Chapter 36
ZARIAH
ONE-WAY EXIT
The rest of winter break passed under an agonizing ticking clock. Counting down the days didn’t cover it—I was counting down the hours until I could jump Denali’s bones.
And I wasn’t the only one excited to return to campus. The hockey team was lying in wait for a very different reason.
The TIHCC was a lower division hockey conference with only Texan teams. Because there were a limited number of teams, our playoffs were much sooner than the major conferences. That meant the game against UTV was the real test. If they won this, they’d be going to playoffs.
The texts in the Gladiators’ group chat changed. Anxiety’s a step away from adrenaline and it infected the entire team, Denali most of all.
Because UTV received way more funding for their team than the Gladiators could dream of. Their coaches were Olympic medal winners, their players fast-tracked to more reputable teams. Not to mention, the UTV Thrashers were frequent champions of the Gulf Coast Cup itself.
Anticipation hung in the air when I finally made it back on campus. I wanted to see Denali so badly, but I couldn’t.
My phone buzzed with his alert. His family was walking up to Roman Villa, so I ducked behind the desk assistant’s station, watching them arrive. His family hovered. He wasn’t allowed five inches away from them.
I was twitchy with the distance, but I stayed away. If his parents recognized me, our carefully-kept secret would collapse.
I took the back exit out of Roman Villa and dodged their path through campus. I only felt better when I found out his family decided to sit up high for the hockey game. They’d be too far up for us to bump into each other.
Just to be safe, I layered on makeup and slipped a baseball cap over my ponytail. June wondered why I wasn’t wearing a Maddox jersey, but I didn’t dare tempt fate. I took my seat like usual, and for the first game this season, I couldn’t wait for it to be over with.
The Colo filled with more people than I’d ever seen, and I forced myself to drink my slushie, trying to calm my heartbeat.
June perked up beside me. “Tallulah!”
I kept quiet until Tallulah was closer. “Hey? Did you finish your essay?”
“I actually want to talk to both of you,” she said, sitting next to me.
“Talk? We’re going to have to yell at each other soon.” June grinned. “I can’t believe how many people are here.”
It took me a moment to realize how different Tallulah looked. She was usually so put together. Today she looked…worn down.
“Are you okay?” I whispered.
Tallulah hesitated, like she was gathering the courage to say something, before she blurted out, “June, when did Bear say that he loves you?”
“Oh…uh…” June frowned, mulling it over. “Bear’s the one who remembers those things, I’m not sure.” Her fingers flew across her phone’s keyboard. “I’ll ask him.”
“Zariah?” Tallulah’s wide brown eyes flickered to me. “When did Denali tell you?”
I flushed from her question. “Um…”
“I know it’s personal,” Tallulah said, apologetic, twisting her hands together, her voice small. “I just want to know.”
“It’s—um—too early for that. He hasn’t told me yet.”
“Yet,” Tallulah echoed.
“He’s going to wait until he knows I’m ready,” I explained, my ears warm. “I had this past experience when I was a kid. I rushed through things too fast, and it’s made me very…cautious with relationships? Denali knows that. So he’s being very gentle with me.”
Tallulah watched me for a moment then settled back in her chair. “I broke up with Fridge.”
“What?” June asked, sitting up.
I blinked. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah.” She bit her lip. “We’re still friends—I want to support him today because I know how important this is, but—um—this is my last hockey game.”
I couldn’t believe it. Maybe Tallulah and Fridge weren’t latched on to each other like June and Bear or weirdly hugging at bars like me and Denali, but they were a textbook example of a stable relationship. No fights, no drama.
Why did they break up?
“Over the summer, the Gladiators were almost dissolved,” Tallulah said. “Everybody knew the team was going under. And when Bear thought he was going to lose June, it was like he broke down.”
“Ugh, I remember that,” June sighed. “It was awful.”
“It was so sweet,” Tallulah said. “Do you know what Fridge did when he thought he’d have to leave Texas? He was just…saying goodbye to me. He didn’t even ask if we could do something long-distance.”
I didn’t know what to say, but June shifted closer. “Fridge has always been…level-headed.”
“Denali is level-headed.” Tallulah turned to me.
“You didn’t see him over the summer. His career, his team, hockey, that was all Denali focused on—but then you came and his priorities totally changed.
” Her shoulders slumped. “I know how this sounds but I don’t want a man to be level-headed over me. ”
“I had to do all the work with my last boyfriend,” June said. “Trust me, I understand.”
