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Hutch: Oh, that was incredibly weird, and I’m recommending Lawson for a psych eval when we get back. Me: GASP! You would never! Hutch: GASP! I would too! Hutch: Now, everyone (ESPECIALLY YOU, LAWSON), please shut the fuck up so I can spend time with my girlfriend. Me: Ooooh. Hutch and Auden sitting in a tree…
Fox: K-I-S-S-I-N-G Hayes: First comes love… Keller: Gross. Me: Then comes marriage… Keller: Extra gross. Fox: Then comes a baby in a baby carriage! Keller: Absolutely vile. Hutch: I hate you all. Keller: Ditto. Me: Can’t wait to see you all after Christmas break! Keller: Delete my number. Me: Not a chance. *kissy face emoji*
This place belongs to Rory Sinclair, the twin sister of my teammate’s girlfriend. She’s standing right in front of me. And she hates me.
I hand Petey’s folder to Casey, my tech helping close the clinic tonight, then crouch down. “You be good, okay, buddy?” I say to Petey, running my hand over his head and scratching behind his ears like I know he likes. He drags his tongue over my hand, his way of saying Thanks for putting up with my dad’s shit, Doc.
“Stop looking at me like that.” Blink. “Knock it off.” Blink. “Come on. Quit it.” Blink. I sigh, shoving off the couch and padding across my apartment that I desperately need to do something with. I still have boxes stacked in the corner despite having lived in Seattle for over a year. It’s time I deal with those and accept that Washington is my new home. I bend at the waist, scooping up the little ball of coffee-colored fluff and bringing her close to my chest. “You’re already spoiled, you know that?” I press a kiss to her head. “Merry Christmas, whatever your name is.”
“Guess I should probably find some supplies for you today, huh?” She lets out the softest little grunt, approving of my suggestion. “You’re lucky the pharmacy down the street is open, or else I’m pretty sure you’d be eating bacon for breakfast.” Another grunt. “You’re right—bacon does sound good. Maybe I’ll make some when I get back.” She tips her head at me, and then I swear she rolls her eyes. She must have picked that up from Rory last night.
Me: I knew you loved me. Hutch: Not in this lifetime or the next. Me: But definitely the one after that, right? Hutch: Go. Away. Me: Kisses! Hutch: *middle finger emoji*
“Are you sure?” “Which of us is the veterinarian with years of experience under her belt who runs not one but two highly rated clinics here in Seattle?” She has two clinics? How does she even have the time to run two? “I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you want me to answer with you
I take my ticket inside, arm myself with a large bucket of popcorn and a massive Coke, and then find a spot tucked away in the back of the theater. Only then do I pull open my coat, looking down with a grin.
While I knew I’d be spending my afternoon at the theater today no matter what, I never anticipated I’d be sneaking a dog in right along with me.
“You good?” I ask, running a single finger over the tip of her nose. She lets out a soft grunt but doesn’t budge otherwise.
“You, Lucas Lawson, are a player. And I don’t mean a hockey player. You use. You take, take, and discard like it’s nothing. You think you’re a godsend to everyone and walk around with a smug, obnoxious grin. You’re the exact kind of guy I want nothing to do with, and your whole schtick of playing cute and innocent with rescuing the dog last night isn’t going to work on me. I see through you, and I don’t like what I see.”
“You know, I—” Her words die on her lips, eyes shifting down, down, down. “Um, Lawson?” “Yes?” “Is your jacket moving?” I follow to where her stare is trained, and yep—my jacket is moving. “Is that…” She looks around before leaning in just an inch closer. “Is that the dog? Did you bring a dog into the movie theater?” I can’t help the grin that stretches across my lips. “Maybe.” “Lawson!”
“Stop it. You’re causing a scene,” I say out of the corner of my mouth. “And you’re”—she shakes off my arm, adding an extra jab of her elbow that doesn’t hurt nearly as much as I’m sure she hopes—“an idiot. Why would you bring her here?” “Because I couldn’t get a sitter?” “She’s a dog, Lawson. She’d have been fine for a few hours at home.” “Maybe, but she gave me the look when I tried to leave, and well, call me a sucker because there was no way I was going to leave her home alone after that.” “Sucker.” She says it so matter-of-factly. So…Rory-like.
“You… I…” She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, you brought home-cooked bacon for the dog?” “Uh, yeah? Everyone likes bacon.” She wrinkles her nose. “I don’t.” “Oh, fuck off.” The words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them, and I sit in absolute horror as the realization of what I said settles over Rory. One. Two. Three. That’s how many seconds it takes her to let out the loudest, most obnoxious laugh I’ve ever heard.
“Oh, wow. Sorry.” She swipes at her eyes, wiping away the tears that have welled. “Sorry. I just was not at all expecting you to tell me to fuck off.”
“I didn’t expect you to say something so psychotic like you don’t like bacon.” “Of course I like bacon, Lawson. I’m not a savage. Anyway…” Another swipe at her eyes.
