Butcher

Chapter 3

3

Sexton

Two Hours Earlier

The locker room was pure pandemonium. I was standing in the middle of the room, wearing my sunglasses to keep the sprays of champagne and beer out of my eyes, taking it all in. Winning a championship was something every professional athlete dreamt about, and the guys and I had just done it. Everyone was drenched as we all whooped and hollered and sprayed each other and the room with alcohol.

“Can you fucking believe it?” Butcher tossed his arm over my shoulders. “We did it!”

I grinned. “Definitely makes all of those early morning skates worth it.”

“Hell yeah.” He squeezed me tighter.

“Hey, Coop!” Friberg shouted and waved our captain over to where we were standing. “Did I see you propose to Ford out there on the ice?”

My gaze jerked to Coop. Somehow, I’d missed that.

Coop beamed. “I sure did.”

“Congrats, man. I’m happy for you.” Butcher pulled him in for a bro hug.

“Thanks.” He took a drink from the champagne bottle he was holding.

“Nabbing the Cup, MVP, and a fiancé all in the same night. How are you ever going to top that?” Orlov smacked Coop on the back.

“Actually, we’re getting married tonight, so I think that will do it,” he replied.

My eyes widened then I gave him a fist bump. “Damn, you really did decide to make it the night of your life.”

“Yeah, and you’re all invited. I’ll text you the details once I know where we’re going.”

“Cool. I’m meeting my parents for dinner, but I’ll be there.” I was happy to support my friend, but since my parents insisted I meet them for dinner, I felt I had to.

The team bus had taken us back to the hotel, but instead of going up to my room, I headed outside and texted my dad to let him know I was on my way to the steakhouse we were meeting at.

Dad: That’s good. You’ve kept us waiting, and your mother is getting tired.

I rolled my eyes and shoved my phone into my suit coat pocket before walking toward the rideshare I’d ordered when we’d gotten close to the hotel. Butcher was standing near the hotel doors, smiling and laughing with his family, and a pang of jealousy hit me hard. While he appeared excited to celebrate our win with his loved ones, I dreaded having dinner with mine.

It had been quite a shock when my mom told me she and my father were coming to the final game in Sin City of all places. Growing up, she had always been my biggest supporter in private, but my father took every opportunity to criticize me about my “poor life choices.” He’d wanted his only child to follow in his footsteps and become a pastor like him, carrying on the family legacy he’d inherited from my mother’s father.

My dad believed I’d not only turned my back on my family but on God as well when I left home to follow my dream—a dream that would never have been possible without my paternal grandfather’s encouragement and financial assistance. I always wondered how my father ended up so cold and manipulative when he’d been raised by the most amazing man I’d ever known. But maybe witnessing the power and adoration my maternal grandfather received from his congregation had been too enticing for dear old dad.

Once I graduated high school, I played hockey for two seasons at the University of North Dakota before being drafted by the Anaheim Ducks and signed to a three-year contract. Granddad lived long enough to see me drafted but passed away before I played my first NHL game. When my contract expired three years ago, I signed a five-year deal with the Bruins.

Over the last six years I’d played in the NHL, my father had never come to watch me play. It left me wondering if my parents would have even come to the game had it not been for a church conference my father was speaking at in Arizona the next day. Knowing he didn’t really want to be in Las Vegas had me even more anxious about seeing them.

At least I had Coop’s wedding to look forward to once dinner was over.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I gave the hostess my name and followed her to the table where my parents were seated.

“Levi.” Mom stood and pulled me in for a hug. “Congratulations on your big win. I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too.” I squeezed her. I loved my mother more than words could express, but our time together was often overshadowed by my dad’s negativity.

“Son.” My father reached out to shake my hand but said nothing about my game.

Sitting beside my mother, I said to him, “Thank you for making the trip out here. I know you don’t like being away from your church and the other congregations you spend time with, but it means a lot that you’re here.”

Even though my father and I didn’t see eye to eye on many things, a part of me still sought his approval and wanted him to be proud of me. It was probably stupid for me to hope it would happen one day, seeing as he never missed an opportunity to state just how disappointed he was about my career choices.

“Yes, well, it’s been a long time since you’ve been home to visit, so we figured we needed to come to you if we wanted to see our only child.” Dad took a sip of his water.

