The Playmaker (Fire on Ice) (18 page)

Eighteen

Taylor

Sweat
poured down my face and I wiped it from my brow with the back of my hand as we did our cool down routine. For the first time in my life, I actually felt fit. And I felt like I could kick someone’s ass if I had to. It was a good feeling—more than good —I felt empowered.

After the class ended, Annie approached me, applauding. “You’re a natural,” she said.

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s not get crazy.”

“You’re doing really well, Taylor.”

“I feel like I’ve regained a part of myself that was taken from me. But more than that. I feel like I’m actually becoming an even better version of myself.”

“I think you should consider doing the instructor training course.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Me? An instructor? I don’t know about that.”

“You’re committed. You’re driven. You obviously have a passion for it. If I could do it, anyone can.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Annie nodded. “I hope you do.”

***

Zelda
and I met at The Twisted Mug for peach smoothies.

“You’re late,” Zelda scolded as I approached the shop.

“And how would you know? You don’t even wear a watch.”

“I just heard the chimes go off in the chapel. You’re always early. I was just—a little worried.”

“I’m sorry.” I felt like an idiot. “I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. Annie wanted to talk to me after class.”

“Trouble with Kyle?”

I frowned. “No. Why would you say that?”

She shrugged. “He’s—I don’t know—a little geeky.”

“They really seem to be into each other,” I assured her.

She shrugg
ed. “Whatever floats their boat.”

“Annie wanted to talk to me about the possibility of doing instructor training.”

My sister’s eyes went wide. “You? Wow. That’s kind of hard to believe. No offense.”

“I know it’s hard to believe. When I first started classes, I had a hard time believing I would be successful at all but I’m actually pretty good at it.”

“If it’s something you really want to do, I don’t think you should let anything stop you. Just don’t expect me to be punching and kicking like that anytime soon.”

“So noted,” I said. “Let’s go in and get our smoothies. I’m starving.”

My sister and I sat sipping our smoothies and discussing our plans for our trip to Seattle, which was just around the corner.

“I know we have to go to see your hockey hunk play. And that you’ll want to spend time together. But I think we should try to do some sightseeing while we’re there.”

I nodded. “I also want to check out the university while we’re there.”

“You do?” my sister seemed surprised.

“I do. I’m thinking about getting a Master’s degree in social work, specializing in trauma, and helping other victims of sexual violence.”

My sister gave me a warm smile. “I think that’s a good idea.”

“Don’t you have to get to class?” I asked.

My sister nodded. “We’re practicing our Moliere scenes. I still don’t think his work is funny.”

We both stood and headed toward the door. As we exited, my sister said, “Shit! I’d better go to the restroom before we go. It’s a long walk over to the theater.”

“Okay,
I’ll wait outside. Kian just texted me. I want to text him back.”

“Be right back,” my sister said as she shuffled toward
the bathroom.

I just started to text Kian when I felt a hand on my shoulder. When I turned around and was face-to-face with Blake, my heart skipped a few beats.

“Your hockey player hasn’t fucked you, has he? He doesn’t want my sloppy seconds. I told you he’d never want you again. You’re mine. I’m going to take what’s mine.” His eyes turned dark and he gave me an evil grin. “I missed you, Taylor.”

“Not this time,” I stated firmly.

His head tilted slightly and his eyes narrowed. “A challenge? I like challenges. Girls who fight back really turn me on.”

I quickly scanned the street, our surroundings. There were two guys on the other end of our street. They looked big, like football players. And there was an older woman on the other side of the street, talking on her cell phone.

Surely, he wasn’t going to attack me in daylight, in the middle of the sidewalk. He’d have to grab me and take me somewhere else. But that was never going to happen. He was never going to touch me again.

As soon as his arm came out to grab my elbow, I knocked it away. I could feel adrenaline rush through my body as I started hitting his head repeatedly. He tried to defend himself against my strikes but I crashed my knee into his groin repeatedly and he fell to the ground.

Before he could get up, the two big guys who had been down the street were on either side of him, holding him down. One of the guys looked up and me and smiled. “You kicked the shit out of him.”

“He assaulted and raped me a few months ago. I wasn’t going to let him do it again.”

Both of the guys frowned and looked down at Blake like he was a piece of dirt.

“We’d better call the cops,” the other
guy suggested.

“I’ve already got the police on the phone.” It was the woman who had been across the street. She was now standing next to me.

