Play to Win

by Kelly Jamieson

  The beauty of it all makes my chest hurt. I don’t even know what I’m doing here.

  “Let’s order prosecco,” Aline suggests.

  “That would be nice.”

  With flutes of bubbly wine in hand, we peruse the menu.

  “I think I’ll have the grilled salmon salad,” Aline says. “What are you thinking of?”

  My eyes skim over the prices. I still have some cash, so I can afford this, but wow, it’s expensive. I don’t want to assume she’s paying for lunch. “I think I’d like the ahi niçoise salad.”

  “Oh, good choice, I’ve had that.”

  We set our menus aside. “You’ve obviously been here before.”

  “Yes, I love this place. We used to stay in this hotel when we visited Bob and Chelsea, before we moved to California.”

  “Ah. It’s beautiful.”

  “And a nice location. The boys loved going to the beach and the pier when they were little.”

  We order and then Aline says, “I thought this would be a nice chance to get to know each other, and I’m sure Théo’s busy at the arena.”

  “Yes, he apparently has a lot on his plate.”

  Her forehead furrows briefly. “I’m sure. That team is a mess. He’s got a challenge on his hands, but then, he’s always loved a challenge.”

  “He’s been through some tough times.” I’m thinking of his eye injury.

  “Yes.” She studies me. “He’s told you about his accident, obviously, and having to give up playing.”

  “Yes. It must have been hard for him. But I admire what he’s done.”

  She smiles warmly. “So do we. He didn’t always have things easy as a youngster either. He was so smart, people treated him like a…” She searches for a word. “An oddity. Nobody expected him to be athletic, even though he comes from a family of athletes.” Her eyes shadow. “He endured a bit of bullying.” She sighs, sounding pained. “There’s nothing worse than when your children are hurting and you can’t fix it or stop it. I tried.” Her brief smile holds sadness. “But he was determined to prove those bullies wrong, and he excelled at hockey too. I think that made it even more painful for him to have to give that up.”

  My heart squeezes, thinking of an unhappy little Théo, his accomplishments even more impressive after hearing this. “Luckily, he has brains as well as athleticism.”

  “Yes.” She shakes her head, a rueful smile perched on her lips. “We don’t know where he gets his brains from.”

  “I’m sure you and your husband are both very intelligent.”

  “Well, we’re not stupid.” She laughs. “But Théo’s mathematical genius is remarkable.”

  “Not to mention he’s very hard working.”

  “C’est vrai. True.”

  Our server refills our wineglasses.

  “So.” Aline looks around the café. “You like this hotel?”

  “It’s gorgeous.” I can only imagine how much it would cost to stay here. Maybe even more than a basic room at the Wellborne, where I used to work. Although the penthouse suites at the Wellborne are about two grand a night.

  “I’m so glad you think so! You know”—she leans forward—“they do weddings here.”

  I blink. “This would be a lovely location for a wedding.”

  “Yes!” She beams. “Matthew and I were thinking that we would like to give you and Théo another wedding. Since none of us were there when you tied the string.”

  “The knot,” I say automatically, my mind emptying. What?

  “Oui. Yes. Tied the knot.”

  “I, uh, I don’t know…”

  “I’m sure Théo will agree,” she rushes on. “Men don’t care as much about things like that, so I wanted to talk to you first. It would be such a pleasure to have a wedding here for you, and for the whole family. Weddings bring people together.”

  I slowly move my head side to side. “I don’t think a wedding is going to fix all the problems in your family.”

  Her bottom lip pushes out briefly and she drops her eyes. “You are probably right.” She sighs. “This family is very…messed up.”

  I huff out a laugh. “Um, yeah.”

  “But still…think! Wouldn’t you love to have a beautiful dress and flowers? All the people you love around you?”

  I sadly reflect on the fact that I don’t have that many people I love to surround myself with. Chris and I are on the outs. I have one best friend back in Vegas, a good friend in Miami I haven’t seen in years, and a few other girlfriends I see from time to time. But that’s about it.

  Wait, wait, wait. This is ridiculous. Théo and I aren’t going to stay married. This would be a huge waste of time and money. In fact, I’ll be back in Vegas before it could even be organized.

  A rock settles in my gut. I study Aline’s hopeful face. What the hell am I going to tell her?

  Chapter 18

  Lacey

  “Well, hello.”

  I look up and see Everly Wynn standing next to our table. As at the party on Saturday, she’s polished and elegant, her hair in stylish layers, wearing a sleek sleeveless dress in a gorgeous coral color and nude pumps.

  “Hi!” My exuberant greeting startles her. I’m just so happy at the interruption and not having to answer Aline right now. “So nice to see you! How are you?”

  “I’m well, thanks.” She looks at Aline, who smiles.

  “Are you here for lunch too?” Aline asks.

  “Yes. I was supposed to meet a client, but he just texted me he can’t make it after all.”

  “Oh, you should join us!” I pipe up.

  Aline’s smile doesn’t falter, although I sense the wariness between the two women. Not dislike or even awkwardness, just guardedness. “Of course!”

  Everly hesitates, then hitches one shoulder. “Okay.”