“I feel like I’ve addressed all your concerns.” “Potty issues?” “Oh. That.” I pat my jacket where the pup is curled up. “She’s wearing a diaper.” A weary sigh. “You got her doggie diapers, didn’t you?” My cheeks heat. “There’s such a thing as doggie diapers?” “Oh, no. No, no, no. She’s wearing a people diaper, isn’t she?” I nod, my ears now heating up too. “Did you at least cut a hole for her tail?” I grin, feeling pretty damn proud of myself for remembering. “Yep.”
“Aye, aye, Wednesday.” She pauses. “Wednesday?” “Yeah, Wednesday Addams.” Her brows shift inward. “From The Addams Family. Black hair, black dress, black outlook on life. She’s pale and—” “I know who Wednesday is, Lawson. I’m asking why I’m Wednesday.” “Why, your sunny disposition, clearly.” “Clearly,” she says dryly.
I stop off in room four, and after looking Petey over, I tell Mr. Duhaime exactly what I knew I’d be telling him—there are no fleas. Petey is perfectly healthy, and as I walk his owner to the front office, I swear the dog gives me a look that says, “He’s back on his bullshit, Doc. See you next week.” And I truly have no doubt that I will.
“I’m not giving you a trophy for doing the bare minimum, Lawson.” “But what you’re saying is if there were a trophy to win, I’d win it for being Hottest Dog Dad?” A laugh bubbles out of me before I can contain it, and I regret it instantly, especially when Lawson gasps loudly. “Did you… Did I… Did I make you laugh? Again?” The pride in his voice is evident, and I can imagine him puffing his chest out proudly. He’s that obnoxious.
I groan, and he laughs. I can still hear it as I pull the phone away, hitting the red button on the screen. He’s the most exasperating person I’ve ever met, and no matter what he says, I am not excited about seeing him on Sunday. Which is why I choose to completely ignore the spark that flits through me at the thought and bury myself in Lawson-free work.
“Left, left!” Locke hollers across the ice, and because we’ve been playing together for a while now, I know he’s talking to me. I do a spin-o-rama to avoid the incoming hit, laughing when the Washington player slams hard into the glass, missing me completely.
Tomorrow, when I get to see Rory again. “Damn, man. Didn’t realize you were into her.” “Huh?” I look over at Hayes. He dips his head toward me. “That smile when I mentioned Auden’s sister. You’re into her, aren’t you?” “Who, Rory?” “Who, Rory?” he mocks with a laugh. “Yeah, Rory. You got a thing for her.”
I couldn’t stop thinking about what Hayes said the entire flight home. Was it obvious I’m eager to see Rory again? Do I actually like her, or do I just like riling her up? Did Hutch hear our conversation? When he murders me for being into his future sister-in-law, will he stuff my body in a dumpster or feed it to pigs? The questions kept repeating in my mind all night and I couldn’t decide which, if any, I could answer with yes.
I march right on over to the table, stopping opposite them. “Rory.” She startles, peering at me with those damn green eyes I swear are the clearest I’ve ever seen. They narrow when she realizes it’s me. “Yes?” “I’m here,” I announce.
She lifts a single brow. “Would you like a cookie?” “Yes.”
She smirks, then reaches down and grabs one off the table, holding it out to me. “Here you go.” I grab it, shoving it in my mouth and eating it like a man gone mad, not caring about the crumbs falling out all over my shirt. The corners of her lips tip up, and now I really don’t care how ridiculous I look because I made her smile. Not stupid Gregor. Me
“So you’re here to supervise the children?” “Well, you’re here, aren’t you?” she counters, a dark brow lifted my way. I grin. “Fair enough.” I lift Daisy, who has been calmly chilling in my arms since I brought her out of her crate. “Did you say hi to our daughter?” Rory sighs heavily. “Once again, we’re not co-parents, Lawson.” “Sure we’re not.” I grab Daisy’s paw, making her wave. “Hi, Mommy. Did you miss me?” “I swear…” She pinches her nose.
“Who’s February?” “That’s me!” Hayes says, setting his plate of snacks down and moseying toward the set. “Give me five minutes, then I’ll be ready,” Ryan tells him. “And don’t forget your heart-shaped glasses.” He winces, but it only lasts a moment because Rhodes is giving him a death glare that says, Listen to my wife or I’ll make you listen. “Uh, yes, ma’am.” Hayes tucks his chin to his chest, then shuffles over to wardrobe to retrieve his accessories.
He tips his head to the side, clearly not understanding what I’m getting at. His sweet little Labrador pads across the apartment, her footsteps clunk, clunk, clunking over the hardwood floors. She forces her head between Lawson’s legs, making her presence known.
He bends to scoop Daisy into his arm, his bicep popping as he snuggles her close. I will not be jealous of a dog. I will not be jealous of a dog. I will not be fucking jealous of a dog. “We’re sorry,” he says, waving Daisy’s paw my way. “We were taking a nap.” A nap? That’s his big excuse?
“I was worried for Daisy,” I tell him, pushing my shoulders back and lifting my chin higher. “That so?” He smirks. “Well, there’s nothing to be worried about. As you can see, she’s fine.” He nods to where the pup sits, right beside his feet again, her tongue lolling out as she looks up at her dad. Yeah, me too, Daisy. Me too.
