SOMETHING SO SERIES

by Madison, Natasha

  And with that, I walk away, pissed that they made me walk into that shit. I take out my phone, shooting my agent a text saying we need to talk. Right after I press send, I get a text from Matthew. After the last time, I have all the necessary contacts for Parker, Matthew, Meghan, and her father. So I’ll always be able to get in touch with her.

  You pretty much destroyed Barbie on national television. Oh, by the way, we were watching.

  I text him back with the only thing on my mind.

  Is Mom okay?

  She was pissed, and I will say she and Aunt Meghan are having martinis, so I don’t know how the rest of the night will be. But she seemed to calm down after you left the reporter asking Monica who her new fiancé is.

  I’ll see her later. Hope you guys have fun.

  With that, I send one more text before I close down my phone.

  I love you.

  That’s it. Three words. Nothing else to say. I walk into the dressing room. The interview plays on the screens, some guys laughing at all the shit going on. I close it all off. Zone it all out. I’ve got a game to get ready for, but most of all I have to make my family proud.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Parker

  I’m sitting in the hotel room a little bit buzzed. Okay, maybe a little bit more than buzzed. The evening started off great. Meghan and I were doing our hair and makeup when she turned on the television to watch the interviews.

  When I saw Cooper on the screen with Barbie next to him, my heart sank. My throat got dry. I didn’t know what to expect, but I smelled a rat the minute I saw her no emotions from her Botox face on the screen.

  Now here I am sitting down in my tight blue jeans that make my ass look good, as per Meghan. I put on my Stone jersey, making my way to the full-length mirror. I take in my appearance. My auburn hair hangs down loose, swiped to the side. I only put mascara on with a touch of liner, my black wedges giving me that extra boost.

  I look at myself. Really look at myself. I haven’t been this happy with myself in maybe forever. I worked my ass off to come back from where I was, and I sure as fuck am not going to let some plastic fucking Barbie come in and take what’s mine.

  I pick up my black purse and tuck my phone inside, the last message received still on the lock screen. Three words. I love you. I smile to myself because he really does love me. It’s time to show him I love him, too.

  Knocking on the door where the kids are staying, I tell them it’s time to rock and roll. My beautiful girl runs to me, her Stone jersey on as well. Matthew is on his cell phone but looks up at us. He’s also wearing his Stone jersey. The twins have opted to stay in and paint their nails. Meghan is putting the last touches on her lip-gloss when we walk out.

  “Let’s go show our guy how much we love him.” And with that, we cheer all the way to the taxi.

  Making our way inside the arena is insane. They have shut down the front of the arena. There are all kinds of different activities for the kids. There is actually a mechanical bull placed in the middle. Every second person is wearing a Stone jersey, which makes me really fucking proud of him.

  We make our way inside, our tags hanging around our necks. VIP Stone is written on them.

  Allison is in the middle between Matthew and me, holding both of our hands. She points to different things going on when we walk smack-dab into Monica.

  Meghan is beside me faster than it takes me to look up. I have to say she really is beautiful. I’m not taking that away from her, but push comes to shove and I will kick her in her vagina if she fucks with me.

  “Oh, look what we have here. The Cooper Stone fan club,” she says snidely.

  “I’m Meghan. It’s nice to finally meet one of Cooper’s exes.” She cocks her head to the side and smiles.

  “Pfft, please. You really think that a Susie homemaker is going to satisfy Cooper? You are just a phase.” She leans in closer to my face. “He’ll come back to me once he gets over his mommy issues.”

  I laugh out loud in her face, shocking her and everyone else.

  “Mommy issues? Really? Is that what you are going with? I mean, I guess if you look at it I am a mom, so you aren’t mistaken there, but perhaps you should have gone with something else. I mean, let’s be honest here. He came to me. Maybe just maybe he was tired of sleeping with plastic beside him and needed to feel a real woman.”

  I push Allison behind Matthew, knowing he will block out what is coming next. “I’m not going toe to toe with you because frankly I don’t have the time nor do I care, but I will tell you this. Your time with Cooper is over. And, by over, I mean it’s a distant memory. Now, if you will excuse me, we have our guy to cheer on.” I look at the side, smiling at Matthew. “Let’s go, guys.” And with that, I walk away from her. I don’t know how she looks or what she does, but I do hear her heels click away.

  Chapter Thirty

  Parker

  When we walk into the arena, we are just in time to see the guys skate onto the ice. The arena is still pretty empty because it’s the pre game skate. Some of the fans are all lined up by the glass, watching in awe. I feel my hand being pulled by Allison, who is following Matthew down the steps.

  When we finally get to the glass, Matthew picks her up, placing her feet on the ledge of the board. “Look, Momma, there is Cooper,” she says, knocking on the window thinking that he can hear her. The other men that do see her smile at her, and she waits there. The men take off, doing drills one at a time when finally it’s Cooper’s turn. She shrieks like she just won the goddamn lottery. “Cooper, I made you a sign,” she yells, making everyone else look our way.

