Chapter 13
I stride onto the ice, feeling lighter than I have in ages. The sound of skates carving through the surface and the smell of fresh ice mix together like a good cocktail, and I can’t help but grin. The guys are already warming up, but I’ve got a spring in my step that’s impossible to ignore.
“Hey, Coburn! You actually look happy today,” Caleb calls out, raising an eyebrow as he glances my way.
“Don’t get used to it,” I say with a chuckle, shrugging off his comment.
“Seriously. Hey, what the fuck happened?”
“Just slept well for the first time in forever,” I reply, which is true. I’m not about to spill the details, though.
“Damn, you must’ve had a hell of a wet dream,” he laughs, shooting a puck at the net.
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Was it the blonde?”
I shake my head. “No.”
As practice kicks off, I’m in my zone, moving with purpose, the puck glued to my stick. Each pass and shot feels electric. I catch a glimpse of Caleb watching me from the corner of my eye, and I can tell he’s trying to figure me out. Good luck with that, buddy.
After practice, I head back to my place. The mansion looms, as big and empty as ever, but I’m in a good mood, so I push through the door with a grin.
I quickly shower, letting the water wash away the sweat and the intensity of the ice. As I dry off, I start thinking about where to take Remy for dinner. Maybe a nice little spot downtown? Somewhere cozy? I can already picture her laughing over a shared milkshake.
My phone buzzes, and I check the message. It’s from the jeweler. The three Van Cleef bracelets are ready for pickup. Perfect timing.
I throw on a fresh T-shirt and jeans before heading out. The drive to the jewelers is quick, and I’m practically buzzing by the time I get there.
I walk in, and the clerk hands me the box with the bracelets inside. “Here you go, Mr. Coburn.”
I open it, and there they are. Elegant and beautiful.
The first one is a classic Alhambra bracelet in a deep green, perfect for Maya. The second is a stunning piece in blue with white mother-of-pearl accents, also for Maya. And the last one—a gorgeous bracelet with a pink motif, just for Remy. The pink pops, and I can already see it wrapped around her wrist.
I pull out my phone and snap a quick pic, picturing her smile when she sees it.
After I grab the bracelets, I drive over to Maya’s place. I knock on the door, and she opens it, instantly beaming when she sees the box in my hand.
“Zane! What’s that?”
“Bracelets,” I say, handing her the green one. “For you.”
She gasps, eyes lighting up. “Oh my god! I love it!” She slips it on, admiring it. “This is beautiful! Thank you!”
“Just wait,” I say, holding up the blue one. “This one’s for you, too.”
“Two? You really didn’t have to—”
“I wanted to,” I cut her off, smiling. “You helped me with Remy.”
“Dude, you’re the best! Thank you!” She beams, holding the two bracelets up to admire them. “I’m gonna wear these all the time! They’re perfect.”
“Glad you like them,” I say, feeling a warmth in my chest.
“Okay, now what’s this one for?” Maya asks, eyeing the pink bracelet with curiosity.
“This one’s for Remy,” I say, holding it out carefully. “I hope she likes it.”
“Oh. She is going to freak,” Maya says, biting her lip. “But first, you need to find out if she even likes jewelry.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about. Should I have gotten her two?”
“Maybe. But it’s better to start with one and see what she thinks.”
“I guess you’re right.”
Maya leans closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Okay. Let me combine this into a necklace so you can put it on me.”
“Fuck no, Caleb can do that,” I shoot back, waving her off.
She purses her lips, crossing her arms. “I reckon you be nicer to me, Coburn. You might need me at your wedding.”
“Shut up,” I say, but I can’t help smiling. Remy Coburn has a nice ring to it.
“Seriously, let’s see you do it,” she nudges, a teasing smile spreading across her face. “C’mon, it’ll be fun!”
“Are you serious?” I relent. “But only because you asked so nicely.”
I help her with the blue bracelet, carefully clasping it around her wrist.
She says, “See? Not so bad, right?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, my mind already drifting back to Remy.
“Sweet Remy is not very good with presents so you gotta get her to wear that bracelet first,” she adds, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“I will,” I say, my confidence building. “I’ve got a plan.”
“Good. Good.”
I glance down at Maya’s bracelets one last time before stepping out. “Enjoy those, okay?” I say, giving her a quick smile.
“Of course! Thanks again. You really know how to make a girl happy,” she beams, and I can’t help but grin back. “And Zane?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t forget she still has a boyfriend.”
I glare at her for a split second and walk out.
