Free Shutout (The Renegades Series Book 5) by Melody Heck Gatto

spotted with recollections of lap dances, as well as assorted grinding female body parts in his face.
    Looking in the mirror now, he noticed lipstick smeared on his neck. Was it from Hailee, or did something else happen during the night? Probably should check with Kris to find out what all that went on. Kris wouldn’t have let things get too out of control . He hoped.
    Checking his phone, he found no voicemails from Paige. That was good news. If he had done anything over the top stupid, it would’ve ended up on the internet, and Paige would’ve lost her mind on him by now. Soon-to-be-Mrs. Tyler Kidd was a cute thing, but had the attitude of Mother Hen. And you didn’t want to piss her off.
    He did know that Pat and Kris drove him home, but the rest was a bit foggy. And, he came home alone. He didn’t get shit-faced often because that was exactly what happened when he did, and his life and career didn’t need the drama.
    His eyes fell on the only painting in his place, of him and Hailee riding his motorcycle the summer they took a weekend trip to Lake Ontario. He had just finished his first season in the juniors with the Vipers. Hailee painted it. The sunset was in the background. She’d talk for hours about that sunset; she saw beauty in colors that no one else did. That was the artist in her. He might not have understood what she was talking about, but the way she was so passionate about it was a turn on.
    Now the painting held the last of his memories. Taking a deep breath, he ran his fingers through his hair, loosening the remaining styling gel.
    They’d been so good together. His thoughts went to her being at his every game, sitting in the stands bundled up in her white fluffy jacket, white scarf, and hat to keep warm. Her cheers were the loudest and he could actually hear her from the ice each time he scored. She had been his biggest fan and his biggest motivation.
    Win or lose, she’d always waited for him outside the locker rooms with open arms. It was the best trophy and the sweetest consolation prize.
    Smokey let out a loud meow that verged on a scream. He didn’t like that he was being ignored.
    “Hungry, boy?”
    The cat weaved in and out of Dom’s feet as he followed Dom into the kitchen, and then watched closely as a new can of food was opened and put in his food bowl.
    “Here you go.” Dom sat the bowl down on the kitchen floor. Smokey looked up at him and tilted his head before scrunching up his back and rubbing up against Dom’s leg. “Yeah, you’re right, buddy. I’m sure it wasn’t her.” Now if his heart only believed the words that left his mouth, he’d be golden.
     
    * * *
     
    Practice this morning was grueling. Coach Walker was running the team hard, probably well aware they’d all been out drinking the other night. The fact that Dom was barely able to drag himself out of bed yesterday was all the proof he needed that the bar scene was not for him.
    The rookies were especially slow today and were made to do laps and suicide drills. It didn’t take long for them to figure out they had better step up or coach was going to continue to make their lives miserable. They’d think twice about drinking that much next time, especially during the season.
    To make things tougher on the guys, today was an open practice, which meant they allowed fans in the arena to watch. Screaming kids and females lined the glass. The noise level was intense, and it made coach ride them more than usual. When he blew the whistle and the team broke into laps, they raced around the ice, some trying to out-do others.
    Dom fell back with Kaden and headed to the bench. They stretched out as they skated across the ice, limbering up and loosening their muscles by practically doing splits before they stopped by the bench for a quick drink.
    Propping his helmet on top of his head, Dom poured the cold Gatorade into his mouth, careful not to drip any on his white jersey. His hair fell into his eyes; with one movement he