“I certainly hope you know what you’re doing.”
“That’s why a thing called due diligence exists, Jen.”
“I meant Jax. I mean, he’s hot and all, but strikes me as dangerous at the same time. You’re safer with Troy.”
“Don’t worry; Jax isn’t evil as most tend to think. I changed his opinion about women in hockey, didn’t I? Besides, I’ve been having fun balancing both a sweet good guy type and experienced bad boy though I have more in common with Troy.”
367
“You’re closer in age, for starters.”
“Age is just a number and any potential relationship with a teammate may get dicey. While on the subject, how is your love life?”
“More like lack of one. Some people don’t have attractive hockey players chasing them.”
“I wouldn’t consider myself being chased, but know a certain Englishman on the team who happens to be my best friend.”
“Davy St. Cloud is single? He’s such a cutie!”
“Believe it or not, sometimes he can’t get dates unless fixed up by friends.”
“Let me guess, because he’s not some six foot tall muscle head gym rat. Ugh, some women give the rest of us bad names by being so shallow.”
“Would you like sort of an introduction? I can pass him your number when he returns to town Sunday.”
368
“You’d do that for me? Sure, I’d love to chat if he’s willing. His accent is so sexy!”
“Okay, but you have to promise not to act like a fan girl.”
“I’ll make an effort to behave. Sorry to hear you’ll miss the All-Star Game.”
“Yes, I was the only rookie chosen for the Eastern team, but Davy’s going in my place.”
“Did anyone give you an idea on when you can play again?”
“No, but I’m doing some light workouts and hitting a few street hockey balls so not to lose my edge before I’m cleared to return. Troy the Taskmaster makes sure I stay focused.”
“Confess, Alex; you love every minute of his presence.”
“Well…most of the time. God forbid if anyone messes with his routine even if it does drive the rest of us nuts.”
369
“I’m sure you have habits he doesn’t find appealing.”
“My coffee, peanut M&M’s and Diet Pepsi pale in comparison to Troy still wearing the same gross jock strap he did at eight years old and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day at five o’clock. Oh, and the bread, peanut butter, and jelly all have to be certain brands.”
“Lord, help the woman who marries him,” Jennifer kidded.
“She better have the patience of a saint! I lived with Troy for a few months and can’t begin to count the times I wanted to kill him. He actually found someone to keep tabs on me while he’s in Anaheim.”
“He doesn’t want to worry since you’re still recovering. Who’s the designated mystery visitor?”
“You’ll never believe it. Jax.”
“What? I thought he and Troy avoided each other much as possible outside of games and team business.”
370
“I definitely haven’t talked to you for a long time. Troy and Jax put aside their differences this past week. Don’t ask me how or why.”
“Maybe having a mutual friend in you prompted them.”
“I prefer the present civility over exchanging insults like a couple of grumpy old men or shooting murderous glances at one another in the locker room. I even got to dance with Troy a few times while Jax took turns with Kelly. No one believed what they saw!”
“I’m sure the four of you will be the topic for discussion tomorrow.”
“Probably. Don’t forget to tell Phyllis the Rebels’ web site will have pictures up sometime in the morning. Right now, I need to get in bed if I want to be up by seven. Talk again soon?”
“You know we will. I’ll also email some pictures from the Office Girls 2 set.”
371
“Tell Mr. Francis I said hello.”
“I will. He misses seeing you on the ice.”
“He watches hockey? I had no idea.”
“Only the Rebels; Francis subscribes to some fancy cable package where they broadcast almost every hockey game known to man.”
“Tell him I’ll play in New York soon once I’m medically cleared.”
“I’ll pass along the message.”
“Thanks. I really should get to bed. Donna has more documentary work planned for tomorrow and wants to interview some of the guys.”
“Good luck and have a peaceful sleep. You’ve earned it!”
***
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Chapter 59
“I like play with Alex,” Boris told Donna Hebert during additional filming of her documentary project. “She nice girl, good player. Troy, though; he hard on her sometimes too much, you know? But I like play with him also. He my best friend. I like play with everyone really. They’re my teammates. ”
Davy lit up at the mention of Alex’s name. “She’s my best mate, not to mention one hell of a shot when it comes to assists or scoring goals. Fans talk about Troy’s awards, my Olympic silver medal, or how he and I almost tied for first place in goal scoring last season, but Alex is writing her own chapter in the AHC history books. My biggest dream is having her hoist the next Princeton Trophy we win. Oh, and perhaps making an honest man of Troy. He’s a nice chap, would make her a great husband, and they’d have beautiful ankle biters together.”
