On the Fly Read online

  “Lana, you could never interrupt anything,” Court told her. She took a seat next to Lori and sighed. “I love hearing from you. I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”

  “You didn’t have to hang up,” Lori said when Court set the phone on the small table between them. “I know you like talking to her.”

  “I can call her anytime,” Court said with a smile. “I only get to spend the Fourth of July with Ryan and Alice once a year.”

  “Aren’t you sweet?” Lori rolled her eyes and Court laughed. They watched the beginning of the show as the kids squealed in delight. “You haven’t told her yet, have you?”

  “Told her what?”

  “That you love her. God, you can be dense sometimes.”

  “I don’t,” Court said, wondering if God would strike her down for lying to her sister.

  “Bullshit.” Lori didn’t look at her. “You can kid yourself all you want, but it’s true.”

  “Maybe she and I can explore our possibilities when my hockey days are over.” It was as close as Court would get to admitting her feelings. Maybe as long as the word stayed in her head and never passed her lips, it wouldn’t be true.

  “Whatever,” Lori said. “You’re going to grow old all alone.”

  “Maybe I will, but if I do, it will be my choice,” Court said, stretching her legs out in front of her. She’d never thought much about growing old, but the thought of doing it alone made her uneasy. She closed her eyes and allowed her mind to wander. She’d never met anyone she wanted to build a future with. Until Lana. Just thinking about her brought a smile to her lips and caused a fluttering in her chest.

  Yes, she did love Lana. As she opened her eyes again, she made a promise to herself. If she ever actually saw Lana again, she would tell her how she felt. It just didn’t seem right to her to make that kind of declaration over the telephone. If Lana didn’t feel the same way about her, at least she wouldn’t spend the rest of her life wondering if she’d blown her chance at true happiness.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Court spent the next few weeks before the start of training camp trying her damnedest to bury herself in work. She’d done the commercial for Caruso’s and had enjoyed the time she spent as a result with Lana’s family. Plus she’d sold more houses in the few months since Lana had left than she had in the two years prior to meeting her, which was not only good for her personal bank account but was also good for Gail and Bill, since they owned the realty company.

  She kept up with Lana over the phone and on video chat only sporadically, mostly because Court hated the feeling of loss she experienced every time they hung up. They never talked about anything too serious. Mostly they talked about Eric, who had just left for Quebec and his first ever training camp. Court was really pulling for him to make the team even though it would be tough for a sixteen-year-old his first time out. It was more likely he wouldn’t get a spot on the team until the following year. Court had offered to go with them when Lana took him to Canada, but Lana insisted she’d be fine doing it by herself.

  Court was relieved with every day that passed she hadn’t been traded. At least not yet. She knew from Gail the team was trying hard to work out a deal with a team she might be willing to go to, and her teammates weren’t happy about any of it. Except for Hilton. If it meant Court would be off the team, she was all for it and made no apologies. Court couldn’t deny she’d be happier playing on a team against Hilton. At least then she could fight her without worrying about ruining the team unity.

  The first day of training camp started out fine. Probably because Hilton was late getting on the ice with the rest of the team. Court was by the bench talking to Gail when Hilton skated over to them.

  “I hear you’re getting traded, Abbott,” she said, her smile ear to ear. Gail rolled her eyes at Court, who just shook her head. “I told you I was the future here. You might as well pack your shit and get out of town.”

  “You know what I love about you, Hilton?” Court asked, almost laughing at the look of disgust she now wore. “Absolutely nothing. It might actually be worth it to get traded to a team within the division so I can catch you with your head down at center ice.”

  “Is that a threat?” Hilton asked as she shot a look at Gail. Court shook her head again and started to skate away. “Are you threatening me, Abbott?”

  “Grow up,” Court said over her shoulder. She half expected Hilton to come after her, but she didn’t stop or even look back until she’d reached Savannah and Kelly behind the far goal.

