Not a Player (Laketown Hockey Book 1)

by A. J. Wynter

  “This is news to me.” I traced my finger over the carved hearts in the surface of the table. I was hiding my relationship with Kane from Dylan and he was busy hiding his second job from me. But, was he hiding it, or was I just a terrible sister?

  “Maybe he just needs some extra cash,” Paige said.

  I hoped that she was right and that my brother wasn’t working himself to the bone for, I hated to think it, me...

  The sun sparkled on the water and I squinted as a shiny antique boat cut through the ripples and approached the dock. The gas attendants ran, scrambling to grab the mooring lines. My heart clenched. My dad had always admired those antique wooden boats, but there was no way we could have ever afforded one. They were usually only kept by the ‘old money’ families on the lake, like the Fitzgerald’s, and I held my hand over my eyes to see if it was the boat from Pine Hill.

  “Maybe,” I mused as I watched the man step out of the boat, reverting my gaze to Paige when I realized it wasn’t Kent Fitzgerald.

  “We need to spend some time together Jess, I really miss you.” Paige pulled at the cardboard sleeve on her coffee cup.

  “I miss you too, Paige.” Until that moment, I hadn’t realized how much I missed having someone to talk to, someone who wasn’t sharing my single bed.

  “Oooh.” Paige sat up straight and slapped at my arm. “I just thought of something. I know how you can make some extra money.”

  “I don’t know if I like the sound of this.” I grinned. “I’m not ready for a Pretty Woman storyline just yet.”

  “Nooo.” Paige rolled her eyes and smiled at me. “The gala. Valerock is catering the annual fundraiser for minor hockey at The Island Club.”

  The Island Club Gala is ‘THE’ event of the spring in Laketown. I had never been, but the newspapers always rolled out a full-page spread of the celebrity-studded event. “I could get you a job, just for the night, serving cocktails. It pays a-mazing and all you have to do is walk around with platters.

  “I don’t know if that’s really my scene...”

  “Who cares?” Paige said. “You need money to get back to the academy, right?”

  I nodded reluctantly.

  “And if you do a decent job, there are plenty of private parties you could work over the summer. Suck up your pride, Jess. All you’ve got to do is put on a dress, smile, and rake in the cash. My boss mentioned that we are understaffed for the Gala, so I know I could get you in.”

  I needed the money and I hated it, but I sighed, “Okay.”

  “Okay?” Paige repeated and then smiled. “Omigod. I’m so excited, Jess.” She grabbed my arms and shook me, then pulled me in for an almost rib breaking hug.

  A rumble caught both of our attention and what looked like a supermodel strutted along the main dock. Her boho dress flapped out behind her and she held onto her oversized sun hat with her free hand while clutching a leather overnight bag in her other. A man trailed behind her dragging two giant Louis Vuitton suitcases.

  The man in the boat kissed her on both cheeks and then helped her into the boat.

  “Ugh,” Paige groaned under her breath.

  “Do you know her?” The boat pulled away from the dock and cruised away slowly.

  “That’s Bronwyn Yates.” She said it as if I should know. When I didn’t respond, she continued, “Yates Petroleum...”

  “Oh.” The Yates Estate made Pine Hill look like a rundown squatter’s cottage.

  “She must be in town for the Gala,” Paige said. “I’ve heard that she’s a real bitch.”

  “Whoa. Jealousy doesn’t look good on you Paige.”

  Paige cocked her head at me. “I’m not jealous, everyone who works at Valerock says that she’s a total beehive and tips less than ten percent.”

  “Yikes.”

  We both watched the boat disappear past the island.

  “Hey, does anybody work here?” A voice called out followed by a knock on the metallic siding of the chip truck.

  “I’ve gotta go,” I jumped up from the picnic table.

  “I’ll text you the info.” Paige stood and we hugged once again. “I can’t wait to work with you, Jess. If that’s the only way we can hang out, I’ll take it.”

  A pang of guilt clenched in my gut. “Let’s hang out soon.” It was weak and non-committal, but I meant it.

  “Sure, Jess.”