And let the guilt trip start.

“Sorry about that,” I lied. As much as I wished I could see my mother more, I had no desire to spend what little free time I had with my father. “I’ve been a little busy.”

Mom patted my hand. “Do you think you’ll visit now that it’s the off-season?”

“Probably not.” I ran a hand over my face knowing what I said next would likely lead to my father saying something to piss me off. “I bought a place in Boston, and I’ll be moving in soon.”

“Are you planning on making Boston your permanent home?” Mom asked, her eyes shimmering with tears.

“Things can always change if I get traded, but I really do love it there and would be interested in signing an extension with the Bruins if they offer me one.”

My father shook his head. “I don’t understand what anyone sees in these big cities. From what I can tell, they are full of sin and perversion.”

Before I could respond, our server came over to take my drink order, and my father said, “We’re ready to order our meals as well.”

I hadn’t looked at the menu yet, but it was already later than my parents were usually out, so while they rattled off what they wanted, I picked the first thing my eyes landed on.

“I’ll have the ribeye cooked medium rare, with a baked potato and steamed vegetables, please.” I handed over my menu. “Oh, and a bottle of Stella as well.”

The server smiled. “I’ll be right back with your drink.”

“A beer?” Dad huffed as the server walked away.

If I really wanted to wind him up, I could have told him how much I’d already had to drink before I’d arrived, but it was better for everyone if I ignored his comment.

The rest of dinner was fine. Dad kept looking at his phone instead of engaging in conversation with me and my mom. She and I kept the conversation to safe topics like what was happening around my hometown and updates on some extended family members. When we finished eating, I assumed both my father and I were ready to go our separate ways.

“Do you want to share a taxi back to the hotel?” Mom asked as we walked outside.

“Actually, my teammate got engaged after the game, and they’ve decided to get married tonight, so I’m meeting them at the chapel,” I replied.

“Are you talking about Emmett Cooper?” Dad grumbled.

Guessing by his tone, he’d seen Coop propose to Ford after the ceremony.

“Yep.”

“How can you support such deviant?—”

“We’re not doing this,” I clipped. My father had made his feelings toward the LGBTQ+ community clear over the years, and it was one of a long list of things we disagreed on. “Coop is a good friend of mine, and I’m not going to listen to you talk shit about him or the person he wants to spend the rest of his life with.”

“Now, Mark.” My mother patted her husband’s arm soothingly. “Let’s not ruin our night with an argument.”

As much as I loved her, it bothered me how she always tried to play peacemaker instead of standing up to my father when he was an asshole. On some level, I understood because she had been raised by a man who was also small-minded and taught her that a good wife never questioned her husband. Whenever we had private conversations, I tried to explain to her that she didn’t have to continue living a life of subservience, but I also understood how hard it was for her to break away from years of indoctrination.

I let out a breath, knowing no matter what I said, nothing would change my father’s opinion. “Mom, thanks for coming to watch me play. Knowing you were in the crowd meant the world to me.” I hugged her. “Dad, I hope you have a good trip to Arizona.”

I turned away and walked down the street before ordering a car to pick me up.

My rideshare dropped me off in front of the little chapel off the Strip, where several of my teammates stood outside. As soon as I climbed out of the car, I noticed Butcher standing with a woman, and I knew right away who it was.

When I approached them, Kaylee looked up and said, “Speak of the devil.”

“Was someone talking about me?” I smiled.

Butcher took a step back but kept his arm resting on her shoulders. “Kaylee was just wondering where you were. How was dinner with your parents?”

“About what I expected.” I shrugged but didn’t elaborate. Butcher knew a little about my complicated relationship with my father, so he likely understood what I meant. Kaylee looked as though she wanted to say something, but Coop and Ford pulled up, and her attention turned toward them.

“How was yours?” I asked Butcher.

“Good. My dad welcomed me to the Stanley Cup club, and I rubbed our win in Dallas’ face.” Butcher’s father was known as one of the elite power forwards of his era and was a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Butcher and his younger brother, Dallas, followed in their father’s footsteps; however, Dallas had yet to win a Cup.

We trailed the couple into the chapel, where they walked up to the receptionist.

