Chapter 33
HAZEL
The final period of the game is awful. There are bad calls left and right, like the referees were bribed before the game.
But all I can think about is the look on Penn’s face at the beginning of the period when he saw me standing with Chadwick’s parents.
He went from so happy to see me, to hurt and confused in a nanosecond.
It didn’t help matters that I could see Chadwick goading him out there—goodness knows what that creep was putting in his ear.
For the rest of the game, I find myself counting down the minutes until the clock runs out so I can go find Penn and explain. The Lions play well despite the penalties, but the Fire Cats end up scoring in the last twenty seconds of the game.
Everyone in my row is ecstatic with the win, even though the Fire Cats barely won. My dad reaches over me to high-five Chadwick’s father. “Yeah! Our boy is back!” Dad laughs.
Chadwick’s father grins. “Yes, he is!”
Um, need I remind them Chadwick never even scored a goal?
As we file out of our row, we slowly make our way through the crowd and then through the staff hallways toward the dressing rooms.
My brother comes up behind me and holds out an elbow like an old-fashioned gentleman.
I smile over at him, surprised that the small gesture has tears springing to my eyes.
I blink them back, hoping he doesn’t notice.
It just feels so good to have someone not upset with me, so I loop my arm through his.
“How ya doing, sis?” he asks. “Kind of badass of you to date a player from Weatherby’s rival team,” he whispers the sentiment through the side of his mouth.
Despite my nervous anxiety to see Penn, I huff a laugh. “Yeah, well, badass is my middle name.”
Cory chuckles and I didn’t realize until this moment how much I’ve missed that sound. Cory was always the bright spot of life in Ohio for me.
“Congrats on the promotion,” I tell him.
He rolls his eyes. “You and I both know it’s just a glorified assistant manager position.” Cory smirks. “But thanks.”
There’s a pause before he asks, “So you and Chadwick broke up because he cheated on you?”
A heavy sigh leaves my lips. “Yep.”
“Bastard.” He shakes his head. “Tell me about the new guy. You have a thing for hockey players, huh?”
Smiling, I take a deep breath, unsure how to explain how I ended up with Penn.
“He lives in the loft above mine and was always making a racket. The first several interactions we had were me asking him to be quiet.” I roll my lips together, trying to subdue my grin.
“But then there was a spark, and I gave him a chance. He’s pretty amazing, actually. ”
Cory nudges me. “You’re blushing.”
I nudge him back. “Stop, I am not.” I definitely am.
We make it to the dressing room doors at the end of a wide hallway and stop outside along with several other family members and friends waiting for their players. One door has a sign that says Guests and the other door has the Fire Cats’ logo on it.
I’ve stood in this exact spot many times before, the only difference is today I’m watching the guest team’s door—and I’m here because I want to be, not because I was guilted into it.
My mother steps toward my brother and me with a bright smile on her face. “So, once Chadwick is ready, we’re going to go out and celebrate.”
Cory releases my arm and drapes his across my shoulders. “Sounds fun,” he says, his tone casual. “Hazel, you should invite your new guy”
I glance at him, and he winks at me.
Mom laughs but it sounds stilted and awkward. “Oh, honey. We haven’t seen you in so long, maybe we should keep it just family tonight?”
I’d point out that the Weatherbys aren’t family, but logic is futile here.
Instead, I turn to Cory. “Yeah, I’ll ask Penn to come, I think it’d be nice for everyone to meet him.”
Mom opens her mouth to argue, but the dressing room doors open and players start to file out one by one.
My gaze locks in, watching for Penn. I just saw him this morning but sitting between my dad and Mr. Weatherby during the game has me tightly wound.
Penn has a calming effect on me, always making me feel good in my own skin…
confident in who I am. With Chadwick, I felt self-conscious, always wishing I was more like the other player’s girlfriends; more glamorous, more outgoing, more confident.
When I’m in Penn’s orbit, I don’t want to be anyone but myself.
Finally, his head of dark hair appears, and my whole body seems to levitate. I'm weightless when his eyes meet mine. Penn grins, making his way toward me. My anxiety melts away as he picks me up off my feet and kisses me like he just won the Stanley Cup. You’d never know his team lost.
He pulls back to look at me but keeps me in his arms. “You okay, Bubbles?” He whispers, eyes locking on mine.
