughter’s bag, and the pills were almost out. She tucked the covers under her daughter’s chin and cuddled next to her in bed.

  Gwen couldn’t sleep. She stared at the ceiling, counting the popcorn dots when her phone beeped. A text from Spencer.

  “Thinking of you. Hope you had a good day.”

  She debated answering. It would be best to delete, but her fingers typed a response.

  “Not the greatest. You?”

  The three lines displayed instantly. “Why not so hot?”

  “You first.” Gwen smiled, picturing him growling at her answer.

  “LOL. NHL draft time is close. Busy time. Tell me about your day.”

  “Lots of research and no job.” She typed in, “no place to live,” but deleted it before sending.

  “Good things come to those who wait.”

  His messages were a much-needed distraction. They chatted for over an hour via text message. He was busy traveling, talking to reps, agents and whatever else billionaire moguls had to take care of. It all sounded like big business. She joked that he had the hockey ring already, he should relax. He said there’s more to life than rings and he’d relax one day, but not today. She understood the feeling.

  At one point, he tried to bring up the past, but she shot him down. She was trying to be his friend and let go of the hurt. Cherie had accused her of living in the past, and maybe the best thing to do would be to focus on the future. She told Spencer the same and asked him to let sleeping dogs lie.

  Nothing good would come from rehashing the ugliness. When he mentioned the old arena again, her eyes filled with tears. She’d cried far too much lately. It was obvious he wouldn’t let it go. As much as she wanted to hold onto a grudge and hate him, she needed a friend.

  Gwen typed the final message and hit send. “Good night, friend.”

  “You got away once. I don’t repeat mistakes.”

  Well neither would she. Gwen tucked the phone away and closed her eyes. Spencer had made his intentions clear. His flirting conveyed his desire to see her and kiss her. He hadn’t come out and said those things, but it was implied. Those thoughts floated through her mind as she rolled over on the lumpy mattress and drifted to sleep.

  Chapter 6

  Over the week, every evening ended the same way. Texting back and forth with Spencer was becoming a habit. Each night he initiated contact. They flirted a little. Mostly, they kept it light-hearted and friendly, which was all Gwen could handle.

  Her life was a mess. Cherie wouldn’t return her calls. She had to make things right but had no idea where to start. Her baby sister was a busy woman but being ignored didn’t sit well with Gwen. She’d picked Winnipeg to be closer to her. But it seemed like their relationship had taken a wrong turn, and they were further apart than ever.

  The motel wasn’t great, but they were making the most of it. Wes slept a lot. When Gwen wasn’t searching for a job, she found creative ways to entertain her teenager. They walked all over downtown and played geo tracking games online to kill time. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was thankful for the phones Spencer had provided. Without them, she knew Wes would have been far more ornery and difficult to live with.

  With each passing day, she wondered how she’d pay for the next. When her phone rang, she expected it to be Spencer. It wasn’t him. She didn’t recognize the number but answered with her fingers crossed.

  “Hello, this is Gwen,” she said in a hushed tone as Wes was still sleeping.

  “Hi. My name is Reba Blackfoot. I’m glad I reached you.” The woman explained she was the Executive Director of a youth drop-in center. They had a position.

  Gwen’s heart soared, and she tried to contain the excitement. This was not one of the places she had applied. Spencer had really come through. They worked closely with inner city gangs, providing a safe space and activities to keep the kids off the streets. The job would be a perfect match with her skill set. The telephone interview went great.

  They made plans for a follow-up interview in person. Reba asked her to drop by the center in an hour with her resume. If things went well, she’d discuss a possible job offer with the board of directors. They wanted to fill the position as soon as possible. Gwen mentioned she’d start whenever they needed her.

  She needed this job to pan out. The position wasn’t hers yet, but it was the first prospect since she’d arrived. If Spencer was in the room, she would have kissed him. She shook those thoughts away and jumped on the bed.

  “Baby, wake up!” Gwen shouted. The covers scrunched and piled under her.

  Wes groaned, searching for the blankets with her eyes closed. “Stop. Mom, you’re worse than a child,” she chastised.

  The mattress springs poked her knees as she continued bouncing up and down. “I have an interview. Get up and help me pick out an outfit.”

  One eye opened. “That’s awesome. Maybe we’ll be out of this dive sooner than later.”

  “I hope so,” she agreed.

