Playing the Game (The Renegades) (Volume 3) (21 page)

The way she stopped cold when she ran into him, and
how her eyes grew wide when she saw he was in only a towel
entertained him. She acted as if this was a big deal, when she’d
seen him in less. Not being able to help it, a smile slid across
his face as she gawked and turned three shades of red.

“
Hey Paige!” Matt called from the
end of the room. He was one of about six guys walking around in a
towel. “You forgot to announce you were coming in.” He laughed a
hearty laugh and sat down at his locker.

“
You sure did.” Tyler was still
grinning. “But no worries, we’ll get dressed.”

He walked over to his locker and shot a grin at Matt.
Facing towards the lockers, they both dropped their towels at the
same time. A loud gasp from Paige could be heard behind them. Tyler
chuckled as he reached for his boxers.

Sam walked from the showers into the locker area
completely naked. “Hey guys—Whoa, Paige!” He quickly spun around
and retreated to the showers to grab a towel.

Tyler chuckled as Paige, her face flaming, turned
around to face the door.

“
Paige, what are you doing?”
Melanie said as she sauntered in.

“
I forgot to announce myself,” she
mumbled.

Tyler was amused by all this, sitting in front of his
locker shirtless. “Hey there, Mel.”

“
Tyler, put a shirt on. Matt, get
some pants on! No one wants to see your boxers.”

Paige finally turned back around but her face was
still bright red. He hated that she was embarrassed, but it was
cute.
They were all adults, what’s a bare ass really? Plus she’s
seen much more of me than that.

“
Boys, you’d better get dressed in
a hurry because the media is waiting for you,” Melanie announced
loudly. Her face was serious and she didn’t look like she
appreciated their joking around.

“
Sam, throw a towel on and get out
here. The media is ready,” Tyler called across the room.

Melanie shook her head, as Sam ran across the room in
nothing but a towel. “I don’t even want to know, just everyone get
dressed.
Now
!”

Tyler fought the laughter that was bubbling up inside
him. It was so easy to annoy Melanie and embarrass Paige with their
schoolboy antics. Maybe it was wrong of them to do that, because
she’d made an honest mistake, but it was damn fun.

“
You all have ten minutes, and then
I’m letting them in. So move it!” Melanie bellowed, her face
serious. She was pissed.

Paige had her head down for most of the time, but
glanced once over at Tyler with a shy expression before both women
exited the room. Feeling bad that he may have embarrassed her too
much, he knew he needed a plan to apologize.
Damn, all this
wooing and shit is exhausting
.

It didn’t matter how much it cost, it just mattered
if it was going to work. He couldn’t imagine having to work with
her day after day and not be able to touch her again or kiss those
soft lips.

Snapping out of it, he knew he needed to focus. Mel
was pissed and they had to remedy that. They all knew better than
to continue the silliness, so they were dressed and ready for
interviews in five short minutes. Tyler sat in front of his locker,
his hair still dripping a bit onto his shirt.

“
Hey shaggy, are you going to get a
haircut anytime soon?” Kris called over with a smirk.

“
Are you kidding me, Kris? You, of
all people, asking me that, with your flowing hair?” Tyler shot
back.

“
Hey, it’s not so flowing
anymore.”

“
Yeah, I know. You finally decided
to look like an adult.” Tyler couldn’t help but chuckle. Kris knew
he was just torturing him.

“
So what does that say for you
then, sunshine?” Kris threw a balled up towel at him.

“
Okay
ladies
, are you ready?
Finally?” Melanie sauntered into the room, her posture rigid and
her voice demanding.

“
Yes ma’am. Let the craziness
ensue,” Tyler shouted.

“
Okay, Paige.” Melanie called her
back into the room. “I’m going to go into the hallway and herd the
media in. You stay in the room and handle things from this
end.”

Paige stood beside the door and scanned the room.
“Everyone ready, and
decent
?” He could tell by the strict
look on her face that she was in professional mode now and not in
the mood for any more games.

