The Games We Play

“Come out with us.”

“No.”

“Why not!?” James pleaded. They walked into the kitchen from the garage, James in his usual post-game attire, Ali in his jersey.

“Come on! You’ll have fun, I promise.”

Ali looked at him in his pressed grey suit and purple dress shirt. Since he opted for no tie tonight, his collar was opened just enough to give her a view of his mostly stubble-covered neck. It was enough to wish he’d stay in rather than going out with his friends. No matter how good James looked, she wanted him to go out and have fun.

“I’ll just be the oddball out in a group of dudes who play hockey. What will I talk about?”

Blue eyes stared down at her, matching the smirk that was on his face, still flushed from the game. “Listen,” he said, placing his hands on the sides of Ali’s face. “Stammer will love you, and you already know the others love you, so what’s the issue?”

She didn’t have a quick enough comeback, so James kissed her. “I just want him to meet you, that’s all.

“What if I come meet you guys at some point once I get ready?”

James took a step back, purposely admiring what Ali already had on. Once she removed her jersey, what was left were dark jeans and a simple v-neck t-shirt that showed just enough of her cleavage. It worked for him, and would look good enough to the boys.

“Why don’t you just wear that?”

Ali set his jersey on the kitchen table and removed her scarf. “At least let me throw a clean shirt on?”

“Keep the boobs out?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Maybe.”

“Right on!” James grabbed a drink from the fridge before he headed back out to his car, which he left running outside. “So see you soon then?” He kissed her.

“Give me a half hour and I’ll be there.”

James mussed her hair one more time before waving, Gatorade bottle in hand. He hurried out the door and was on his way to meet the guys.

* * *

“Well ho-ly shit.”

James was all smiles as he sauntered up to the table where the guys were waiting. The music inside the posh bar was loud, but Stamkos’ voice was loud enough to be heard over the commotion. He was the first to stand, offering his hand to James as he stepped up to the table.

“Long time no see, man” Steven said, his grip firm against James’. “And nice game tonight.”

“Was hoping you wouldn’t take the L and puss out on us.” He stood at the head of the table, eyeing up the small group gathered there. It was Sid, Geno, Beau, and Stamkos. Not bad. He was sincerely glad that Steven decided to come out, if only for a couple of hours before he had to return to his team at their hotel. It’d been several months since James had gotten to talk, let alone hang out, with one of his closest friends in the league. The reunion at the bar would satisfy him until they began training again in the summer.

Steven nudged him in the side as he took a seat next to him. “So I need to get right to this, because I almost choked when I read your text.”

James saw that subdued look of surprise brimming in his friend’s bright gaze. He knew what was coming and was looking forward to answering.

“What the fuck is this about a married man? Is the rumor true?”

Sid’s dark eyes flicked between James and Steven, a smile showing up behind the rim of his glass as he took a drink. He could tell Steven was as much in disbelief as the rest of them had been when they first heard the news.

“Is that why I don’t see a glass of scotch in front of me?” James shook his head. “Was wondering where my damn drink was…”

Steven laughed. “So it IS true! Holy shit, Sid…no offense but I didn’t believe you.”

Sid shrugged. “Told ya.”

“Asked her last month, in fact” James said.

Steven sat with his mouth half open. He looked around to see the other guys at the table nodding. “So who is she? I mean, I knew you had a girl last summer, but I figured—“

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” He rolled his eyes. “You figured she was just another fling?”

The corner of Steven’s friendly smile lifted. “Actually, yeah, that’s about where I was going with that.” He ran his hand quickly over his light blonde hair, processing the information. “Well, shit – if it’s true, congratulations are in order.”

“You’ll get to meet her here shortly” James said, adjusting the collar of his shirt. “Hopefully, anyways.”

“Ali’s coming?” Sid seemed to perk up at the mere mentioning. Steven did as well, but had a totally different look on his face.

“Well this should be interesting” Steven admitted. “Gotta see the chick that turned Nealer into a honest man.”

“If you don’t order my drink, I’ll tell her to stay home.” He gave Stammer his signature grin.

“Pushy bastard.” Steven stood up, also dressed in light grey, pinstripe pants that hugged his meaty legs the way all pants hugged hockey players’ legs. He also wore a white polo, a hint of the gold chain around his neck peeking out at the collar. All five of them looked like they were holding a late night business meeting.

“So…scotch?”

