Blindsided: Renegades 7 (The Renegades Series)

by Melody Heck Gatto

  “Yeah, yep. Everything is fine. I just missed you, really missed you. That’s all. I’m so happy that you called.”

  “I’m glad I called too, babe. I’ll call again. I love you. Take care of our little sunshine for me.”

  “I love you, too, and I do hope you’ll be ready to come home soon.”

  “I’ll do everything in my power, babe. I swear.”

  After he hung up the phone, the ache in his chest deepened. He missed his family. Something niggled away at his gut, a vibe that there was something that Trina wasn’t telling him. For the rest of the night he tried to convince himself that she was fine and he was overreacting.

  But he wasn’t easily duped. Something was wrong, and he wasn’t there to help her.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Trina

  Trina curled up on her living room couch. The fireplace was burning, which took the chill out of the room. It was the beginning of April in Pittsburgh, the temperature was slowly climbing, and the snow was beginning to melt. She was sure all the snow would be gone by tomorrow. Then maybe spring would finally be here. But with the way the weather fluctuated here in western Pennsylvania, it could be in the mid-seventies by the end of the week.

  Willow played with Legos on the floor with Ian, oblivious to anything but the project they were creating.

  “It was nice to meet your sister.” Kat picked up her coffee mug from the table.

  “Yeah. She’s a little over-the-top sometimes, but she means well. It was nice to have her around for a few days. At least the house didn’t feel so empty.”

  “She couldn’t stay longer?”

  Trina shrugged her shoulders. “She could’ve. She was here almost a week. I just thought that was long enough. She has her life back in Banff; her husband is there. It was nice to have a companion for a few days, but I didn’t need a babysitter. If I’d let her, I’m sure she would’ve stayed for months. But I need to do this on my own. Talia’s always been there to pick me up and help me when I needed her. But I have a family now, and I need to flex my muscles and take charge of my own life.” Trina always talked the talk like a badass; now it was time to walk the walk again.

  “Daddy!” Ian exclaimed at the television, as the players took the ice for the Renegades game, and Kris passed by the camera.

  Trina’s attention was pulled to Willow as she jumped up and looked at the screen. She paused, watching the players file past the camera and hop onto the ice. Turning to Trina, her bottom lip jetted out. “Dad-dee?”

  Trina’s heart broke. So much for being a badass. Willow was too young to know why her Daddy wasn’t here and why she didn’t see him on the television. A lump formed in Trina’s throat, and as hard as she tried to speak, no words were forming. The little girl continued to stare at her, waiting for an answer.

  “Willow, honey,” Kat spoke, filling Trina with relief. “Your daddy is sick. That’s why he’s not out there. He’s at the doctor’s getting all better. But look, there’s Ian’s daddy, and Uncle Tyler.”

  Willow seemed satisfied for the moment. She clapped when the camera panned to Tyler, then was back to her Lego creation and forgot about the game.

  “Thanks.” Trina managed a smile. She knew she was strong enough to handle this. It meant digging down deep and taking care of her family until her husband was ready to come home.

  “Any word on Sam?”

  “I talked to him yesterday. He’s improving. You know how he is; he’s not patient. He wants back out on the ice. He said something about them starting him off slow in rehab, and he talked his way into a higher impact workout.”

  “Oh yeah, I can see that. I wouldn’t want to be the poor therapist who has to work with him. Can you imagine?”

  “I know!” Trina knew her husband well, and she wouldn’t want to be the one telling him he couldn’t do something. She snickered, and it felt good. “He said the first day or two of heavier workouts left him with a headache during the night.”

  They didn’t talk about the pain pills; it was just understood that Kat and Kris knew. Trina concentrated on the television. Once play started, both kids were mesmerized by the game. She was never sure if they could tell the guys apart during play or not. But they still watched intently.

  Trina and Kat found themselves quietly watching as well. Trina got caught up in the game, and when Tyler had the puck, streaming down the ice, playing through defenseman after defenseman, she began to cheer him on. And when he shot the puck into the back of the net, she jumped up and yelled.

