Nikki Worrell - The Enforcer (NHL Scorpions)

“I will. Thanks Zoe. I never thought I’d get anything out of talking to a therapist, but you really are helping me. I was afraid that I’d be uncomfortable around you when we all go to the bar or wherever, but I’m not. Thanks for keeping our sessions separate from my everyday life.” It couldn’t be easy. It was like she had two different people inside of her, but it worked.

“I’m glad you’re finding our talks helpful, Jody. I never want you to feel uncomfortable and anything you say to me, stays with me.”

“Great. I’m going to get my nap in now before the game. Thanks for talking to me.” Most of the guys tried to get an hour or so of sleep in on a game day.

“Anytime, Jody. Have a great game. We’ll be watching! I took some allergy meds and am going to try to watch the game at your house with Lacey and Izzy. Wish me luck.” Zoe hoped it worked.

Jody laughed. “Well, enjoy my girls, Zoe. Goodnight.”

It was the day before Halloween, and Lacey could not wait until Jody got home from his latest road trip. He’d only been gone for three days this time, but between her work schedule, his schedule and the time difference, they’d hardly even had time for a good conversation. She missed him and finally admitted to herself that she loved him. Even though they had only been together a little over two months, it seemed like much longer. She loved him with every fiber of her being, and she wanted to tell him.

He was due to get home around four o’clock, and Lacey wanted to be at his house when he did. A homemade meal never tasted better than after eating out for days on end. At least Lacey thought so, and she was going to cook for Jody. He said he liked spicy, so she was cooking a Mexican dinner.

She had just put the chicken in the oven when she heard the door open. “Lace? Where are you? I’m so glad to be home.”

“Follow your nose!” She heard him put his travel bag down. Footsteps fell on the tile as he came closer to her, and then he was standing in front of her. “I missed you,” she told him, “I’m glad you’re back.”

Lacey launched herself into his arms, burying her face in his neck. That’s when she caught the scent. A feminine scent. Not quite perfume, but feminine all the same. Oh God, oh God, oh God. No, please no, not Jody, too.

Jody felt Lacey stiffen immediately. He pulled her away and looked into her eyes. Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears, but they also held anger. “Hey, what’s wrong, Angel?”

“I can’t believe it. Aw, Jody, not you. How? How could you do this to me?” Lacey was mortified when a sob escaped her. She covered her face and turned away from him.

“Lace, sweetheart, what are you talking about?” He tried to put his arms around her, but she whirled around and shoved him away.

She was incredibly sad, but she was also getting pissed. “You forgot to shower, sweetheart . I can smell her on you. I can smell her scent on your skin.” Lacey felt her anger kick up a notch when she saw a smile break out on his face as he figured out what she meant.

“Aw, Lace. I smell like a woman because I stole your soap to take with me on the road. I wanted to feel like you were close to me. It’s your lavender soap. I even had to shower twice so the guys wouldn’t smell it on me in the mornings.” Jody pulled her into his arms and ran his hands over her back in soothing circles. When she finally put her arms around his waist, he tilted her head back to make her look at him. “Lacey Benoit, listen to me good. I love you. I love you more than anything in the entire world. I never knew it was possible to love someone so much. If I thought you’d say yes, I’d marry you tomorrow. Now read my lips, I will never … ever be unfaithful to you.” Just to make sure she had zero doubts, he went over to his suitcase and pulled out her soap, putting it on the counter before her.

Lacey felt like a fool. It was one of those moments she wished she could take back – rewind time and handle it differently. “I’m sorry, Jody. I … I don’t know what else to say. It wasn’t fair of me to just accuse you like that. You don’t deserve-” Jody put a finger to her lips.

“Stop Lace, it’s okay. If you want to make it up to me, promise me that you’ll be faithful to me, too.” He never did talk to her about their relationship after he spoke to Zoe. He meant to, but it just never came about.

Lacey was taken aback by that, and blurted out, “Huh? Of course I will. I love you.” Okay, that was not the way she wanted to tell him that. Another moment she’d like to take back.

Jody went perfectly still. He felt like he’d just won the lottery of a lifetime. She loved him? Truly? Nothing would ever compare to that moment. Nothing. Not even hoisting the Stanley Cup. His voice horse, he commanded, “Say it again.”

Lacey smiled at him and looked him in the eyes. Giving him a gentle kiss on his lips, she whispered, “I love you, Jody LaGrange. I love you more than chocolate.” Jody laughed at that.

“More than chocolate, eh? That makes me happy. I know how much you love chocolate.” Jody hugged her tighter and rested his chin on her head. “Thank you.”

“For loving you more than chocolate?” He didn’t say anything for the space of a few heartbeats.

When he did speak, he had to clear his throat. He spoke with a voice that was thick with emotion. “For loving me. For taking a chance on me. I swear, Lace, I won’t let you down.”

Lacey and Zoe went to the game together on Halloween. Lacey loved going to that game. They both dressed in costumes, as a lot of fans did. Even though it was an old joke, Lacey liked the people who dressed as blind referees. The Scorpions ran a contest for the best costume before the game, awarding a prize to one adult and one child.

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this, Zoe. Why is it that you always get your way with me?” Lacey looked at her reflection and frowned. The costume that Zoe had picked out for her was basically a pink corset with some feathers hanging down from the bottom to form a two-inch skirt. It also had wings and a halo to go with it. She felt naked. Oh, maybe she’d feel more covered up with the wings and halo on. Sure thing. “Look at how much my boobs squeeze out of this thing. If I have a nip-slip, I’m going to strangle you.”

Zoe playfully poked the ample spillover and shrugged her shoulders. “Hey, you said you wanted to be an angel. Well, you’re an angel.”

“I wanted to be an angelic angel, not an angel from Angels Gone Wild ! When Jody calls me Angel, it’s sweet, not dirty.”

“Tough titties. Sweet angels are boring. Fallen angels are sexy. With your slutty fallen angel costume and my barely there belly dancer outfit, we’ll stop traffic, baby!”

“And again I ask why do I let you talk me into these things?”

Zoe turned to Lacey with her hands on her hips. “Because you know that I know best. And deep down, you’re a vixen, just aching to bust free. Haha … bust.”

Zoe’s costume was just as sexy. She was a belly dancer, dressed in red. She had on wispy, see thru ‘pants’ that were slit up the sides and rode low on her hips. They were held together at the waist and the ankle with delicate gold chains. The top portion of the costume consisted of a miniscule bra, and she wore a headpiece that had more gold chains dangling down to frame her face. She even wore a fake belly button ring. At least Lacey thought it was fake.