LUCY
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The familiar cold wraps around me as I head down the hallway, following Jade as we make our way to the family room. She called me earlier and asked if I wanted to ride to the game with her since she was driving separately from Matteo.
He needed to be at the arena a few hours before puck drop and last I heard, Jade was working on a new book and on a tight deadline. I know her well enough now to know even a deadline wouldn’t keep her from missing the first home game of the season, though.
I take a deep breath, sucking in the cool air, letting it ground me. I should be with Tucker, helping the guys get ready to go out on the ice. I wasn’t feeling well this morning and since I’m still technically training, Tucker had it approved for me to take the evening off.
“Luce! Jade!” Elena’s voice cuts through the room as we step inside. “Hey, besties!”
Tella, Coach Ford’s daughter, is right behind her as she skips across the room to us, pulling us both toward her. “I wasn’t sure if you two were going to make it in time.”
Jade’s eyebrows tug together. She pulls out her phone and looks at the time. “Warm-ups haven’t even started yet.”
I roll my eyes, hugging Tella, laughing softly as I give Elena a gentle push. “Dramatic as always. We’re right on time.”
“I am not dramatic,” she says… dramatically.
I can’t imagine her being anything less than herself.
She has the type of personality that draws you in effortlessly.
She’s charming, charismatic and always has a man chasing her.
Too bad for them, she’s a certified man hater after a nasty break up a few years ago.
She got over that heartbreak by starting a podcast with her cousin, Tella, that is now one of the most successful in women’s sports.
“Come on,” Jade says, hooking her arm through mine. “Warm-ups are about to start, and I promised Matteo I’d be out there.”
Jade, Elena and I follow behind Tella and a few other family members to the area along the glass where we can stand.
It’s in the corner, where the ice crew comes out during games.
The public doesn’t have access to the area, so we don’t have to worry about fighting for standing room with any of the fans.
I stand to the left of Elena, my gaze drifting out to the ice as the players come out, some stopping by the bench and others skating around in a large circle to warm up their legs.
I find Theo easily, just as I always do.
His helmet is unstrapped and his dark hair curls from under the edges.
He grabs a puck with the blade of his stick, effortlessly showing off his stick-handling as he skates around.
He comes around the corner, looping toward us. Our eyes immediately meet. The corners of his mouth twitch, his expression softening, and then he looks away, skating past.
“What was that?” Elena whispers, poking me in the side with her elbow.
I laugh, waving my hand dismissively. “That was nothing. He looks at everyone.”
“Definitely not like that,” Tella chimes in. She arches her brow. “That was… different.”
Jade tears her gaze away from Matty as he skates toward the blue line. “I called it.”
“Called what?”
Jade smirks. “The two of you. You and Theo. I could feel it when I first met you guys.”
“Is there something going on between you two?” Tella asks.
Elena looks at me, tilting her head, saying nothing. She knows about the baby. She knows the baby isn’t Theo’s. Fuck.
A puck hits the glass and we all jump. “Asshole,” Elena says, loud enough for Cameron Shaw to hear as he skates past and she gives him the middle finger.
If there’s one thing Shaw loves to do, it’s crawl under his best friend’s sister’s skin.
“Are you and Theo…” Elena whispers, leaning close to me so no one can hear.
I swallow hard. “We’re telling everyone the baby is his.”
She’s silent for a second. “Shit,” she mutters.
“That’s a tame word for it, but yeah.”
Theo skates toward the goalie, lifting the puck as he shoots it toward the top right corner of the net. The goalie slides across the ice, just in time to stop it with his blocker. He skates past us again and butterflies float in my stomach as he winks at me.
What the hell is he doing?
Instinctively, I press my hand to my stomach. Surely, it’s the baby and not butterflies. I shake my head to myself. The app said I shouldn’t feel the baby until sixteen weeks at a minimum.
It’s gotta be gas.
“Are you okay?” Elena asks, her voice soft, eyes flicking down to my stomach and back to my eyes.
“Yeah.”
“Okay, little liar Lucy,” Tella starts, looking around Elena at me. “What is going on between you and Theo?”
“There’s definitely something,” Jade adds. “We’re not blind. We saw him wink.” She lifts her brows. “Best friends or not, there was definitely more to that.”
