24. Adrianna
Adrianna
My brother is bouncing next to me while we wait outside the stadium.
"Will you stop it?" I shove him in the shoulder.
"But Addy, I am so excited. I haven't been to a professional hockey game before and we are getting VIP treatment." He is decked out in Mustang gear that Luka gave him this morning at breakfast. His jersey matches mine and Penelope's, except for today, she has Webster's jersey on.
I lean in closer to her, "Want to tell me what is going on with you and Jake?"
"Nothing is going on with Jake and me. I just figured since he was so nice about getting us into the restaurant last night, I would wear his jersey instead of Grady's." She smiles at me but I don't believe a word she says.
We are waiting for Madison to come out to get us and walk us to our seats. We are the only family members that could travel to the game this time. I guess normally, there is a crowd of WAGS, which I have found out means Wives and Girlfriends, even at away games.
"You should really burn that jersey." A deep voice comes from behind me and makes me jump.
"Excuse me?" I turn around and come face to face with three huge men.
One steps closer to me, invading my space. "He said; you should burn that jersey."
My brother steps between the guys and me. I place my hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Jackson."
"Are you Jackson Holloway?" One of the other guys looks at my brother.
"I am. And you guys need to back away from my sister." He steps back and wraps his arm around my shoulder.
"I thought you would be smarter than that with a college education, Jackson." The same guy steps toward my brother. "Wearing a Rizzoli jersey is as dumb as you can be."
"You're in Mustang jersey also, assholes. Back off." Penelope steps up to the closest guy.
Before anything else can be said, the side door opens, and Madison rushes out. "Sorry, Addy. It's a mess in there." She points back at the door. "Are you guys ready?" She holds the side door open as Jackson pushes us toward it, staying between us and the men.
"See you around Addy Holloway." The first guy says and I turn to watch them walk away, Tucker written across their back. No wonder they were assholes.
"Well, hello there." My brother leans in closer to Madison. "And who are you?"
"Leave her alone, Jackson. She is my friend." I smile at Maddie. Hoping she understands my brother is harmless.
"I am the Mustangs' social media manager and your sister's friend." She sticks her hand out to Jackson. "I'm Madison; nice to meet you. Great game last night."
"You watched my game?" Jackson doesn't shake her hand; he takes it and pulls it up to his mouth, kissing her knuckles. I roll my eyes and Pen starts chuckling.
"We all did. After Rizzoli told us where Webster and him were running off to, we all decided to hang out in the hotel bar and watch it. It was great." Maddie smiles and pulls her hand away from my brother.
"Madison!" I hear a man's voice yell for her and Madison flinches. We all turn to see Luka's coach walking toward us.
"Shit," Maddie whispers before Luka's coach reaches us.
"Holy shit, that is Coach Kincade." My brother also whispers.
"I am just going to walk Addy to her seats and I will be in the locker room. Sorry, we are running behind schedule. Do you need something in particular?" Maddie steps a couple steps away from us and stops Kincade before he gets to us.
"No, just hurry up, Mads." He looks down at her and I watch something strange gloss over his eyes. Then they shoot up to my brother. "A handshake is perfectly fine next time, Son."
My brother does nothing but nods with his mouth hanging open. Kincade walks off and my brother grabs my arm. "That was the best fucking thing ever!"
I roll my eyes at him and we follow Maddie to our seats, which are right on the ice behind Luka's net.
We watch him skate out and do his stretches.
He smiles and waves at us while he puts his water bottle and helmet on the back of the net.
Jake is skating by him and sees us when he waves.
He skates closer to the glass and taps his stick against it.
We wave at him and Penelope spins around and points to his name on the back of her jersey.
He stands there in shock for just a minute and then nods to her and skates off.
"Did he not like it? I thought he would be happy I am wearing his name." Penelope looks at me and Jackson clears his throat.
"What?" Penelope looks at him.
"Squish, when a guy likes a girl and she wears his name, that means she likes him too," Jackson says and points to her jersey.
"Well, of course, I like him. We are friends." Penelope deadpans and Jackson chokes on his soda.
"Well, you might be friends, but the way Webster looks at you, you definitely are not friend-zoned." He takes another drink of his soda while Penelope's eyes find Jake on the ice. He is staring right at her and she quickly looks away.