  “What’s she yapping about?” Kelly asked, tilting her head toward Hilton.

  Court glanced over her shoulder and saw Gail yelling at Hilton. She couldn’t hear anything being said, but she could tell by the red in Gail’s face she was pissed. Court chuckled and turned her attention back to her line mates.

  “Just being her humble self,” Court said.

  “That’ll be the day.” Savannah rolled her eyes as she spoke. “Please tell us you’re going to reject any trade they try to make. I don’t think I can suffer through a season of her without you here as a buffer.”

  “I’m the one she has a problem with,” Court said. They skated to center ice when Gail blew her whistle to start the practice. “If I’m not here, she probably won’t be so antagonistic.”

  “You know we don’t want you to go, right?” Kelly asked. Court looked at her and smiled as she nodded. Court didn’t want to leave either. In fact, she was planning on staying right where she was. She really couldn’t imagine playing anywhere else.

  Gail split them into two teams so she could get a feel for how the newcomers would fit in with the veterans. Court was on one team and Hilton on the other, causing Court to wonder what the hell Gail was thinking. If Hilton was willing to trip Court when they were on the same team—in an actual game, no less—then what might she do if they were on opposite sides during a practice game?

  “No hits! I want to see you play, not knock the shit out of each other!” Gail said. A few of the women groaned but some actually looked relieved. Court honestly didn’t care one way or the other. She knew Gail didn’t want anyone getting hurt, but if someone couldn’t handle a hard hit in the corner, wouldn’t it be better to know from the outset?

  Of course she put Hilton and Court against each other for the first faceoff. Was Gail trying to start something between the two of them? Court glared at Gail for a moment before readying herself for the puck to drop. She was going to have to have a chat with Gail when this was over.

  When the puck dropped, Hilton ignored it and went right for Court. She brought her stick up and caught Court under the chin, which caused her to fall backward onto the ice. Hilton came down on top of her and started punching her in the head. She was immediately pulled off her and Savannah knelt down next to Court.

  “Are you all right?” she asked Court, helping her to get to her feet. “You’re bleeding.”

  “Of course I am,” Court said after removing her gloves and touching her chin. She caught Hilton’s eye and tried to pull away from Savannah to go after her, but Savannah held tight to her arm. “Just give me one shot at her.”

  “I’d love to, but Gail would probably bench us all, and then none of us would be on the team anymore.” Savannah pulled her to the bench and found a towel for her to staunch the bleeding. “You’re probably going to need stitches.”

  “Let me see it,” Gail said as she joined them. She reached between them and pulled the towel away for a moment. “Get in the locker room and have it taken care of.”

  “Are you going to do anything about this shit?” Court asked when Gail started to skate away. Savannah obviously didn’t want anything to do with this, and she took the opportunity to make her escape.

  “What the hell do you want me to do, Court? I’ve benched her, I’ve fined her, I’ve begged the front office to do something about it,” Gail said, her frustration with the situation coming through. “What do you suggest I do?”

  They stared at each
other, neither of them willing to back down. Court decided she really hated Hilton. She was a constant thorn in her side since the day they’d met almost a year ago, and now she was the cause of friction between Court and her best friend. Court finally shook her head and looked away.

  “Court, I’m sorry,” Gail said, looking as pissed off as Court felt. “I really am. I don’t think any of us have had to deal with someone quite like her before. I’m flying by the seat of my pants here. Maybe I should just let you beat the crap out of her. That would teach her a lesson.”

  They shared a laugh over something they both knew Gail would never do. Court sighed and pulled the towel away to see she was still bleeding. God, she hated having to get stitched up. She shrugged and looked at Gail again.

  “I would seriously love to put her in her place,” she said. She glanced across the ice and saw Hilton holding court with a bunch of the newbies at camp this year. No doubt they looked up to her. Court felt her heart sink just a little as the reality of her professional situation hit her. Her eyes wandered around the arena before finally settling on Gail again. “Any word on a trade yet?”

