Power Play

by L. Anne Carrington

  “They should keep in mind a path to the AHC’s not easy for men and more challenging for me. Any prospects should first get experience in junior and women’s leagues. I got lucky despite having no professional experience prior to playing for the Rebels; I doubt many other people – be they male or female – will have the same fate. Work hard nevertheless; nothing worth getting is easy.”

  “A lot of fans notice chemistry between you and Troy Talmadge. Is there anything between you two away from the ice?” Donna inquired.

  “Aside from a good friendship and occasional locking of horns, no; I’m still single as of this interview.”

  “What’s next for you?”

  “At the moment I’m concentrating on my recovery from the concussion and training for my return to the ice. I’m taking everything one day at a time; Troy always has to remind me not to overdo everything. We disagree on things sometimes like most friends do, but the bottom line is I’m more than grateful for his support and guidance.”

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  Alex and Donna continued talking until Troy was due to show for his daily visit. The two women said their goodbyes just as Troy’s car pulled beside Alex’s.

  He shouted greetings at Donna, sprinted upstairs, and headed straight for Alex’s refrigerator.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. “Don’t you have food at home?”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t feel like sitting in traffic for another twenty-five minutes and then turn back to see you.” He opened a container and grimaced at its contents. “Al, are you by any chance conducting a mold experiment?”

  “No, why?”

  “Something in this blue bowl is growing hair. Fucking gross.”

  “Dump out whatever it is and soak the bowl in hot soapy water.”

  Troy did as requested before he resumed examining the refrigerator’s remaining items. He spied half a bag of peanut M&M’s, a bottle of white wine, and pulled out both as if they were hazardous materials.

  “What’s all this shit?”

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  “What do they look like?”

  “Al, I realize you’re on injured reserve, but it doesn’t mean you get an automatic pass to go on junk food binges and you shouldn’t be drinking.”

  “I had one glass last night with dinner. God, Troy, are you going to eat something or inspect every morsel of food in my house?”

  “Maybe I should take full inventory after finding your contraband. Did you train today?”

  “I went to the team gym while you were at practice so I could come home before Donna showed. We did some things for her documentary.”

  “Did you ladies make any progress?”

  “We covered a lot of topics. Donna’s excited about her new project and neither of us can wait for the dinner tomorrow night. Reggie plans to capture some live segments.”

  “Oh God, is that necessary?”

  “What’s wrong?” Alex asked. “Are you concerned about Kelly? I can tell Reggie to only include you.”

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  “No, it’s …”

  “Wait a minute; you’re actually worried about Jax and me!”

  Realizing he’d been caught, Troy gave a quick response. “Yes.”

  “I thought you two agreed to be civil.”

  “We did, but I don’t want people jumping to conclusions.”

  “For crying out loud, Troy, no one will care if Jax and I show up at one benefit dinner together.”

  “Let’s hope that’s all he has planned.”

  “Quit thinking with the wrong head. Have you seen the gorgeous European models he used to date? Let’s say I’m no threat to any of them so you can forget Jax trying anything inappropriate.”

  “A forty-year-old guy going out with a girl in her early twenties looks creepy as fuck.”

  “You still don’t like the idea of him being my date.”

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  “I’m not thrilled, but too late for me to do anything.”

  “Now you know how I initially felt when you told me about taking Kelly.”

  “The only difference is I was honest about my feelings from the beginning.”

  “Are we going to have another pissing contest? What’s done is done. You must trust Jax to some degree or wouldn’t have asked him to check on me while you’re in Anaheim.”

  “You’re right, shorty. I shouldn’t worry so much about things beyond my control.”

  “You are adorable acting like a jealous husband.”

  “For the last time, I have no envious feelings toward Jax Ivanka.”

  She knowingly patted his shoulder. “Of course you don’t; he’s only accumulated 1,900 assists and 800 goals in his whole career. Now let’s go have a peek at that tux of yours.”

  ***

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  Chapter 55

  Troy wasn’t alone in voicing concerns about Jax as Alex’s Center Ice date; the Ivanka/Galloway pairing was a leading topic on various hockey-related fan blogs.

  “What possessed the 22-year-old Rebels star to date a leftover 1990’s relic almost old enough to be her father?” one blogger wrote. “Alex Galloway doesn’t need to attach herself to yet another big ‘name’ to climb the AHC ladder. She’s become successful in her own right.”

