Chapter 26
Cole
“Back off. Now!” Coach Stryker snarled as he jumped into the fray a second before I lifted my fist. You bet I was angry. I’d been angry. I planned on remaining deeply enraged for as long as it took.
Until I got her out of my system.
Chelsea.
My mate.
The most gorgeous girl on the planet and the only person who’d gotten under my skin.
Traitor.
It had been over a week since I’d seen her, a week with no sleep, aggressive playing, and too much alcohol and still all I’d been able to think about was her. I should hate her, not crave touching her.
Kissing her.
Tasting her.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
When I threw my fist into the air toward the guy from the other team, the coach was in my face. “I told you to back off.”
“That asshole is to blame,” Jagger tossed out.
I threw him a look before shaking my head. Did the guy actually think I gave a shit what he said? Not a chance in hell.
Hudson steered me away with his arm around my shoulder. “Relax, bud. Save it for the ice.”
“Tell that to the assholes.”
“Cool down, bubba. We’re going to win this.”
“Like hell we will.”
I glared at the scoreboard just before ripping the bucket off my head and wiping the sleeve of my jersey across my face.
We were a point down. Sure, we’d come from behind before, but tonight it felt as if everyone was walking on pins and needles.
Plus, we’d had several penalties, but at least for this game, so far, they hadn’t been attributed to me. But we had one more period left.
“What an incredible game, Jack,” one of the announcers was saying. “Now, if the Wild can come from behind for the win, that will make for nine wins in a row. Almost unheard of in a streak.”
“Yeah, but cooler heads need to prevail, Kyle. Both teams are at each other’s throats.”
Just before I jerked away from Hudson, I noticed the Jumbotron operator was enjoying the fuck out of himself in finding the hottest girls in the stands.
There were plenty of them. I’d even tried going to a party to get my mind off Chelsea but had only gotten lit and spent the time talking about her to some girl named Bunny or Bridget or something.
This shit needed to stop.
I threw on the blade guards, stomping toward the locker room. There was way too much testosterone on the ice.
“Hey, you need to talk to me.”
Hearing Jagger’s voice didn’t necessarily create warm fuzzies. He was a reminder of what I’d lost. Plus, I couldn’t trust him. For all I knew, he was reporting back to his father about every damn thing.
“What the fuck do you want?”
He pushed me hard against the block wall, which wasn’t the smartest thing for him to do. I almost came out swinging.
“I’m not your damn enemy, Cole. I don’t know the details about what the fuck happened with my sister, but whatever you did, she’s not herself any longer.”
“She fucking betrayed me. She’s working for your father.”
“Like hell she is. Can’t you read a room? Can’t you tell how much she cares about you?”
I hadn’t seen Jagger so talkative before. Why now? “Are you trying to tell me it was all a misunderstanding?”
“I’m trying to tell you that she gives a damn about you. I’m not supposed to tell you anything and trust me, she’s not talking to me. But she’s up to something. You need to realize that not everyone is against you. I’m not.”
“Then how the fuck do you know she cares?” It took a second to dawn on me. “Oh, wait. You’re still seeing my sister.”
He sucked in his breath. “Yeah, I am. Samantha is an amazing woman. She’s allowed me to feel something other than rage. Isn’t that what happened with you and Chelsea?”
I closed my eyes, hating the way I felt, including the need for her. My body refused to stop aching.
“What do you want, Jagger?”
“What do I want? I want us to go out there and fucking win this game for starters. And the game in a couple nights to continue the streak. I want you to stop thinking everyone is your damn enemy. I am not my father. We won’t get along and the only reason I’m here is because my father hopes I’ll fail.
Once I do, he thinks I’ll come crawling back to him.
That ain’t gonna happen. I’ll fucking wash dishes for the rest of my life if I need to. ”
I hadn’t heard him talk like this before. “Alright. I get it. You said your piece. Let’s let the Dynamic Duo make a name for themselves.” I started to walk away.
“I’m not finished, Cole. I also want you to get your head out of your ass. Sometimes things aren’t always what they seem to be. I learned that the hard way.”
When I swung around, I could tell he was prepared for any act of violence. Apparently, I surprised him. “I’m going to give you the same piece of advice you gave me. You fucking hurt my sister, I will kick your ass.”
Jagger grinned. “Fair enough. Now we can kick some ass.”
And kick some ass we would.