  Immediately one of the café staff appears with a chair for her and she sits.

  “Well, this is nice,” I chirp, guzzling my prosecco. “I get to see both of you.”

  The waiter refills my glass instantly.

  “Who were you meeting with?” Aline asks Everly.

  “Dan Diaz.” She says to me, “The mayor of Santa Monica.”

  “Oh. Wow.”

  “We’re working on a new partnership between the city and the foundation,” she adds. “I think it’s going to be amazing.”

  Right. Everly runs the Condors Foundation. And lunches with the mayor.

  “Would you like to see a menu?” The waiter is here.

  “We’ve already ordered,” Aline tells Everly.

  “I’ll have the coast burger,” Everly says without needing a menu. “With fries. Thank you, Liam.” She smiles at the waiter who bears a striking resemblance to Ryan Gosling.

  “Of course.” He smiles back, plucks the menu away, and disappears.

  “Well.” Aline picks up her wine and drains it too. “This is so nice. Tell us more about yourself, Lacey.”

  Great. Just what I don’t want to do. I shift in my wicker chair. “Um. Well, I told you my mom passed away a couple of years ago. She had ovarian cancer.” I pause. “I never knew my father.”

  They both nod without judgment, so I continue. “I have a twin brother, Chris. He’s a little angry with me right now.” I drop my gaze to my wineglass. “He has a gambling addiction, and I finally refused to keep bailing him out.”

  “Oh no.” Aline’s eyes warm with sympathy. “Addictions are a terrible thing. They make us feel so powerless to help someone.”

  “Yes. Théo was very supportive in my decision. I know I can’t help Chris…he has to help himself.”

  “I’m glad you and Théo have each other,” Aline says softly.

  “Are you planning to work now
you’re here?” Everly asks me.

  “Yes, I’d like to do something.” I wrinkle my nose. “I’ve definitely been feeling at loose ends this week, with Théo so busy.”

  “We always need volunteers,” Everly says. “If you’re interested in getting involved. The players’ wives and girlfriends do a lot of charity work and help contribute to the foundation, and I’m sure they’d welcome your help.”

  I tilt my head. “Hmm. Yes, I could do that. Obviously, I haven’t met any of the wives and girlfriends. I’ve only met one player—Manny—who lives in our building. I gather most of them aren’t around in the summer.”

  “Yes, many of them go spend time with their families.”

  “When does the season start?”

  “Officially, October. But they’ll start arriving back in town in August for training camp.”

  “That’s still so far away.”

  “Yes, our activities do slow down over the summer. We can talk more about ways for you to get involved.”

  “Thanks, I’d like that.”

  I let Everly and Aline chat more, gradually joining in the conversation. I learn that Everly has a wicked sense of humor and I admire how she digs into her huge hamburger and fries with no shame.

  “I’m on a low carb diet,” she tells me when she sees me eyeing her food. She picks up a fry in her fingers.

  I raise my eyebrows.

  “When I feel low, I eat carbs.” She grins.

  I laugh. “Hey! Me too!”

  “Why do you feel low, Everly?” Aline asks with a slight frown.

  Everly shrugs. “Just joking.”

  We also discover a mutual love of knitting. “It’s great for stress relief!” I say excitedly. “I wasn’t able to bring my knitting things with me.”

  “Why not?” Everly’s forehead furrows.

  Ugh. “Long story,” I say lightly, waving a hand. “Is there somewhere near here I can get needles and yarns?”

  “Oh yes, there’s a great shop on Ocean Park Boulevard. I can take you there.”

  I assume she’s throwing out a polite non-invitation, but she actually arranges to take me there tomorrow after work.

  “I’m sorry I don’t have a car,” I say. “But I can probably figure out how to get there by bus and meet you there.”

  I learn that she lives in a condo not that far from Théo’s place, in Venice Beach. “I’ll pick you up,” she tells me.

  “Okay, thanks.”

  We finish our lunches and I reach for my purse, but Aline and Everly wave at me and argue over who’s paying. Everly gives in graciously and lets Aline buy us all lunch.

  “I better get back to the office.” Everly glances at her watch.

  We walk through the lobby to the hotel entrance. Aline gestures to Everly to have her car brought first. “Since you have to go back to work.”

  “I am the boss,” Everly says with a smile. “But thanks.” As we wait, she tips her head to one side, looking at me. “I’m glad I ran into you. It was a fun lunch.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  She gives me a small hug.

  With her gone, I turn to Aline, my insides knotting, knowing she’s going to bring up the wedding again. She doesn’t until we’re on our way back to Théo’s place.

  “Think about the wedding idea,” she says. “It would be so much fun. I don’t have a daughter, and I’ve always waited for the day we’d have a wedding in the family.”

  My heart sinks. We took that away from her. But probably someday Théo will get married again, for real, and she’ll get her wish.

  Ugh.

  “I’ll think about it,” I say, relieved that I don’t have to disappoint her right now.

  “Everly gets to take you to the wool shop,” she says when she drops me off. “We should go shopping too. Maybe next week? We could go to South Coast Plaza.”

  Yikes. I did not expect all this family inclusiveness. But it’s…nice. I smile at her. “Okay, that would be fun.”

