Body Checking (Men of Havoc #3)

15

IT'S SATURDAY night and Sasha is dragging me out to watch the Havoc game at a damn sports bar when all I really want to do is climb into my Hammer jersey –and that alone– cuddle under my fuzzy blanket, and drink a beer while I watch my man yell at his guys.

My man . It still sounds foreign to my ears to call him, Cade “The Hammer” Hamlin, my man. Six months ago I would have spit my water out in your face if you said that I’d be in a relationship with the star of my teenage dreams. I wouldn’t believe it myself if it weren’t for the texts and pictures on my phone. I have yet to make the relationship insta official, but I feel like that could be the kiss of death, so I’ll just keep it to myself for now.

“You cannot wear your jersey, Mare. I’m putting the kibosh on that shit now. Put on a cute pair of jeans and that silky tank, prop the girls up then let’s go.” Sasha turns side to side looking at her reflection in the mirror as she models which one of my pair of shoes she’s going to steal .

“You know those don’t fit you, Cinderella?” Her feet aren't much smaller than mine and I’m sure she could make it work, but if they go on her feet I’ll never see them again.

“Hush your face and change those fucking leggings and jersey. I will not leave this house with you in that .”

“I’m so glad that out of all the best friends you could have made yours, you picked me,” I tell her with a fake smile.

She responds with a middle finger and a tongue out. I reach for my dark blue, high waisted jeans and instead of the silky tank that offers me no support, I grab a Blondie cropped t-shirt and a sexy pair of red booties. Sasha gives me her thumbs up when I lay it all out on the bed, and begin testing the stretch of the denim.

I let out a huff when I get myself all tucked in, zipped up and smoothed out. Sasha lets out a loud whistle and I give her a little shimmy and shake. I feel good in this outfit and I’m glad Sasha bullied me into changing.

“C’mere, Sash. Let’s take a quick photo before we leave. Then we’ll do the whole I’ve had this many drinks pic.” I wave her to me and she skips over.

I hold the phone up in front of us and we look at the camera, give it our best non-duck face but still pouty lips look, and snap it. I flip the camera and take one of us in the mirror, then she quickly snatches the phone from my hand.

“Let me get one of you for the Hammer.” I roll my eyes with a smile and move from side to side to find the perfect angle. “Stop squirming. You look like you have to pee. Just be you. That’s who he loves most.”

I freeze, only my eyes moving in Sasha’s direction, as my brain tries to process what she said. “He does not love me. That’s just crazy.”

“Oh he does,” she says and begins tapping at my screen. “You can see it when he looks at you. He’s like a cartoon character, stars in his eyes and floating a cloud of pink cotton candy.”

“Are you taking fucking pictures? Stop. I need to pose.” She keeps tapping away and I take a deep breath to calm myself so that at least one picture is viable. “Are you done?” I ask.

Her eyes fly across the screen and then she says, “Yup. Here ya go.”

She hands it back and I immediately see it light up with a text. Opening it, I see a picture of me –not a bad one– and a response from Cade that reads, Damn baby. Why don’t you lift up that top and show me those beautiful tits winking emoji

I chew on my lip and reply, Later kissing emoji

“Let’s go, you sneaky turd,” I tell her and stick my phone in my back pocket.

On the way out the door, I grab my trusty leather jacket and gold clutch and flip the locks as we start our GNO.

I squeeze Sasha’s arm, desperately trying to get her attention, but she’s lost to the music. I resort to pinching her ass and that gets her to spin around with a cheeky smile.

“Well hey baby. If I’d known you wanted to get a little freaky, we could’ve stayed at home.”

“You wish. I’m going to get some water. I’m dying. Want one?” I ask her.

“ Yes . Please. I could use a whole pitcher.” She fans herself off, sweat dripping down her neck and into her cleavage.

“I got you, sis.” I leave her to dance with a group of gals we befriended and weave through the crowd to the bar.

After watching the Havoc win, we left the sports bar and headed to my new favorite place, Big Joe’s. I texted Bryn on the way over and by the time we met D at the door, we had VIP access with a reserved table. Sasha was shocked when I told her that she and Cade were only friends and never slept together. She followed up her shock with a crass statement saying, “Think she’s looking for a fuck buddy?”

Pure class, that Sasha Carroll.

Bryn sees me approaching and tosses the towel over her shoulder and leans an elbow on the bar.

“What can I get you, pretty lady?”

“Could I just get a couple of glasses of water? It’s hotter than two rabbit’s screwin’ in a wool sock.” Bryn throws her head back with a big belly laugh and I chuckle, embarrassed I let that slip.

“Jesus, that was a good one. You let your Texan slip baby girl, and I am here for it. I’ll grab those for you.” She moves to the other end of the bar and gets a couple glasses.

I watch her for a few seconds when I hear, “Oh my gosh, you guys. There she is,” followed by a loud cackle.

I ignore whomever is talking so loud and just wait for my waters.

“She made up this whole story that she and Walker were dating. And then she made a scene at the coffee shop.” I realize that I am the person being spoken about and they’re making it obvious they want me to hear.

“Excuse me. If you have something to say, tell me to my face,” I tell them as I spin around, and come face to face with Walker’s new girlfriend, Carys .

She’s dressed in a very tight gold dress that sparkles under the lights, and gold cowboy boots. She looks like the country western version of an Oscar statue.

“I thought you’d hear it better if I said it to your back. You know, because there’s so much of it.” She snickers and her friends follow suit. “Walker told me you basically stalked him, and that you two never dated. Poor girl. You must be delusional. Did you take your meds today?”

