Whatever Gage says, it seems to penetrate Coen’s thick head. He walks over to the guy and seems to apologize. The guy begrudgingly accepts with a curt nod, and then Gage leads Coen out the door.
When Stone returns to our table, I ask him what happened.
“Apparently, that guy stepped in Coen’s way and accidentally bumped his shoulder. Coen went ballistic and called him a nasty name. Shoving ensued, and you saw the rest.”
“He’s got an awful short temper.” I know Coen hasn’t been doing well, based on what Stone has told me. Anybody who watches sporting news knows he got arrested for drunk and disorderly and assault. And here he is, jumping right back into the fray.
“And he doesn’t even have alcohol to blame for this outburst.” Stone sounds absolutely disgusted but equal parts worried about his teammate.
“He needs a major intervention.”
“I agree.” Stone glances toward the door and then back to me. “But who would do it? None of us are close to him. All his friends died on that plane. Every single member of this team could sit him down and tell him we’re worried, but it wouldn’t mean shit because he doesn’t know us and we don’t know him.”
That makes me sad for Coen. “He must feel like an island.”
“A rageful island,” Stone clarifies. “He has to figure some way to work that shit out. I know management won’t put up with it, and he’s going to find himself booted from the team.”
“You figured a way to work past that stuff,” I murmur.
Stone smiles, takes my hand again. “Yeah… I did. Part of that was you, and part of that was my brother’s journals. I don’t know if Coen has a support system. I’ve tried to get him to open up a few times, but he’s not interested in connecting with anyone.”
We feel the heaviness of the moment… that Coen might be a lost cause.
“Want to get out of here?” Stone asks.
I study him, noting the worry lines around his eyes. “Yeah… let’s go to my place. I’m sure there will be sex involved.”
Stone laughs, the distress melting from his expression. “I’ll make all your dreams come true tonight.”
“God, please don’t be kidding.”
Standing from his chair, Stone helps me up. He loops an arm around my neck and pulls me in. His mouth touches mine for a small kiss, then he nuzzles his cheek next to mine.
His lips graze my ear before he whispers, “I think I’m going to make you beg.”
A shiver runs up my spine at the dark promise within those words, and I doubt he’s going to have to work too hard to get me to beg.
CHAPTER 24
Stone
I let Harlow drive us to her parents’ since she knows Pittsburgh like the back of her hand, and I get lost if I venture more than a few blocks from the condo or the arena. When we pull up in front of what I can only describe as a mansion, I’m finally starting to understand not only Harlow’s family wealth but the history behind it. She comes from a long line of prestigious lawyers, and if the grandiosity of her family home is any indication, they are not only prestigious but incredibly productive when it comes to making money.
As we step out of the vehicle, I look over the hood at her. “I’m feeling severely underdressed.”
Harlow waves at me and then to herself. We’re both in jeans. “You’re dressed just as well as I am. Trust me when I tell you my parents don’t care about this stuff.”
She walks around the front of her car and holds out her hand. “But please don’t get freaked out that they will both be dressed nicely.”
“Oh, great,” I grumble. “Missing my first real opportunity to impress your mom and dad.”
Harlow laughs and wraps both of her arms around the crook of my elbow as we walk up the sidewalk. “They’re going to like you just the way you are.”
She leads me up the steps to a set of large double doors with heavy brass knockers. She ignores those, along with the doorbell, and enters into a spacious, marbled foyer with a double-grand staircase before us and marbled floor beneath. Before I can take in my surroundings, I hear the scrabbling of claws as two large Bernese Mountain Dogs race toward us.
I’d been expecting this. While we didn’t bring Odin tonight, I’m well aware that the Alston family has had Bernese Mountain Dogs going back a few generations.
Harlow squats to hug the dogs and let them kiss her. She glances up at me and says, “This is Loki and Freya.”
As if understanding the introduction, both dogs come to me with tails wagging. A far cry from how I first met Odin, who continues to warm up to me, I’m happy to say, but his tail doesn’t wag like these two when I’m near.