* * *
Chelsea
“You wanted to see me, Jasper?” I hadn’t danced well in days. Practice had been shit and I was to blame for it.
Between being upset, enraged, worried, and now in a state of what could only be described as la-la land, I was lucky I’d remembered the dance steps at all.
Jasper’s expression was bland. Noncommittal. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or just over dealing with the troupe.
“I wanted you let you know I’ve had an offer from Chicago, which I’ve accepted. I’m going to become the assistant director of the Chicago Contemporary Dance Theater.”
“That’s fantastic. I know that’s what you wanted.” So I had been his ticket out of the city. Well, good for him.
He chuckled. “Yes, and one step closer to getting back to New York. I’m very happy.”
“When do you leave?”
“Next Friday. I have a lot to do, which means I’m tidying up loose ends.”
“Do you know who’s going to take your place?”
“A woman out of Atlanta. She’s very good.”
“Well, thanks for telling me.” It surprised me he hadn’t simply announced the change in front of everyone.
“That’s not all, Chelsea. As you know, it was rumored there would be talent scouts from a couple dance companies in the audience. The rumors were true.”
Now I felt extremely uncomfortable. “Okay. I’m not sure what that means.”
He studied me for a few seconds before pulling something from his desk drawer. “This is for you.”
“What is it?”
The man never smiled, but this rare time he did. “Something I know you’ve been hoping for.”
My hand was shaking as I took the folded piece of paper. As I accepted it, I realized how hard my heart was thudding. I turned away before unfolding it.
I had to read it over three times before I could absorb what it said. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. You did all the work and it’s well deserved.”
“Do I need to answer right away?”
“No, you have a little time, but I wouldn’t keep them waiting.”
Nodding, I folded the paper twice what I needed to. “I won’t. Thank you so much.”
“You don’t seem excited.”
“I am. It’s just… Have you ever been at a crossroads in your life and been so unsure of the next steps to take?”
“Several times.”
“What did you do?”
Jasper seemed surprised I’d ask. “Well, I took some time to reflect on what was most important and I talked to people I could trust and who knew me very well. Sometimes having someone to talk to is very important. More so than dollar figures and opportunities. You’ll know what you need to do. Trust in yourself.”
My heart continued to ache as it had been for a week. All the excitement I’d had and now should have paled in comparison to how much I missed being with Cole. He’d rocked my world in every way possible.
I honestly wasn’t certain how I could go on without him.
“Thank you again. This means everything to me,” I told him.
“I’m glad. I’ll see you in a couple days. We still have another performance coming up.”
“Sounds good.” I moved into the hallway, immediately pressing my back against the wall. After cutting ties with my family, I was walking alone. Yes, Samantha cared. I’d figured how much with all the help she’d given me, including a shoulder to cry on.
But I needed more at this point to try to make such a huge decision.
Plus, there was the little matter of how things had worked out with my father. I’d wanted to do some grandiose gesture, but at this point, I was too scared to try.
Which was crazy since everything was about to change.
Maybe I did need to talk to someone I could trust and who’d give me the best advice.
Grabbing my bag, I headed for the exit.
Once outside, I took a deep breath. Everything I’d done lately had been completely out of my comfort zone. Why not continue? The worst thing that could happen was to have the call ended as soon as my voice was heard. Well, so be it. I needed some advice and couldn’t think of a better person.
My attorney had found the phone number. I’d known there’d been a possibility I’d need to make a phone call. Why not now?
As the phone rang, I held my breath, uncertain what to expect.
And certainly not what happened. The voice was warm and welcoming. Everything I needed and nothing I deserved.
“Chelsea. I’m so glad you called.”
* * *
Cole
“I need to see you in my office, Kendrick. Get dressed.”
Practice had gone well even if my spirits hadn’t been much improved. But at least Jagger and I were working seamlessly together. Or so I’d thought. Maybe I’d fucked up somehow more than usual. The coach’s expression wasn’t readable, but that meant nothing.
“I’ll be right there, Coach.”
Hudson waited until the coach walked out of the locker room before advancing like the shark I knew him to be. “What gives?”
“How would I know?”
“I mean with that hot woman of yours?”
“I already told you. We’re done.”
He snorted. “Sure, you are. That’s why you look like some dreamy-eyed ghost half the time. Go talk to her.”
“Not a chance. You know what she did.”
“Are you so certain she was to blame? You said she hated her father.”
“Then why hasn’t she come around to apologize?”