I grind my teeth together and choke down the sob that is working its way up. “Walker and I dated for three months. Two of those he was with both of us, apparently.”

“Honey,” she says, sarcastically. “How you could think that he would ever date someone like you is hilarious.”

My back stiffens and the burn in my nose grows stronger.

“Look at me, then look at you. Why would he pick chunky monkey when he could have fierce and fabulous.” She motions down and up the length of her svelte body.

I swallow down a ball of emotions and blink my eyelashes to ward off the tears that are threatening to fall. She’s right. Why was Walker slumming it with me when he had someone like Carys in the wings?

Suddenly my shirt feels too short and my jeans are too tight. My shoulders hunch as I try to shrink away, and my eyes look around for Sasha as I work on summoning her via ESP. It doesn’t work, and Carys and her band of mean girls only begin to laugh more, whispering behind their hands to one another.

“Everything okay here, ladies?” Bryn’s voice carries over my shoulder and I turn to look at her.

“Oh. Totally cool. Just catching up with our friend,” Carys says.

Bryn looks at her with a skeptical eye then looks at me. She must see the embarrassment and tears in my eyes because much like her dear friend Cade, her eyes turn black with rage.

“Is that right? Well what’s your friend's name?” Bryn asks, playing along.

“Fanny. She’s our friend Fanny from high school. Isn’t that right, Fanny ?” Her voice drips with malice and I finally let the first tear fall.

“That’s funny because I could’ve sworn her name was Maren. At least, that’s what her boyfriend said her name was.”

“Uh oh. Who is she claiming is her boyfriend now?” Carys places her hand over her mouth as if she’s trying to hold in her boisterous laughter.

“Oh, it’s no claim. I know, for a fact, she is the girlfriend of Cade Hamlin. And if you don’t know who that is, let me show you.” She reaches in her back pocket and pulls out her phone, then slides her finger across the screen, searching for what must be a picture of Cade.

It’s admirable that she’d want to help me out like this, but it’s all in vain. A picture of Cade isn’t going to do anything. They’ll assume I paid her to say that, or something. But instead of a picture of just Cade, she produces a picture of Cade, her and myself from the night we met a few weeks ago.

Cade is holding me close, our chests pressed together, and Bryn stands next to me as she holds her arm out, snapping a photo of all of us laughing.

“ This is Cade “The Hammer” Hamlin. Former NHL player and current coach of the Houston Havoc. And she is his girlfriend. Cade is my best friend which means Maren is, too. And when someone tries to fuck with my friends, I do what I have to do to protect them. So,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest and flexing her toned muscles. “Why don’t you and your friends get the fuck outta my bar before I have my nice friend throw you out.”

She points a finger in the direction of a big guy standing at the other end of the bar, watching us with a keen eye. The girls look over at the burly bartender then back at Bryn. She gives them a little nod as if to say do what I say and don’t make a scene. Carys flips her long blonde hair over her shoulder and points her nose in the air .

“This bar sucks, anyhow,” she says, as she takes her friend's arm and begins to pull them away.

“Oh ladies. Before you go, have a drink on the house.”

Bryn slaps one hand on the bar and pushes herself up. She takes a tall glass of ice water and proceeds to pour it down the front of Carys’ dress. Her mouth drops as the frigid liquid seeps through her tin foil dress and her friends jump back with a gasp.

“You bitch!” She shouts.

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out. Now get lost and don’t ever step foot in my bar again.” Bryn drops her feet to the floor and sticks out a finger in the direction of the door.

Carys spins around and tugs on her friends to follow. They move along quickly, not wanting to wear one of the bar’s finest drinks, and the crowd parts to let them pass. I watch them disappear then turn to face Bryn.

“Thank you,” I say to her, my throat clogged. “You didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it just the same.”

“Hey,” she says, laying her hand on mine. “If I didn’t do that and Cade found out, he’d kick my ass back to Tennessee.” I give her a small, weak smile. “You know what they said is all bullshit, right?”

“Mhm,” I tell her, unconvincingly .

“Don’t let them get to you. They’re fake women with low IQs and shitty taste in clothing. Everything they said is just jealousy talking. You’re amazing, Maren, and I know both Cade and I have told you more than a few times. Brush them off and I’ll go get you another drink.”

“No,” I say quickly. “That’s okay. I think I’m going to go home.”

“Maren. Don–”

“It’s okay. Really. I’m just a little tired and I think Sasha is about two drinks away from taking off her top and dancing on the tables.” We both look over to see Sasha with her hands in the air, shaking her boobs and yelling wooohooo .

I press my palms flat against the bartop and lean over to Bryn. I give her a kiss on the cheek and a hug. “Thank you,” I whisper and pull away.

She gives me a sorrowful look and now I need to get out of here as fast as I can. I rush over to where Sasha dances and yank on her arm.

“We need to go,” I shout in her ear.

“What? No. Why?” she whines, flinging her body around to face me.

She sees the look on my face and her mood immediately changes from pouting toddler to concerned best friend.

“Maren. What’s wrong?” She takes my hands in hers and squeezes them .

“I’ll tell you later. Let’s just leave. Okay?” Tear after tear begins to fall.

She nods and says a quick goodbye to the girls we met. I put on a brave face and wave goodbye, then push my way to the door.

“Miss Maren. You okay, girl?” D asks as we fly out the door.

“Yeah D. Thanks. Just gotta get home before my chariot turns back into a pumpkin. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.” I give him a quick hug, then shuffle down the sidewalk to the parking lot where my car is parked.

The same parking lot I did the dirty with Cade. The same parking lot that belongs to my new favorite bar. But in the blink of an eye, my new favorite place has become one I can’t get away from fast enough.