O Goalie Night (The Ottawa Otters #1)

Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

FOSTER

I t’s after ten when I arrive at my hotel room in Chicago. I drop my bags the moment I’m through the door and collapse onto the bed. The worst thing about away games isn’t the travel or the ever-changing schedule; it’s not being able to sleep in your own bed whenever you want to.

Especially now that I have someone to share it with.

I pull up Beth’s contact on my phone and Facetime her, as promised. She picks up on the second ring and my chest swells the moment her sleepy face comes into focus. I’ve only been gone for a few hours, but it feels like ages.

“Hey,” she says snuggling into my pillow. I know it’s mine by the colour of the pillow case her brown hair is fanned out on. I’d told her she could sleep in my room while I was away and I’m pleased she decided to.

The fact that I’m not there with her is a grave injustice.

“Hey. How was your evening?”

“It was good. I corrected spelling tests. Gold stars all around.”

“Nice. ”

“Are you ready for tomorrow?”

Chicago’s a tough team, but we’re evenly matched. As of right now, we’re set to head into Christmas break as the top team in the Atlantic division and that feels amazing.

“I think so, yeah. We’re meeting to discuss strategy in the morning.”

She nods as her mouth turns downwards. “How is Ben?”

I blow out a breath, not sure how to answer that question. How is Ben? I hadn’t seen him since the Christmas party, but he texted me the day after to tell me he and Valentina broke up. I offered to meet up, but he said he wanted to be alone.

Then I asked if he wanted to talk about it on the plane today. He immediately said “no,” pulled out his headphones and ignored me for the rest of the trip.

“I’m not really sure,” I tell her, honestly. “He’s moody as hell and not saying much. I’m sure he’ll talk when he’s ready. Ben loves talking about himself.”

The worry on her face eases a microscopic amount. “He does. Speaking of brothers and talking…”

I walked right into that one. I did end up responding to Cody’s initial message last week. I thanked him for reaching out and told him I’d let him know when I’m ready to meet up.

He texted back right away and said he understood and to take all the time I needed.

Part of me wishes that he’d be an asshole about it or try to guilt me into seeing him. I’ve held on to this hurt and resentment for so long, I want a reason to cling to it .

“I was thinking I’d message him next week. Try to meet up for coffee after you leave to go home?”

As much as I hate the idea of Beth leaving for two weeks, I know how excited she is to spend time with her family. She’s been talking about their annual cookie baking and outdoor Christmas lights tour; family traditions I hope to be a part of, someday.

“Well, I for one think reconnecting with your family over Christmas sounds lovely. Besides, if you’re hanging with your brother, you won’t have time to attract puck bunnies.”

I let out a bark of laughter as she pretends to glare at me through the screen. “Baby, there were no puck bunnies before you and there sure as hell won’t be any after. You’re the only puck bunny I want.”

Her mouth drops open and there’s fire in those whiskey eyes. “Foster James, I am not a puck bunny!”

I give her a lazy smile. “You sure about that? What are you wearing?”

The pink in her cheeks is visible through the phone. “A jersey.”

“Mmmhmm. You’re wearing a hockey jersey in a hockey player’s bed. Sounds like a puck bunny’s natural habitat to me.”

“You’re the worst.”

“Aww, I’m not complaining. My jersey looks so good on you.”

“Who says it’s yours? Maybe I picked up Austin’s.”

I know she’s kidding, but I scowl anyway. “Don’t even joke about that. I’d burn it. And the bedsheets.”

She beams at me, clearly pleased to have gotten the upper hand. She can have it and anything else she wants .

“It’s your jersey.”

“Damn right it is. Show me? Not that I don’t trust you, I’ll just sleep better knowing for sure. It might be hard for me to see my name with you wearing it, so just slip it off real quick.”

Her laughter is silenced by a loud knock on my door.

“What was that?” Beth asks in a panicked voice and damned if I know the answer. I sit up in bed just as another three loud bangs shake the room.

“Fozzie! Open up!”

Fuck.

“It’s your brother. I better find out what he wants before he breaks the door down, okay? I– I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” I almost said “I love you.” It was on the tip of my tongue, ready to roll off.

“Okay…text me if something’s wrong?”

“I’m sure everything is fine, but I will. I promise.”

I almost told Beth that I love her. The implications make me light-headed as I stand and make my way to the door.

Am I in love with Beth? Yes. Is it too soon to tell her? Also yes.

Is her brother pounding on my door because he found out about us and has come to beat me to death with a pillowcase full of pucks?