I shake away the thought, inhaling, then exhaling just as slowly. I swallow. “Okay.” “Right. Okay.” Another step. “Going.” He turns, darting down the hall. Daisy squirms in my hands, whining the second he’s out of sight, so I set her down, watching as she chases after him. I will not be jealous of a dog. I will not be jealous of a dog. I will not be fucking jealous of a dog.
“Anyway”—he holds his fist out—“see you later, little brother.”
“Yeah, man, later.” I tap my fist against his. He smiles. I smile. Suddenly he’s wrapping me in a quick hug and ruffling my hair before shoving me against the wall and stalking off as he mutters, “Dork.” I laugh in return. We might not have grown up together, but he’s such a big brother.
I care that she’s wearing my jersey. I care entirely too fucking much. I’m standing here trying my damnedest not to cross this room and rip it off her, and not for the reasons she thinks.
She hesitates only a moment before shaking her head and walking out the door. It shuts softly behind her, yet somehow, the sound is deafening. I look over to the chocolate Lab. She’s awake now, and she’s staring longingly at the door, like she misses Rory already. I sigh, plopping down onto the couch next to her. She curls into my lap, letting out a soft whine. I drop my hand to her head, running my fingers through her soft fur. “Me too, Daisy. Me too.”
“That sounds like an awfully high number.” I narrow my eyes, and she laughs. “I wouldn’t say it if it weren’t true, though. You kept trying to convince me for years to take a break, and now look at me.” She stretches her arms out. “Oh, I’m looking at you—invading my office and barging in on my lunch, the one break I get throughout the day.” She shrugs. “I missed my sister.”
“Hello?” “Wednesday! You answered!” I ignore his new nickname for me, even though it is starting to grow on me a bit, not that I’m telling him that. “Why wouldn’t I answer?” He pauses. Clears his throat. “Well, because you’re madly in love with me, of course.” I laugh. Maybe a little loudly and a little too hard and a little too forced. “Keep dreaming, Lawson.”
“And, Rory?” “Yes?” I ask, bringing it back to my ear. “Maybe try not to kiss me this time.” And the line goes dead. I sit in stunned silence, trying to figure out just how badly I messed up kissing Lawson and why, even despite that, I want to do it again.
Fox catches it in his glove with ease, and the bench explodes. We’re over the boards in an instant, meeting our goalie halfway and taking turns bumping our helmets against his. “Oooh, Foxy. What an incredible save. My man!” I wrap him in a hug and, unlike some of the other assholes on this team, he hugs me back with just as much fervor.
“Honey, I’m home,” I whisper, but it’s pointless. Daisy bounds across the hardwood floor, her paws—which seem like they’re growing an inch a day—clapping loudly against the floor. I close the door behind me, then lift the spoiled princess up, hugging her close. “How was your night? Were you good for Momma?”
Rory sighs, rising off the couch and making her way over to me. “How many times do I have to tell you we are not co-parents?” “I guess until I believe it.”
“I highly doubt your brother is ugly if you share the same father. Your—” She clamps her mouth shut as realization of what she’s implied settles between us. “You telling me I’m hot, Wednesday? You’re not going to kiss me again, are you?” “Shut up,” she mutters, taking a long pull from her beer.
“For you, Rory, I’d gather every star in this sky and string them high somewhere only for you, just to see you smile like that again.” Her breath stutters. “Making you a key is the best I can do until then.”
Keller: Fuck and you. Lawson: Tsk, tsk. Your momma ought to wash your mouth out with soap, using bad language like that. Locke: I’ve heard you say way, way, WAY worse, Lawsy. Hutch: Wasn’t it you just yesterday yelling at San Jose to fuck off before you fucked all their moms? Lawson: GASP! I would NEVER. Fox: No, pretty sure you did. Heard you down in the net. Hayes: Actually, he said, “Fuck you, you fucking fuck. I’ll fuck your mom next time you come for me. Heard she knows how to handle a stick, unlike you.” Lawson: Oh shit. Yeah, I did say that.
Keller: Your mother really should have hugged you more. Lawson: Leave my mother out of your mouth. Lawson: WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT Hutch: Nah, man. You dug that hole. Fox: Uh-oh… Locke: Annnd that’s my cue. Hayes: I’m staying. NO ONE START UNTIL I HAVE MY POPCORN. Lawson: Kells? Keller: Yes, Lawsy? Lawson: Please be gentle with me.
Keller: Oh. I’ll be gentle with you. But your mother? Not a chance. Lawson: YOU MOTHERFLUFFER Lawson: MOTHERFLUFFER Lawson: MOTHERFUCKER Keller: Not yet, but I will be. Lawson: I hate it here. Keller: Not as much as we hate having you here. Keller: What’s that stupid thing you always send? Keller: Oh, right. Keller: *kissy face emoji*
As promised, he made me a key. It was delivered to my office the next day before lunch with a note attached to it. Wednesday, Maybe don’t use this key to poison my coffee or anything else nefarious like putting piranhas in my bathtub. We don’t want to leave Daisy without a dad, right? See you soon. Lucas