“We’d like to get married,” Coop said, and the receptionist’s eyes widened.

“Aren’t you Emmett Cooper?” she asked.

He smiled at her. “I am.”

She glanced at all of us standing behind the couple. “Oh my gosh. You guys played great tonight. I shouldn’t say this since I live here, but I was rooting for the Bruins the entire series.”

“We appreciate that.” He leaned against the counter. “Now, about getting married ...”

“Oh, right. Did you get your marriage license already?”

“We did.” He pulled a piece of paper from an envelope and handed it over.

“And since you have several people in your party, I’m assuming someone will be a witness?” she asked.

Coop nodded. “Yes, Hayden Foster and Kaylee Peters will be doing the honors.”

“Okay. Give me a few minutes to get everything set up in the chapel. It will be tight, but I think we can fit everyone in there.”

“The guys and I can stand up in the back if there’s room,” Butcher offered. “Just make sure there’s room for their families to sit.”

“Thanks, man.” Coop squeezed his shoulder.

Once everything was set up, Coop’s and Ford’s families found their seats while my teammates and I squeezed in wherever possible.

I tried to pay attention to the ceremony, but I found myself staring at Kaylee, who looked stunning in a short gold dress that showed off a fantastic pair of legs. Legs I could imagine wrapped around my waist … or burying my face between them.

“You’re staring,” Butcher whispered.

I glanced at him, and he grinned. “How can I not? She’s fucking gorgeous,” I said in the same low tone he used.

“Agreed. Tonight should be fun.”

A couple of weeks ago, Kaylee, Butcher, and I almost had a threesome. It wouldn’t have been my first one, but it would be the first time another guy was there with me instead of two women. At the time, I’d been a little hesitant, but willing. Now, I couldn’t wait to see if we got a second chance with her.

When I finally forced myself to stop thinking about getting Kaylee naked, I looked at the couple we were there to celebrate and heard the officiant say, “By the power vested in me by the State of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may kiss each other.”

The entire room cheered as Coop and Ford shared their first married kiss.

After the ceremony, we headed back to the hotel where the team was staying to hit up the nightclub our travel coordinator made arrangements with. The hostess led us to the roped-off VIP area, and I quickly found a spot to sit next to Kaylee and Butcher.

Coop and Ford were busy making out, and I wondered how long they would stay before deciding they wanted to be alone. The first time I saw Coop kiss Ford after a game, I’d been caught by surprise. Growing up in my small southern town, I’d never met an openly gay person before. Once I moved to California, of course, it wasn’t uncommon to see same sex couples, but since I spent most of my time with professional athletes, it was rare to see any PDA between two men.

“Save that for when you get back to your room,” Butcher teased the couple over the thumping bass as he handed us each a champagne flute.

“To Coop and Ford.” Kaylee held up her glass. “Two of my favorite people in the world who have found the love most of us can only hope for. I wish you both all the best.”

Hayden, who I’d met through Coop, then raised his flute. “I’m so happy for the two of you and honored that you included me in your special day. Here’s to a lifetime of love and happiness.”

We all clinked our glasses together and took sips of our drinks.

Coop was the next to address our group. “Thank you all so much for joining us. Tonight has been the greatest night of my life. It doesn’t get much better than winning the Stanley Cup and then marrying the love of my life, and I’m so glad I got to do it with all of you here. To my teammates, you guys worked hard all season, and it paid off. I’m honored to be your captain. And to Hayden, Tyler, and Kaylee, friends like you are hard to come by. Ford and I are so grateful for your support.”

After that, the drinks started flowing, and soon, our group took over the dance floor. I watched Butcher approach Kaylee, and they began dancing together. Coop and Ford only lasted one song before they said their goodbyes and headed to their room. Catcalls from all the guys followed them as they walked away.

Several women approached our group and began dancing with my teammates. One of them approached me, but I shook my head. There was only one woman I was interested in spending the night with.

To avoid having to reject any more advances, I headed over to the bar and ordered a Moscow Mule. I paid for my drink, and then turned to face the dance floor. On the edge closest to me, I saw Kaylee still dancing with Butcher, her arms wrapped around his neck and his hands on her ass. I didn’t know if he could feel me staring at them, but he looked up, and our gazes collided.