  “No,” Gail answered, looking sad. “I’ll let you know when I hear anything.”

  “I hate for this to be causing problems for us, Gail.” Court picked up the gloves she’d dropped on the ice. “I love you, you know that, right?”

  “Yeah, and I love you, too. A spoiled little brat isn’t going to change what we have.”

  Court headed for the locker room as Gail turned and skated back to the rest of the team. As much as she would love to close out her career here, the writing was on the wall. If she refused a trade, this is what her life would be like for the entirety of the season. Court wasn’t sure she had the energy to deal with the chaos for the next eight months.

  * * *

  Court was stitched up and getting ready to head back out to the ice when Hilton came into the locker room. Alone. Fuck.

  Obviously, she only came in to grab a new stick because she went right to where they were leaning against the wall outside the office. She saw Court sitting in front of her locker, and apparently just couldn’t help herself.

  “Why haven’t you been traded yet?” she asked. Court slammed her locker shut and got to her feet to face her. Hilton moved toward her, stopping close enough so Court could feel her breath on her cheek. “I can’t wait for you to be gone.”

  “You know, for someone who has such a problem with me being a lesbian, you certainly have no qualms about getting into my personal space.” Court didn’t move, not even when Hilton laughed in her face. “You know what they say about people who are the most vocal about their hatred toward anyone in the LGBTQ community.”

  “Are you trying to insinuate I’m gay?” The laughter was gone as quickly as it came, and there was a fire in her eyes. “You people won’t be happy until everyone is gay, will you?”

  “You people?” Court laughed now, mostly because of the absurdity of her comment. Unfortunately, it appeared to infuriate Hilton even more. She took another step toward Court, even though there hadn’t seemed to be enough room between them to begin with, and Court refused to back down. “I don’t give a shit who you, or anyone else, sleep with. And I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your mind out of my bedroom.”

  Court tried to muscle her way past, but Hilton stepped with her. Tried to trip her, actually, and something in Court snapped. She took Hilton’s jersey in her fist and slammed her against the locker. She took no joy in the fear she saw on Hilton’s face, but it didn’t stop her either. She stood so her nose was less than an inch from Hilton’s as she spoke.

  “Stay the fuck away from me, do you understand?” she asked, her voice low just in case anyone else walked in. Hilton nodded and swallowed hard. Court twisted the jersey and raised her so Hilton’s feet weren’t touching the ground. “Mess with me again, or anyone else on this team, and I won’t walk away from you. I’m sure you’re smart enough to grasp what I’m saying.”

  Court released her after another good push into the locker, and Hilton fell to the floor. Court grabbed her gear and headed back out to the ice without another word. By the look of panic in Hilton’s eye, Court knew she wouldn’t have another problem with her. She was nothing but a bully, and Court’s father had taught her the only way to stop a bully was to stand up to them.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Three games into the season, Gail showed up on Court’s doorstep just as she was sitting down to dinner with Lori, Ryan, and Alice. Court could tell there was something going on, and even before Gail said a word, Court knew why she was there.

  “Come in,” Court said as she stepped aside. When Gail saw Lori and the kids, she stopped and turned back to Court.

  “I didn’t realize you were in the middle of dinner,” she said. “I can come back later.”

  “No, you’re here now, and I’m pretty sure what you have to say is going to have an impact on Lori too,” Court said, shaking her head. She took her seat at the kitchen table and Lori pulled Alice into her lap so Gail could sit as well.

  “Caruso’s?” Gail asked, eying the pizza in the middle of the table.

  “They do have good food, and it doesn’t hurt they offered me free pizza whenever I want it for doing their commercial,” Court said. She picked up a slice and placed it on a paper plate she then handed to Gail. When Gail opted to take a bite before telling them why she was there, Court crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the back of her chair. “Just tell me who I’ve been traded to so I can pretend to think about it before saying no.”