I took out my phone and took a photo of Blake on the ground. He was still writhing in pain. That’s when I noticed he was wearing my necklace, the one Kian had given me, the one he had stolen.

Evidence.

I snapped a few more photos, making sure my necklace was clearly visible around his neck. Then I phoned Officer Moore.

“You may want to come by The Twisted Mug, next to
the campus. Blake tried to attack me again.”

“Are you okay?” Officer Moore asked. It was the first time I had ever heard actual concern in her voice.

“I’m not the one you need to worry about.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means that I’m never going to let him, or anyone else, hurt me again. Oh, and you wanted evidence. He’s got the necklace my boyfriend gave him, the one he stole when he assaulted and raped me. It’s around his neck.”

This time I was the one to hang up before Officer Moore could say another word.

By the time Zelda got out of the bathroom, two policemen were handcuffing Blake. I snapped a few more photos of him being arrested.

“What happened?” my sister exclaimed. “Are you okay?”

“What took you so long in the bathroom?”

My sister turned red with embarrassment. “I had no idea he’d be stupid enough to try something in broad daylight.”

“I guess he felt invincible because he hadn’t faced any consequences for his actions yet. I think he will now though.”

“I’m really sorry,” my sister said. She looked like she might cry.

“It’s okay. I know now that I can take care of myself. All that self-defense training really did work.”

My sister took a deep breath. “I didn’t really go to the bat
hroom. I mean, I was in the bathroom, I just wasn’t going to the bathroom.”

I wasn’t sure what she was getting at until I saw Tater Tot Tim slip out of the Twisted Mug. He looked at me sheepishly as he played with his messy hair. As I looked back and forth b
etween the pair, it occurred to me what had probably gone on in the bathroom.

“Don’t look at me like that,” my sister whined.

“Like what?” I feigned ignorance.

“Like I’m a slut who just had sex in the bathroom.”

I lifted my eyebrows in mock surprise. “You did?”

She shook her head. “I never said that.”

“Neither did I.”

“Then let’s just leave it at that.”

I smiled. “Whatever you want.”

My sister’s eyes softened. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m more than okay.”

Nineteen

Kian

I completely sucked at practice. My timing was off. I couldn’t make a shot to save my life. I
knew it was because Taylor hadn’t returned my text. I’d been texting her every day during my breaks and she had been texting me right back. But she didn’t this time.

I actually had a knot in my stomach because I was worried about her.
All I could think about was the last time I couldn’t get a hold of her. The day that I received the horrible photo of her, beaten and bloody. She was completely healed. Back to her beautiful self. But I still had that image in my mind. I couldn’t seem to let it go.

Maybe I was still holding on to some guilt. That I couldn’t be there for her. That I couldn’t protect her. And now it was two months later, and I still couldn’t be there for her and I still couldn’t protect her.

What if something bad happened to her again? What if something worse happened? I would never be able to forgive myself.

I cringed when I heard the sound of an incoming text on my phone. I could feel my heart racing. I almost didn’t want to look at it but I knew I had to.

I glanced at my phone and had to read the text three times before the words made sense:
I kicked some ass today
. 

When I looked at the photo, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was Blake on the ground and he looked like he was in some serious pain.

There was another text:
A little bit of justice served
.

The photo was of Blake in handcuffs.

What the hell happened?

I immediately phoned Taylor. I breathed a sigh of relief when she answered right away. “Are you okay?” I asked.

“I am now,” she said.

“What happened?”

“He went after me again. All my self-defense training paid off. He was down on the ground in like five seconds. He’s in jail this time. And I don’t think he’ll be getting out any time soon. This time, I’m the one with witnesses. Three of them. Two are players on the school’s football team. The other one is a professor in the biology department. All three of them saw everything. They’ve already given statements. And guess what? He was wearing the necklace you gave me around his neck.”

“Evidence of the previous crime,” I added.

“Exactly. Ever think of going to law school?”

I laughed. “I barely made it out of high school.”

“Never say never. Did you ever think I’d be able to kick someone’s ass?”

“I think you can do whatever you set your mind to Princess. You’re the most determined person I’ve ever met.”

“The only thing I’m determined to do right now is visit my boyfriend in Seattle.”

“I like the sound of that,” I said. “All the arrangements are made. A driver will pick you and Zelda up at the airport and take
you to the hotel. You can rest, maybe get a bite to eat, and then the driver will take you to the stadium. There are VIP tickets for you at the box office and I’ll see you after the game.”