I nod. “I am now,” I say the words softly so only he can hear. “I didn’t know they were all going to be there; Chadwick set me up.”
Penn’s expression is unreadable, but his eyes are soft and trusting as he nods. “I figured.”
His trust in me has the rest of my anxiety evaporating, and I feel better than I have in hours as he kisses the tip of my nose, then sets me back down. We turn to find my parents watching us aghast, like we just had sex in public or something.
I clear my throat. “This is Penn,” I begin, feeling suddenly nervous.
Penn thrusts his hand out in front of my father. “Penn Matthews, Hazel’s boyfriend, sir. Pleasure to finally meet you guys.”
Boyfriend.
Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I look at Penn. He winks.
My father shakes Penn’s hand with a limp handshake and my mother stares at him like she’s never seen a tattoo before.
Cory reaches out to shake Penn’s hand next. “I’m Hazel’s brother, nice to meet you, Penn.”
Penn doesn’t hesitate before giving him a firm handshake and then the two of them begin an amicable conversation about hockey.
My mother grabs my wrist, dragging me closer to her and Dad.
She opens her mouth to say something, but then Chadwick strides out of his dressing room and the commotion his parents make fawning over him draws my parents’ attention away from me.
My mom releases my arm and rushes to give my ex a big hug. My father does the same, both congratulating him on the win.
“We want to take you out to celebrate,” Mr. Weatherby tells his son, wrapping an arm around him and giving him a good-hearted shake.
“Sounds great, I’m starving,” Chadwick says.
Penn sidles up next to me and rests a hand on my back, the warmth of the contact is comforting.
My mother finally turns toward us again. “Well, Tim, it was great meeting you,” she says in an obvious effort to make sure he doesn’t come with us.
“His name is Penn,” I correct her, then glance up at him. “Would you want to come out with us?”
“Oh, Hazel,” my father chuckles. “I’m sure he’s not in a celebratory mood tonight.”
Cory huffs a laugh like he’s attempting to ease the tension of the situation. He looks at Penn with a smile. “You’re welcome to join, the more the merrier.”
Penn appears confused, unsure what to say as he looks from my parents, to Cory, to me. “You go enjoy some time with your family, and I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” He offers me a hesitant smile.
“See, sweetheart, he understands,” my mom says to me, then turns to Penn with a fake smile. “We’d really just like to catch up with our daughter tonight.”
Penn nods but I can feel how tense his hand is that’s still resting on my back. I want to scream with how unfair this whole situation is—to him, and to me.
I want Penn to come with us, I want him with me…but I don’t want him to be uncomfortable, either. I’m torn between insisting he come with us and leaving the decision up to him.
“Penn, you’re not coming out with us?” Chadwick joins our conversation with an overly friendly laugh, like him and Penn are best buddies.
Penn looks at my ex, his expression steady and cool. “Not tonight, Chadwick. Hazel hardly ever gets to see her family, and I could use an early night. Congrats on the win, by the way.”
“You at least have to join us for brunch tomorrow then. I mean, I’m sure Haze’s parents want to get to know her new boyfriend before they have to leave town.” I want to wipe the smug smirk off of Chadwick’s stupid face as he turns to my mom. “Right, Bethany?”
What’s he playing at now?
“Um, yes. Uh. Of course,” Mom says, blinking rapidly.
Chadwick looks strangely triumphant. “Well then it’s settled.”
Penn smoothes his hand up and down my back and lowers his voice so only I can hear him. “How does that sound to you? Tonight you hang out with your family and I’ll join you for brunch tomorrow?”
I nod. That seems like a decent compromise, even though I wish he’d come to both. Or, better yet, I wish the Weatherbys would just disappear altogether. “Yeah, okay.”
“Nice jersey, by the way,” Penn says before bending down and pressing a quick kiss to my lips. Too quick.
“I made reservations at The Orange Poppy at eleven,” Chadwick tells him, still smirking.
“Okay, I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” With one last smile, he leaves and joins Fisher and Noah where they’re waiting for him a few yards away.
I watch the guys walk toward the exit, and with every step my anxiety creeps back in.
I finally make it back to my hotel suite at one in the morning after the most obnoxious meal ever.
All anyone talked about was Chadwick and how amazing he played, despite his minimal time on the ice.
My parents were so rude to Penn, claiming they wanted to catch up with me, and yet they talked about Chadwick all night.