Yes, Remy has a boyfriend, but she just lost her virginity to me, therefore, she’s mine. Colin is nothing but filler. He’s nothing.
The smell of fresh blooms hits me as I walk in. “Hey, I need a bouquet of red roses,” I tell the woman behind the counter.
“Any special occasion?” she asks, pulling out a bunch of roses.
“Yeah, just, uh, something nice,” I reply, trying to sound casual.
She raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying my poker face. “A lucky lady, huh?”
“Something like that,” I say, shrugging it off.
She wraps up the bouquet, and I hand her some cash, glancing at the roses and imagining Remy’s face when she sees them.
I hop into my car, bouquet in the passenger seat, and shoot a quick text to Remy.
Zane: Hey, are you ready? I can pick you up now.
I wait.
Nothing.
I take a deep breath, pull out of the parking lot, and hit the road. “C’mon, Remy,” I mutter, trying to shake off the impatience creeping in.
As I drive, I think about where we could go— maybe that Italian place she likes or the new sushi joint. My mouth curls into a smile, imagining her laughing over dinner. But as I near her street, my phone buzzes.
Remy: Can’t today.
My stomach twists, and I’m about to call her when I spot her outside of her house.
I slam on the brakes, peering through the windshield. She’s out there with Colin, of all people. They’re laughing, and my gut twists tighter.
I can’t hear what they’re saying, but I see them hug. I grip the steering wheel, a wave of anger hitting me. Colin leans in, kissing her softly, like it’s something normal. My heart drops.
What the fucking fuck is this?
I watch as they walk to his beat-up car, and my vision narrows on the two of them. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. She steps into his car while I pull down the street where she won’t notice my car. I race around the fucking block like a maniac.
I feel a mix of betrayal and rage bubbling up inside me.
I grab the bouquet, my knuckles white on the stems. Without thinking, I throw the flowers out of the window. They scatter across the pavement, red petals fluttering in the wind.
“Fuck!” I growl, slamming my hands on the steering wheel. I turn the car around, not wanting to follow them to wherever the fuck they’re going.
As I drive back home, the weight of everything settles in my chest. I thought we had the best night and of course, she’s running back to her boyfriend. I thought we had something real, something worth pursuing.
But now?
Now I’m just a fucking idiot, a side piece, driving back to my empty mansion with nothing but the echo of her laughter haunting me.
I’ve never missed a practice. Not once. But today? Today’s different. I need answers.
I park near the community college’s gate for what feels like fucking hours, watching students trickle out. But I know he’s here because of his stupid fucking car. Finally, I spot him. Colin. He looks exactly like I expected—worn-out sneakers, scruffy hair.
What does she see in this guy?
I walk up, and he immediately goes defensive, eyes narrowing as he stops short. “What the hell do you want, Zane? You trying to fight me or something?”
“So, you know my name huh?”
“Remy told me all about you…”
I highly doubt that, but I am kind of curious now to know what exactly she told him.
I raise my hands, playing it cool. “Relax, man. I just want to talk.”
He crosses his arms, not backing down an inch. “We got nothing to talk about.”
“Oh, I think we do.” I take a breath, deciding to lay it out. “It’s about Remy. I’ll be straightforward. I’m interested in her.”
Colin’s whole face twists, like he’s ready to throw a punch. “The hell you are. She’s with me.”
“Yeah, I see that. Problem is, she’s not happy. And frankly? I don’t get what she sees in you.”
His fists clench, and he steps closer. “You don’t know anything about us.”
“Really? ‘Cause from where I’m standing, it looks like she’s miserable.” I shrug, looking him over. “Look, man, I’m willing to make this worth your while. So, how much?”
“What?” He actually laughs, shaking his head like I’m insane. “You think you can buy her off me?”
“Yeah,” I say plainly. “I think I can. Everyone has a price.”
He stares, obviously offended, but there’s a glimmer in his eye that says he’s at least listening. I keep going.
“Two hundred fifty thousand,” I say, voice low but direct. “Enough to get you out of whatever financial crap you’re in. And enough to help you move on.”
His jaw tightens, and I can see him mentally fighting it, but then he just sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Fuck, man. We’ve been fighting a lot. She’s not exactly… thrilled about things lately.”
I nod, feeling a flicker of satisfaction. “So, what’s it gonna take? Three hundred fifty?”
Colin goes quiet for a minute, biting his lip, then finally nods. “Yeah. That’ll do it.”
I pull out my checkbook, scribble the amount, and hold it out to him. He snatches it, glancing at it with wide eyes, then shoves it in his pocket, glancing around like he’s afraid someone will see.