“I can’t wait to see you.”

“Just two more sleeps.”

Twenty

Taylor

“You’re going to be late for your flight,” my dad said sharply. He glared at my sister, who was still applying eyeliner in the mirror.

“Okay,” my sister said as she did her other eye. “Don’t lose your soup.”

“Sometimes you make it difficult for me not to
lose my soup
,” my dad stated. He folded his arms to emphasize the point.

My sister pulled herself away from the mirror long enough to give my dad a kiss on the cheek. The tension immediately drained from his body.

“Are you sure you have everything?” my mom asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“Yes, Mom,” my sister and I replied in unison.

“I’m sure the two of you will be fine.” My mom sounded like she was trying to convince herself of the fact.

“We will be fine, Mom. Kian will be with us. And when he’s not, he hired us a driver. You don’t have to worry.”

My mom was wringing her hands. She had been all morning. I knew she was worried. Both of her daughters leaving home at the same time, going out of state. I could understand why she was concerned but we were both adults and I knew we could handle ourselves.

I hugged my mom and
my dad grabbed both of our suitcases. Zelda’s was clearly weighting him down.

“What have you got in here? You’re only going for a few days.”

“I couldn’t decide on exactly what I wanted to wear. I wasn’t sure what mood I’d be in when we got there, so I brought a few extra things just in case.”

“A few extra? It feels like you’ve got your entire wardrobe in this suitcase.”

“Oh, Dad, don’t be so dramatic.”

We all laughed. It was definitely a
pot meet kettle
moment.

***

“Are you nervous?” my sister asked as we boarded the plane.

“A little,” I
confirmed. My parents had taken my sister and me out of state but we’d always driven to our destinations.

“Me, too,” she admitted.

We found our seats and I took note of the good-looking business man who was already seated in our row, by the window. Even though I had technically been assigned the middle seat, my sister didn’t waste any time sitting next to the hunk.

“I’m Zelda,” she announced to the man when he glanced over at her.

He looked to be in his late twenties, in an expensive suit. He had dark hair that was perfectly cut and styled and he had model good looks.

“Please don’t tell me your last name is Fitzgerald,” he said and grinned. The guy had a sexy smile that I could tell was working on my sister.

My sister laughed. “Thompson. Zelda Thompson.”

The man put out a hand. “Pleased to meet you.” My sister placed her hand in his and their eyes locked for what seemed liked several minutes. I was starting to feel uncomfortable, like I was intruding on a private moment between them, even though we were in a very public place and they had only just met. The energy between them was obvious.

“I’m Rob McCray.”

I noticed that neither one of them had let the other one’s hand go.

“And what do you do, Rob McCray?”

“I do software development for Amazon,” he said. “And what do you do, Zelda?”

“I’m finishing up a degree in theater.”

I coughed. My sister had been
finishing up
her degree for the last two years.

As if she just remembered I was sitting next to her, Zelda said, “This is my sister, Taylor.”

I gave a quick wave. Rob gave me a pleasant smile in return then turned his attention back to my sister. “Are you visiting Seattle or do you live there?”

“We’re going to visit Taylor’s boyfriend. He plays hockey.”

Rob’s eyes went wide. “Are you saying he plays for Seattle?”

My sister furrowed her brow. I had to smile because I knew she had no idea what team Kian played for. I was curious to see how she was going to respond. “We’re going to the game t
onight.”

“Against Vancouver?”

My sister glanced in my direction and gave me a panicked look. I knew she wanted me to bail her out. “My boyfriend is Kian Kavanagh.”

“Number 23,” Rob said. “He’s tough. A real playmaker.”

I nodded.

“The game is sold out.” He sounded a little crushed.

“Maybe you could meet us for drinks after the game. Meet Kian.”

Rob’s eyes went wide. “Really?”

Zelda glanced over at me again. I was supposed to bail her out—again. “I’m sure Kian wouldn’t mind.”

I wasn’t sure at all. I knew he would be a perfect gentleman. And I knew he’d do whatever I asked. But I also knew he’d want to be alone with me as quickly as possible.

And I wanted to be alone with him, too.

“If you give me your phone,” Rob said. “I can put my nu
mber in there for you. And I’ll put your number in mine.”

My sister glanced at me again and she looked panicked. I had never seen her so nervous around a guy in my entire life. She was a man eater with everyone except Rob apparently.

“I don’t have a phone,” my sister admitted.

Rob’s eyebrows shot up. “Why?”