Typical.
Thank goodness Cory was there. We played tic-tac-toe on napkins to entertain ourselves like we were kids again. He never liked Chadwick.
After a quick shower, I throw on the cute silky pajama set I packed and stomp to my bed in a sour mood. I thought I’d be snuggled up here with Penn tonight, not enduring an evening of praise for my cheating ex. How can my parents forgive him so easily?
At this hour I should feel exhausted and ready to sleep, but instead I’m so annoyed that I can’t relax.
A light knock echoes from my door and my heart leaps to life.
While I was out at dinner, I texted Penn my hotel info so he could meet me here in the morning before brunch.
He must’ve thought to surprise me with a late-night visit, though.
I’m grinning as I pad to the bathroom mirror and make sure I’m not a mess.
My curls are smoothed into a low bun, my face is scrubbed clean, and my skin is glowing from my shower and skin care.
Deciding I look decent, I rush to the door and swing it open.
My face falls when I realize it’s not Penn on the other side…but Chadwick.
He steps inside the room without me inviting him in, taking advantage of my shock. I allow the heavy door to fall closed and follow him, crossing my arms. “What are you doing here?”
He plops down on the king-sized bed in the center of the room. He’s wearing black sweatpants and a long-sleeved tee now, so he must’ve changed out of his game-day suit before coming over.
“Listen, Haze, I’ve tried to give you time and space.
But I’ve had enough, I’m done messing around.
” He stands and steps closer to me. I back up until my backside hits the desk behind me.
“We’ve known each other since we were kids.
Our parents are best friends. I know I messed up, and I’m sorry.
But we both know we belong together. Tonight confirmed that. ”
I’m stunned, anger slowly bubbling up inside of me. I thought we were done with this, that he was out of my apartment and out of my life…but that was too easy. I should’ve expected this. Why won’t he just move on? I clearly wasn’t what he wanted.
“Chadwick, we can’t be together just because our families hoped that we would get married. That’s actually a terrible reason to date,” I keep my tone even and calm, trying to help him see reality.
“Haze, you’re the only girl I’ve ever loved.” He reaches for me, but I slide out from between him and the desk, putting distance between us.
“You don’t love me; you probably never did.”
His eyebrows draw together like he disagrees.
“When you love someone, you can’t imagine being with anyone else.
If you loved me, you never would’ve hurt me the way you did, you never would’ve touched another woman.
I deserve to be truly loved. I deserve a man who treats me like there isn’t another girl in the entire world.
A man who only has eyes for me and loves me exactly the way I am. ”
I deserve to be loved the way Penn loves me. The thought enters my mind before I can stop it, but Penn doesn’t love me, does he? My heart skips a beat at the thought.
Chadwick scoffs. “And you think Matthews is that man? You’re kidding yourself. You clearly don’t know him at all.”
Is there something in Penn’s past he’s hidden from me? Or is Chadwick just trying to make me doubt our relationship?
“What I do know is that you are not that man,” I say, prickling at his comment.
Chadwick’s face grows red with anger, his nostrils flaring. He’s not used to being told no, and he clearly doesn’t like it. “I thought tonight would make you see some reason and come to your senses.”
Is that why Chadwick invited Penn to brunch tomorrow with such confidence? Because he was convinced I’d decide to get back with him and saw it as an opportunity to humiliate Penn and rub his face in it?
“I’d like you to leave,” I say, straightening my spine and holding my ground.
“If I walk out that door,” he says, jutting his thumb toward the exit. “We’re over forever. No crawling back once you see who Matthews really is. If I leave right now, you won’t have any more chances to be with me.”
“That’s exactly what I want, thank you for finally understanding,” I say, looking straight into his eyes so there’s no doubt that I mean every word.
Chadwick growls, his anger escalating. “Fine!”
He turns and stalks toward the door, pausing with his hand on the door handle like he’s giving me one last chance. When I don’t say anything, he yanks the door open and walks out, slamming it behind him.
The art on the wall rattles and I wonder if he woke up half the hotel with his tantrum.
I heave a sigh of relief once he’s gone. I want to call Penn, but he’ll be sound asleep by now, so I’ll just have to wait until tomorrow to talk with him. All I can hope is that Chadwick is true to his word and leaves me—and Penn—alone from here on out.