“
We’re good Paige, let the fun
begin.” Patrick called from his locker. He was fully dressed, even
down to his designer tennis shoes. He seemed to be the model player
these last few months. It was ironic how they had almost swapped
personalities. But that was going to change.

Pat sat there, calm and cool. He’d been a wild child
when he got here, much like Ty had been acting recently. Only one
thing had slowed Patrick down, the love of a woman. Tyler was
finally starting to understand that. His gut didn’t twist as he
thought about Gia with Pat, and he realized it hadn’t in a while.
Looking over at Pat, Tyler tipped his head up and smiled. Pat
returned the smile.

“
We’re ready, Paige,” Tyler added,
just as the reporters piled into the locker room. He could only
focus on the sea of people heading towards him. They came closer
and closer until he was almost pushed backwards off of the bench.
Standing up, he took shelter against the locker, but that didn’t
help. They climbed over the bench and pinned him against the
lockers.

Looking around, he could see Patrick and Kaden
getting the same treatment; they both looked like trapped animals.
He stepped into his locker so he could look above the reporters as
Kaden and Patrick did the same.

“
Paige!” He tried to call her, but
the hum of people was too loud. Frantically he waved his arm to get
her attention, and finally she looked his way. Not being able to
call her, he mouthed the word “help” and flashed her a panicked
look. At least he hoped it came across as panicked, because that
was how he felt.

A microphone was stuck in his face almost up his nose
and one was making its way towards his ear; this was downright
creepy.
These people need to back the fuck off
.

“
Ladies and Gentleman.” Paige
shouted over the noise. “You know how you are to act in here, and
this is unacceptable.”

She swaggered over to Tyler’s locker first. Her chest
was puffed out the way she did when she wanted to feel in charge,
and damn that was sexy. Without glancing at Tyler she gave the
reporters a pointed look and continued to bark orders. “Back up.
Keep going, keep going. Okay. Do not crowd the players. Do not
stick microphones in their faces. I don’t want to see anyone
pinning them up against the wall again. I’m sure you all are well
aware of my rules, and if you are not, let me tell you that I will
not hesitate to toss you out of here. This isn’t a free-for-all,
and these are players not animals in the zoo. Treat them with
respect, or you’ll have to deal with me. Understand?”

He was able to sit back down on the bench. The
reporters were silent as she spoke, and her little power trip
actually gave him a hard-on.

Glancing down at him she smiled a rigid smile.
“Tyler, you good now?”

“
Yes ma’am. Thanks.” He couldn’t
help but flash her a wide grin. Probably not the best idea to do in
front of all of the reporters, but he didn’t care.

She stayed standing beside him but looked over at
Pat. “That means you too, folks.” She scolded. “I know you heard
what I said, so back up.” Once they all fell in to place, she
smiled and asked, “Patrick you good?”

“
I am. Thanks, Paige.” Patrick
stood in his stall and the microphones stayed at arm’s length away
from his face.

The silence around Tyler slowly faded as one by one
they started to ask him questions, but his attention was on Paige.
She strolled across the room, and he couldn’t peel his eyes from
her. He did his best to answer questions while he watched and
listened to her.

“
Folks, do I need to repeat myself?
This is not a game. I mean, hockey, well, it’s a game, but this,
no. This is common sense, and if you don’t have any, I will turn
down your next request for an interview. If you are not familiar
with my rules, I will gladly pull you aside right now and read them
all to you, and you will miss your opportunity with our goalie,
Kaden. It’s your choice.” Her voice was strong and in charge, and
sexy as hell.

Kaden gave her a look of relief as the media quickly
backed away to a comfortable distance.

It was hard to see her as she retreated back to the
doorway, looking through paperwork and occasionally scanning the
room. He answered every question they threw at him until the last
reporter left. Checking on his guys, he saw they were all either
done or answering the last few questions. Then Paige ushered them
out of the room until they were all gone. Melanie returned and was
quietly talking with Paige.

Feeling like shit that he embarrassed her, Tyler
pulled out his phone and wrote her a quick email. He needed to get
her phone number; texting would be so much easier.