Possibly.

“Alright, alright,” I say, throwing open the door.

Outside my room stand Ben, Will, and Austin in almost identical outfits of jeans and long sleeved shirts.

“Did we interrupt your beauty sleep? It’s okay. I’m pretty enough for the both of us.” Austin’s smug face is looking especially punchable at this moment. Ever since the Christmas party, he’s been goading me more than usual. Smiling at me for too long. Making snide comments under his breath. He grates on my nerves at the best of times, but this is starting to become intolerable. I’m sure it doesn’t help that my girlfriend just joked about wearing his jersey in bed.

“What is going on? Other than you assholes waking everyone on the goddamn floor.”

“We’re going out.” Ben states plainly.

“Okay. Have fun.” I start to close the door. A hand swings out, slamming onto the wood.

“You’re coming. Get dressed.”

Irritation prickles at the base of my skull and I cross my arms as I lean against the doorframe. “I’m not going out.”

“Come on, Fozzie. I need this.” Ben rubs at his temples. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days. “When do I ever ask you for anything?”

A chorus of “Constantly,” “Always,” and “All the damn time,” is his response.

Ben glares at Austin and Will before continuing. “Please, man? I just survived a breakup and need to fuck someone new to get her out of my system. It’s Friday night, we’re in the city of love–”

“The city of love is Paris. We’re in Chicago,” Will pipes up, but Ben ignores him.

“I need to go out and I need you there looking out for me.”

How did I become the adopted mother to this lost baby bird of a man? The last thing I want is to be dragged to some dive bar with these idiots, but what choice do I have? He’s my best friend and Beth’s brother, and I don’t want his judgement, or lack thereof, getting him in trouble.

“Give me five minutes. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

“I knew I could count on you, Fozz.” Ben is already walking away, leaving before I can change my mind. “That’s why you’re the best.”

I hope he still feels that way when he finds out I’m in love with his sister.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation that makes you question all of the choices you’ve made in your life? Really made you want to sit down and pour over memories of the roads you took to get to where you are at this exact moment in time?

Standing against this wall, observing the room around me, all I can think is how the fuck did I get here.

Ben Michaels is how I got here. He walked into the living room of my life, made himself comfortable, and never left. Not only has he been the best friend I’ve ever had, but he also brought Beth into my life.

And as miserable as I am in this very moment, and I’m really fucking miserable, I know I wouldn’t change a damn thing.

This club is everything I hate. The shitty music is too loud and there are not enough places to sit, so people are forced to stand around as they pretend to want to be here.

We were identified as hockey players almost immediately. It’s hard to say if anyone recognized us outright or just saw four big guys walk in and put two and two together .

I’m sure the shiner Will’s sporting thanks to a hit earlier this week didn’t help.

I’ve been keeping an eye on Ben since we got here. He’s spent the last ten minutes on a stool at the bar. A pretty blonde stands between his legs, her hands resting on his forearms. Part of me wishes he’d just take her back to the hotel already so I can get the hell out of here.

The other guys seem to be just fine. Will is doing what he does best; making friends. He’s talking to a large group that managed to acquire seats and appears to be reenacting how he got his black eye. The guy has more personality than he knows what to do with and people always gravitate to him.

Austin is surrounded by three women at a nearby pool table. I’m not sure if he plans to leave with all of them, but, to be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me. He’s done it before. It’s like he’s got something to prove, chasing women with the same relentless energy he brings to the ice every game.

Suddenly, Ben appears in front of me, alone. God, he looks like shit. Bloodshot, glassy eyes with dark circles underneath.

“Hey,” he says, his voice raw from whatever he’s been drinking. “You ready to go?”

Since the moment I walked in the joint.

“Definitely.”

“Great. Got a surprise for you.” His words slur, just enough for me to notice.

“I don’t think I can handle any more of your surprises tonight, thanks.”

He grins. “You’ll like this one. Kristen has a friend.” He nods at two women at the bar. One is the blonde he’s been talking to, the other a petite redhead. They’re both smiling at me.

Ah, fuck no.

I blink at him. “Not interested.”

“C’mon, man. She’s cute.”

I don’t care if she’s Helen of fucking Troy; she’s not Beth.

“It’s not going to happen, Ben.”

“What’s not going to happen?” Austin joins in, throwing an arm around each of us.

Ben ignores him. “Just take her back to your room. You don’t have to fuck her. Kirsten doesn’t want to leave her here by herself.”

