Spinning to the Goal (Desert Ice Hockey #4)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

ZOMA

I t was Thursday, and I sat at my dinette with my laptop open, working on a paper. This was a big one and would become part of my thesis. Plus, I had to finish it before the Thanksgiving break. I’d met with Ace for lunch a few times this week, and we’d snuck in some quickies when we could, but things hadn’t felt the same as before Halloween. As I looked into my textbook, lying next to my laptop, my phone buzzed.

My heart fluttered with warmth. Was it Ace? He’d been texting me all day today. I grabbed my phone. A message popped up. “Holy fuck, Brody?” My heart faltered. I tapped on the message.

Brody

Hey, Zoma. Buffalo is playing the Coyotes this weekend, so I’ll be in town. I’d like to give you tickets to the game. And can I see you?

Covering my mouth with my fingers, I stared at the screen. That asshole. He thought he could just come into my new life and fuck with it? I typed back.

Zoma

No, thanks.

My phone lit up and buzzed with a call from Brody.

Shit, did I answer it? I glared at the screen. Maybe I could get some satisfaction out of fucking with him a little bit. I started the call, putting the phone to my ear and standing at the table. “What do you want?” Heat swarmed my chest.

“Oh, come on now. You’re still pissed off at me?” He chuckled. “It’s been over a year.”

I paced across the main room of my apartment. “No, I’m just over you and your shit.”

But was I? If I were over him, I wouldn’t be so fucking angry right now. I’d feel nothing.

“Hey, I’m trying to extend an olive branch here. I know things didn’t end well when I left for Buffalo, but we had something, didn’t we?”

“What we had is over.” I turned and paced in the other direction, my pulse throbbing in my temples. “Why are you calling me?” And why now?

“Don’t be so bitter. We had a lot of good times together. We were a big part of each other’s lives for a few years. Can’t we get over it and meet up as friends now?” He blew out a long breath. “Come on, Zoma.”

He had a point. I was bitter. Maybe I could show him how much I didn’t care about him anymore. “Fine. But I have a boyfriend now, and I’ll have to talk to him about it.” Ace probably wouldn’t want me seeing Brody, and I could use it as an excuse.

“Yeah? Who’s the lucky guy?”

“He’s…” Fuck, would he have heard of him? Of course he would have. This was my chance to show him I’d found someone better than him. I expanded my chest. “It’s Ace McAdams, goalie for ASU.”

“Ace? Seriously?” He snickered. “So, you got yourself another hockey player. Guess you couldn’t stay away from them?”

With a growl, I said, “I didn’t know he was a hockey player when I met him.” He didn’t deserve to know the whole story.

“Well, he’s a hot commodity. I’ve been hearing all sorts of things about him,” he said. “Why don’t you talk to your boy, then text me back. I’m sure Nova would love to come to a game, and we can meet after and catch up.”

“I don’t think Nova will want to see you.” I stomped to my window and looked over the courtyard, the sun filtering through the tall trees, leaving a patchwork of shadow over the desert landscaping.

“Fine, then take her to the game and meet me by yourself. I, uh…there are things we should talk about.”

“Like what?” With my pulse racing, I rubbed my forehead. Was I really thinking of seeing him? What good would it do?

In a ragged voice, he said, “I don’t want to talk about it over the phone. Please, just meet me after the game, okay?”

Shit, he sounded emotional. Had something happened with his family? I had been close to them at one time. “Yeah, fine,” I said. “But only if Ace is okay with it.”

“I hear he’s a decent guy. I’m sure he’ll be fine with it,” he said.

“I’ll let you know.” I breathed in a calming breath. Hockey was like a family. Of course he knew all about Ace. “Bye.”

“Bye, Zoma. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”

I ended the call and dropped the phone to my side, staring at my wall. I needed to settle myself before I phoned Ace. And Nova was going to shit herself when she heard. She’d want to go to the game just to spite Brody and cheer for the Coyotes. But then, it would be something to watch Mason and Archer go head-to- head with Brody. A smile spread over my mouth. Oh, hell yes. I had to see this.

Striding to my couch, I called Nova and hit the speaker button. “Come on, pick up.” I fell into the corner of the couch, watching the screen as it rang.

It clicked. “Hey, Zoma. What’s up?” Music played in the background.

“Where are you?” She was out without me? I tilted my head.

“I’m at the mall with Justin.” She chuckled. “Weird, huh?”

“Yeah, but you want to know something weirder?” I sat on the edge of the sofa. “Brody just called me.”

“You answered?” She scoffed.

“Yeah, I wanted to… I figured I could fuck with him if nothing else.” I pursed my lips. I should get to the point before she had a chance to berate me. “He’s playing this weekend against the Coyotes and wants to give us free tickets to the game. We can go and watch some of Ace’s friends beat the crap out of him.” I wasn’t sure that was entirely accurate, but I knew Nova would go for it.

“Really? It would be fun to see. But why is he giving us tickets? What’s the catch?” she asked.

I hadn’t thought about it that way, but she was right. My gut wound into a knot. “He wants to see me. He said he has something to tell me.” I bit my thumbnail.

“No, Zoma. You need to stay far away from him. He’s not good for you.” She huffed. “Did you tell him about Ace?”

