Chapter 5

Cody

I’m just about to board the flight and coach is scowling at me, yeah, he’s been doing a lot of that lately. I promise I’m going to try to clean my ice act up, this is not a game I want to throw away because I’m hurting and angry inside. There’s too much hanging in the balance. If we don’t make it through this game as winners, then we’re out of the cup final and that is definitely not something I want hanging over my head.

“Sorry coach. Had something to do.” I tell him.

“You are walking a thin line, Brannigan.” He tells me as I pass him and go take my seat at the back. Atlas, Calli and Nolan are already in their seats and the rest of the team. As usual it’s pretty raucous, everyone gets hyper excited before a game. We’ll land in Winnipeg around an hour and twenty minutes after take-off, for once it’s not a long flight.

Thankfully, coach hasn’t imposed a training session tonight. Sometimes, he wants us to dump our stuff at the hotel then get straight to the rink. It can be exhausting. To be honest, I am exhausted. We’ve covered over five games now with rigorous schedules with constant training, hitting the gym, running, swimming and then straight into the games. Sometimes we’ve had late flights then training early the following morning followed by the game later that evening.

You have to be rock solid mentally to be on the ice as a hockey player. It’s not for the faint of heart. In between all of that we have to find the time to fit in interviews and photoshoots into our schedules. Man, am I drained but seeing Immi was the highlight of my morning earlier.

The way she looked with her hair fanning her face some, those amazing legs of hers in those tight jeans. But no smile. My girl didn’t smile for me today, though with us being separated, which sucks like crazy, I don’t know what I truly expected.

I grab my phone out of my jeans pocket and see instantly it’s a message from Immi.

I read it once then twice. Did she really invite me to the opening in a couple of weeks? My heart flutters and skips a beat. Is she reaching out to me? She is, I can’t believe it. The last month has been one of the longest of my entire life not being with her. We were so damn close before this whole Luna and baby business came into the limelight and boy did Luna push it right out there. Instead of talking to me first or calling me, she went straight onto social media posting about how she’s carrying my baby. Talk about being thrust straight into the spotlight, like I’m not already in it and now I’m all over the internet not just for my fists on the ice which has, even I admit, gotten out of hand but also for being the daddy of some fucking puck bunny.

We had to do the paternity test since Luna has been known to sleep with several hockey players and sometimes more than one at a time. Yeah, she’s that kind of hanger-on girl. What the fuck was I thinking?

Back to Immi’s message, I want to message her straight back only I have to check it with Atlas first. After all she is his kid sister still and I know that he’s still mad as hell at me for her hurting and smarting over Luna and the baby. Even though I’ve told them countless times, that I slept with Luna before Immi, and I even hooked up. Still, it doesn’t wash with him, you know how protective he is over his little sister. Can’t blame him, I’d be no different. If it were me, I’d have kicked my little sister’s guys ass to hell and back. Good job mine is married happily with my gorgeous niece and nephew.

“Hey, Man.” I say to Atlas as I readjust myself in the seat and put my seatbelt on.

“What’s up?” He asks taking his eyes off his phone.

“Immi has said if I want to go to her opening night at the restaurant, I am to swing by.”

“Did she?” His brows are furrowed, not the best sign. I do want to go; I want to be there for Immi and to support her. Okay, for selfish reasons I need to be there. I want to see her and be close to her, even if we are still doing this whole being on a break thing.

“Reckon it’d do the restaurant some good, if you do go.” Calli says from the seat opposite. Logan is nodding. “It can’t do it any harm and let’s face it, you are the golden boy of the ice right now, the press will have a field day and it’ll sure get her name out there.” He takes a sip of his bottled water.

Atlas is still frowning, he’s thinking. This could take a while. He’s not the impulsive kind of guy I am and I know he’s weighing it all up.

“I’m not happy about it. She needs the space and you being there will just fuck with her head. For a start you still haven’t got a grip on Luna. I see she’s coming to the game tomorrow. It’s plastered all over her page. And that you guys are apparently talking about baby names.”

I almost choke. WTF? I’ve never mentioned anything about baby names to Luna nor has she to me. That woman needs a friggin leash on her. Surely my management team should be able to do something about this or my lawyer. I remind myself to get on it when we land. And another thing. Maybe they can force a restraining order on the crazy bitch. I don’t want her anywhere near me. Although, I’m guessing since she hasn’t physically hurt me, that’s not going to happen. What a cluster fuck up, right?

“Personally,” Atlas begins. “I don’t want you anywhere near my sister. Not until you get shit sorted out with Luna and she stops following you around and telling the world you’re going to get engaged once the baby is born.”

“I don’t have any control over that bitch.” I say sighing.

“Someone needs to put a stop to her behaviour.” Logan pipes up, placing his mobile down on the small table that separates him and Calli from Atlas on the other side.

Coach goes to take his seat and glares at me, it’s that look that reminds me to behave on the ice tomorrow or I’ll be spending the entire game in the sinbin.

“But I do get that’ll boost her profile and the restaurant. Don’t get any fucking ideas about getting back with her. She said three months and even if she wants to, you’ve got to be the strong one. It won’t be fair on Immi if Luna is still parading around the way she is all over social media and making you look like a man who’s reeled in hook line and sinker. Besides, your management team ought to be putting out some kind of statement by now. This has gone on long enough.”

“Tell me about it.” I say and thank the air hostess who has brought me a shot of whiskey. I like to have one when I fly unless we have a practice scheduled on landing.

“Fine, tell her you’ll go but only to support her.” That’s it then, I can’t make a move on Immi, I can’t tell her how much my heart is breaking without her by my side, how much I miss her snuggled up to me in bed at night or the way she looks so radiant and peaceful when she’s asleep in my arms in the morning light. A searing pain shoots right across my chest. Loving someone you can’t be with hurts like nothing else. It’s physical not just emotional and mental. My body literally aches for her to be beside me and in my arms. To smell her hair the coconut shampoo, to see her beautiful smile when I crack a joke or to watch her cry at those damn soppy movies, she’s so fond of.

“Thanks, Man.” I say and start to message her back.

I’ll be there. Thanks for inviting me. Atlas has given me a warning though. Just letting you know; he’ll beat my ass to a pulp if I try anything. Don’t think I don’t want to because I miss you with all my heart and then some xoxo

I wait, we’ve only got a few minutes before wheels up nothing comes through straight away. She must be busy with her planning. Instead, I kick my legs out in front of me to stretch them, take a hefty sip of my whiskey and lean my head back. God, I fucking miss her like no tomorrow.