"Addy." She grabs my shirt, pulls my ear down to her and whispers, "I think I might be in trouble."
"Oh, yeah. You are definitely in trouble." Jackson laughs and she throws a piece of popcorn at him.
By the time intermission comes no one has scored. The guys are all playing so hard and Luka has had a couple amazing saves. "I am going to run to the restroom. I will be right back. Watch him, Pen." I point to my brother.
"What? Why do I need watched?" Jackson points to his chest.
"Because I don't need you running off and trying to find Madison. She is working and doesn't need you bothering her."
"I don't like you going anywhere by yourself, Addy. You don't know anyone here." Jackson stands in the row, so I can't get out.
"Don't make me climb over these seats in heels, Jackson. I will be fine. I am a grown-ass woman." I shove him.
"Make sure to keep your phone just in case." He moves out of the way.
I round the corner, coming out of the bathroom, and almost run right into a 6-foot wall of man. "Sorry." I put my head down and tried to move around him.
"Let me walk you back to your seat, Addy Holloway." It's one of the guys from outside.
"I'm okay. Thanks, though." I step to the side to go around him.
"So you are Rizzoli's girl?" He calls after me. My skin prickles, but I square my shoulders and turn around.
"I am." It's the first time I have claimed Luka to a total stranger. Actually, it's the first time I have publicly claimed him at all. Everyone had just assumed we were together.
"You know who he is?"
I don't like what he is insinuating. Like I don't know the man I am involved with. "I do. He is an amazing man, an amazing Goalie, and an amazing Rizzoli."
"He is only in that spot because he is a Rizzoli. Did he tell you that? Tell you that his family name is what kept him in Chicago and took a spot meant for someone else?"
"What?" This is news to me, but it doesn't sound like Luka's family. They don't seem like a family that uses their name like that.
"He stole someone's spot. Someone who deserved it a lot more than Luka.
Someone that could have been closer to family if it would have been given to him.
" He steps closer to me and locks his hands around the top of my arms. "Then he got the alt captain position.
Probably pushing someone else out of it.
And do you know what happened to the man whose position Rizzoli stole?
" I can't find the words to say, so I shake my head.
"He is gone, Addy Holloway." He lets me go with a little shove.
"Remember that next time you claim Luka Rizzoli.
You are claiming someone who is a fraud. "
I turn and walk away from him as fast as I can.
I don't believe anything he said. I know Luka and his family.
They wouldn't do that. His Ma would have been so upset if he hadn't stayed in Chicago, but she told me herself they had planned to buy a condo where ever he was playing so they could visit there.
"What happened?" Pen grabs my hand as soon as I enter the row. Jackson took off for snacks the second I started down the stairs.
"Nothing." I shake my head at her.
"Don't bullshit me, what happened?"
"Can we talk about it later?" I plead with her.
"Fine. But I won't forget." She taps her temple.
The Mustangs won by one point, but the game was tough. I can see it on their faces as they exit the ice. "Okay, where do we go to see your man?" My brother looks at me.
"Luka said to head down their tunnel and wait for him.
Let's go." I grab Penelope's hand. Making sure to watch for any 6-foot men wearing Mustang jerseys.
I don't see them anywhere. Finally, when I see Luka come out of the locker room door, I feel like I can finally breathe again.
I don't know what makes me do it, but I run and jump into his arms. He doesn't hesitate to pick me up and I wrap my legs around him.
"What's the matter, Gattina? What happened?" I can feel him press his nose into my hair and it calms me the same way it must calm him.
"Nothing. It was just a tough game to watch. I can't wait to be back in Chicago."
"You want to leave me already?" I feel Jackson pull on my ponytail and I slide down Luka's body. "So, you boys allowed to go out after a game or is that a no-go?" He asks Luka.
Luka looks to Jake, who doesn't look happy, but nods. "Yeah, if your sister wants to go, we can have a drink and dinner." I really don't want to, but the look on my brother's face is one I have never been able to say no to.
"Fine, but not too late. Are you coming this time, Jake?" I can tell he is getting ready to tell me no. He looks at Penelope and then back to me.
"I think I will head back with Coach. Thanks for the invite, though."
"You are coming with us, Jake. Come on." Penelope doesn't allow any argument as she grabs a hold of his suit jacket and pulls him to the exit.