“I did. He knows of him. Word gets around in the hockey world with a guy as good as Ace.” I wrinkled my brows. “I’m going to call Ace next. If he’s uncomfortable about this, I won’t see Brody.”

“But you shouldn’t be seeing him anyway. He’s a player, Zoma, and I have a feeling he’s going to play you again.”

“He can’t. I’m over him, and I’m very well acquainted with his shit.” I slumped as my gut unwound. I should have known she’d try and talk me out of this. “He sounded, I don’t know, sad about whatever he had to tell me. What if his mom is dying of cancer? Or what if something happened to his niece?”

“Then he can tell you over the phone. You don’t need to see him.” She tutted. “But whatever, I know I can’t talk you out of it.”

“Will you go with me to the game? Mason Hopkins and Archer Carlson will be playing. They were on the ASU team last year with Ace.” I had to drive this point home. “Maybe there will be fights. Mason loves to fight on the ice, and if he’s going up against Brody?—”

“Fuck yeah, we’re going.” She barked out a laugh. “Get the tickets.”

“Okay.” I glanced at my open laptop and textbook. Did I have time to call Ace now? “I’ll text you later to firm up the details.”

“Sure. Talk to you later.” She ended the call.

“Holy shit.” I stared across the room at my blank television. I should collect myself before I call Ace. Did he have a class right now? I FaceTimed him. I wanted to see his reaction.

The phone rang, then picked up. Ace’s stunning face filled the screen, backlit by sunshine. “Hey, Zoma.” He gave me a charming smile. “Nice to see you.”

“Same. Are you on campus?” I peered behind him into the blurry distance. Only blue sky showed. He could be anywhere.

“I just finished my last class and was walking to my car.” The angle of the phone changed, and the top of a bench came into focus behind him with students walking across the quad. “I sat down so we could talk. What’s up?”

My heart skittered. How do I even start? “My, uh, my ex, Brody called me.”

“Brody?” He wrinkled his nose. “Why? Has he ever called before?”

“No, he hasn’t. He’ll be in town this weekend. Buffalo is playing the Coyotes.” I winced. Seeing Brody was sounding more and more stupid. Why was I even considering it? Because of the tone of Brody’s voice.

“Okay. Damn, I’d love to see that game. Mason and Archer are going to give him hell.” Ace widened his eyes. “I told them about what Brody did to you, so…”

With a smirk, I said, “You did, huh?” He’d been talking about me with his buddies, which meant something.

“Yeah. Brody’s a center, right? Mason’s going to eat him alive.” He snickered. “Dammit, I wish I could see it. I think we play around the same time.”

“Well, Brody offered me free tickets. I was going to take Nova.” My pulse hammered and my throat went dry. Now for the rest. “Ace, he wants to see me. He says he has something to tell me.”

Ace’s brows dropped. “Like what?”

“I-I don’t know. But I’m afraid maybe something happened with his family. I was close with them, and we haven’t been in touch since…” An ache whispered across my chest. “I want to see what he has to say, but only if you’re okay with it.”

Ace pinched his lips together. “If you feel like you need to see him, then go and see him. I’m not going to tell you not to.” With his brows tensing, he looked off into the distance and then back. “I trust you, Zoma.”

Pain stabbed my heart. He trusted me, yes, but he still seemed like a different Ace than the one I spent Halloween with. Had I ruined us already? “Ace, I don’t have any feelings for Brody. I want you to know that. Since I’ve met you…” My heart pounded. What was I about to say?

“Since you’ve met me, what?” He held the phone closer to his face.

“You’re fixing me, Ace.” As my eyes pricked, I tightened my grip on my phone. “You’re showing me that maybe I can open my heart to you, a hockey player.” I forced a soft grin as my phone shook in my hand. It was the truth, and I was only now acknowledging it aloud.

As his face relaxed, his gaze softened, and he said, “It’s good to hear you say that. I was, um…” He dipped his gaze and focused on me. “I think it’ll be good for you to talk to him. I think you have some unresolved issues to discuss.”

“Yeah, okay.” I glanced at my door. How far away from me was he right now? I wanted to throw my arms around him. “Do you, can you maybe come over to my place right now?” Fuck the paper.

His mouth dropped open. “I’m supposed to meet my study group over at the Starbucks in about ten minutes.” He scoffed. “Shit.”

“No, no, that’s okay.” I took a deep breath. I didn’t want to get in the way of his studies. “I’ll see you on Sunday?”

“Yeah, I’ll keep in touch, and we’ll hang out after your lessons at the Ice Den. Okay?” He smiled into the phone. “I’ll miss you, Zoma.” Wagging his brows, he said, “I don’t get home until around midnight on Saturday, but I’ll bring my gear to your place and stay the night on Sunday. Deal?”

My heart flickered with warmth. “Deal.”

After hanging up the phone with Ace, I texted Brody.

Zoma

I’ll take those tickets, and I’ll meet

up with you after the game. Nova will be with me at the game too.

Three dots popped up, flickered, and disappeared.

Brody

Good. I guess Ace didn’t have a problem with you hanging out with your ex?

I glared at the phone. Of course, he’d word it that way.

Zoma

No, we have a relationship built on trust.

I lifted my chin. There, that had to sting for him.