  “You see that Willow? That was your Uncle Tyler! Go Uncle Tyler! Go Renegades!” Trina cheered.

  Willow and Ian danced around screeching, “Uncle Tyler!”

  “I think we need to go to a game together again soon. Maybe when Sam’s back? I bet the kids would love to see it live,” Kat mentioned.

  Trina didn’t know when Sam would be back on the ice. “Yeah, I’d like that. Being an afternoon game, I’m surprised you aren’t there now?”

  “Nah, Ian had a late night last night. He just wouldn’t sleep. There was no way I was taking him to the arena if he might have a tired meltdown. No way.”

  “Well, I’m glad you guys came over here. I have enough food to feed an army, so please, eat something!”

  Kat turned to Trina, ignoring the kids who were now hugging and jumping up and down like we’d won the Cup. “I have an idea.”

  Trina pointed to the television. “Kat, I think Kris scored.”

  “Doesn’t he always?” Kat waved her hand in the television’s direction.

  “Does he?” Trina chuckled.

  “Heck yeah. I mean, have you seen my husband?” Kat and Trina dissolved into giggles, like teenage girls. “Anyway, what I was going to suggest was, let’s all go to tomorrow’s game.”

  Trina thought about it for a minute. She wanted to get back to a state of normal, which meant not having people hanging around only to make sure she was okay.

  “Trina, the regular season is almost over. C’mon, just one night.”

  Somehow, she let Kat talk her into going to the game. She knew Willow would like it, and a part of her was excited, too. Except her favorite thing about the Renegades games wouldn’t be there. Her husband.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Trina

  Trina sat in the corner of the family suite at Rivers Arena and watched the team warm up on the in-suite monitor. Willow was cuddled up beside her on the plush leather couch. Willow seemed shy and uneasy being around all the people that were noisily cheering and rooting for their team. Even though they were all wives and girlfriends of the players, Willow was not as comfortable with them as Ian seemed to be.

  Watching her daughter shy away from the loud adults, Trina wondered if she wouldn’t have been more comfortable in the Renegades Family Room. There were always more kids there, and it was a more easygoing environment than the team suites.

  “Tri, come sit with us,” Kat urged. She waved from the rows of seats. When she got no immediate response from Trina, Kat pulled at her arm to get her off the couch. “I think Willow will be more comfortable in the seats over there with us.”

  The side of the suite that faced the ice had about a half dozen rows of arena seating, partitioned off from the rest of the seats in the building. Kat and Ian were sitting with Gia in the very top row.

  “Trina! It’s so good to see you!” Gia jumped out of her seat and pulled Trina in for a hug. Turning her attention to Willow, Gia’s smile widened and her voice softened. “Hey there Willow! Ian’s been waiting for you!”

  “Have a seat with us. Willow can sit next to Ian if she wants,” Kat said. “These two little ones look adorable in their Renegades gear. Tri, I’m so glad you came.”

  Trina sat down in the row with the girls. Willow was automatically glued to Ian. “Thanks for pushing me to come, Kat.”

  “Any time. We missed having you guys here. It’s better than sitting at home all alone.”

  “That’s for sure!”
Gia added.

  The arena announcer introduced the anthem singer for tonight’s game. Everyone in the suite hushed, as well as the crowd in the arena, and they all stood. Trina tapped Willow on the shoulder and put her finger to her lips to make sure the little one knew she had to be quiet.

  Trina listened as the man belted out the national anthem, his voice strong and confident. It was beautiful. He encouraged fans to sing along, and they did. When she sang it, she preferred to get lost in her song. Some fans sang along, but standing there trying to include the fans and sing with thousands of eyes on you was more difficult than it looked. Add the pressure of leading that same group of people in a sing-a-long. But this guy was as good as they came and always got plenty of applause.

  The usher brought her a plate of nachos, and she settled into her seat. It was weird looking out at the ice, seeing her team in their gray and yellow jerseys, and being excited for the game, all the while knowing her husband was not one of them. It would’ve been different if he was injured and sitting in the suite next to them with the other injured players. But he wasn’t here, on the ice or in the suite.

  “Go Renegades!” Ian yelled as the puck dropped.