  Wes helped her get ready. Gwen wore a sleeveless flower print top and khaki
knee-length shorts. Due to the heat, she tied her hair in a low ponytail. The pair walked to the drop-in center, only a few blocks from their motel. Her daughter checked out the facility while Gwen met with Reba.

  The Executive Director was an aboriginal woman in her mid-sixties with long, braided, salt and pepper hair. They wore matching shorts and a similar top, which Reba commented on the moment they walked into the back office. They laughed, and it set the tone for the rest of the interview.

  Gwen met several of the board members and learned a lot about the great work their organization did for their community. Her background and experience matched everything they were looking for and the pay was in line with her previous position. They didn’t offer the job, but they said they’d call soon.

  She left in high spirits and they celebrated by buying popsicles from a nearby convenience store. It hardly cooled her down. The sun beat down on them with its full summer force. By the time they returned to the motel, Gwen was dripping with sweat. The air conditioner in their room worked intermittently. Wes tapped the unit a few times. It sputtered and hummed, blasting cold air into the small space for a few minutes before turning off again.

  “We should go back to that wading pool we found the other day,” Wes suggested after flopping onto the bed face down.

  “Great idea,” Gwen replied as her phone rang. Her heart jumped into her throat. It could be Reba. She dove for her purse and answered without checking the number. “Hello.”

  “Hello, Gwen. How are you?” Spencer’s smooth voice wrapped around her like a hug.

  She couldn’t contain the smile. “I’m great. Thanks to you.”

  He chuckled. “What did I do?”

  “Your friend, Reba, called me this morning, and we had a great chat. I’m hoping I’ll be their newest staff member starting Monday.” The woman had gushed about Spencer and his generosity for well over fifteen minutes. “She sang your praises big time.”

  “Reba’s a great woman. I figured the two of you might hit it off,” he said. “Two very passionate women with hearts of gold.”

  The compliment made her blush. Wes eyed her curiously and Gwen turned away. “I don’t have the job, but I feel confident.”

  “If you get the job, it’s because you are qualified.”

  “If I get the job, it’s because you made it happen.” Gwen suspected Spencer may have provided extra funding to the organization. “Thank you for passing my name along.”

  “They do excellent work at the drop-in center and it’s much needed in the area. Based on our previous conversations, I could see you being a good addition to their team. For selfish reasons, I hope you get the job because it means you’ll be staying here.”

  “It’s a strong possibility.” She looked around the small room, hoping a paycheck in the near future would pave the way to something better. “I’m extremely grateful to you.”

  “Perfect. That means you’ll say yes to my invitation for lunch. I’d love to have you and Westlyn over again.”

  Gwen hesitated. She’d turned down his last invitation. It was one thing to chat over the phone but being up close and personal was different. She wasn’t sure seeing him would be a wise move. “I’d have to ask Wes since we already made plans.”

  “You can’t avoid me forever. I’ll send a car to pick you up, and I’ll hold on the line while you discuss it with her.”

  She muted the phone and turned to face her daughter. “Spencer invited us over for lunch. It’s okay if you don’t—”

  “Yes! I’m starving. Ask him if it’s okay if I bring my bathing suit.” She batted her lashes and pulled her bikini from the top of her bag.

  Reluctantly, Gwen unmuted the phone and exhaled. “Sounds good. You don’t have to pick us up. We can take the bus.” She didn’t want to tell him they were living in the motel. “We’re still downtown,” she added.

  He insisted on giving them a ride. They argued for several minutes before she caved. Gwen rattled off the address of the motel and said they’d meet him out front.

  To her surprise, he wasn’t traveling in the limo. He stepped out of an electric powered SUV, looking polished and every bit like a business mogul should. The light gray suit fit him like a second skin. He loosened the blue tie that matched his eyes as he opened her door.

  “You look beautiful,” he said and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you said yes.”

  “Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself,” she replied, sinking onto the smooth leather. “I said no. Westlyn said yes.”

  He opened the back door for Wes and they hugged briefly. “I owe you one, kiddo.” Once he settled into the driver’s seat, he smiled. “Did the interview just finish? I expected you’d be back at Cherie’s.”

  “We live here now,” Wes answered, making Gwen cringe. She’d hoped to keep their living situation under wraps.

  His brows furrowed. “As in you found a place downtown or you’re staying at this hole in the wall? Why aren’t you at your sister’s anymore?”

  “It’s complicated, and I don’t want to talk about it.” Gwen twisted her fingers on her lap. Telling a billionaire she was penniless and living on credit was the epitome of embarrassment.

