Part Ninety-Six

“Welcome back, Hawthorne,” Coach said as I walked into the locker room and the guys started slow clapping as I walked to my locker. I shook my head and grinned as the clapping got louder and louder.

“Thanks Coach,” I said.

I opened my locker and started packing my things away. My extra set of clothes went into the locker and I taped a picture of Kalen to the inside of the door. It felt good to be back, even though I already missed her.

“Who’s the blonde I saw sneaking out of your room at Justin’s party?” Nicholas asked as he leaned against the locker next to mine.

“Keep your voice down,” I said as I looked around for Alexei and started to undress.

“No judgment, brother, I for one am glad you’re getting out there again,” he said.

“Nothing happened,” I said as I started putting my padding on.

“Whatever, man, I heard you rocking her world,” he said.

I ignored Nicholas as Alexei made his appearance and slapped me hard on the back before sticking his tongue in my ear and right there I almost died as I pushed him away, shuddering with disgust.

“Kage is back in the cage,” Alexei said.

“I hope you washed with bleach,” Mason said as he slapped Alexei on his butt.

“Piss off, Mace,” Alexei said.

“Good to have you back, Kage,” Cooper said.

“So I heard you got lucky on Friday night,” Alexei said, making suggestive moves against my leg.

“Get off me,” I said as he laughed.

“So did you?” he asked me.

“I don’t kiss and tell like you do,” I said.

“Aha, finally Kage gets some action,” he said.

“I don’t know what you guys are talking about, let’s get on the ice before Coach makes us do double sprints,” I said and headed out to the ice.

Training was hard but it felt good to be back. I was focused and I caught the second line defenseman twice against the ice as Coach gave me an almost smile. My mind was on hockey and getting the puck and I was glad to see that I hadn’t lost my edge in the past three months.

“Good job team,” Coach said as we filed past him.

We showered and got dressed and I listened to the team going on about Justin’s birthday and the guys telling Alexei that he probably has something worse than herpes when he scratched his balls. I had missed this, not the ball scratching part, but the overall camaraderie.

I arrived back at the condo to music coming from the living room and Katiya holding Kalen and dancing with her. Kalen’s eyes were basically closed and I stood watching them for a moment and I wondered if things could’ve been like this with Madison. I immediately pushed that thought to the back of my head.

“Staring’s rude, you know,” Katiya said.

“Sorry,” I said.

“Who knows, maybe one day I’ll dance for you,” she said and walked down the hall to Kalen’s bedroom.

This woman was going to kill me. I was positive about it. Now I was imagining her dancing naked in the living room. A cold shower seemed like a good idea right now and as I turned towards the hall I bumped right into her.

“Wow, you’re just everywhere,” I said as I took a step backwards.

“Do I make you uncomfortable?” she asked me.

“Honestly, yes,” I said and she laughed.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“I don’t think you are. I think you’re trying to see how far you can push me,” I said.

“Maybe, but the sexual tension between us is obvious,” she said.

“And that’s why it would help if you wore clothes that cover your butt,” I replied.

“You don’t like my butt?”

“I do, that’s the problem,” I said.

The rest of the week she seemed to try to avoid me. When I was at home she wore sweatpants and the first time I saw her wearing them I laughed. It didn’t do anything to stop my imagination because I already knew what she looked like underneath.

We had returned on Friday night from a match away and we’d fly out again on Tuesday. It was also the first Saturday I had to take Kalen to Madison’s place and her first night away from home. I was kind of nervous.

“I think I should go with you when you drop Kalen off,” Katiya said that morning as she packed an overnight bag.

“Why?”

“At some point I’d have to meet Madison, it’s going to happen that you’re not here on a Saturday. At least this way we would’ve already met each other,” she said.

“Makes sense,” I said.

We drove over to Kensington and I got Kalen out of her baby seat while Katiya grabbed her diaper bag and the overnight bag she had packed earlier. I knocked on Madison’s door twice before she opened it and her eyes widened slightly at the sight of Katiya.

“Hi,” she said softly as we followed her inside.

“This is Katiya, she’s Kalen’s nanny. Thought you two should meet if I’m not in town on a Saturday for the drop off then Katiya will bring her,” I said.

“Hi Madison, where can I put Kalen’s stuff for you?” Katiya said.

“The first room down the hall is Kalen’s,” Madison said and Katiya took both bags to the room with Kalen in her arms as well.

“She’s been fed and changed just before we came over, so she should be good for at least another four hours,” I said as Madison gave me a look.

“The nanny? Really?” she asked me.

“I’m not doing this with you,” I said.

“At least have the decency to be honest,” she said. “That woman is nobody’s nanny.”

“She’s asleep,” Katiya said from behind Madison.

“I’ll pick her up tomorrow at three,” I said and turned towards the door.

“It was nice to meet you, Madison,” Katiya said and followed me out of the apartment.