Chapter 50 Poppy
Poppy
Isit in the stands, mesmerized while watching Nick play.
It’s the first game of the new year, and I can tell how excited he is to be playing again after taking time off for winter break.
He flies across the ice, maneuvering around a player from the opposing team effortlessly. He makes it look so easy. He’s decked out in tons of pads with knives on his feet, and he’s moving faster than most people could move without all that gear on.
One of his teammates passes him the puck, and he takes off with it, speeding over to the other team’s net. An opposing player closes in on him, and even though Nick isn’t looking behind him, he seems to sense that someone is close. He picks up speed, his focus narrowing as he looks at the net.
My muscles tense, and I hold my breath. My whole life, I never cared about sports. But right now, I’m on edge as I watch my hockey star boyfriend play his heart out.
He glances around, probably looking for someone to pass the puck to, but none of his teammates are open, or they’re too far away.
“I wonder if he’ll go for it,” Nick’s mom says. She’s sitting next to me in the stands, grinning, looking so proud as she watches her son.
A half-second later, he smacks the puck. I gasp. I wasn’t expecting him to take a shot since he’s so far away.
When the puck lands at the back of the net, I’m on my feet, cheering along with his Mom and Anna. The rest of the home crowd at Hollis is hollering and going crazy, too. I spot Nick’s dad near the front by the glass, filming Nick on his phone, looking happy and proud.
Nick’s teammates surround him, smacking his shoulders and helmet in celebration. When they break apart, his gaze zeroes in on me.
He flashes a wide grin and winks at me. My tummy dips as I think back to what he told me.
Every goal I score is for you.
A giddy feeling swoops through me. He’s scoring goals for me. Because he’s crazy about me. Just like I’m crazy about him.
That giddy feeling settles at the center of my chest, all warm and soft.
I’ve never felt this before with anyone…this excitement that makes my tummy flop around, and my heart beat faster. This comfort that wraps around me like a warm hug.
What I feel for Nick is different in the best way…
The word “love” floats around in my head. Could I really be in love with Nick?
We haven’t even been together all that long…fake dating for a few months and dating for real for just over a month. I can’t really love someone after such a short amount of time, can I?
But then I think about Brody, how we were together for almost a year. My feelings for him were real and strong. But I don’t think I ever loved him. We never said, “I love you.”
Anna nudges me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Your hockey boyfriend totally scored that goal for you,” she says in a teasing voice.
My cheeks ache, I’m smiling so hard.
Play continues, and the period winds down. The ref blows the whistle to call a penalty. It’s taking a while to sort out, so Anna and her parents head to the concession stand for snacks.
“You want anything?” Anna asks.
“No, I’m good. Thanks, though.”
When they leave, I run to the restroom. I’m walking down the stairs back out to my seat when I feel someone grab my shoulder.
I spin around, and a second later, I’m face-to-face with Brody.
I yank out of his hold. “What are you doing here?”
His jaw bulges as he stares at me. “I came to see you,” he mutters.
I scoff, annoyed and confused. “Why?
He pulls his lips into his mouth, his expression hard. “Because I want to talk to you. I’ve been trying to call you, but you never call me back.”
“I blocked your number, Brody. After you showed up at my apartment uninvited the day after homecoming and refused to leave, I decided I was done dealing with you. Just like I’m done dealing with you now.”
I turn to walk off, but he grabs my arm, pulling me back to him. I wince.
“Let go of me,” I spit out, but he doesn’t. He just squeezes my arm tighter while he glares at me.
“You think you can humiliate me, Poppy? You think you can fool around with your dumb-fuck hockey boyfriend right in front of me like some slut? You think I’m just gonna let that slide?”
My body goes rigid at the anger dripping from his tone, glowering at me like he wants to hurt me.
Dread pool at the pit of my stomach. I’ve never seen Brody like this. So cruel and mean.
I glance around at the people in the stands, but hardly anyone is paying attention to us. Everyone is either watching the game or doesn’t want to get involved.
“Leave me alone, Brody.” I try to pull away, but I’m a lot smaller than him. I cry out when he tightens his grip on me even more.
“You’re such a pathetic little whore.”
People start talking in low voices around us.
“Let go of me, now,” I yell, desperate to get away from him. He shoves me, and I fall on the steps with a yelp, landing on my side.
“Dude, what the hell was that?” someone from the stands hollers.
“Oh, shit, what’s he doing?” someone else says.
“He’s coming into the stands!”
I wince as I sit up, feeling sore from the impact of how hard Brody threw me into the ground. A half-second later, I hear Nick’s voice.
“Honey, are you okay?”
I’m shocked as I stare up at him. He crouches down over me and pulls off his gloves. He cradles my face with his hands. His bourbon brown eyes are wild with worry as he gazes down at me.
The panic coursing through my body from just seconds ago disappears. Did Nick just run into the stands in the middle of his game to help me?
That warm feeling from earlier intensifies, burrowing deep in my chest, right where my heart is.
He kisses my forehead. “It’s okay. I’m here now.” I close my eyes, feeling safe and settled.
He stands up and turns to Brody, who’s looking at the two of us with disgust. He opens his mouth to speak, but Nick punches him before he can get a word out.
Everyone in the stands around us lets out a collective gasp. There’s a cracking sound, and Brody’s head flies back. He stumbles backward and falls on his back, landing on the steps.
My eyes go wide when I see the splatter of blood dripping from his nose. Nick steps over to him, yanking him up by his shirt.
“That is the first and last time you ever lay your hands on my girlfriend.” Nick’s voice is low and lethal. I’ve never heard him sound like that, ever.
It sets off something inside of me. Nick dropped everything to protect me. He left the ice in the middle of his hockey game to defend me. That’s how much he cares about me. That’s how much I mean to him.
That overwhelmed feeling from earlier swoops through me once more as I watch my boyfriend put everything on the line for me.
That uncertainty from earlier is long gone. In this moment, I know exactly what I feel for Nick.