Page 137 of Hockey Wife
The kid gestured for him to come into the lounge, where he was greeted by the entire team with a cake as big as a face-off circle.
“Congratulations, Banks!” O’Malley looked thrilled that his ambush had worked out spectacularly. “As soon as we heard you were signing today, we got busy.”
His teammates rushed forward, clapping him on the back (probably testing his shoulder, the fuckers) and letting him know in their own way that he was still part of the team, even though he’d failed at the final hurdle in May.
“You missed O’Malley’s big cookout yesterday,” Kershaw said around a mouthful of cake.
“Don’t you mean your big cookout?” Foreman asked. “You spent the whole afternoon defending that grill like it was your zone.”
“He’s a baby! He needs to learn from his grill meister elders.” Kershaw gave Banks a crafty look. “You still married, Banks?”
“For now. It’s working its way through the system.”
The annulment papers were sitting on his kitchen counter, the same place they’d landed after the courier dropped them off two weeks ago. After not hearing from her for several months, he’d harbored some hope that she might be having second thoughts.
But no. All he had to do was sign and send them on. Delaney had said there should be no problems; he had a guy on deck in Nevada who would shepherd it through the system on the grounds of intoxication (lie) and want of understanding (more lies). The marriage would be null and void from the date they’d tied the knot, like it never happened.
But it had happened, and while Banks didn’t think that was the kind of thing that should be erased from existence, he had to honor Georgia’s wishes.
“Heard Georgia set up a charity.” Petrov thumbed a dob of icing from the corner of his mouth. “She is always in the news these days, galas and the like. Harper went to one of them.”
“She showcased one of Sadie’s dresses at that last one.” Bond’s wife was a dress designer, and Banks knew exactly which dress his teammate meant. Another pink number, it had a full skirt, like a ballet tutu of feathers, and now it was listed on Sadie’s site, simply titled “the Georgia.”
Baby Durand put a slice of cake on a plate. “She wasn’t with anyone, though, was she?”
Jorgenson shook his head. “No, she’s probably not going to start dating until the divorce goes through officially.”
Banks slammed his plate down. These assholes. “I’d appreciate it if you stop gossiping about my wife like a gaggle of hens.”
“Your wife?” Kershaw chuckled. “From what I heard it was all a ‘big mistake’.”
Banks offered a soul-killing glare. He knew what they were doing, trying to goad him into fucking emoting.
“Not a mistake,” he bit out. Big or otherwise. “Just something that happened.”
“Now she’s a free agent,” O’Malley said, running with Kershaw’s inanity. “With her hockey know-how, I’m guessing her next husband will be a player. She’s got a taste for it. Maybe one of our rookies?”
Kershaw shook his head. “Georgia’s got too much class to date a player on her ex’s team. I reckon she’ll go for someone on the Hawks instead.”
Rage reared up. “Kershaw, if you don’t shut your mouth, I’m gonna take that cake slice and put an end to your genetic line.”
His teammate looked unimpressed. “All this feeling, man, and you’re still going through with the divorce.”
“It’s an annulment. Like it never happened.”
O’Malley blew out a breath. “But you just said it did happen. And you’re still wearing your wedding ring.”
Damn thing wouldn’t come off. Too much salty food this summer.
The kid looked serious. “You probably don’t want to hear it?—”
“Correct.”
“But you looked like you were really happy together. Or about as happy as a guy with your brand of resting prick face can look.”
“We were.” He couldn’t keep it in any longer. “I fucked up.”
Cue the Bromance Heavens opening their floodgates. Suddenly, everyone was pummeling him with questions.