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“But when his drinking, and lusting, and his hunger for power, became known to more and more people, the demands to do something about this outrageous man became louder and louder.”
Cliff didn't know how much more of this he could take. It had been weeks now of bag skates, intense drills that had the rookies hanging over the boards to puke, followed by tense interactions in the locker room, everyone too scared to say much, in fear they may incur the wrath of their Captain.
If the on ice and locker room dynamics weren't already bad enough, Cliff also was becoming more and more concerned over the possibly pickled state of Roz’s liver. He knew that Roz had always enjoyed a party as much as any other member of the Bears, but ever since their last game against the Voyageurs in November, Roz had seemed to make it his personal mission to keep every bar and club in Boston (and all of their away game cities) in business.
Cliff was trying to keep an eye on Cap and keep him in check, he really was. At first, he wasn't too worried. So Roz had some extra energy to burn off? He was still playing like a demon, so it wasn't concerning. Until Connors had mentioned Montreal Jane in the locker room before practice one day, and Roz had gone so still and quiet that it almost seemed like he had frozen right there to the bench in front of his locker. The practice that followed ensured that no other member of the Bears dared to mention Montreal Jane directly to Roz’s face again.
After that practice is when the amount of women that Rozanov was taking home doubled, then tripled. St-Simon and Carmichael had sent frantic texts to the group chat the night they watched Roz take 3 girls home in an uber, Cap winking at them where they stood on the sidewalk with their jaws on the ground.
And Cliff applauded Roz, he really did. He knew from a few trips to Paris with Roz that the man was a very, very generous lover to the women he brought home, so he hoped those women knew how lucky they were.
It was the Jane of it all that had Cliff making possibly the craziest decision of his life.
He knew Jane was important to Roz, no matter what he said. He had never seen Roz blush before Jane, and now he could tell you exactly when Roz opened a text from Jane, just by the colour of his cheeks. At least, he could have, you know, before whatever happened in November happened, and any texts from Jane, and therefore any blushing, stopped.
And the drinking, lusting, and insane practices began.
It was almost 3 months after the disappearance of Jane that Cliff put his plan into action. The first step was completed on a night out with the team, where Hammersmith distracted Roz with a game of darts, leaving Roz’s phone unattended on the bar table, conveniently right next to Cliff. Cliff had been peeking over Rozanov’s shoulder for a week now, every time he opened his phone, to make sure that he knew his phone code just for this moment.
As quickly and covertly as he could, Cliff opened Roz’s phone, navigated to contacts, found Janes’ contact, entered into his own phone, and hastily exited out of the contacts on Roz’s phone, turning off the screen and placing the phone back on the table. 2 minutes later Hammy and Roz returned to the table. Roz clapped Cliff on the back and leaned over to yell in his ear.
“As fun as beating Hammy at darts is, is time for me to go now. We have practice tomorrow, curfew is in one hour.”
Cliff laughed, “Roz, we don't have a curfew, it's just an afternoon practice!”
Roz raised an eyebrow as he said, “Attitude like that is why whole team have bag skates tomorrow.” He gave the table a two finger salute as he strode away from the table, the rest of the team groaning and shoving Cliff.
Step two occurred that same night, as Cliff rode home in an uber. Here goes nothing, he thought.
Cliff: Hey, this is Cliff Marlow from the Boston Bears. I know that you were dating my captain, Ilya Rozanov for a while, or whatever you guys were defining it or not defining it as. I don’t know what happened between you guys, but would you consider talking to Roz? Im sure he would fold and apologize in an instant, I’ve never seen him behave the way he does about you with any other girl. Ever. Please Jane, we’re dying here. Please save us from our own personal Rasputin.
Jane: How did you get this number?
Cliff: Look, it's gonna sound bad. I took it from Roz’s phone when he was distracted. We need you Jane please! We need your help. Roz needs you back, he may not realize it but we do!
Jane: I really don't know if I'll be able to give you the help you're looking for. I'm the one who messed up, not him. I don't think he will want to hear from me. Sorry. Have a nice evening.
Jane: Also, dont take peoples numbers from other peoples phones. That's a breach of privacy.
Cliff: Jane, please! Look- the All Stars game is coming up. We are desperate. I will personally pay for you to fly to Tampa to make up with Roz. I know he will want to. That guy is obsessed with you Jane. Promise.