  Willow jumped up and down beside him. “Go Nen-Gades!”

  As hard as it was for her to sit here without Sam, Trina was happy that Willow was enjoying herself, and that was all that really mattered. Trina dug into her nachos as the boys sped towards the opposing team’s net. Luc was playing on the top line tonight.

  Luc passed the puck to Tyler and easily slid past Minnesota’s defense. He checked one of the guys into the boards and escaped an attempted check on him. Tapping his stick on the ice in front of the net, he called to Tyler for the puck. Grabbing the one-timer from the captain, he wristed the puck over the goalie’s shoulder.

  “Woo-hoo! Go Luc!” Trina called, getting more into the game than she thought she would.

  Everyone in the arena jumped up and cheered at Luc’s goal. The horn sounded and lights flashed. Music played loudly.

  I did miss this. She couldn’t help but imagine how much Sam missed it.

  Once everyone settled back down in their seats and play continued, Kat pointed down at Luc. “He’s really improved since the beginning of the season. I think he might just be one of Coach’s new favorites,” she whispered to Trina. “Moving him to the top line is a huge boost of confidence.”

  “Yeah, the kid does have talent. Sam seems to think highly of him, so he must have promise,” Trina added.

  “He is a nice kid. He just needs to get over this playboy attitude. I wonder if I have anyone I could set him up with?” Kat looked off, deep in thought.

  “Kat, he’s just a kid, and he’s not hurting anyone. I’m sure he’s just having f—”

  “Trina!” A familiar voice called.

  Trina turned to see a very pregnant Ali standing at the top of the steps, beaming. “Ali!” Trina crawled out of her seat and to her friend. “Oh my God! I can’t believe you’re here. You look like you’re ready to pop!” Trina wanted nothing more than to rub Ali’s very distended belly when she saw a little foot kick.

  Ali grunted when the little baby kicked. She looked down at her belly and patted it. “Settle down in there, sir.”

  Trina’s mind raced with thoughts of the baby in her own belly, and how she couldn’t wait for those days again. The flutters, the moving, the kicking… She loved being pregnant with Willow and was excited to do it all over again.

  “I mean, what better place for me to be if I go into labor than here? My man is just out there on the ice. They can get word to him, and get us both to the hospital. I’d rather be here with him than at home when it happens. And it better happen soon, seriously.” She rubbed at her large belly with a wince.

  “Yeah, I guess.” Trina’s heart sank when Ali was talking about Kaden. It was hard not to feel sorry for herself that her man wasn’t on the ice where he was supposed to be. Maybe this was a bad idea. Then Willow caught her attention. She was standing beside Ian, both in their Renegades jerseys, and they were dancing to the music and cheering for the team. Any thought that this was a bad idea left her. Willow needed this, and maybe she did, too.

  “Hey Gia, when is it going to be your turn?” Ali called. She slipped onto a bar stool that sat by the railing above the seats.

  “Ha, you’re funny.”

  “No babies in your future?” Ali asked.

  “Nope. I don’t know if I’m really the mom type. I like just being an auntie for now.”

  Trina didn’t know Gia as well as some of the other girls might, so she didn’t pry. It was Gia’s business if she did or didn’t want to have kids.

  “If we’re keeping track, I think Hailee should be next in line,” Gia joked.

  “How did I get pulled into this?” Hailee protested. “Dom and I want to focus on being aunt and uncle for now. Plus, I heard pregnancy make tattoos stretch out.”

  “You do know that they shrink back after you give birth, right?” Kat added.

  Hailee just waved Kat off. “I’m going to grab a beer. Ali, you need a water?”

  Ali nodded, still trying to get comfortable on the bar stool.

  “Ladies!” Paige entered the room, with Melanie close behind. “I’m so glad you all made it.”

  “Trina! Oh honey, hello. How are you?” Melanie cooed, and grabbed Trina in a big hug. “We miss you around here.”

  “I’m good. Hanging in there.” Trina didn’t feel like talking about things, and made herself busy searching for something in her purse.