He wrote, “Paige, I’m sorry for the stunt I pulled. I
didn’t mean to embarrass you. I just wanted to see your smile.
Tyler.”

He watched her as she picked up her phone and read
his email. She bit her lip, glanced sheepishly over at him, and
pushed the hair back over her ear before she left the room.

He wasn’t sure what that glance meant, but it gave
him an uneasy feeling.

Kris slid next to him. “Well that stunt wasn’t your
best idea.”

“
I know, I know.” Tyler grimaced.
“I was in the moment, and it was stupid. I guess I thought she’d
laugh, but I think I embarrassed her instead.”

“
I’d say so.”

“
I just sent her an email, but I
don’t think that’s going to be enough. I need to apologize
properly.” Tyler scrubbed his hands over his face.

“
Wow, yes, Tyler. That’s exactly
what you need to do. Dude, you’re finally snapping out of this
asshole funk you’ve been in. Thank the heavens for
that!”

“
You too, Kris?” Tyler shook his
head.

“
Look, I miss the old Tyler, the
good guy. You’ve been a big jerk lately.”

“
Dude, I don’t mean to interrupt,
but you’ve even out-assholed me.” Patrick smiled as he stood over
Tyler. “And that’s saying something.”

“
I tend to agree.” Tyler was by no
means ready to forgive and forget what Pat did to him, but it was
time for them to co-exist and move on from there.

“
Maybe Pat can help us come up with
ideas? After all, he’s a goddamn Romeo now.” Kris laughed, giving
his cousin, Patrick, a little shove.

“
Shut up, Kris. Look who’s talking?
So what do you need help with?” Patrick wrinkled his brow, looking
confused.

It couldn’t hurt, and Tyler needed the help.

“
There’s this girl, and I did
something stupid. I need to make a gesture—a big one. Just walking
up to her and saying I’m sorry is out.”

“
He’s been wooing her and still
can’t seem to break through her tough exterior,” Kris
said.

“
You mean simply saying
I’m
Tyler Fucking Kidd
isn’t working?”

“
Don’t be a smartass, Pat,” Kris
warned.

“
No, I’m serious. He knows what I’m
talking about. There are some girls that all you have to do is say
those words and they’re yours for the night.”

Tyler shrugged. “Yeah, I’ve had those girls. But then
there are some girls that just won’t work with. They’re different,
they’re special.”

Kris looked aggravated. “I don’t know anything about
all that. I still say you need to woo her.”

“
You and your
wooing
. What
is it with you?” Patrick teased his cousin.

“
It got me Kat, didn’t it?” He
snarked back.

“
Oh, that’s right. You didn’t need
to throw your name around.” Patrick laughed.

Tyler spoke up. “I need suggestions, Pat. Between the
two of you, whatever you did obviously worked, with Kat and with…”
Tyler looked up at Patrick, pausing. It was still hard to say her
name, but they were together now, and it was time he resigned
himself to that. “…Gia.”

“
I’m happy to help if you’ll let
me. But I don’t
woo
.” Patrick looked at Kris. “I’m just
awesome, so that always works.”

Kaden joined the group, the last guys in the locker
room. “So, what are we talking about, and can I help?”

CHAPTER 24

“Oh my God, Rylee. It was so embarrassing!” Paige put
her head in her hands at the dining room table, as Rylee snacked on
cheesecake. “I didn’t stand there any longer than I had to. It was
humiliating.”

“
You should’ve snapped them with a
towel. And taken a few pics.” Rylee carried on. “I would’ve liked
to have seen that!”

Paige whipped her head up and shot Rylee a pointed
look.

“
Whoa, I meant of Matt and Sam…
sheesh. Jealous much?”

“
I am not jealous, and I don’t care
who looks at Tyler’s ass.” Paige snapped.

“
Um, I’m pretty sure you do.” Rylee
countered, eating the last piece of her cheesecake. “That jealousy
is peeking through, girl, and it isn’t very attractive.”

“
Ugh! I give up.” Paige threw her
hands in the air. Maybe she was acting jealous, because who really
cared who saw Tyler’s ass? Yeah, she cared.