  I mean, if you are someone looking at us we look like goddamn Cooper fucking Stone stalkers. We are all wearing his jersey. And we all look like we just hit up the candy store. While I’m pondering all the dirty things I want to do with him, Allison whips out a poster from her bag. There written in purple glitter is ‘Stone’s #1 Girl.’ He taps the blade of his stick on the glass while laughing, making my girl giggle. He then takes off his glove and shows her his finger pointing to her with a number one. It makes my heart melt. He then shifts his eyes to me and gives me a chin up followed with a wink. Of course, not one to get all girlie and shit, I proceed to chin him right back. Smiling to myself, I turn around and raise my hair up with my hand so he knows I’m wearing him on my back. I turn my head to the side and wink.

  Before he even has a chance to say anything, he’s pushed forward by one of his teammates. But right before he goes to set up the drill, he sees his teammate look at me and wink. He doesn’t even have a chance to smile at me as Cooper has put his whole gloved hand into his face, pushing him back. I throw my head back and laugh.

  “Let’s go, Stone, move that ass and show me what you’re made of!” I yell to him and watch him glare at me right before he takes off down the ice, setting up a great play.

  Once they skate off the ice and the Zamboni comes back on to clean it, we make our way to our seats. We have the best seats that you can have, right in the corner, four rows up from the ice. Meghan is already in her seat, sipping on beer while holding a pretzel.

  “I see you started the carbs party early?” I look at her.

  “Fuck off, I diet all week. I can have a fucking pretzel if I want to.”

  The response makes me laugh because she doesn’t in fact diet all week long. She is one of those skinny bitches we all make fun of. She has never ever needed to diet or work out.

  “Actually, I think you should get a hot dog also. Just to make sure you get all the carbs you can. Oh, look, there is that dashing husband of yours.” Just as she turns around, Tom sits his ass in the chair next to her, throwing his arm around her, dragging her practically right onto his chair while he goes in for a kiss.

  “Please, people, we are in a family setting. Besides, I’m sure you can wait. What was it last time? Two minutes and a half by the time he was done?” I blink at him, grabbing her beer, and taking a huge swallow. He glares at me, making me smile
.

  “It was longer than two minutes. Tell her, hot stuff.” He coaxes Meghan to fight for his honor, but she shrugs her shoulders.

  “I don’t really remember. You know what we should do? We should time it tonight, all night, and let her know tomorrow.” She kisses him on his lips while he whispers something in her ear, making her giggle.

  The crowd stars roaring, flying to their feet when the teams make it on the ice. It’s season opener, which means each member of the team is introduced one at a time. The captain always goes last, so when it gets to Cooper the stadium erupts so loud Allison puts her hands to her ears. Matthew is howling with the rest of the crowd.

  Cooper skates up to center in and raises his stick in the air, saluting the crowd, his helmet half on his head half off. After the anthem is sung, it’s time to drop the puck.

  I am not going to lie. I was afraid he wouldn’t be ready. That I didn’t train him enough, but all that is put to rest the minute he skates up with the puck overtaking the defenseman and taking his first shot of the night. That one saved by the goalie. But just looking at the hunger in his eye, you know he’s back and better than fucking ever!

  By the time the game finishes Allison is in my arms half cheering half asleep on my shoulder. Matthew is the one having the best time I’ve seen him having in a long time. He’s socializing with the rest of the team’s brothers. He’s right in there. High fiving, fist bumping, and doing whatever guys do when their teams win.

  They announce the stars of the game, and it’s no surprise that Cooper is first. He skates around the ice, throwing out three pucks. When he gets to our section, he motions to Allison and throws the puck over. Matthew catches it for her and gives it right to her. She takes it and cuddles it to her chest. “Momma, he gabe me the puck.” She grins like a fool.

  Tom has already left to go to do some post game interviews. We are walking out of the arena when my phone buzzes in my pocket.

  It seems my girls are good luck. Meet me at the bar in the hotel. Post game drinks.

  I smile to myself, typing out my response.

  Maybe…

  He’s fast to respond.

  Maybe my ass!

  The walk to the hotel takes us less than ten minutes. I walk Allison to her room and tuck her in. She’s taking the puck to bed and makes me promise to come get her when we wake up. Matthew was invited back to someone’s room to play Xbox or Playstation or something like that and will be joining them later.

  “Okay, let’s hit that bar,” I say to Meghan.

  “Um, you, my friend, are going to change into something sexier. Your man just won the game, his teammates will be there, and probably that fucking plastic Barbie, so you are coming with me, and we are going to change you to puck bunny style.”

  I roll my eyes at her and know that even if I argue with her this is a dead end.

  “Okay, fine, let’s go change. I think I brought my leather pants.” I throw my eyebrows up.

  “You brought those and wore jeans to this game? Ugh, focus on the prize, Parker. Focus.”

  “I’m not wearing fucking leather pants to an arena. That’s ridiculous.”

  I walk ahead of her, not giving her a chance to say anything. Once I close the door, I change my clothes. My leather pants fit me like a second glove. I pair it with a loose camisole style top that is black and sheer. Both sides are attached with silver zippers. Then I grab my black Christian Louboutin slingbacks and put on my chunky silver necklace and bracelets, completing the look. Once I change my purse to my small clutch, I look at Meghan and curtsy.