  “No, I mean it.” I grabbed her hand. “The next exhibition game – let’s go. You love hockey, let’s watch it together.”

  “Seriously? You hate those games.”

  Was I inviting Paige to spend time with her, or to watch my man? “Seriously,” I smiled, the guilty feeling subsiding. Why couldn’t it be both?

  “I don’t have all day here,” the man in the Topsiders tapped his foot on the wood chips that surrounded the truck.

  “I’m coming,” I waved to Paige and jogged to the back of the truck.

  “Hey Jess,” Paige shouted.

  I paused with the metal door in my hand. “Yeah?”

  “Who are you coaching?”

  She had the attention span of a goldfish, but the memory retention of an elephant. “Can you keep a secret?”

  Paige turned so quickly I thought that she was going to get whiplash. “Of course.”

  Kane wanted me to wait until after the last exhibition game, but I couldn’t keep it in. I had to tell someone. “It’s Kane Fitzgerald. And we’re doing more than skating.”

  Chapter 25 – Kane

  Tired. Happy. Hot. Sweet.

  Those were the words I’d use to describe the last couple of weeks with Jessie. I had spent most nights sleeping pressed against the wall in her bedroom, the two of us squeezed together in her single bed.

  Watching her skate was my favorite part of the day. We walked into the arena in the darkness, holding hands, and I watched her float over the ice for an hour before we ran drills together. If the dressing room sex was hot, making love to her in her bed was sweet – and I couldn’t get enough.

  Now, I watched stalker-style from the gas dock as she wiped down the picnic tables at the chip wagon before sneaking up behind her.

  “Hi, beautiful,” I grabbed her around her waist and whispered into her ear.

  “Kane.” Her body was tense. “You can’t sneak up on me like that.”

  I kissed her neck, she relaxed but shied away from my lips. “I’m all sweaty.”

  “I’d call it salty.” I kissed her again. I didn’t care if she’d just run a marathon and then biked twenty miles, I’d kiss every square inch of her body. “Let’s go for a swim.”

  “Where?” she asked. “Here?”

  The water at the marina had a permanent slick from all the boats and the shoreline was littered with cattails and thick mud. “No way, ugh.” I grabbed her hand. “Lock up. I’ll take you to Pine Hill.”

  “Pine Hill? What about your dad?”

  “He doesn’t care if we’re there. If anything, he should be the one worried about invading my space. And don’t worry, I think that he went back to the city to spend some time with Tiffany.”

  Jessie locked up and helped me undo the lines to the Mastercraft. “At the Hilton?”

  The damage from the water main break in my dad’s city house had been extensive. The mosquitoes had scared Tiffany away from the cottage and she had checked herself into a luxury hotel instead.

  “I guess.” I shrugged and started the engine. Jessie kicked off her flip flops and stepped into the boat.

  “Don’t you think that’s weird?” she settled into the seat beside me and I navigated out of the marina docks.

  “What?”

  “That your dad is here alone, and she’s choosing to stay there alone?”

  “Have you met the woman?” I laughed. I hated Tiffany, but after being alone for so many years, I didn’t blame my dad for remarrying. I wished it would’ve been someone a little more like my mom, although, maybe it was better that she was the total opposite. There’s no way that Tiffany c
ould ever take my mom’s place in my dad’s heart. He’d never say as much, but I knew it.

  “She’s something.” Jessie remained diplomatic.

  Even through my Ray-Bans, the late afternoon sun was powerful, and I squinted as I pushed down the throttle on the boat. Jessie held onto the front of her Otters baseball cap.

  “Nice hat.” I tapped the front of the cap.

  She reached up to touch it as if she couldn’t remember what was on her head. “It’s Dylan’s,” she said. “He stole my favorite, so I took one of his.”

  “It looks good on you.” She had gotten a little bit of sun and her cheeks were pink, her freckles a bit more intense than they had been on the first day we met.

  By the time the boat was docked I was sweating and couldn’t wait to get in the water with Jessie. She dipped her toe in. “I don’t know Kane, it still feels cold.”

