Shutout (The Renegades Series Book 5) (27 page)

Dominic

Dom moved back and forth, trying to avoid Chicago from blocking his view. They were good at screening the goalie and it was pissing him off. Every time he moved to the left, Hooper did too. He moved to the right, so did Hooper. The puck was being passed around between the other team. Tyler and Kris were doing their best to take it off them. Kris did get hold of the puck once, but when he passed it to Tyler, Chicago picked it off and shot it towards the net. Dom barely saw it coming.

Hailee was creeping into his thoughts and distracting him. He couldn’t risk that while he was on the ice. Anger filled him when he thought about their last meeting.

Hooper was still in his face and Dom was tired of it. His patience was at an all-time low and his anger was quick to show. Dom gave him a good shove across the back with his stick, a warning to get out of his space. Hooper didn’t like it and shoved back.

Kris took offense this time. Even being screened by Hooper, Dom could see Kris’s face and knew he was pissed. “Get the fuck off our goalie, jackass!”

“Fuck you!” Hooper pushed back at Kris, and the shoving eventually ended with Hooper lying on top of Dom.

Dom was pinned against the post with the big body of Hooper on top of him. He thought Kris was on top of the dog pile, but turned out another Chicago player was on the top of it all.

Dom was shaken up a bit, his head fuzzy as he lay on the ice. Ty called to him, asking if he was okay. Hooper just rolled away, allowing him finally to try to sit up.

“Dom!” Ty called again. He waved his hands to the bench, calling for a trainer.

Dom didn’t need a trainer. He was fine; he just needed to shake this off and get up. Flipping his mask up on his head, he called to Tyler, “I’m fine, just a bit rattled. Give me a second.” He waved his hands telling the trainer he was okay, but the man continued to his side.

“Zanetti, you okay?” He put his hand on Dom’s shoulder and looked him in the eye.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m good. I just needed a minute. I’m fine.” There was no way in hell he was going out because of a little bump.

He was fine, but his blood was boiling. He’d had enough of these guys; the next one to cross into his blue ice was going to feel his wrath. Dom didn’t lose it often, but when he did, look out.

Carefully he watched the puck drop and number twenty-seven on Chicago stole the biscuit. He held on to it and glided into the Renegades end. Dom’s eyes were glued to the puck. His head was heavy and sweat poured off his forehead. He willed it to not drip into his eyes, but it did. It stung. Just as twenty-seven made the rush to his net, number eight crossed in front of him, probably trying to screen him but crossing over into his blue paint.

“Back the fuck up!” Dom raised his stick and smashed it across number eight’s shoulders. “Get out of my paint.”

Number eight turned to glare at him. Before the Chicago player could raise his stick to Dom, he cross checked him again, this time across his chest. “Back the fuck off!”

The whistle blew and all eyes were on Dom and the guy in his crease. Kris hurried to Dom’s side and jumped in front of number eight. “Dude, back away.”

Number eight shrugged Dom’s stick away from him and pushed his shoulders back, getting into Kris’s face. Kris nudged him back away from the net and Patrick joined in. Number two on Chicago appeared when Patrick started shoving his teammate. The ref interfered but didn’t see a Chicago player take a run at Dom.

Number seventy-seven shoved Dom backwards into the net, catching him off guard and sending him onto his ass. Dom’s neck hit the cross bar as he went down. “What in the damn hell?” Anger took over his actions and without as much as a thought he swung his stick and caught seventy-seven in the ankle area, knocking him off his feet and onto the ice.

Dom’s emotions were running high already and now Chicago were just being assholes. He stood up and grasped his net. Thoughts of tossing it over in a rage crossed his mind. He was pissed.

Whistles blew over and over, as the officials tried to get back control of this game. In the end, Pat ended up in the box serving a slashing call on Dom and number seventy-seven served time for Chicago.

Tyler tapped his shin pads. “Dom, you good?”

Dom shook himself off and exhaled a long deep breath. “Yeah. Fine.”

“Shake it off, Z. It’s not worth it,” Tyler added before he skated away. He made eye contact and Dom knew he saw right through him. Ty was right; he needed to shake it off. He needed to shake off the hurt and anger he was holding onto and worry about the game. After all, now they were playing for the Cup. He couldn’t bring his emotions onto the ice. It was going to get him in hot water that he didn’t need to be in.

Hailee

Hailee’s phone buzzed on the counter of the pet salon. It’d been a quiet morning here. As much as she wanted to talk to Alison about what Dominic had said, she wasn’t so sure that she wanted answers. Her best friend and the man she thought she loved had both lied to her.

Not knowing details might be better than knowing. She was busy washing a Bassett Hound and couldn’t check the buzzing phone. It was a good excuse anyway. She didn’t really want to check it. She knew who it was.

What was so hard for him to understand? She didn’t need a Superman to come in and save her. She didn’t need saved at all. As much as that money was going to boost her business, he shouldn’t have used his company name to do it. Not to mention doing it all behind her back.

The damn phone kept buzzing. Tossing it into the tub full of water crossed her mind. Effective but not smart.
Maybe I should’ve left my phone at home
.