  Silence descended. No one said a word as he drove the car, merging into traffic. As the motel disappeared in the mirror, she breathed easier. Crossing her arms over her chest, she turned towards him.

  “How come you were so close?” she asked.

  “That isn’t a good neighborhood,” he said, avoiding her question. “By day it seems okay but at night it’s not safe. A motel is no place for the two of you.”

  “It’s not that bad,” Wes said, and Spencer’s jaw clenched.

  Gwen closed her eyes and listened to his teeth grinding. “The motel is temporary. Cherie and I had a falling out. It was a lot to ask of her and unfair of me to assume we could stay with her. As soon as I get a paycheck, we’ll move somewhere better,” she added.

  “I’m turning the car around. Pack your bags and I’ll pay for someplace better,” he offered.

  “Don’t you dare turn this car around or we won’t be getting back in,” Gwen snapped. She refused to be his next charity case and wouldn’t take his money. Not a single penny.

  “Be reasonable, Gwen.” He pulled the car into the next parking lot and stopped. “Wes shouldn’t be surrounded by drug dealers and gang bangers. Let me help.” His hand landed above her knee. Lines creased his forehead.

  “No.”

  “Yes,” he countered. “If you won’t let me pay for a hotel, then come stay with me. I’ve got plenty of room. Do it for Wes.”

  Her pride was one thing, but her daughter’s safety came first. He knew which string to pull. Damn him. “I can’t and won’t take your money.”

  “Then you’ll be staying with me. I won’t let you go back there,” he said, squeezing her leg. “This will be good.”

  The offer, his hand on her bare skin and his masculine scent was all too much. Way too much. She couldn’t live with him and not want to rip his clothes off and kiss him everywhere. She looked back at her daughter who nodded for her to accept the accommodations.

  “I vote yes,” Wes chimed in.

  “We couldn’t impose,” she breathed, glancing back at Spencer.

  His blue eyes implored her to accept. “No imposition at all.”

  How could she refuse?

  “Let me think about it. I’ll give you my answer after we eat.” No matter how much she wanted to say yes, she couldn’t make a rash decision about moving in with her ex. “Where are we going for lunch?”

  He smiled, and the lines smoothed on his forehead, making him look years younger. “Caroline and Nicolas are at my place waiting for us. They can’t wait to meet you both.”

  “Sounds fun,” she replied as dread sank to the bottom of her stomach.

  When they arrived, his offer loomed over her. Like the weight of the world sat on her shoulders. They made their way to the backyard. Introductions went well until he me
ntioned they would be moving in. He neglected to add temporarily. His announcement surprised her.

  His daughter, Caroline, bumped his shoulder. “Moving fast,” she said with a teasing smirk.

  Gwen’s mouth fell open, but she couldn’t breathe. “We haven’t finalized anything,” she added quickly. “It would only be until I find an apartment.”

  The hockey player, Nico, raised an eyebrow and rubbed his beard. “The rental market is rough. Not many vacancies. You might be here a while.” His stature was intimidating, but his smile and stance were welcoming.

  Caroline hugged her husband. “So true,” she added. “But I’m sure dad can pull strings and get you into one of his buildings.”

  Gwen shuffled her feet. “I would never ask him to pull strings or—”

  Spencer draped an arm over Gwen’s shoulder, pulling her next to him. “Or nothing. You’re here and we’ll talk about what comes next later. We’ve got time to explore the options.”

  Everyone seemed pleased about them staying there, except Gwen.

  “Can Wes take the room next to mine,” Connie asked?

  “That used to be Meagan’s room, but it could work,” Spencer replied. He explained they reserved that room for the full-time caregiver. A position he hadn’t yet filled.

  “I love your shirt,” Caroline said to Wes.

  The Altered Chords tank top was one of Westlyn’s favorites. “Thank you. I am in love with your music.” She beamed.

  Caroline flipped her blonde hair to the side and smiled brightly. She was a beautiful young woman. For the next ten minutes, Wes bombarded her with questions about the band. Caroline offered them backstage passes to their next performance.

  “I’d love your autograph too. I don’t have a Nicolas Ivarsson hockey card, but I am a big fan.”

  “I’ll get you something from the team,” he offered.

  “OMG! I love Winnipeg,” Wes announced.

  Gwen couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Wes so vibrant. These people and this place brought her daughter back out of her shell. If she hadn’t wanted to smack Spencer for overstepping his friend role, she could have kissed him. Once again, she pushed those thoughts away.