  “Oh, come on. it’s been almost two weeks, it’s gotta be almost seventy by now.” I bent to pull up the thermometer. “Okay, so it’s sixty-five now.” I dropped it back into the lake.

  “Maybe I’ll just wade in up to my knees.” She rubbed her arms.

  “That’s the hard way.” I tossed my t-shirt onto an Adirondack chair and hung two towels on the boathouse hooks.

  “By now, don’t you know that I like to do things the hard way?” she put her hands on her hips and smiled at me.

  “And don’t you know by now that I like surprising you?”

  “Surprising me?” she tilted her head and I charged at her. Her green eyes grew wide. “Don’t you dar—,” she screamed. “Kane!” She wriggled in my arms as I grabbed her around the waist and launched us into Lake Casper.

  When we surfaced, I was ready for flailing hands. “You bastard,” she squealed after she gasped for air. “I wasn’t ready,” she said.

  “Sometimes you just have to get thrown in.”

  “You don’t know what you just started Kane Fitzgerald,” she narrowed her eyes at me, which would have seemed threatening, but they were accompanied with a slight grin which grew into a giggle.

  “Bring it, Jessie Moss.” I splashed water in her face like a teenager.

  “Oh, consider it brought.” She lunged at me and grabbed my shoulders, trying to push me under. She was putting everything into her fight. “Your laughing is making you...,” I grabbed onto her hip bones and held her away from me. She splashed water directly into my face and I choked “weak.” I fountained the lake water out of my mouth, directly onto her forehead. “Okay, okay, you win.” She swatted at the spray of water. Our laughter trailed off and I could feel Jessie’s feet treading water beneath her, her legs occasionally hitting mine as she kept herself afloat.

  “You’re beautiful.” I ran my hand over her wet hair, pulled her close, and kissed her. The warmth from her lips traveled through my body and I wondered if the urge to be inside Jessie would ever subside. I couldn’t imagine my world without her.

  “Kane, I...” Jessie ran her hand along my jawbone and batted her eyelashes at me. I knew what she was going to say because it was the same thing that I wanted to say. I loved her.

  “Kane! Where are you?”

  Goddammit. The woman was a bane to my existence, and now she had just interrupted one of the best moments of my life. “It’s Tiffany,” I whispered to Jessie.

  “I know, I can hear her heels from here.”

  “Kane!” she shouted again.

  “Hold that thought, Jess.” I squeezed her hand underneath the water and climbed the swim ladder. Jessie followed behind me. I handed her a sun-warmed towel and wrapped the other around my waist.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “I have to talk to you about something.” Her eyes shot to Jessie. “Important.”

  “You can say whatever you need to say in front of Jessie.” I took a seat on the arm of the chair and Jessie sat in the one beside it.

  “Fine.” Tiffany rolled her eyes.

  My dad stepped onto the dock behind Tiffany. “Hi, Kane. Hi, Jessie.” He waved his boat polishing chamois at both of us.

  “I thought that you were in the city.” I directed my attention away from Tiffany. I wouldn’t have brought Jessie here if I knew that my evil stepmother was in the house. Tiffany doesn’t believe in interacting with people below her, and in her eyes, Jessie was a Laketownie, the lowest of the low. I wanted to protect her from this bitch.

  “I had to pick up Tiffany and get some decorations for her Gala.” He opened the door to the boathouse. I have to get the Power Play ready, she’s a little dusty from all of the pollen.

  “I was just about to talk to Kane about the event,” Tiffany said, but this time with a weird Cruella Deville smile on her face.

  I glanced at Jessie who looked at Tiffany and then back to me.

  “I’m not going this year,” I shrugged.

  “Kent, wait.” Tiffany held up her hand to stop my dad from disappearing into the boathouse. My dad shot a look at me and his shoulders slumped. “I don’t want to get involved in this.”

  Tiffany curled her index finger at my dad, and I couldn’t believe it when he stepped onto the dock and obeyed.

  “What’s going on here?” I crossed my arms across my chest.

  “So,” Tiffany gushed. “Charlene Yates is on the committee for the gala this year.” She paused.