  “Thank you. I’m so happy to have a daughter!”

  My smile widens at her infectious delight. We exchange hugs too on the sidewalk in front of Théo’s condo, and I wave as she drives away.

  I enjoy the feeling of well-being that settles inside me after a fun lunch with the two women as I gather up laundry from my room and Théo’s, sort it, and start a load in the washing machine, then take my Kindle out onto the patio with a glass of iced tea to read for a while and think about what I can do while I’m here.

  I make dinner for two, even though I’m pretty sure Théo won’t be home until late again. He surprises me though, showing up shortly after six, just as I’m sitting down to eat.

  Seeing him, my heart bumps like a teenage girl running into her crush. “Hi!” I jump up. “Dinner’s ready.”

  “Awesome. I’m starving.”

  I hustle over to the stove and fill a plate for him with the pasta dish I made, linguine with red peppers, asparagus, and parmesan. I even whipped up some garlic buns.

  When I turn back to him, he’s holding up a…penguin.

  I halt in place. I blink. “What’s that?”

  “It’s the mascot for the team I used to play for. I brought it home for you.” He grimaces. “I know it’s not Pete, and it’s not from your mom, but I thought you might…like it.”

  My chest swells and tightens. I can’t breathe as I stare at the soft stuffed toy. I set his plate on the counter and reach for the penguin. “Thank you.” My mouth quivers as I stare down at it. It’s not Pete…he’s right. But I almost can’t bear the emotion filling me because he brought me this.

  I blink back tears, set the penguin on the counter, and pick up Théo’s plate. Like a happy housewife of the 1950s, I set the plate in front of him and fetch him a glass of water. “Here you go.”

  He eyes me. “You don’t have to wait on me.”

  I roll my eyes. “Please. I know that.” I sit and sigh. “I have nothing else to do.”

  His lips twitch. “Bored?”

  “A little.”

  “I hear you had lunch with my mom today.”

  I frown. “How did you…oh. Everly?”

  “Yeah.” He twirls pasta onto his fork. “The foundation offices are in the arena too. She stopped by to give me shit for working late.”

  I blink.

  His smile is crooked. “She said I shouldn’t ignore my new bride, especially since you don’t know anyone here and you seem a little at loose ends.”

  “I’m fine.” I pause. “But I am happy you’re here.”

  Our eyes meet. Heat fills my belly and my skin tingles.

  His slow smile has my panties dampening. “What do you want to do after dinner?” he asks.

  My mind goes straight to the gutter. Or rather, the bed.

  “Maybe a walk on the beach?” he suggests, eyes gleaming.

  I smile back. “I never turn down a walk on the beach.”

  “You’re obsessed with the ocean.”

  “Yeah, I kind of am.” I stab a piece of asparagus with my fork.

  “This is really good.”

  “Thanks. Um. Your mom wants to give us a wedding.”

  He freezes. “She wants what now?”

  One corner of my mouth lifts. “She wants us to have another wedding. She took me to Shores for lunch and told me what beautiful weddings they do there and that she’s been waiting and waiting for a family wedding and missed out on ours.”

  “Jesus Christ.”

  “I know.” I poke at my food. “I didn’t say yes or no. She asked me to think about it. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”

  He scrubs a hand over his face. “Yeah.” Then he shakes his head. “I’ll deal with it.”
>
  “Whew. Okay.” I blow out a quick breath of relief. “How was your work today?”

  “Well, I’m learning a lot.”

  “About the team?”

  “Yeah. I’ve been watching tons of video and crunching numbers.”

  “The night I met you, I thought you were an accountant. Then I thought you were a hockey player. Turns out you’re a number cruncher after all. But I don’t get what kind of numbers you’re crunching.”

  “All kinds of things. Analyzing the video and then the data helps us know more about individual player performance, also how specific lines perform together and how the team performs.”

  “It’s so technical.” Once again I feel a surge of admiration for him.

  “It is.”

  “I guess when I think about hockey or sports, I just think about how many goals they score or how many games they win.”

  “Yeah. That’s what it all comes down to. But I’m trying to make decisions like how much a player is worth paying or if the player is even worth keeping on the team. And when we get into the season, the numbers will help the coach make decisions like which players should play together, who should kill penalties, who goes on the power play. We can use stats to predict what will happen with teams we play against—which ones are likely to outscore us. Or not.”

  Honestly, talking about numbers and stats should make my eyes glaze over, but I find I’m fascinated by this. When I thought about hockey (not that I ever thought about hockey much) it was as a fast, physical sport with guys slamming each other into the boards and taking pucks to the teeth. I had no idea there was so much strategy to it.

  I let Théo keep talking about it as we clean up then go for our walk, asking probably stupid questions and letting him patiently explain things to me, like what Corsi and Fenwick and expected goals scores are.

  “But you can’t rely on just numbers,” he adds, my hand clasped in his as we stroll along the sand. “You have to rely on your eyes too, to get a complete picture. There’s a saying about stats…they’re like a bikini.”

  “Uh…”

  “What they reveal is interesting…” His eyes wander over me, leaving heat in their path. “But what they cover up is crucial.”