373
Davy’s last response made Donna titter. Yes, that’s definitely staying in the final product.
“Having a chick with the Rebels seemed weird at first,” Lenny said. “I’ll confess to being one of the guys who pulled pranks on Galloway when she first arrived. However, she’s grown on me and has a bright future in hockey.”
“Alex Galloway is the most awesome player since Troy, Jax, and Boris!” Johann bubbled with enthusiasm. “She’s totally epic on the ice. I know some people think girls shouldn’t play hockey, but opinions may change once they’ve seen Alex in action.”
“Krásný a talentovaný,” Jax stated with a touch of endearment. “Beautiful and talented. I didn’t want Alex here at one time, but my opinion has since greatly changed. No question she’ll go far. She’s also progressed well as a tennis player.”
“You taught her tennis?” Donna asked.
“Yes, and Alex is a fast learner. Beauty, brains, and plays almost any sport like a champion.”
374
“Al? I can’t say enough good things about her,” Troy beamed. “My opinion may sound biased since I’m the one who kind of ‘discovered’ her, but can’t help but sometimes wonder where her career may have gone if our meeting in Vancouver never happened. Al can be stubborn and resistant at times, we’ve had our share of disagreements, but she’s still my little star, both professionally and personally.”
“Alexandra is a gift from God,” Byron said. “I’ve had the honor of assisting her on many plays over the past several months. She received a great deal of criticism from some fellow team members, media, and fans in the beginning, but it’s a blessing to finally see many skeptics coming around and appreciating someone who no doubt will be a Hall of Famer by next generation.”
“It both pains and amazes me that with all of the strides made in women’s hockey, nobody’s matched Alex Galloway’s prowess of playing in the AHC during both exhibition and regular seasons,” Pierre stated. “I’d like to see more women achieve the success she has.”
“She is amazing. She is strong. There will be no other like Galla,” Griese lamented in a soft voice.
375
Reggie’s famous smile flashed across the camera. “There will be a little girl somewhere who hears about Alexandra Galloway. That same girl will wear her favorite team’s jersey with pride, no matter how good or bad a season the team has, see themselves in those women players, and can now think ‘Hey, I can do that too!’ Then another young lady will
come along within the next decade and make her own impact in the AHC, thanks to Alex.”
“Girls who love this game but never had a future with the game like their male counterparts now have a better chance with Alex leading the way,” Brian added. “That’s one of the most beautiful things of what we do. Alex has even calmed me down some, much to my wife’s joy.”
Marty scratched his head and searched for proper words. “It’s…different having a woman on the team. I’m still getting used to the concept, but Galloway’s an okay gal.”
Vince nodded. “We’ve had some awkward moments in the locker room, but Galloway’s nothing less than the consummate professional once she’s on ice.”
“When Glenn Collins told Roy Bright and me about Alexandra, we knew she had an ‘x-factor’ the Rebels needed,” owner Jonathan Halloran reflected. “We received a lot of flak after drafting her, but we’re proud to see Alexandra prove her early detractors wrong with each game. I see her as a future Ernie Miles Award winner.”
376
“Most of the guys started playing hockey just for fun, but it was also a skill listed on my acting resume,” Alex said. “I’ve played ice, field, and street hockey in the midget and junior levels, but never considered going pro until Troy visited the Vancouver Venus movie set.”
“You owe your success to him?” Donna inquired.
“I’d say ninety-nine percent of the credit goes to Troy, with remaining to my teammates and mutual efforts.”
“Did you watch hockey on television growing up?”
“Oh yes, I was a Rebels fan long before I joined the team!”
“What was the most frightening moment you saw during a Rebels game?”
“I remember watching the night Troy’s jaw was broken,” Alex replied. “No one expects a teammate to send the puck flying anywhere near someone’s face especially after the injured person returned from a nasty concussion. My God, I can’t begin to imagine the aggravation Reggie endured long after Troy went down. The memory still breaks Reggie’s heart to this day.”
“You and Troy Talmadge, is there a future?”
377
Alex bit her lip and suppressed a giggle. “I love Troy both as a friend and player. I’ve seen sides of him that differ between the person fans see in public and the one away from the spotlight. Lots of people aren’t the same at their jobs as at home or with friends, but the Troy I got to know away from practices and games make him more endearing to me. He can be a total pain sometimes, but does the title of team captain proud. He’s sweet, smart, and sexy; great with kids, an excellent leader in both locker room and on ice, gracious with fans, doesn’t take bashing from his detractors or reporters to heart, and is such a nerd! As for the ‘future’ to which you refer, I’m taking things one day at a time, but enjoy his friendship and professional opinions even if I don’t always agree with them.”