  “So?” I wasn’t impressed by the Yates name.

  “It’s a big deal, Kane. You know who they are right?” Tiffany said.

  “Yes. I know who they are.” I inhaled and held back my eye roll. And who cares? I added to myself.

  “Her granddaughter just flew in from Italy. She’s fresh off a breakup.” Tiffany clasped her hands and looked like her head was about to explode.

  “What does this have to do with me?” I shifted in the chair and crossed my ankle over my knee. I had a sinking suspicion where this was going – and I didn’t like it. And neither would Jessie. I glanced over to her and she was following the conversation, her hands holding the towel closed over her mismatched bikini.

  “She needs a date.” Tiffany tapped the armrest of my chair with her manicured fingers.

  “Good for her. Come on Jessie.” I stood up. “I’m not for hire.”

  “Sit down son.” My dad stepped to Tiffany’s side and placed his hand on her shoulder. “This would mean a lot to your stepmom.”

  Tiffany looked at my dad and then back to me. Her smile made my blood boil. “What’s the big deal, Kane? You’re single, she’s single, and she’s a model.” Tiffany glanced at Jessie as she said ‘model.’ “And I already told Charlene that you’d do it.”

  Something in me snapped and I shot up out of the chair. “You did what?”

  “Easy, Kane.” My dad’s voice was calm. “It would be good public relations for Yates Petroleum and Fitzgerald Investments. All you’d have to do is show up to the gala with... what’s her name?”

  “Bronwyn.” Tiffany said. “Bronwyn Yates. The Calvin Klein model.”

  “And what if I already have a date?” I hadn’t planned on going to the damn gala, but it was for the local minor hockey league, a cause near and dear to my heart.

  “You just said you weren’t going.” She was smug.

  “Maybe I changed my mind and I’ve already got a date.”

  “Who, her?” Tiffany scoffed and gestured to Jessie. “I thought she was just your coach.” She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at me.

  “She’s not just—”

  But Jessie didn’t let me finish. “I think you should do it.” She stepped forward. “It will look good for your family, and I’m busy that night anyway.”

  “See, she’s busy.” Tiffany pointed at Jessie.

  “No. Nope. You can’t make me.” What the fuck was Jessie thinking?

  My dad sighed. “You’re acting like a child. Listen to your friend. Where do you think all of this comes from?” He pointed to the boat and then to Pine Hill. “The taxes on this cottage, they don’t pa
y themselves. Your hockey, your expensive skating coach, Kane. This would help the company, and it’s not a big deal.”

  Jessie stepped beside me. “Kane, I think you should do it.” She gave my arm a squeeze.

  “Are you sure?” I whispered and looked at her. Her eyes shimmered, but she nodded yes.

  “Fine. Fuck. I’ll do it.”

  “That’s settled then.” Tiffany clapped her hands and made her way back to the cottage and my dad disappeared into the boathouse.

  Jessie pulled her jean shorts on over her wet bikini. “Can you take me back to the marina now?”

  I didn’t want to.

  “Sure.” I took the towel from her hand and hung it up to dry. “Hey Jess.”

  “Yeah.”

  I slipped my finger into the belt loop of her shorts and pulled her to me. “You know I’d rather go with you.”

  “I know,” she whispered.

  “What are your big plans that night?” I wondered if she just made up the excuse to placate Dad and Tiffany.

  “I’m working.”

  “Working where?” The chip truck wasn’t open at night.

  “I’m serving – at the gala.”

  Chapter 26 - Jessie

  Kane and I had shared an order of chip truck fries while we watched the sun’s slow descent. The empty French fry container fluttered in the breeze, weighed down by the pool of ketchup in the corner. Even though I grew up in Laketown, I never got tired of watching the progression in the color of the sky. Kane and I sat at the end of the dock, rising and falling as it bobbed on rolling waves.

  “What a beauty.”

  It was the first thing he’d said in the past half hour. “Is everything okay Kane?”

  His spine curved and he stared at his hand in his lap. “There’s something that I need to tell you, Jessie.”