“Double please.” James smiled, watching Steven walk off. He looked over at the others around him. “How goes it, ladies?”

Just as they were answering him and a new round of chirping began, James felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He took a quick look to see it was from Ali:

On my way, get me a tequila!

Not bothering to get up, James texted Steven at the bar to get a tequila. He looked over and tried to see above the other patrons for his reaction. Eventually, Stamkos looked over, a smirk on his face. He shook his head at James, who simply smiled.

After Steven came back with multiple drinks in hand, they guys fell right in to their typical, gossipy talk. Steven got the scoop on all things going on with the guys, and they were returned the favor as he updated them on all the latest happenings in his life. Just as they were getting into a juicy part of Steven’s story about a chick he’d been seeing for a while, a happy voice interrupted them in mid-sentence.

“Hiiiii.”

James looked over and his heart nearly lodged in his throat. Ali didn’t just change her outfit, she upped it a level. She’d left her hair down, but was now dressed in a sleeveless, silver top that had a keyhole cut-out right at the heart of her cleavage. The top hugged her slim waist and fell a little wider at her hips. Her legs were covered in the tightest pair of black pants James had ever seen, which led right down to strappy black heels.

“Wow, hey babe…” He stood to hug her, noticing the heels she wore made her much taller than her normal height. “You look outstanding” he whispered to her.

Her bright smile appeared as their bodies parted. She turned to the guys at the table, noticing that all sets of eyes were solely focused on her. I knew this outfit would do it, she thought.

“Nice to see ya, guys.” She turned to the only face at the table she wasn’t familiar with. “You must be Steven?”

He bumped into the table as he stood to greet her. His eyes dropped to the ring on her finger which flashed even in the low light of the bar.

“I’m Allison” she said, skipping his hand and going right for the hug. If anything came from tonight, she hoped it was an unforgettable first impression she wanted to make for James’ sake.

“Great to meet you.” As Steven hugged Ali, he looked at James who was grinning like a fool.

Ali broke the embrace and took James’ hand in hers as he pulled a free chair out for her. She ended up sitting across from Sid, whose gaze was the most focused of all. He smiled beneath eyes that were undressing Ali even as he greeted her.

“Nice to see ya, Crosby” Ali replied. There was more of an unspoken welcome between them than either let on.

“Here, babe. You can thank Stammer.” James slid the small glass tumbler towards her. “Drinks are on him tonight since they lost.”

Ali raised the glass in his direction. She held it up to her lips, downing half of the potent liquid inside. Every man at the table stared at her as if she’d just swallowed fire.

Stamkos coughed, his fist going to his chest. “So,uh… Ali….”

Her eyes shifted his way.

“I know we just met, but what the hell do you see in this guy?” He nodded towards James.

Beau waved a hand. “Don’t bother, dude. We’ve asked her a million times.”

“His dick” Ali answered seriously.

Everyone’s eyebrows shot up, including James’.

“Kidding, kidding…though it is nice.” Ali tried to keep her eyes away from Sid as she said this. “It’s the way he challenges me. Personality, humor, you know…all the good things.”

Steven nodded, impressed with the answer. Already he could tell Ali had the perfect balance of humor and quick wit he’d expect Nealer to fall for, although he was surprised at how much of a stunner she was. It wasn’t even in a high maintenance way…it was natural, or as natural as it could come. Of the times he’d watched his buddy fall prey to countless pucksluts, he often wondered if James had even had his eyes open when they were begging to suck his dick. Now, though? Hell, he wanted to pull him aside and absolutely cheer for him, but it would have to wait.

“What about you?” Ali turned her body towards Steven a little more, giving him her full attention. “Tampa, huh?”

James enjoyed how Ali had delivered the question. He watched her flick back a strand of her long hair over her shoulder as she listened to Steven ramble on about life in Florida and his team’s losing streak. James knew she was working it for him. Every now and then he’d catch Ali glance his way, giving him a subtle smile that let him know it was all part of the plan. God do I ever love this girl.

Sid asked if anyone else wanted another round, and Geno went to join him at the bar. That left the four of them to continue their discussion, Steven fully enthralled by Ali’s animated way of talking and interacting with him, Beau, and James.

“So when he proposed” Steven asked, leaning in more. “Were you surprised?”

Ali looked at James, rubbing her hand on his thigh. “Yes.”