I wanted so badly to cut in and tell him everything about her anti-technology stance but I was more curious to see how she was going to handle the situation.

“I’ve been thinking of getting one,” my sister lied. “It’s just so overwhelming. There are so many to choose from.”

“I could help,” Rob said quickly. “If you want. No pressure.”

My sister smiled. “I’d love some help.”

Rob showed my sister his phone. “You might want something like this. It’s easy to use. I could give you some lessons, once you have one picked out.”

My sister touched his hand softly. “You’d do that for me?”

Rob swallowed. “Of course.”

I felt like I was going to be sick. I wondered if people got nauseated when they saw
me and Kian together.

“Maybe you could put your number in my sister’s phone. And she could give you her number.”

I heaved a sigh and handed Rob my phone. “Go for it.”

The rest of the flight I tried to sleep but
Zelda
and Rob were laughing and chatting so loudly, it made it difficult. Part of me wanted to tell them to keep it down but another part of me was happy that my sister seemed so into Rob. I had never seen her so interested in anyone before. Sure, she had been with a lot of guys, more that I could probably ever count, but she had never been really
into
any of them. This was something completely different.

***

When we landed, Rob gave my sister a kiss on the cheek and promised he would phone about getting together later for drinks. I thought it wise to text Kian and let him know what was going on.

Me:
Just wanted to let you know that we landed safely. Can’t wait to see you tonight. I know you’ll be Fire on Ice. Hope it’s okay to go for drinks after the game with Zelda and Rob
.

Kian:
Who is Rob
?

Me:
Someone Zelda met on the plane. Don’t ask
.

Kian:
Okay, I won’t ask. Can’t wait to see you, Princess
.

***

The driver Kian hired for us was a big guy. It didn’t surprise me. I knew Kian wanted us to feel safe. No one would ever mess with this guy. I thought he could probably crush The Rock like a bug. He took us to the hotel and told us to phone when we were ready to go to the game.

The hotel was absolutely amazing, modern but still luxurious. The lobby had a waterfall wall that I couldn’t take my eyes off
of.

“Come on,” my sister said as she grabbed my elbow. “We have to freshen up for our men.”

Kian booked us two adjoining rooms. They were each junior suites about the size of the apartment I used to have. It seemed like a lifetime ago when I lived in that studio apartment. So much had happened since then.

I felt like things had come full circle.

My sister opened the two doors between our rooms, so we could talk while we were getting ready.

She flopped down on my king size bed. “These rooms must have cost a small fortune. And I’m sure our private security guard wasn’t cheap either.”

“He’s a driver,” I corrected.

“He’s someone you don’t mess with, that’s for sure.”

I lay down on the bed next to my sister. “These are sweet rooms.”

“I hope you plan on marrying that guy,” my sister said. “He’s obviously crazy about you.”

“He hasn’t asked me yet.”

“I’m sure he will.”

“I’m going to tell him I’m moving to Seattle right after I take my exams.”

My sister turned over so she was looking at me. “You are?”

I nodded. “I talked with Dr. Simmons. He went to the University of Washington and he has a lot of connections. He thinks he’ll be able help me get into the Social Work program. He’s going to give me his highest recommendation. That pulls a lot of weight.”

“And you’re a straight A student.”

“And my GRE scores are really good. I definitely want to visit the school while we’re here.”

“Okay, but I have to get a cell phone first.”

“You don’t really want a phone, do you?”

“No, but I want to spend as much time with Rob as I can. The guy is hot.”

“Yeah, the sparks were really flying between the two of you.”

“Let’s just say I’m glad Kian got me my own room.”

I hopped up from the bed. “We’d better get ready if we want to eat before the game. I know how long it takes you to put yourself together.”

My sister rolled off the bed. “It takes a lot of effort to look effortlessly beautiful.”

An hour later, I was shocked to see my sister in jeans and a light blue sweater. No flowing skirt. No harem pants. Not even a bold colored scarf in sight. “You look normal,” I said.

“It’s still a costume,” my sister assured me. “I hope it says I’m a cute co-ed.”

“You do look cute. I’m just not used to seeing you in jeans. I didn’t even know you owned jeans. Or a sweater that’s one color.”

“I just had a feeling this ensemble would come in handy.”

“Are you ready?” I asked.

“Would you text Rob and tell him to meet us here after the game? There’s a nice looking bar right off the lobby.”

“You noticed that?”

“I notice everything that involves alcohol.”