A wet tongue slobbered on her cheek, bringing her out of her thoughts and back into reality.

“Are you going to answer that?” Alison asked, staring at the buzzing phone. It was the most she’d said to her all day.

“No.”

“Can we turn it off then? It’s freaking out some of the dogs.”

“Why did you talk to him?” Hailee blurted out without any thought.

“What?” Alison stopped what she was doing and directed her attention to Hailee. Surprise showed on Alison’s face but Hailee could see the guilt behind it.

“Once I had enough to open the gallery, I was quitting the club. It wasn’t any of his business.”

“Hay, why are you so upset? I didn’t do anything wrong. Plus, you’re getting everything you ever wanted with this paintings deal. Who cares where or who it came from?”

“If you didn’t think it was wrong, then why didn’t you tell me that you talked to him? I thought you were my friend. You knew it was important to me to do this by myself.”

“Now come on, Hailee. I
am
your friend and you know that. I only wanted to help.” Alison closed her eyes for a second and exhaled deeply. “Look, yes, I talked to him. He called me asking for my help. He still loves you and it was never his plan to move on. I started telling him about your pride and the plans for the gallery.”

“And the website.”

“Yes, and the website. Look, I didn’t think it would hurt anything. He’s a good guy.”

“That doesn’t mean he had to swoop in and buy all my paintings. I don’t need his pity.”

“Hailee, didn’t he explain? He didn’t swoop the way you put it, and he didn’t do anything out of pity. He just reached out to his contacts.”

“What do you mean?”

“As far as I know, there were many buyers. He knows people. He was able to get your name out to buyers we had no hopes of reaching. It’s called networking. Isn’t that your ultimate goal? I just thought Dom could fast track things. You know I’d do anything to get you to quit The Cat House and get you out of that shitty neighborhood.”

Hailee didn’t answer. What was she going to say? She hadn’t given Dom much chance to explain, and if everything Ali said was true, Dominic hadn’t really done anything wrong, so why was she so upset?

“Hailee, why does it even bother you so much? He just wants to help. And before you open your mouth with the barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen making pies comments, hear me out. Accepting help isn’t a sign of weakness. Sometimes it’s exactly what we need. Offering help isn’t trying to be in control of that other person. People offer help to get you to where you need to be so you can help yourself. Dom came up with a way to help get you started, short of handing you the cash himself. Yes, it was to fast track your business plan, but why should you have to wait years for something you want so much? He cares about you and wants you to succeed.”

“But—”

“I’m not done. He loves you. People do things for the ones they love. Period. He has no ulterior motive. He’s head over heels in love with you. I swear, you are the only one who can’t see it!” Alison let out a loud, frustrated sigh.

Hailee handed the Bassett Hound off to the girl drying and styling. She wiped off all the fur that stuck to her hands and arms with a towel. Once she was done, she put her hands on her hips and tilted her head. “Are you done now?”

“No.”

“Alison, what else is there to say?”

“You still love him.”

Hailee dropped her arms to her sides. She had no quick response to Alison; she had no response at all. She looked over at her phone that had stopped buzzing, then back at her friend.
Why do I have to make such drama out of everything
?
Am I really so determined to be alone that I’m willing to risk losing him by continually pushing him away?

“I knew it.”

Hailee sunk down into the chair behind the reception desk. “Ali, what the hell is the matter with me?”

“You’re scared.” Alison secured a pink bandana around the neck of a wiener dog.

“Scared? Of what?”

“Of being happy.”

“That’s ridiculous. Everyone wants to be happy.”

Alison set the dog in Hailee’s lap. “Listen to me. It’s time you faced facts. What Dom’s sisters said to you was awful, but you didn’t even fight back. You took every word to heart and did a disappearing act.” She put her hand up, stopping Hailee’s argument. “Why? Why would my fierce friend just roll over and leave the man she loves because of what they said?”

“What do you mean? They told me that I’d be expected to give up my dreams and stay home to look after the family.”

“And we know that’s a load of bullshit. What else did they say?”

Hailee struggled to swallow, her mouth suddenly dry. She’d wanted a fresh start after arriving in Pittsburgh, and it had been too painful to think about, so she’d stuck with her story and never admitted everything to Alison. “That he was too young to get married.”

Alison raised one eyebrow. “And? What else?”

Hailee could feel the blood draining out of her face. Her words came out little more than a whisper. “That I’d ruin his career if I stayed with him. That he needed to focus on the game and not on me. They even told me he deserved someone better, a girl who understood his world.”

Alison folded her arms across her chest. “Exactly. You never believed that he expected you to give up your dream to follow him around like an obedient puppy, pushing out babies. That just became your perfect excuse for pushing him away.”

Hailee shook her head. “That’s not—”

“The truth? The truth is, you were afraid that if you stayed with him, that you’d hold him back, and Dom would end up losing his dream. You gave up being with him so that he had a chance to succeed in hockey.” She stopped to take a breath. “You wanted everyone to think you couldn’t bear to give up
your
dream. But the truth is, you sacrificed being with the man you loved for
his
dream, not yours. I’m right, aren’t I?”