“Were you surprised she said yes, Nealer?”

James laughed. “No, you fucker.”

“Every confidence in the world, eh?” Stamkos laughed cheerfully, and Ali smiled at the sound. She liked him the instant they met, but she was enjoying how personable and direct he was as he talked to her. It made her feel like she was the only one in the room.

“So when do I get my invitation?”

“Same time I do” Beau chirped. “Never.”

“Oh please.” James made an exaggerated face. “You know you’re coming.”

Beau rolled his clear blue eyes and took a drink from his glass. James leaned over and gave Ali a quick peck on her lips, then stood.

“Be right back.”

Ali followed him with her eyes as his tall, confident frame moved away from her and down to the restrooms. When she brought her gaze back, Steven was staring at her.

“Can I admit something?”

The way he asked it, Ali couldn’t resist saying no. “Fire away.”

He smiled. “You two are perfect for each other, and I don’t like giving that asshole props any more than he deserves.”

“And I don’t blame you for that” she said, giggling. “But thank you. I’m glad he was bold enough to go after me. He’s so far out of my league—“

“—Wait, waaaait.” Steven held a hand out. “He is? Nealer???”

“Well…yeah! I mean…”

He was laughing again, with the same tone of disbelief and the same look of surprise on his face as when she’d first walked in. “Ahhh….more deserving than he realizes, I see.” His humble smile reappeared, taking up most of his strong, perfectly angular face. “I like you, Ali. You’re exactly what Nealer needed…I think.”

“You think?”

“Can never tell with him, right?”

His fucking smile is as bright as those eyes. Christ. Why are all these guys always so damn handsome?

Ali smiled at him. “When it comes to James? Hell to the yes.”

Steven shared a laugh with her, both of them enjoying their conversation with one another. Ali guessed that Steven must have gotten a call or a text, because he pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at it. He didn’t let on what it was, but he immediately stood.

“Excuse me.” He shoved the phone back in and touched Ali’s arm lightly as he walked past her.

Ali sighed. In one final gulp, she finished the rest of her drink and went in search of another, bringing Beau along with her.

In the meantime, Steven found James standing outside the men’s bathroom, hands shoved in the pockets of his pants.

“What took you so long?”

Steven laughed. “It took me like 30 seconds.”

“Too slow, just like on the ice.”

They smirked at one another.

“So what do you think?” James asked.

“What do I think?” Steven scratched at the short blonde hair that surrounded his jaw. “I think she’s a winner.”

James smiled proudly. “So you approve?”

“Does it really matter?”

He shrugged. “You’re opinion counts. You’ve seen me at my worst.”

Steven considered this with a smile. “Well Ali’s nothing like what I’ve seen you take home with you.”

“It’s why there’s a ring on her finger” James said with a grin.

The two men stood in the narrow hallway, dark but for a single line of dimly colored lighting on the ceiling. It cast a blue glow on them, causing both of their eyes to become an even more intense shade of blue.

Even there, James could read his friend’s facial expressions. If it was one thing about Stamkos, it was how easy it was to see emotion on his face. Maybe it was years of training and friendship, but James could read Stammer like a book.

He looked at James sheepishly. “Don’t think anything of this, but I gotta at least know how she is—“

“—Mindblowing, dude.”

“No way.”

James wiped his mouth as if to wipe away the guilt written all over his face. Steven could do nothing else but shake his head again. Seems he would be doing that often if James kept telling him all the positives of this girl of his.

“Well I’m happy for you, man. Really.”

James squeezed him on the shoulder. “Thanks. Really. Now let’s go back before they think we’re holding each other’s dicks at the urinal.”

* * *

Ali sidled up next to Sid and Geno at the bar, squeezing between both of their massive bodies. “Yo.”

Sid snapped his head over. “Hey!”

“Whatchya drinking?”

“Uhhh…”

“Sounds tasty, make it a double because I want one too.” She smiled at him. “By the way, did I tell you thank you?”

Sid cocked his head. “For what?”

“For the incident….in my hometown….”

“Ohh, the incident…riiight.” Sid recalled their late night text conversation when Ali was home. He’d fallen asleep beating himself up inside his head for defending James again, but he’d do whatever he could to help them both. “Well, you know you’re welcome. You don’t have to thank me.”

Before he knew it. Ali threw her arms around his neck in a tight embrace.