“Do you see yourself as a role model for girls and young women?” Donna asked.
“I like the idea of more females getting into hockey, but there are a lot more deserving women for girls to look up to, their mothers being a start. While having role models can be beneficial, the greatest keys to succeeding are creating your own legacy and ignore naysayers telling you not to do something because of your gender. I plan to stress the same point to my future daughters.”
378
Donna smiled and nodded in agreement. “I think we have enough footage for today. Thanks everyone for offering your input. Alex, I’ll get back to you next week to share some edited portions finished so far.”
***
379
Chapter 60
Alex gave Davy a playful shove and laughed. “Oliver David St. Cloud, I can’t believe you said that on camera!”
“Said what?” he asked with mock innocence.
“Troy and I ‘will make beautiful ankle biters together?’ ‘Make him an honest man?’ Oh my God; why didn’t you just feed further into fan speculations about him and me?”
“I only gave my honest opinion, love.”
“Yes, but stop pushing together me and Troy. I was thrown by Walton’s response, though.”
“Everything I said was true, Galloway,” Lenny replied. “You’re really growing on me. Sorry for all the jokes I pulled.”
“You’re forgiven. I suppose you and Davy didn’t do any worse than O’Freel,” she teased.
380
Marty looked up from his phone. “What’s wrong with telling Hebert’s sister you were an okay gal? I could’ve been forthcoming and said a few of us have a hard time telling the difference between you and Talmadge being the bigger bitch.”
“Always a smart ass, aren’t you, Howdy Doody?”
“I think that concussion further warped your mind, Galloway.” He addressed the others. “This is what happens when girls come to boys’ clubs as anything but locker room mattresses.”
Davy gasped. “For fuck’s sake, watch your mouth!”
Jax stared at Marty. “Knock it off, O’Freel. Count your blessings Talmadge and Donahue aren’t here yet or you’d swallowed a few teeth for that last comment.”
“No, guys; I can handle this,” Alex said and placed her elbow on a nearby table. “As for you, Howdy Doody, I’ve had more than enough of your bullshit. Come here and settle things like a real man!”
381
Marty looked at the others. “Is she fucking serious?”
“Seems that way to me, bro,” Lenny answered.
“What’s the matter, O’Freel, scared Galla will kick your ass?” Greise asked with a chuckle.
“Stay out of this, Faust.”
“Fick dich auch, O'Freel.”
Davy grinned. “Yeah, the bloke’s nervous all right.”
“Drop dead, St. Cloud,” Marty snorted.
“Marty’s afraid of being beaten by a girl!” Johann taunted.
“Don’t you have studying to do, kid?”
“Nope, finished everything before practice.”
“What are you waiting for, Marty?” Vince asked. “You’ll have the little chipmunk down in less than five minutes.”
“You’re right, man. Okay, Galloway, you want an arm wrestling match? Bring it on!”
382
“I wouldn’t get too confident, Warrior,” Jax said. “The lady’s stronger than she looks. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Alex blew him a playful kiss. “Thanks, gorgeous.”
Marty grew impatient. “Are we going to do this arm wrestling thing or not, Galloway?”
She gave him a determined stare. “Prepare to die, Howdy Doody.”
Cheers and whistles filled the room as Alex and Marty commenced. Amazed and caught off-guard by her strength, he pushed harder to dominate in their battle. Their back and forth competitiveness continued for several minutes until Troy and Brian walked in the room.
Alex took advantage of the distraction and slammed Marty’s arm on the table with a victorious snigger.
“Ow! Bitch!” he howled.
“What the hell is going on in here?” Troy asked. “Brian and I could hear everyone’s noise halfway down the hall.”
383
“Nothing special,” Alex gloated. “I only beat our Irish Warrior at arm wrestling.”
“Christ, Al, are you trying to further injure yourself?”
“I don’t think arm wrestling affects my post-concussion recovery, Troy.”
“Keep in mind you’re only here for the team meeting, and then going home to rest.”
“Yes, Dad,” she sarcastically answered.
“I mean it, Al. No more fucking around, especially while I’m in Anaheim. We want you back in the lineup soon as possible.”
Marty still rubbed his arm. “I don’t know what’s worse, these stupid meetings or Galloway handing my ass to me.”
Power Play Page 21