“This doesn’t get back to Remy,” I tell him, my voice dropping. “I’ll come get my money back if you say a fucking peep. But you’re gone. Out of her life. Moved on. No more contact.”
Colin scoffs. “Do you even like her? Or is this just some kind of sick game for you?”
I glare at him, words clipped. “That’s none of your business.”
He just shrugs, taking a step back. “Fine. Just… take care of her, okay?”
I nod, keeping my face blank as he turns and walks off.
As I head back to my car, my phone buzzes, showing a bunch of missed calls from Caleb. Figures.
But I can deal with that later. Right now? All I can think about is Remy.
And I am beginning to think that this is not the best thing for my sanity.
I walk into the house, already bracing myself for the storm. My dad’s sitting in his favorite chair, his brows drawn tight, and I can feel the tension radiating off him.
“Where the hell have you been?” he barks, his voice low but full of anger. “Coach Jacobs called me. Said you missed practice. You’ve never missed a practice in your life!”
“Yeah, I know. I had… some stuff to take care of,” I say, forcing a calmness I don’t feel.
He leans forward, his arms crossed. “Stuff? What kind of stuff?”
I hesitate, knowing I’m about to lie through my teeth. “I got a girl pregnant. Had to sort it out.”
His eyes widen, but then a smile breaks through. “Well, damn, Zane! You’re growing up. I am glad you at least had the sense to get rid of that before word got out.”
Sick churns in my stomach. “Yeah, thanks,” I mutter, struggling to keep my voice steady. “But I need to focus on taking care of it.”
“Right. And that means you need to put your hockey career first.” He sits back, satisfied. “You know the scouts are watching. Don’t screw this up over a girl.”
“Agreed,” I say, forcing myself to nod. “I’ll figure it out.”
“Good. You’re talented, son. Just remember that.” He pats his knee, relaxing a bit. “You’re gonna make a name for yourself.”
“Yeah, sure,” I say, barely able to keep the sarcasm in check.
He squints, studying me. “You sure you’re ready for this?”
I swallow hard, trying to push down the guilt. “I am.”
“Life’s complicated, kid. But you’ve got to stay focused.” He leans back, crossing his arms again. “You get this sorted out, and then we’ll talk about your future.”
“Yeah, okay,” I say, nodding more for his benefit than mine.
He’s done with me, turning back to his TV. I can’t get out of there fast enough. I walk to my room, the weight of the conversation sitting heavy on my shoulders.
Once the door shuts behind me, I lean against it, rubbing a hand over my face. What the hell have I done? I can’t get her out of my head— Remy, that smile, the way she laughs. It’s all just stuck on repeat, messing with me.
I toss my phone on the bed, grab my stick from the corner of the room, and start tapping a puck against the wall. The thud of it bouncing back feels good, steady, like I can actually control something right now.
I hit it harder, the puck slamming into the wall and back. “Damn it!” It’s not enough. Nothing’s cutting through this knot in my chest.
I drop the stick, falling back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. I can’t shut her out. Can’t stop seeing her with Colin, that stupid grin on his face. And I’m the one left feeling like a complete idiot.
“Fuck!”
I pick up my phone again, scrolling through the contacts. Caleb’s been blowing up my phone. I hit call, pacing the room as it rings.
“Zane! What the hell, man?” Caleb’s voice is sharp. “You’ve been MIA.”
“Yeah. Just had to handle some shit,” I say, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Handle what? Something for the Reapers? Shit’s been going down with them.”
I grip the phone tighter. “Does it matter? No, man. I’ve had enough of that Reaper shit. I had other matters today.”
“Right, because you always keep shit to yourself,” he snaps. “You good?”
“Yeah, I’m fucking good.” I’m not even close to fine.
“I covered for you.”
I hang up, tossing the phone back onto the bed. I’m not in the mood to deal with Caleb’s concern or questions.
I plop onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, and I can’t help it. Thoughts of Remy invade my mind. The way she looks in those tight jeans, that laugh that makes everything seem okay. God, I want to see her. But after seeing her with Colin, I know I need to keep my distance.
I roll over, burying my face in the pillow, but it doesn’t help. I close my eyes, wishing I could turn back time to when everything was simple. I groan, knowing I’m trapped.
Zane Coburn doesn’t get tangled in this crap. I just have to keep my head in the game. But as the darkness settles in, I know I’m lying to myself. The harder I try not to think about her, the more she creeps back in.
This is going to be one hell of a mess, but for my sanity, I have to find a way out of it.