I momentarily freeze. I need to tell them—hell, I’ve been waiting until we were all together so I could do it. I don’t know why I can’t find the words as easily now. I look at Elena for some sort of backup. My heart races, my pulse climbing.
“I—” All eyes are on me. If I hesitate, I’m not going to tell them… not tonight at least. I need to just jump in, headfirst. “I’m pregnant.”
Tella’s mouth falls open. Jade stares back at me in shock and I don’t even know if she’s blinking. Elena’s eyes meet mine, warm and encouraging.
The horn sounds through the building, signaling the end of warm-ups, yet the four of us don’t move.
“I’m sorry, what?” Tella blows out a breath.
“I’m pregnant,” I say again, the words a bit easier to get out this time. It’s already out there and there’s no taking it back now. “I just found out a few weeks ago. I’m twelve weeks now.”
Jade’s face screws up. “Wait, what? Why didn’t you tell us?”
I swallow. “I’m telling you now.”
Tella purses her lips. “Because we questioned you about Theo.”
“Holy shit,” Jade says, her eyes widening again. “Is it his?”
I stare back at her, silence wrapping around us.
“No fucking way.” Tella laughs in disbelief. “No way is Theodore Simmons having a baby.”
I puff out my cheeks as I exhale.
“Looks like he is,” Elena chimes in, offering a subtle shrug and a smile.
“Holy shit,” Jade says again. “Are the two of you together?”
I hesitate, only for a second. I could tell them the truth. I know I could trust them with it, but if too many people start knowing, the story we’re crafting will never stick. It will never be believable… and that’s what we need.
“Yes.”
The four of us are settled in our seats and the game is underway when Tella starts again. She’s six years older than us and has known Theo and I since we were little kids. I’m not surprised with her grilling me for answers right now.
“Okay, how the hell did this happen?”
Jade smirks again, shaking her head. “Man, I can’t believe I actually called it.”
“You should’ve made a bet with Matty.” Elena chuckles. “You know how he loves to gamble.”
“Please.” Jade shakes her head, laughing. “I swear he wants to make bets with me on everything.”
“It happened two and a half months ago. We were drunk and ended up hooking up.” I shrug, taking a sip of water.
The story’s getting easier to tell. That’s a good sign.
I think if you say the same thing over enough times, your brain starts to believe it too.
“He knows, obviously, so we’re together and trying to make things work. ”
Jade exhales, leaning back in her seat. “Man, this is crazy.”
“It’s a lot to take in,” Tella admits, shoveling a handful of popcorn into her mouth as Shaw checks one of the opposition’s players into the boards. Shaw appears unaffected and skates away as the other guy disappears onto the ice.
Elena lets out a low whistle.
I slowly nod. “Trust me, I know.”
Tella turns her head to look at me, her expression softer. “Are you okay?”
Her question hits me square in the chest. “I am,” I admit softly, giving her a small smile. “I’m still adjusting, but it’s getting better.”
“Thank god for Theo being a stand-up guy.” Tella smiles, her gray eyes warm. “Honestly, I wouldn’t expect anything different from him, especially since you’re involved.”
My eyebrows tug together. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, Little Lucy.” She chuckles softly. “That man has been hopelessly in love with you since we were kids.”
My stomach flips and a nervous laugh escapes me as I sit up straighter in my seat. “No, not Theo.”
Tella sighs, nodding. “Yes, Theo.” The crowd around us begins to get loud, drawing our attention away from one another.
Theo’s on a breakaway, skating down the center of the ice toward the goalie. There’s nothing between them. It’s just him, the puck and the goalie. He moves toward the right, and the goalie drops down to his pads, sliding across the surface with him.
At the last second, Theo shifts to the left, lifting the puck with the backhand of his stick, shooting it right through the space between the goalie’s arm and his torso. The horn echoes throughout the arena and everyone inside is on their feet, cheering loudly.
Theo skates past our section on his way to the bench and he looks up, finding me instantly, like it’s instinct. The smile that pulls on his lips is meant for me and he bobs his head, making sure I know.
“Hmm,” Tella murmurs, glancing at me from the corner of her eye with a smirk, as if to say, “told ya.”
I don’t believe her. Even after Theo skates past the bench and his eyes find mine once more.
There’s no way—I would know if he’s had feelings like that for me. I’m his best friend. Surely he would’ve told me…
Right?