“Too bad” she said, squeezing tight. His shoulders strained beneath the button-down he wore, and she felt every curve of muscle beneath the fabric. For what it was worth, Sid was built for hugs. Really, really good hugs.

Sid held Ali until she moved first to break the hug. He was smiling, not because the hug felt great or because her perfume was intoxicating or her hair was the softest thing he’d ever felt in his rough hands…but because she was happy. He could see it in her eyes as they glittered under the lights hanging above them at the bar.

“So what’ll it be?” she asked him.

“How about I match you? Two tequlias?”

“Make it Patron and you’re on.”

Sid whipped his credit card out and waited for the bar tender to make his way down towards them. He looked over Ali’s head to see Geno flirting with some girl who’d taken up the spot next to him. With his eyes, he motioned for Ali to turn around and look. When she did, she clapped a hand over her mouth.

He laughed lightly. “You can’t hold down greatness, Ali.”

“Apparently not.” She looked over her shoulder again. “You guys are all the same.”

“We are?” Sid frowned. “I don’t like that kind of grouping.”

“Well, you know what I mean…” She moved her hand flippantly. “You’re all good looking, you’re all fun, you’re all—“

“—We’re all good looking?” Sid raised an eyebrow at her. “Have you seen my friend Tyler Kennedy?”

Ali busted out laughing. “SID!”

He grimaced. “Did I say that out loud?”

She slapped him on the arm and they shared a laugh.

“Party at the bar, I see?”

James’ voice was as smooth as his move was as he slid an arm around Ali from behind. He kissed her neck beneath one of her long earrings.

“And without me? How could you?”

“Oh hush. What’d you call him, Stammy? A pushy bastard?”

Steven laughed that Ali had used one of his many nicknames. “Pushy, yes.”

James, being as tall as Geno (though Geno was completely under the girl’s spell that was talking to him), was able to wave the bar tender over where Sid had been unsuccessful in doing so. Their orders were placed, and eventually, they all went back to the table at the end of the large room. That was, everyone but Geno. Once there, the group went into fits of nonstop laughter as more drinks flowed and more stories were told. A good time was had by all, and by the time Steven had to depart, everyone decided it was time to head home as well.

Since Steven’s hotel was just around the corner, he gave Ali a final hug before taking off. Before doing so, he pulled her gently aside while the others stood around talking in the parking lot.

“It was really great meeting you, Ali.”

“Aw, I feel the same!” She was being honest. It was nice to meet someone who was both a friend and a competitor in James’ life. It was an interesting concept, but they seemed to have worked it out well.

She noticed Steven’s face change a little. His chin was tilted slightly downward, but his eyes were still locked onto hers. He let out soft laugh. “I, uh….I certainly wasn’t expecting much when I heard Nealer was engaged. If it wasn’t a prank, I mean.”

Ali knew what he was getting at. That seemed to be the general consensus amongst everyone, and she was glad she was the change in that.

“But uh…” Now Steven looked directly at her. “But I think you might be the best thing that’s ever happened to him.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Wow. High praise, Steven. Thank you.”

“It’s true.”

He leaned in and drew Ali in for a heartfelt hug. If she thought Sid’s shoulders were broad, she was surprised she could even wrap her arms around Steven’s.

“Take care of him, okay?”

Ali laughed. “I’ll try.”

“Seeing the look on his face all night whenever he looked at you, I don’t think you’ll have worry about him taking care of you.” With this, Steven winked and then headed towards the guys.

Ali stood with her hands clasped, keeping the chill off her as they all said goodbye to one another. Slowly, they dispersed into separate directions, James giving a final yell at Stamkos as he trotted off down the sidewalk.

James turned and looked at her as she stood there shivering. “I can see your nipples.”

“No you can’t” she said, rolling her eyes. “This bra is lined.”

“I think Stammy liked your outfit.” James placed a hand behind Ali’s head and led her mouth to his, kissing her deeply. “But not as much as me.”

“Glad it worked out.”

James touched the lengthy dangle earrings she wore, causing them to swing a little. “I like these a lot.”

“Glad they worked out too.”

He smiled. “I knew what you were doing tonight, babe.”

“I know.” Guilt was now all over her face. “Did it work?”

James nodded and kissed her again. “I think you impressed the hell out of him.”

Ali breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. Now let’s go home so I can impress you in ways they’ll never know about.”

* * *

Notes