  Fan forums and social media were deluged with combinations of criticism and speculation:

  “She’s so young, pretty, and talented. Alex Galloway could have anyone, so why would she date an old man?”

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  “OK, I’ll admit Ivanka’s easy on the eyes, but surely Alex isn’t that desperate for male attention that she needs to hook up with some old guy.”

  “What’s up with Galloway and Talmadge? Someone said they fought before she had her concussion. Is she still mad at him?”

  “Girls, seems Alex and Troy always fight and make up. A neighbor in Mount Washington says he’s often seen at her place when the Rebels play at home. We don’t know actual reasons they’re attending Center Ice with other people.”

  “She probably got sick of Tammy Tantrum’s whining and wanted to date a real man.”

  “I can’t help but wonder how ‘experienced’ Jax Ivanka is to land Alex. He must be quite a stud for his age!”

  “I thought Ivanka once said he’d f**k an American chick but not date one.”

  “If it wasn’t for gold digger and fame whore Kelly Stafford, we’d see Alex with Troy! #AlexandTroy4Eva”

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  Alex let out a low groan. Great, now people are stirring rumors of Troy and me on the outs, Kelly pushing her way into the spotlight as Troy’s Center Ice date when he’s only taking her as a professional courtesy, and since I’m going with Jax, we must be fucking. This whole thing sounds like a bad soap opera!

  She opened a blank page on her web site and posted the following in the blog section:

  Hello fans!

  First I’d like to thank everyone for the get well wishes during my recovery. While it’s not clear when I’ll actually resume playing, my post-concussion symptoms continue to improve. Keep your fingers crossed; I hope to soon hear definite news.

  There are other issues I’d like to address in today’s post. I recently read many online accounts concerning my connections with Troy Talmadge and Jax Ivanka.

  Rest assured though Troy and I had – and continue to occasionally have – our share of disagreements, I owe much of my success with the Rebels to him. We’re close friends and he’s a great support during my times of need.

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  Jax and I did not initially get along after the Rebels drafted me. He once aired strong opinions against women in the AHC and never failed to aim most of his hatred towards me.

  He and a few other guys whose names I won’t mention often hazed me during training camp, preseason, and early in the regular season. I eventually confronted Jax about his hazing and constant harassment, which oddly enough was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

  I noticed many of you don’t approve of Kelly Stafford attending the Rebels’ Cen
ter Ice benefit dinner tonight, but she and Troy are business acquaintances and he’s taking her out of professional courtesy. They’re not a couple. With his schedule of games, training, and personal appearances, Troy presently doesn’t have much spare time to invest in a relationship.

  Any relationship between me and Jax Ivanka is simply platonic…for now. Maybe that could change someday, but at present I’m content with the way things are.

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  I didn’t choose Jax to be my Center Ice escort; he asked me.

  You’re all sweet for wanting to pair me with someone special, but I don’t need a prince to bring me a glass slipper. I want to be the woman who breaks through the [American Hockey Conference] AHC’s glass ceiling. There’s plenty of time for me to find Mr. Right; at the moment I’d like to concentrate on getting well and return to doing what I love.

  I hope this post clears up any speculations circulating around the Net. For those with tickets to tonight’s benefit, thanks for your support; I look forward to meeting everyone!

  Peace, love, and puck drops,

  Alex

  ***

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  Chapter 56

  “How do I look?” Alex asked as she twirled in front of the computer’s web cam wearing a full-length, pale pink silk gown.

  Phyllis gave her a thumbs-up. “Damn, girl; Jax Ivanka’s going to have a challenge keeping his hands off you.”

  “A simple ‘you look fine’ would have sufficed.”

  “I’m serious; you look fantastic for someone recovering from a concussion. Has Troy stopped by today?”

  “No, I’ll see him at the dinner.”

  “Is he still going with that so-called model bimbo?”

  “Yeah, and Kelly’s actually a nice person.”

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  “Wow, someone did a 180 in the last few weeks. I thought you didn’t like her.”

  “I wasn’t exactly thrilled until we talked. Kelly has a big heart, and it irritated me seeing fan boards talk shit about her being Troy’s date tonight.”

  “Looks like a lot of the same sites are picking apart Jax.”

  “What else is new? Hockey fandoms have torn him to shreds over every little thing long as anyone remembers. The latest pissing and moaning is why he’s still playing at his age. Some guys wish they had the same stamina at as Jax does at forty. Have you seen his training videos on YouTube? He’s a beast!”

