Chapter Seven
Kason
I’m starting to like Anthony more and more.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this exciting new period where I’m giddy about someone.
Even just talking to him is fun. He makes me laugh and constantly gives me shit, which I’m thoroughly enjoying.
But I can also tell there’s a lot more to him than he shows the world, more to him than he shows me, and I’m endlessly curious about each and every layer of him.
I want to peel each one back, study him, and learn everything I can about him.
I have a feeling I’m only going to continue to like what I find.
Rylan meets me at the youth hockey center. This is something I introduced him to, and he’s fallen in love with it as well.
“What’s up, Madsies?” We meet by his SUV and fist-bump.
Should I tell him about Anthony? I don’t want to jump the gun or jinx this, so I just say, “Not much. You?”
“Fucking fabulous.” He gives me a wide, mischievous smile.
“You and Hayes had sex this morning, didn’t you?”
“Well, that’s a very naughty question. I don’t kiss and tell.”
I roll my eyes. “You were convinced your boyfriend has magic cum, and I had to leave the room so you could have video sex. You’ve been kissing and telling me all along.”
“First, what do you mean were? I’m still convinced he has magic cum, and second, good point.” He looks up at the sky and sighs before making eye contact. “I’m telling you, bro, there’s nothing like being in love. Seriously. Ten out of ten, highly recommend. You should fall in love too.”
“You say that like it’s so easy. I don’t know why I never thought of it.”
“Come on. You’re hot and nice. People like that. Should be a piece of cake.”
We start walking toward the building. “You’re an idiot and I don’t know why I love you.”
“Because I’m a fun idiot. Plus, you have your secret phone pal. I have sex brain and forgot you’re already crushing on someone. When do we get to meet him? Maybe another night out at Lush?”
What would he say if he knew my secret crush is on a very specific dancer at said club? “How about I figure out what exactly is even going on between us before you start trying to meet him? We’re dating, but super casually. I haven’t even kissed him yet.”
He laughs. “You’re much more of a gentleman than me.”
That’s not true, though. Rylan is a good guy, the best, and he’s always treated Hayes, and everyone else, for that matter, with nothing but respect. “In your defense, you and Hayes were only supposed to be a one-night stand, so he got what he was hoping to get out of the night.”
“And look at us now!” Rylan opens the door for me.
“Rylan and Mads are here!” the kids immediately shout when we go inside.
“They said my name first!” he gloats, and as much as I want to give him the finger, I don’t, since I’d rather the kids not see that.
“Yeah, well, they feel sorry for you because they all know I’m cooler.”
“Okay, everyone. We’re going to have a coolness competition first—between me and Mads. Actually, what’s the point? We all know I’ll win, and I don’t want to make him feel bad.”
He winks at me, and I can’t help but laugh.
It’s impossible not to with Rylan. We chat and joke with the kids for a bit before putting on our gear and getting onto the ice with them.
We don’t have a ton of time, but we spend about an hour with them, skating, doing drills, and letting them take shots on me.
Back at home, I don’t have much time to myself before I have to leave again. I’d just pulled into my parking spot at the stadium when my phone buzzes with a text, and my grin is impossible to hold back when I see Anthony’s name.
Anthony: Good luck tonight. I’ll check the score as I can.
Me: Now that you’ve wished me good luck, I know I’ll win.
Anthony: Flirty boy.
Me: You have that effect on me.
Anthony: You are…not what I expected, Kason Maddox.
Me: As long as you’re pleasantly surprised, that’s all that matters.
Anthony: I am. Now stop fishing for compliments.
I mean, it feels pretty fucking good to get them from him. He’s completely addicting, and I’m not the type who usually wants anything or anyone to feel that way.
Me: Have fun dancing tonight. I don’t have to wish you luck because I know you’ll be amazing.
Anthony: Oh, fuck you. You’re good. I always thought I was a good flirt before you.
Me: I don’t have any complaints about your abilities. *smiling emoji*
Anthony: *adds another point to your list*
Me: Yes! I really have to go, though. Talk soon?
Anthony: Talk soon.
I toss my phone into my bag, smiling the whole way into the arena.
*
We’re playing North Carolina, and so far, things are evenly matched.
I’ve let two goals in, which pisses me off.
Two too many, if you ask me, but their goalie has let in the same, so the score is tied.
We break for the first intermission, and I go to the locker room.
I fall onto the bench, tossing my helmet to the ground, and put my head in my hands.
“You good, Mads?” Rylan plops down beside me and squeezes my shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m good. I can’t fucking believe that last one got by me.”
“It happens. I won’t let anyone get near you the rest of the game. We’re not letting anything else in.”
It’s just like Rylan to say we. It is a team sport, and it’s his job to protect me, but it’s not his fault that I let the puck get past me twice. I have no one to blame but myself.
Coach comes in and gives us a stern talking-to. He does his best to sound uplifting, but it doesn’t take a genius to read between the lines. He’s not happy, and he shouldn’t be. None of us should be.
After his lecture, we have a couple of minutes to decompress before it’s time to head back out.
I tuck myself into my cubby and close my eyes, trying to meditate and relax as much as possible before hitting the ice again.
It feels like no more than two seconds have gone by when I hear, “Oooh, shit. Madsies has a boyfriend! Why didn’t you tell us? ”
My eyes pop open at Stevens’s statement. “What?”
He’s looking at his phone as he reads, “Looks like a second member of the Jilted Exes’ Club is dating a Los Angeles Rebel. Anthony Damiani has been photographed on multiple occasions with goalie Kason Maddox.”
I shove to my feet, heart slamming against my chest as I grab his phone.
There are photos…lots of photos—us in the car, at the beach, from the sandwich shop.
Me wiping food off Anthony’s face, hugging outside his building, kissing his temple.
They somehow even managed to wrangle up photos of our first date when we had sushi, one the exact moment I touched his hand, making it look like I’m holding it.
“Fuck,” Rylan curses, and I know exactly what he means.
This isn’t good at all. Just like all the Jilted Exes, Anthony has gone viral before.
He had the most painful moment of his life spread all over the internet, everyone laughing and joking about him getting his heart broken, being cheated on, some of them even acting like it was his fault.
People can be so cruel, acting like their words don’t matter because they’re typing them onto a screen.
The last thing he needs is for this to happen again.
It was a possibility, we both knew that, but I’d hoped we’d get ahead of it, that we’d know more about what is going on between us—if anything—before all this happened.
I hand Stevens back his phone.
“Anthony? Shit, man. Why didn’t you say anything?” Rylan asks.
“We’ve only been out on a few dates. Nothing official. I didn’t want to say anything until it was.”
Jesus. Does Anthony know yet? I can’t imagine this will be easy for him.
I turn to open my locker just as Coach announces, “Let’s do this, guys. Get your asses out there and win!”
Everyone begins filing out, and I don’t have time to message Anthony.
I can’t get it together for the rest of the game. My mind is on Anthony and those photos.
When I let in my third goal, Rylan skates over to me. “You good, bro?”
No, I’m really fucking not. Again, I knew this was a possibility, but I’d hoped to get ahead of it, and honestly, I didn’t consider how this might make them bring Anthony’s past with Malcolm into the news again.
Is that all this is going to be about? A jilted ex dating a Rebel?
It’s all finally slowed down since the media frenzy over Hayes and Rylan for the same reason.
“I’m good,” I lie.
When we lose two to five, I can’t help blaming myself.