  Gail took her time setting her slice down and wiping her hands. She looked at Lori, who Court was sure was just as anxious as she was to find out. When she finally met Court’s eyes, she sighed.

  “The Wolves,” she said, and Court’s mind raced along with her pulse. “They want you to report tomorrow. I booked you a flight for the afternoon and will be taking you to the airport.”

  “Where are the Wolves?” Lori asked.

  “Chicago,” Court said, her voice quieter than she’d expected. Gail held her gaze and gave her a small smile as she nodded. Court’s first thought was to call Lana and tell her, but then before she could even form another thought, she worried if Lana might not think this was a good thing. “Really? Chicago?”

  “Yeah,” Gail said, looking a little worried. “I thought you might be happy about it.”

  “I might be if I didn’t have this gnawing feeling you orchestrated the whole thing,” Court said, the fog finally beginning to dissipate.

  Gail shook her head and held her hands up. “They were trying to trade you. I swear I had nothing to do with that part of it. However, I did tell them I thought the only place you would even consider would be Chicago. Was I wrong?”

  “No, you weren’t,” Court said. “But what if she doesn’t want me there? Or did you involve her in this too?”

  “I haven’t talked to her since the night we won the championship, Court, I promise. I didn’t even know they were going to seek a trade for you until the next day.”

  “Why wouldn’t she want you there?” Lori asked, sounding confused. “I thought the only reason things ended was because your permanent homes were so far apart. You’re in love with her whether you want to admit it or not, and unless I’ve completely lost my ability to read people, she feels the same about you. There’s no question Eric fell head over heels for you.”

  “Or maybe us living so far apart was just a convenient excuse to end it. Maybe she never had any intention of taking things beyond this past spring, and it was a way of keeping her distance.” Court didn’t want to believe the things she was suggesting, but it had seemed to her Lana leaving wasn’t nearly as hard for Lana as it had been for her.

  “You can’t seriously think that, can you?” Gail asked, sounding completely shocked. She looked at Lori. “I agree with your assessment. There’s no way they aren’t both in love.”

  “I know, right?” Lori
nodded as she tried to help Alice get another slice of pizza. Court chuckled when mother and child both ended up wearing more of the pizza than Alice was actually getting into her mouth. “I honestly think the two of them were the only ones who couldn’t see it.”

  “Bill said the same thing.” Gail laughed along with Lori, but Court didn’t find the humor in any of this.

  “I am sitting right here, you know,” she said, her eyes darting back and forth between them.

  “Call her,” Lori finally said to her. “You’ll see I’m right, Court. I know she’ll be happy about it.”

  “I haven’t said yes to the trade yet, in case you’ve both failed to notice.” Court glared at them both, hoping they couldn’t see how excited she was at the prospect of living so close to Lana. She got up and went to the sink, her back to the table.

  “You aren’t seriously thinking about saying no, are you?” Gail asked. “There was an offer from Pittsburgh they really wanted to pull the trigger on, but I stepped in to do you a favor. If you don’t accept the trade, you’re going to make me look like an idiot.”

  “Well, we can’t have that, can we?” Court grinned as she turned to face them again. Gail jumped up and ran to hug her, and Court laughed. “But I’ll never forgive you if she doesn’t want to pick up where we left off.”

  * * *

  Court had tried to call Lana later the same evening, but she wasn’t able to get in touch with her. She left a generic message, just saying she’d try her again tomorrow and there was no need for her to call her back. Of course, the fact Lana didn’t call her back caused a bit of anxiety, but Court held out hope she could see her face-to-face before Lana learned of the trade on her own. It hadn’t taken much to convince Joey to give her Lana’s address, and she made him promise not to tell her she was coming to Chicago until she had a chance to do it herself.

  She’d met with the Wolves’ owners and coaching staff as soon as she got to the arena after her plane landed. They had a day off the following day, so she was told where to go for a physical then. As long as nothing unexpected came up during the exam, she was to report the day after that for her first practice with her new team.