Goalie Interference (NHL Scorpions) Read Online Free Page B

“Yeah, okay. But give her some slack, man. She’s the best thing that ever happened to you. Don’t fuck it up.” Vlad was certainly happy for Jody, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t jealous. He’d do anything to have his girl demanding that he leave her alone because she was pregnant with his kid. Well, at least he had the part down where she demanded he leave her alone.
     

     
    When Vlad and Jody got to the pub, they settled at the bar with a couple of beers.
    “You guys want something to eat tonight?” Dan, the bartender, was used to having the NHLers in his place. He even had a private room in the back he let them use if the public attention got to be too much.
    “I’m starving, Dan. Got any specials today?” Vlad was always starving. He was lucky he had a great metabolism. The way he ate, he should be as big as a house.
    “Tony made up some of that crab bisque that everyone loves just this afternoon. He also made some cheddar biscuits. Want to start with that?”
    “Yeah, that sounds great. How about you?” Vlad turned to see if Jody wanted the soup and spotted Zoe walking in. “Crap.” He rubbed the back of his neck in agitation.
    “What?” Jody turned in the direction Vlad was looking to see her walking right toward them. “Hey Zoe, you want to have a seat? Lace isn’t here. Our little angel is into sparring mode again, and she’s sick of me at the moment.”
    Zoe smiled, and put her arm around him in a show of support. She really did feel bad for Jody. He tried to do everything for Lacey, and it was driving her nuts. Zoe patted his cheek with true affection. “No thank you, sweets. I’m actually here to pick up some of that crab bisque for Lacey.”
    “What? No way! I asked her if she wanted anything before I left.” He looked so forlorn. “I just want to help her.”
    Zoe explained for what seemed like the thousandth time. “Jody. Honey. Listen to me. She loves you more than chocolate, remember? She does, but you’re just a bit, well, smothering. She needs some girl time, okay?”
    “Okay, but make sure you get extra cheddar biscuits. She loves them.”
    “Oh, you poor deluded man. She used to love them. She hates cheddar cheese now. You bring them in the house and she’ll puke all over you. As a matter of fact, you may not even want to eat them. She’ll smell them on you.” Zoe thought Lacey was a bit on the crazy side, too, but who was she to say? She’d never been pregnant.
    Vlad smiled at Zoe. He honestly couldn’t help it. Seeing how much she cared about Lacey warmed his heart. Zoe was such an amazing human being. She was loving, but crass and sarcastic. She was perfect. Okay, maybe she wasn’t perfect, but she was to him. “Hey Zoe, you look especially pretty tonight.” Shut up, shut up, shut up, Vlad told himself. Go back to being agitated.
    Zoe looked down at her ripped jeans, red tank top, and half a dozen bangle bracelets. “Yeah, I guess I do, thanks.”
    “And so humble. What a great combination.”
    “Life’s too short to be humble. I know I look good, but I don’t flaunt it.” Zoe smiled, but then looked away. “Well, I have to get this soup and run. I’m spending a bit of time with Lacey before I go on my date.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she knew she made a mistake.
    Vlad’s hand clenched his beer bottle. “Really. A date, huh? Who’s the lucky guy this time? Tim? Kyle? Steve? John? Pete?”
    Jody cut him off. “Vlad, don’t do that, man. You know Zoe’s like a sister to me. Don’t disrespect her.” Zoe knew Vlad was putting Jody in a tough spot over whose side to take. That wasn’t fair of him.
    Zoe patted Jody on the back. “Thanks Jody, but it’s okay. I understand him. He can’t accept a situation that’s beyond his control so he lashes out with insults. It’s a coping mechanism.” Take that, Vlad. “Since you asked, I’m going out with Sebastian. You know, that hot Spanish guy I met at that speed dating thing?”