  “Hey Tri.” Paige sat down beside her and gave her a half hug. “Good to see you, girl. Can I get you and Willow anything? Anything to eat or drink, or does Willow need a new Renegades teddy bear? I can get her one. You know what, I’m getting her one. Forget that I asked. I’ll grab one before I swing back up here.”

  “Paige, you really don’t have to do that. I think she’s just happy being here with Ian.”

  “Yeah, I know, but I’m her aunt, and I like to spoil her.”

  “I know you do.” Trina didn’t know why, but she pulled Paige in for another hug. Maybe she was getting overwhelmed with so many people here, or maybe she just liked the familiarity of her sister-in-law. Whatever the reason, Paige gave her the comfort that she was looking for. Waiting a moment before letting go, she could see Paige understood.

  Paige squeezed her shoulders. “Hey, I’m here if you need me. Just send me a text and I’ll hurry back.” Giving Trina another hug, Paige added, “But you got this.”

  “Ladies, I have to go take care of some things, but I’ll be back. Let me know if you need anything.” Paige looked around with a childlike-smile. “I’m off to get Renegades teddy bears!”

  “Tri?” Paige gave her one last look. “You need anything?”

  “No, I’m good.” Trina kept her attention on the game. I need you all to forget I have anything going on in my life, and treat me like everyone else. “But maybe Ali could use some nachos with nacho cheese and hot sauce, get that baby moving.”

  “Not such a bad idea. I’ll try anything at this point.” Ali patted at her large belly. “This little one doesn’t seem to understand that his due date is quickly approaching.”

  “I’ll be right back with the nachos! Hang in there, baby O’Conner… I mean, nachos are on their way!” Paige fussed as she followed Melanie out of the suite.

  “If he’s anything like his daddy, I don’t think anyone will be able to tell him what to do.” Ali winced and looked down at her belly with a giggle. “Relax little one, don’t be so easily offended.”

  “Good luck with that one!” Kat chuckled.

  Trina continued to mindlessly eat her nachos, not even realizing she was down to her last few. Baby must be hungry.

  “You look like you could use a refill too, Tri.” Kat elbowed Trina in the side. “Enjoying those nachos tonight?”

  Trina shrugged. “Mindlessly eating, I guess.”

  “Speaking of tha
t…”

  Trina shook her head frantically. “Kat, I’m fine. Really. Except for the fact that I’m out of chips.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Sam

  Dragging himself into his room after an extra-long day of therapy, Sam was spent. He stayed longer today to work more on the weights, and ended his day on the treadmill. All by his choice and his determination. His therapist would’ve had him stop long before, but Sam wasn’t ready to call it a day. He knew he’d only get out of this what he put in.

  His muscles ached, and his stomach churned. He needed food and rest. He dropped his chicken dinner to the table, and tossed his bag by the bed. His headaches were still a nightly occurrence, but they weren’t as bad as they had been, and at the insistence of his therapist, tonight he was going to try something he hadn’t done yet.

  He was going to turn on the television and watch a Renegades game.

  Sam’s stomach churned again. Was it nerves? Maybe a little. He hadn’t watched his team play since he got sent home. In fact, he hadn’t watched television at all since the hit. Just thinking about the bright flashing lights and the loud noises, made him feel sick. But now that he’d started texting and had recently called Trina, this was the next step.

  Settling into the armchair, he flipped on the television. It was already the second period. I really did spend a long time at therapy. He was home about two hours later than usual. Normally, he’d eat and go right to bed, but tonight he needed to do this. Sam missed the team, and he missed the game.

  He wolfed down a few bites of chicken and vegetables. Doing anything on an empty stomach was just asking for trouble. Working his way through his meal, he could feel his mood even out.

  Tyler was out almost every shift. Sam used to play on Tyler’s line, but now it seemed they had replaced him with Luc. The reality was that Sam was gone, and they’d had to adjust; he knew that. It didn’t mean he had to like it. And what made it harder was that the kid looked good out there. The way the announcers were talking, in the first period, Ty had set Luc up with an epic one-timer. Now in the second period, Sam watched as Luc set Kris up with a pass, then screened the goalie, allowing Kris to slide it through the five-hole.