“You get to decide what kind of relationship you want, what you’re comfortable with,” I said. “I was upfront with Denali on what I wanted and he listened to me. It’s one of my favorite things about him. If you’re in a relationship that’s not offering what you want—yeah, I wouldn’t stay either.”
“Just because you’re not with Fridge anymore doesn’t change things,” June added.
“You can’t break up with me too,” I warned. “We’re literally getting lunch tomorrow.”
Tallulah sighed. “It’s horrible but I was more worried about losing you guys than breaking up with Fridge.”
“You and Denali,” I huffed. “You both love being anxious for no fucking reason. Maybe you and Fridge aren’t sleeping together anymore, but you aren’t losing anybody.”
Her lips rose for a small smile. “I sent in the essay.”
“For the Canada trip?” I beamed before throwing questions at her until my eyes darted to the stairs.
Cleo was leading a family our way. Not just any family—Denali’s family.
I froze. “Fuck me with a chainsaw.”
I threw up the hood of my hoodie as June shifted to get a better look. “Zariah, what is it? Who are they?”
Shit, I needed help. I had to come clean to somebody. I didn’t have a choice anymore, not with the Maddox family within rock-throwing distance. “Denali’s family,” I muttered, doing my best to disappear. “He’s—uh—not supposed to be in a relationship right now, and I have a problem with his parents—”
“Do you want to leave?” Tallulah whispered.
“I’ll buy you time, just go,” June said before shoving out of her chair, her voice transforming into a gracious welcome. “Mr. and Mrs. Maddox! Oh my gosh, I’ve heard so much about you!”
Tallulah grabbed me by the hand and directed me to the stairs, hiding me as I hurried away. I wanted to watch the game, goddammit, and now I had to find a close enough seat to watch the action and let Denali to see me.
“This is what I’m talking about.” Tallulah said. “You’re not even supposed to be dating him and he doesn’t care!”
Tallulah returned to June and Cleo while I sat alone on the opposite side of the rink.
I didn’t care, I was too engrossed in the game.
The Gladiators raced out to the ice, and I watched with rapt attention as the team set up for their first shift.
Denali was placed as the center, but that wasn’t Nick as his right-winger—
My eyes widened. “Is that Montoya?”
It couldn’t possibly be, but it was. The Colo cheered, ready for the game to begin.
“That’s Montoya!” My mouth fell open. “That’s fucking Montoya!”
The ref skated out with the puck, and everyone collectively held their breath before it dropped.
It was the definition of a feeding frenzy.
Players rushed at the puck like their lives depended on it.
Bodies were slammed against the boards, and I leaped back in my seat, shocked as the teams crashed into each other for a chance to upend the opposition.
And there was Montoya and Denali.
Denali rushed out with Montoya each shift. They bounced the puck between each other in short, simple arcs, too fast for anyone to intercept. Denali put too much attention on himself for the UTV players to narrow in on Montoya.
The puck soared into the net, and it took me seconds to realize it was Montoya’s goal.
“Montoya!” I screamed, jumping out of my seat. “OH MY GOD, MONTOYA!”
The bloodshed continued, the score ricocheting between the team as much as the puck did. One to zero zipped to one to one and that changed to two to one. Nobody had the upper hand for very long.
The game was too close. If something didn’t change, we’d go into overtime.
With only fifteen seconds left, there was no way they could make it.
Montoya had the puck, passing it to Denali. My pulse went wild as another UTV player smashed into Denali. It was obstruction, it was dirty, it was underhanded—
Denali didn’t break his stride.
“Holy fuck,” I gasped as he swung. The puck caught at an awkward angle, flying across the ice.
My eyes shot to the timer overhead. Six seconds.
Montoya dove to the trajectory and everyone grappled for control—until Montoya whisked it into the net.
The goal horn screamed victory, the Gladiators belting just as loud, clamoring across the ice at each other. A dull ringing enclosed everything, and I found myself on my feet too. Euphoria hot in my veins.
I didn’t care about Denali’s family, I had to see him. I sprinted between the bleachers, arms pumping at my sides to reach the locker room before they did, ducking through the hallways that had never been this full before.
The team finished their handshakes on the ice. They burst into the hallways, howling with the win, and I realized my mistake.
Denali’s family was following the team.
Shit.
What if the Maddoxes came to the locker room and saw me? What if someone took pictures and I was in the background?
I stumbled on my feet, heading deeper into the locker room. Seriously, what was I thinking? I’d just shove myself into their party and that was that?