Cliff: Please. The Boston Bears will owe you one.
There was a long pause, and Cliff began to think that Jane had blocked his number, when his phone vibrated with an incoming text.
Jane: Oh?
Jane: Fine. I make no promises. And I don't need you to fund me, I will be doing this my way. Take it or leave it.
Jane: I'll be calling in my favor at a later date.
Cliff nearly fell off the seat of the car with relief. Jane seemed to be stubborn enough that step 3, paying for Jane to fly to Tampa, didn't seem like it would be necessary. Now all he could do was trust that Jane, as stand-offish as she seemed, could convince Roz to give her a second chance.
Cliff: God bless Montreal Jane. You're carrying all the hopes and dreams of the Boston Bears with you.
-
“Marly! You enjoy your break while good players slave away at All stars?”
Cliff almost couldn't believe his eyes, as a smiling- no, grinning Ilya Rozanov stalked towards him across the parking lot. It was the first practice after the All Stars break, and Cliff had practically been climbing his walls hoping for any kind of update from Jane, but none had come.
But now, here was Roz, looking the happiest that Cliff had seen him in months.
“Oh you know me Roz, spent every minute I could out terrorizing our fine Boston streets”, Cliff managed to get out. Roz grinned again, clapped him on the shoulder, and strode inside, whistling a tune.
Whistling.
Cliff stood frozen, feeling dazed.
Montreal Jane had definitely worked her magic on Rozanov. Somehow. Some way.
They really were forever in her debt.
-
March 2021
Cliff was staring at his phone with his mouth flopped open. He kept blinking, thinking that the contents of the video might change if he did it enough.
Blink.
Blink.
Blink.
Nope. His former Captain was still on video making out with the Montreal Voyageurs Captain.
He managed to shake off his shock and realize that he needed to reach out to Ilya and let him know he had his back- and Hollanders too- if they wanted it. He closed the video down and was about to open his messages with Roz when his phone vibrated in his hand.
Jane: I’m sure you’ve seen the video circulating of me and Ilya.
Cliff blinked. He hadn't seen a video of Roz with a woman in a long time. He knew that Roz had likely moved to Ottawa for Jane, but he still had never met Jane, or seen a picture. The only video he had seen recently of Roz was the one he had just watched, but Roz was making out with Shane Holl-
No.
There was no way.
Jane. Shane
Jane.
Shane.
Cliff shot straight up off of his couch. Montreal Jane was Shane Hollander. Roz moved to Ottawa for Shane Hollander.
His phone vibrated again.
Jane: I'd like to call in the favor that the Bears owe me.
Jane: Ilya needs people to support him. If any of the Bears still do, it would mean the world to him to see messages of support from them on social media, and have them reach out to him personally.
Jane: And if you know how to get Crowell replaced, I'm all ears.
Jane: Kidding. Kind of.
Cliff surprised himself with the laugh that burst out of him at the last two messages sitting on his screen. He sent back a quick, “You got it, Jane” , and pulled up the Bears chat, letting them know that they were all to immediately show their public support of their former Captain. Cliff had confidence in his boys. He knew they were good people at their hearts, and would support both Roz and Hollander, once the shock wore off.
Once he was done, Cliff wandered into his kitchen, still feeling dazed and confused. He finally remembered what he originally set out to do, and opened his messages with Roz.
Cliff: Hey man, I'm here for you and Montreal Jane every step of the way brother. Got your back.
Cliff: Also… I may have promised your boy a favor from the Bears back when I thought he was your Jane, not your Shane, to fly out to All Stars and beg you to take him back.
Cliff: Guess I know now why Jane didn't need me to fly her out.
Cliff: Love you man, you’ll always be my Cap.
Roz: Don't make me cry Marly, or I will have Shane change his favor to be something embarrassing for you.
Roz: But I love you too, Marly. Thank you. Even thank you for “invading my privacy to steal a phone number and message Shane and scare him out of his mind thinking we had been found out.”
Roz: Shane’s words. Not mine.
Cliff: Always, Roz.
Cliff smiled, and went to put his phone away, when one last text came in.
Roz: Now what is this about me being “Your own personal Rasputin?” This hurts Marly, wow. You are lucky I am no longer your Captain. Bag skates for you for sure.