8. Chapter 8
THE TEAM stretches on the ice, preparing for the game to start, and I watch as the dance team makes their way through the stands. They stop and take pictures with fans, young and old. Little boys and little girls light up when Jolie gives them attention, but the ones that get me are the assholes who put their hands all over her. She poses and smiles while I sit here cracking my knuckles like it’s some dude's face.
“Yo, Santos,” I hear my name shouted from across the ice. “Are you going to come play or are you going to stare at the dancers asses all night?”
I look over and see a few guys staring back at me. I snarl at them and stand up, making my way over to the bench where our coach, Cade “The Hammer” Hamlin, stands, waiting to give us the pre-game speech. Speech is an understatement. He is basically going to tell us to leave our asses on the ice and get the win
The arena begins to fill up and all through coaches talk, my eyes wander around, searching for Jolie and feeling my blood boil with each guy who gets a little too close and hugs just a little too tight. I take that anger and use it to fuel me.
The puck drops and I immediately jump on defense. My jaw is clenched and smoke billows from my nostrils. A breakaway heads my way and my blades dig into the ice when I take off. My stick moves side to side, just waiting for my window to block the shot. My goalie dances from one end of the net to the other, looking for the slap.
The opponent draws closer and I can’t wait any longer. I speed in his direction and check him against the glass. The crowd goes wild and the referee blows his whistle, stopping game play and sending me to the bench. I speed over and jump the boards and look at Hammer who shoots fire from his eyes at me.
I’m only slightly watching what’s happening in front of me, but mostly I keep my eyes on Jo as her team makes their way through the stands. I want to pull her into my arms and make certain that every douchebag in here knows she is mine. Jordan included.
My two minutes in the penalty box ends, and I fly out onto the ice, ready to attack and defend. Play continues and I become distracted when I spot a dude getting handsy from the corner of my eye. His hand falls to Jolie’s ass and when she tries to scoot away, he squeezes it.
“Fucker,” I growl and power over the ice, totally forgetting about anything other than getting to her.
I slam against the boards and pound on the glass, grabbing the attention of curious fans.
“Santos. What the fuck?” Hammer yells, but all I can see is red.
I spit my mouthguard out and bang again. “Get your hands off her, fucker!” Jolie and the guy turn around and I slam my fists even harder. “I’m going to murder you, you piece of shit.”
A linesman blows his whistle and a teammate tries to pull me away, but I throw my elbows, pushing them off of me.
No one on the ice is playing. They all watch me as I continue my tirade. Jolie’s eyes are wide and the drunk bastard stumbles down the stairs to fire back at me. I take my stick and start slamming it against the glass, trying to break through the tempered layers.
Whistles keep sounding and I swing my arm, knocking someone to the ground.
“You’re done,” a voice shouts and I turn to see a referee getting assistance to stand.
“What the fuck is wrong with you? Get out of here. I’m gonna kick your ass, kid,” Hammer roars at me, and I finally give up.
I stomp my skates out of the arena and head down the tunnel to the locker, fans booing me as I go. I walk into the locker room and start throwing my pads off, slamming them against the wall when I launch them. I plop down on my chair and start yanking at the laces on my skates. My impatience only serves to make them tighter and more difficult to remove.
“What the hell was that all about?” A voice booms from the doorway.
I look up and see Jordan walking in, fists balled up and hanging at his side.
“There was some fucker who had his hands all over Jo’s ass. He was grabbing it and she tried to get away, but he just squeezed her harder,” I explain.
“And you thought it fell on you to defend her to the point that you get ejected?”
“You bet your ass. I’m not going to let some asshole put his hands all over my girl. Tha–”
“What did you say?” He asks and I look at his fuming face.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes, pissed at myself for being so angry that I let it slip. “Okay. I need you to just listen and then–”
“Why did you call my sister your girl, Joaquín?” His teeth gnash and a red hue starts crawling up his neck to his face.
“I called her my girl because she is Jo. I tried to stay away from her. I went into that house the other night to stop Bram. And while I told you I wouldn’t do a thing, I had no intentions of living up to that promise.”
He advances towards me and I stumble backwards, still in my skates. “I’ve told you over and over again to stay away. You’re not good enough for her.”
“Why, Jo? Why am I not good enough for her? I’ve loved her since we were kids and nothing has changed.”
His fist balls around my jersey and he leans in so close I feel the spittle hit my face when he talks. “You hop from one girl to another. I refuse to let my sister be just another notch in your title belt.”
I slam my hands against his chest and push him off of me. “Fuck you Jordan. Did you ever stop to think that maybe the reason I am the way I am is because I’ve been searching for someone who can make me feel even an ounce of what Jolie makes me feel? You never even gave me a chance. I was a kid when you told me to stay away. A kid !” His chest heaves and his hands clench, his knuckles turning a bright shade of white. “Tell me why!”
“Because you’re my best friend! And if you run off with Jolie, where does that leave me?”
I watch the fight drain out of him as his hands turn slack and he drops his head between sagging shoulders.
“Dude. We’re the three J’s. Always have been and always will be. You have to admit that the time apart from Jolie just seemed off. It’s like a limb was missing and we only functioned at half capacity.”
He inhales and nods his head. “Yeah. It did feel weird not having her there.”
“And you think that I could just run off with Jo and we’d be okay without you? C’mon man. This is what has had you warning me off from her knowing how I have felt?”
He drops to the chair with his head hanging and looking utterly defeated. “I just…I don’t know Jo. I was stupid. All I could see was my best friend and my sister in their own world and that world didn’t have room for me. You two are all I have. Without you, where does that leave me? Who am I without you two? As long as you never dated, I would never lose my sister or my best friend.”
I watch him in disbelief but also with a sense of relief, finally understanding why he’s been so staunch on keeping us apart all of these years. If only he had talked to me years ago, if only he had trusted in our friendship, who knows where we would all be right now.
“Did you ever stop to think how great it would have been if you didn’t hold your threat over my head? I only acted the way I did in response to your constant assurances that I could never be good enough for Jolie. I felt like I was living the life of the person you assumed I would be. Not who I was.”
Jordan lifts his head and turns his eyes to look up at me. They glisten with unshed tears and I can see how truly affected he was at the possibility that he’d be left behind.
“I’m sorry. I was so worried about what would happen to me that I never once thought about what that meant for you. And you’re right. I didn’t stop to consider what good could come from it. I’m ashamed of myself and all I can do is ask for your forgiveness.”
I pull a chair closer to him and sit down so that our knees bump against each other. I clap my hand on his shoulder and give it a squeeze of reassurance.
“Our friendship has weathered a lot. If we could make it through who the true winner of the year long game of tag was, we can survive this. You’re my best friend and I love you man. But I need you to trust me as much as I have always trusted you.”
His jaw clenches and works down a lump in his throat. “I know I can trust you . With all things. I’m just real sorry, Jo.”
He leans over and pulls me in for a hug and I give his back a solid pat.
“I think you owe that apology to Jolie.”
“Yeah. I know. I’ll be lucky if I walk away with my balls intact. She’s gonna be pissed.”
“I don’t envy you,” I chuckle and he nods his head. “Help me get these skates off so I can shower. After the game I’ll hold your hand and make sure Bunny doesn’t rip your heart out of your asshole and grind it in a blender, then feed it to you before she buries your body in a dark cave where no one will ever find you.”
“The description wasn’t needed, but thanks.”