Hailee stared at her friend, tears pooling in her eyes. The words fell heavily on her heart, making it hard to breathe. How in the hell did Ali manage to hit every single nail on the head?

Alison huffed. “I knew it. I know how your mind works.”

Hailee swiped a tear away, and met Alison’s gaze. “Ali, you have no idea how hard it is for someone to make it into a PHL team. He lived for hockey, and he had his family hockey legacy to live up to. I couldn’t risk staying and him end up hating me for ruining his chances for success.”

Alison put her arm around Hailee’s shoulders. “I get that. I really do. There’s no way of ever knowing what would’ve happened if you’d stayed. That’s all in the past. But things are different now. Dom’s hockey career is going great. He’s living his dream. So why are you still sabotaging having a relationship with him?”

“What? I’m not.”
I totally am.

“You keep pushing him away. You want to know what I think?”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me anyway.” Hailee sighed.

Alison ignored her. “I think what his sisters said about him finding someone better has dug so far down inside you, that you believe it. Either that, or you’re punishing yourself. You think after what you did to him, you deserve to stand by and get your own heart broken as you watch him get with someone else.”

“Alison, please—” How could Alison possibly know her so well?

“You pushed him away. You wanted him to move on. Then you stalked him to see photos of him with bunnies, even though it hurt you, as if somehow that would prove that he was looking for someone more suitable. But wake up, Hailee.” Alison gave her a little shake. “He doesn’t want anyone else. He doesn’t want you to change and be someone you’re not. You are what he wants, just how you are. Dom isn’t going to make you do anything you don’t want to.” Alison looked at her with a smile. “I’m pretty sure he knows you would kick his ass, and then send
him
into the kitchen to make pies.”

Alison’s comment was ridiculous, but it made her smile. “He is pretty cute in an apron. Not to mention handy in the kitchen. He makes a mean sugar cookie.”

“I’ll take your word on the apron, but I volunteer to taste test cookies anytime.”

Hailee took a deep breath. “I need to see where all the paintings are going. I doubt that I can pay everyone back, but maybe I can try. But I need to know…” Her plan to pay everyone back was ridiculous and not very practical. And also, impossible.

“Oh my God, Hailee, haven’t you been listening to a word I’ve said?”

“What?” She let her shoulders droop, too tired to keep holding them up. “You’re right, Alison. About everything. I felt like I was living in a void after I left him. Focusing on getting my gallery up and running was the only way I could get through the days. I always wanted to paint and have my own gallery. But that dream became my lifeline. I was proud of my work, and finally to have got where I wanted to be. Now I just feel like I’ve achieved my dream under false pretenses.”

“Don’t start with that. Nobody forced anyone to buy your paintings.”

“But you said you aren’t sure how many buyers there were. What if he actually bought them all? Or twisted people’s arms to buy them? I can’t let him―”

“If you’re still stuck on not wanting to be the cause of him sacrificing anything for you, forget it. You know how much money the PHL players make, right? It’s not like he couldn’t afford to help you start up your gallery, or buy a few of your paintings.”

“That’s not it. I just don’t want pity money. I don’t want him to buy my art just to help me out.”

“Hailee, how many paintings of you and him have you kept? Ones that mean something to you, that you don’t think you’ll ever be able to let go of?”

She shrugged. “A few. But what’s that got to do with anything?”

“Why is it so hard for you to believe that he might also want to keep some paintings of you and him from back when you were together? He loved you — loves you — and he probably wants reminders of happier times with you.”

Hailee paused, thinking. Maybe Alison was right. But she couldn’t let this go. Not until she had all the answers. “I just need to know, that’s all.”

Alison huffed. “How is that going to help you? He’ll never let you pay him back.”

She knew that. “I don’t know exactly. I just need to see.”
Maybe I just need to know which ones he kept for himself.

Hailee took a deep breath before checking her phone.

Dom
: Hailee?

Dom
: Hailee, talk to me.

Dom
: Look, whatever it is you think I was trying to do for you, I wasn’t.

Dom
: Why won’t you just talk to me?

Dom
: Are you still worried about being kept in the kitchen? Because we don’t even have to have a kitchen. I’m good with take out. But I still do need some kind of coffee maker. A French Press is fine.

Dom
: Maybe a microwave too?

Dom
: Look, we need to talk this out. I’m not sure what you’re upset about. I thought you’d be happy with what I did. Well, I hoped.

Dom
: I’ll be right here waiting for you to realize that I was just trying to do what any boyfriend would do for their girl. Show support in her business endeavor and want her to succeed.

Dom
: You know where to find me.

Dom
: And please don’t be mad at Alison. It’s not her fault.

“Look,” Ali said from over her shoulder. “Don’t be mad at Alison.”

“I can read, Ali.” She shoved her gently and gave a small smile.

“I have an idea.” Alison grabbed Hailee’s phone and hit CALL.

“What are you doing?” Hailee tried without success to grab her phone back.

“Dom, it’s me, Ali.” She switched the phone to speakerphone before continuing. “I have you on speaker and Hailee is right here.”

Dominic was silent.

“You still there, Dom?” Alison asked.