  “Better, your majesty?”

  “Your body is rockin’. I mean, if I were into vagina I’d do you, and if we weren’t related and shit.”

  “How much beer did you consume?” I ask her with a chuckle.

  “Enough to make it last all night.” She winks at me and slaps my ass.

  “What do the hockey players say before hitting the ice? You can do this, boys? Is that it?” She looks at me confused.

  “I think they say ‘let’s go, boys’, but every team is different.”

  “Okay, we’ll make our own, ‘let’s go get some cock’,” she says, not even trying to whisper.

  “Oh, you are going to last all night. All night in a coma the way you’re going!”

  She fluffs her boobs up to give her the extra push. “Let’s just go, shall we?”

  I walk arm in arm with her. I’m not going to let her fall, and if I’m honest, I need all the support to get me there.

  By the time we make it downstairs to the bar it’s jam-packed. The team has made its way back, and the drinks are being passed around.

  I start to look around to see if I spot Cooper. He is at the other end of the bar. Tom sits next to him with another older gentleman I’ve never seen, and fucking Barbie. I look at Meghan. “It’s a good thing I brought these pants.”

  She squeezes my arm. “Let’s go see our men, yeah!”

  I make my way to Cooper, but he doesn’t see me right away. When Meghan gets to Tom’s side, she slides her hands around his waist, leaning in, kissing his neck. He looks down and smiles at her. It’s a look I’ve seen many times before. It’s a look no one can fake. It’s the look that says I’m whole now that you’re here. It’s a look that says I’ve waited my whole life for you. I want that look. I miss that look. I think to myself, have I ever gotten that look?

  When Cooper sees Meghan, he shoots his head in my direction and smiles. I walk to him and it’s like the parting of the sea. It really is funny. He takes in my outfit, making his jaw tick. I guess this outfit is a winner.

  “Hey,” I say to him. “Good game out there, Stone!” I slap him on his chest, my hand lingering. Before he says anything, I get a bump in my back, sending me forward a little.

  I turn around, ready to excuse myself or say something. I don’t know if I was in someone’s way. But before I say something, the guy has a huge grin on his face. I recognize him as the teammate that was on the ice with Cooper when he was talking to Allison.

  “Oh my God, it’s you. You’re the hot mom from the game. I think it’s fate that we both ended up here together, don’t you?” He leans forward like he’s going to whisper something in my ear.

  “Alex.” It’s more of a growl than an actual word. “This is my woman, Parker. Parker, this is Alex.”

  I turn to throw my hand out to shake his when I’m jerked back to Cooper. His hand snakes around my stomach. I lay my hand with my clutch on his and stretch my other hand out again. “It’s very nice to meet you, Alex, and yes, I was there tonight.”

  “Fuck me, why does it surprise me that the hottest woman here is not only taken, she’s Stone’s? I need a drink,” he says, shaking his head, and moves down the bar to get that drink he’s looking for.

  I look up at Cooper, tilting my head to the side. “Hey, there.” I see him smile. “That wasn’t very nice of you.”

  I hear someone clear their throat next to me and turn, facing the gentleman who was talking before. Cooper turns stiff behind me. “Parker, this is Charles, the owner of the team. Charles, this is my girlfriend and rehab coach Parker.”

  Fuck. Barbie’s father. No wonder he was giving me the stink eye.

  I don’t even try to reach out my hand to shake his since I see his stance hasn’t changed, his hands still in his pockets.

  “Nice to meet you, Charles.”

  He of course doesn’t say anything and just nods at me. Barbie is beside him.

  After what feels like an eternity, but is really a couple of seconds, he asks, “So you are the famous Parker who got our Cooper back into shape?”

  I don’t make a point to tell him there is no our Cooper but just my Cooper. “That would be me. Yes, sir.”

  “Did you know that he was taken when you started chasing after him? I mean, obviously he told you about my daughter and himself.”

  I hear a gasp come from Meghan and see Tom look at her and give her a look saying to calm down, at t
he same moment Cooper’s arm falls from my waist.

  “I’d tread very lightly there, Charles. This is not the time nor the place, and for the record, I ran after her. I not only ran, I fucking sprinted.” He looks at Charles. “Come on, guys, let’s go grab a table. It’s time to celebrate.” He leans down and kisses me, grabbing my hand, and dragging me to the closest available table.

  Three hours later, we are still here all sitting around. The tables have been shoved together. I’m sitting next to Cooper, his arm around my chair, my shoulder in the nook of his arm. Many conversations are flowing. His teammates and their wives are very nice and friendly. Well, some are at least. The others are huddled in the corner with Barbie. After we came to sit down, her father Charles left, but she stayed and hung around with some of the wives.

  I would catch her watching us often. I mean, if I could die from a look I’d be dead a long time ago.

  “Gotta say, babe, it’s a good thing you didn’t wear those pants to the game. I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate, let alone skate. My dick would have been hard the entire time.”

  I laugh at him and lean over to whisper in his ear, “If you think this is good, you should see the surprise I have for you under this.” I kiss his ear, hearing him breathe.