  “You’re so lucky to be escorted by an older man.”

  “God, Phyllis; not you too. Forty is not that old.”

  “Yeah, I’ll admit Jax is far hotter now than when he was younger.”

  “He’s less of an ass too, at least in my presence.”

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  “I bet! Is it true he and Troy don’t like each other?”

  “Oddly enough, they’ve since grown to tolerate one another. Troy was upset when he first discovered Jax asked me to Center Ice, but not only is he now okay with everything, Troy also asked Jax to keep an eye on me while he’s in Anaheim for the All-Star Game.”

  “Sounds like something he would do.”

  “He’s been awesome during my whole concussion thing. A couple guys told me Troy almost cried when I got hurt.”

  “Awwwww! You two really should date.”

  “I don’t think so, Phyllis.”

  “Why?”

  “One, Troy’s focused on hockey; second, word among the fandom says he’s seen some model – not Kelly, but some other girl – off and on for the last eight years, and third, I don’t want to ruin a beautiful friendship between us.”

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  “Too bad; you’re so cute together.”

  “I enjoy his guidance and friendship but don’t look for anything to progress beyond that.” Alex glanced at a nearby clock. “I have to log off. Jax is due in about twenty minutes and I need to finish getting ready.”

  “Have fun!” Phyllis said. “I’ll look for pictures and video on the Rebels’ web site.”

  ***

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  Chapter 57

  Jax picked up Alex as scheduled, dressed in a dark suit and white shirt. His tie, vest, and pocket handkerchief matched the pink hue of her gown.

  “Ahoj,” he greeted her with an appreciative smile. “You clean up well, sweetheart.”

  “Thanks. You look like you’d stepped out of GQ.”

  “Glad you approve; I’m not usually good at coordinating my attire with women I date.”

  “I hope I’m not being too forward, but you’re smoking hot.” She glanced outside. “Where’s your car?”

  “I have a little surprise.”

  Alex lit up. “You rented a limo? Someone certainly knows how to make a night memorable!”

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  “Driving after a couple drinks isn’t the smartest thing to do, so I made other arrangements.” Jax offered his arm. “Are you ready?”

  Alex slipped a hand around his elbow. “I’m looking forward to tonight.”

  “Everyone’s looking forward to seeing you,” he said after they got into the limo.

  “So I heard.”

  “Any idea when you’ll resume playing?”

  “No, but the doctors say I’m improving quicker than their original estimate.”

  “Did Talmadge tell you anything about…?”

  “How he designated you as my bodyguard while he’s at the All-Star Game? Yes, he gave me all the details. I tried to say I’ll be okay for the week, but my protests fell on deaf ears.”

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  “I don’t mind visiting at least once a day,” Jax said. “I live nearby and miss seeing you in the locker room at games.”

  “Funny how you didn’t voice the same sentiment a few months ago.”

  “I’m still embarrassed about acting like a total prdel when you joined the team.”

  “You came from another country and era. I may not like most of your views on women, but always admired your game skills.”

  Jax flashed one of his bright smiles. “Honestly?”

  “I didn’t pick up everything hockey from only Troy and taking lessons.”

  “You’re a fast learner, little lady.”

  “In more ways than one,” Alex replied. “You may come off as all tough and macho, but I figured out the real you from day one.”

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  “You’re probably one of few women outside my family who does.”

  “Do any live nearby?”

  “No, my parents and sister are back in the Czech Republic. I see them during the offseason. What about your family?”

  “I’m an only child and my father suddenly died four years ago.”

  “Where’s your mother?”

  “She disappeared when I was three months old. I have no idea if she’s still alive or dead.”

  “Jesus, no wonder you’re hardcore at times.”

  “Papa gave me a good life the best he could. He sacrificed a lot so I could take lessons and go into acting. Little did I know playing hockey as a child would evolve into an actual career.”

  “I’m sure hockey’s not glamorous as acting,” Jax said.

  “Neither is really, though I find hockey a lot more fun and challenging.” Alex gave him a warm smile. “The people I’ve met aren’t bad either.”

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  “You just need to be aware of ‘strange’ fans, to put things in nicer terms.”

  “Now you sound like Troy. Neither should worry; the front office and PR department schooled me on dealing with any precarious situations.”

  “What did motivate you to play in a men’s league?”