“I thought you said her name was Kristen.”

“It doesn’t matter what her name is. Can we just go?”

This selfish son-of-a-bitch. “No. I am not taking some random woman back to my hotel room, Ben. Not fucking happening.”

“I’ll take her,” Austin volunteers. “Wait, who are we talking about?”

“No one was fucking talking to you, Austin.” Ben shoves him away.

“What the fuck, man?” Austin seethes.

I’ve had enough. Enough of Ben, enough of Austin, and everyone else here. I push off the wall to leave, but Ben blocks me.

“I’m going back to the hotel, Ben. Alone.”

“Come on, Fozz. What is the big deal? She’s ready and willing. And you haven’t gotten laid in ages.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Austin chuckles darkly .

I stiffen, glaring at him, but he’s too busy staring daggers at Ben to even notice.

“What is he talking about?” Ben asks. When I don't say anything, he turns to Austin. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m just saying, I'm pretty sure our boy Fozzie has been doing just fine lately. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s off the market altogether.”

Ben looks between the two of us, not comprehending. I could fucking strangle Austin.

“What?” Ben is waiting for someone to fill him in. “Do you have a girlfriend I don’t know about?”

Words evade me. I can’t lie to his face, but I also don’t want him to find out about me and Beth like this. If Austin would just shut his fucking mouth–

“Either that, or your sister’s been finding creative ways to repay his hospitality. Maybe in the backseat of his Lexus?”

The fucker saw us.

Ben freezes where he stands. It’s as though someone threw a bucket of ice water on him, sobering him immediately. For a minute nothing happens; the three of us stand there, motionless, waiting for someone to react.

Then Ben’s fist connects to Austin’s cheek. I hear the impact over the music and watch Austin’s head snap back at an unnatural angle. Ben lunges for him again, shaking me out of my stupor as I throw myself between them.

“Ben! Enough!” I hold him around the waist as he attempts to throw another punch at a staggering Austin.

“What the fuck is happening?” Will yells, arriving on scene. He stands in front of Austin, who’s got a hand up over his injured eye .

“Take it back!” Ben shouts, still trying to get his hands on him. I’m taking elbows to the ribs as I attempt to hold him back. “He said Foster was fucking my little sister. Take. It. Back.”

Will’s eyebrows shoot up as his eyes round on me. “Are you?”

Fuck.

Still attempting to wrestle Ben away, I look around to see we’re attracting attention. There are a couple of people taking videos with their phones, including the girl that Ben wanted me to take home. Perfect.

I need to get everyone out of here before someone calls the cops. If Ben gets arrested, this could go from bad to catastrophic.

“Of course he’s not,” Ben spits. He’s still furious, but no longer struggling against me. “Tell them, Fozz.”

My throat feels tight as I scan the room for the nearest exit. “We need to get out of here,” I say calmly. “People are filming us. If the cops show up, we’re fucked.”

Ben blinks at me, looking so lost and confused. “Are you fucking her?”

I stare back at him, swallowing hard. “It’s not like that.”

Four words. Four single syllable words are all it takes to end our friendship.

My best friend of four years looks at me like he doesn’t even know me.

“Foster’s right. We need to get out of here. Now.” Will leads Austin towards the exit and Ben and I follow without a word.

We find a cab immediately. A small miracle. The night air is freezing, but nothing compared to the cold shoulder Ben gives me on the ride back to the hotel. I check on Austin, who doesn’t appear to have a concussion, but is still in rough shape.

Will attempts to make conversation, but gives up when no one responds.

It’s late when we get to the hotel; we file through the empty lobby in silence. Will and Austin make it to the elevator first.

“We’ll get the next one,” I tell them when the doors open. Will looks hesitant to leave us alone, but nods and leaves with Austin.

The moment the doors close, Ben turns on me. “I fucking trusted you.”

“Ben–”

“You’re going to end it.” He pushes the elevator button, not looking at me. “You’re going to end it now. Do you understand me?”

“No.”

His eyes swing to mine. “What did you just say?”

“I’m not going to do that.” He’s talked me into a lot of things over the years, but this one is non-negotiable. “I’m not giving up Beth.”

He stares at me with more contempt than I ever thought he was capable of, and memories of Cody from years ago seep in, making me feel sick.

The next elevator arrives silently and Ben stalks on. “Then I’ll end it for you. From now on, you only talk to me when we’re on the ice. I don’t want you near me or my family. I don’t know you and I don’t fucking want to.”

The doors close, and I’m once again alone.