Page 132 of My Husband Problem

Hockey Hunksis one of the most popular hockey publications, and Scott interviewed Declan just last month. He has been trying to get an interview with me ever since I moved to Louisiana. But I have no idea why he’s heretoday. This isn’t even a real game.

“Scott,” Declan says with a tone that indicates he wasn’t expecting Scott to be here either. The men shake hands.

“This is quite a party,” Scott says, indicating the long table where crawfish are spread out with chunks of seasoned corn on the cob and red potatoes.

There’s another table laden with cornbread and various salads to go alongside, and another with drinks, including tea, lemonade, ice water, and a fruity drink made with lime drink mix and pineapple juice that we call Swamp Water. Inside the arena, adults can also buy Swamp Water with vodka added.

Bruce—one of our cooks, of course—carries a cook pot over and dumps a fresh batch of crawfish on top of the butcher paper covering the long wooden table.

“Eat up,” he tells us with a grin before returning to the area where the pots are boiling over propane gas flames.

Harley and Brewser are also helping cook. For a crowd this size, there simply aren't big enough pots, and the food has to be prepared in batches.

I watch for a moment as Lawson assists Brewser with his pot.

Lawson lives on the second floor of the older man’s big house. It’s turned into the perfect situation for both. Lawson needed a place to stay in Rebel, and he’s able to help with the tasks to keep the hundred-year-old house running.

Lawson hoists Brewser’s pot and carries it to another table where he dumps the contents out, and the waiting crowd converges on the fresh food.

“It’s tradition,” Declan tells Scott.

“I am surprised you’re doing it for your summer exhibition games too,” Mark, a reporter from New Orleans who has done several nice pieces for us over the past few months, comments.

I give him a smile. “Of course. Every time we play, it’s a party.”

This will be fine. I know how to put on the show. I’ve smiled and performed when I’ve been sick, hurt, and upset before.

All I have to do is convince a few people that I am happy to be here for a few minutes until the players take the ice.

Really, only until someone else distracts them. I am not the center of attention here, something I have very much enjoyed.

“You seem surprised to see me,” Scott says to Declan.

“You are a long way from home,” Declan replies.

Scott chuckles and looks at Maggie, who returns his smile.

“So are you. Which is, of course, why we’re here.”

I stiffen and Declan notices, slipping his arm around my waist and resting his big hand on my hip.

They’re here because Declan is here. Of course. If my brain wasn’t so muddled from what happened in my office—or whatdidn’thappen—and emotional because everything was going well until…well, until itwasn’t, I would’ve realized that immediately.

Declan being in town isn’t just a big deal for Rebel. Of course, other people would notice that. Particularly, people who follow hockey and people who are from Portland.

Maggie’s actually given our league a lot of attention since we started. I assume it’s because of Alex joining us. He was a big star in the pros and beloved in Portland. His joining a small, not-exactly-real-hockey league was a big story. Especially when he turned down the coaching position with the Grays to return to Louisiana. And Nora.

I have noticed that clicks on Maggie’s stories about Alex have decreased since it became clear he’s no longer single.

But Maggie isn’t here to talk about the ex-Grays star and no-longer-eligible bachelor. These three are here to shine a spotlight on the Grays' billionaire owner and why he is suddenly in a small town in Louisiana.

And his wife.

Which means that the spotlight will also be on me.

So pull your shit together. Today you’re a successful team owner. No focusing on your failures and disappointments.

“We just did an interview recently,” Declan tells Scott. “There can’t be anything interesting for us to talk about again already.”