Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MATTEO
“She was close… yet I wanted her closer.” - Julian Hart, Painted Inferno
The cold radiates from the ice below, seeping through my socks, cooling my skin. The surface is slick beneath my blades and I suck in a breath, my lungs burning from the sheer force of my inhale. I barely notice the stinging in my nostrils.
All I really see is the puck.
I pivot hard on my right skate, the outside edge biting the ice as I drive forward, checking the other team’s winger into the boards. Both of our sticks clash together, crashing into the boards. The glass shakes and I hear the faint buzzing sound of the crowd.
The cheering and the hooting and hollering—in moments like this, they all blend together. The only thing I can hear is the sound of my blood swooshing through my ears, along with my teammates and opponents yelling on the ice.
It all happens so quickly. I push forward, away from the boards, leaving the winger falling onto the ice as I skate away. There’s an opening in their defenders.
“Cross! I’m open! I’m open!”
I tap my stick twice on the ice. He passes the puck, sliding it across the slick surface. It moves directly to my blade, like there’s a magnetic force pulling it to the exact place I need it.
One of their defenders applies pressure, skating toward me. I fake to the left, quickly whip around the right side of him and flick my wrist, sending a powerful shot toward the net.
The puck lifts into the air, rocketing just past the goalie as he lunges to the side. He reaches out to catch it, but he’s just not fast enough
The light flashes and the buzzer sounds. Goal.
I pump my fist in the air, glancing up at the jumbotron. There’s still three minutes left in the third, and for the first time since the first period, we’re up by one.
We need to keep it that way or score more goals.
My linemates swarm me, shouting and slapping my back, but I keep the interaction brief. I share their excitement for a second and head to the bench, tapping everyone’s gloved hands with my own.
My heart’s pounding, the crowd’s roaring, and I barely register the pain in my ribs from a brutal hit I took earlier. There’s a chance I broke a rib, but during the game, if you can still skate and safely play, none of that matters.
I head back to my spot for the faceoff, waiting while Theo checks on me and my teammates before getting into position. The winger next to me starts talking shit but I block out his voice.
I need the puck. I need possession and we need to keep it from them. That’s all that matters.
“You good, Matty?”
I lift my gaze from my skates, glancing at Shaw. “Huh?”
“Are you good, man? You played one hell of a game, but you’ve been quiet all night.”
“Yeah,” I nod as I slide my feet from my skates. “I’m good. Just tired.”
Theo looks at me at the same time I look at him. His eyebrows tug together subtly but he goes back to taking off his gear. He knows it’s a lie. Thankfully, he doesn’t call me out in front of everyone else.
It’s been a week since I took Jade out to celebrate. Everything went great that night until I dropped her off.
Everything except for the fact that I almost fucking kissed her.
She hasn’t alluded to anything in our texts all week, but she’s been keeping a safe distance from me since.
“Alright.” Shaw sighs, bobbing his head. He’s known me since our rookie season. We came into the league together, played for one other team each, and then both ended up in Hillford a few years later. “If something is going on and you want to talk, I’m all ears.”
Both of Cameron Shaw’s moms are therapists. He’s the therapy king around here.
“Thanks, Shaw. There’s nothing going on, but I appreciate the concern,” I explain as I slip off the rest of my gear.
“Are you still talking to that author?” Cross chimes in as he turns around from his stall. He’s our captain and plays defense on my line. He was traded to the Hillford Ice Hawks the season after me.
I tilt my head to the side. “I am.”
“Have you read any of her books? Are they any good?”
“No, I haven’t.” I shake my head, confusion washing over me before realization dawns on me. “No way.”
Cross frowns. “Come on, we said we were going to start a book club, so why not read one of hers first?”
“We didn’t say anything,” I remind him. For Cross’ birthday in the fall, his grandma gifted him a book, telling him he needed to keep his brain stimulated. He tried to con us all into reading it with him, which clearly didn’t work.
“Okay, boys, I’m serious about book club now.” He looks around the room. “Who wants in?”
Theo stifles a laugh. “I’ll do it if Shaw’s doing it.”
“I’m in.” Shaw shrugs his shoulders. “I like to read.”
I stare at the two of them in disbelief. No way is this actually happening right now. “Isn’t this weird, to read one of her books?”
“Why would it be weird?” Cross counters, pushing his dark blond hair away from his face. “She’s an author, she writes to provide an escape and entertainment for other people.”
“Does she write under her real name?” Theo asks as he pulls out his phone.
“I don’t know,” I admit with a shrug. “I never thought to ask.”
Shaw cocks an eyebrow. “Did you even plan on reading any of her books?”
“Well yeah. I was waiting until she finished the one she’s working on.”
Shaw clicks his tongue at me, shaking his head. “That’s not very supportive of you.”
“Okay, Dr. Shaw. Would you suggest I read one of her books?”
“Absolutely.”
“We can all read it together,” Cross says with excitement in his tone.
Theo lets out a laugh. “I don’t know the last time I read a book.”
I huff. “Probably don’t know how to, illiterate asshole.”
“Love you too,” he coos, blowing me a kiss before turning to the rest of the guys. “If Matty doesn’t want to join the book club, I’ll figure it out and we can all read it to show our solidarity and support.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “You’re on their side?”
“Come on, it will be fun.” He smiles, his green eyes shining back at me.
My chest deflates as I give in. “Fine. Let me check with Jade first. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable at all.”
“Brilliant,” Cross smiles, bobbing his head. “I’ll start a group chat in the meantime.”
“We already have one,” Theo reminds him. “I don’t think we need another.”
“Sure we do,” Cross says as he collects his belongings from his cubby. “That way we can keep things separate. Book stuff in one, real life in the other.”
Cam contemplates his words, nodding his head along with it. “That makes sense.”
Theo laughs as Cross heads in the direction of the washroom and Cam starts putting his gear away. I look over at Theo, shaking my head. “What the hell?” I chuckle. “For the record, I was going to read her book. I just didn’t think it would need to be a group thing.”
“It’s always a group thing.” Theo laughs as he hangs up his helmet.
My phone vibrates, pulling my attention away from Theo. My stomach does a somersault, half expecting it to be Jade. My chest tightens when I see another name instead.
Dad.
Dad
Good game tonight, bud.
Matteo
Thanks, Dad.
Dad
Love you.
Matteo
Love you too.
I close out of the conversation, tucking my phone away as I grab my things and head toward the washroom. I catch my uncle’s gaze as he passes me in the hall and he gives me a knowing look, dipping his chin.
I shower, dry off, and get dressed in what feels like record time. The rest of the guys are still lingering when I grab my keys, phone, and wallet and head out to the garage.
Just as I’m climbing into the car, my phone vibrates again. This time, when my stomach does a somersault, it’s for a good reason. There’s a message from Jade.
Sunny
Don’t alert the press or anything, but I watched your game tonight.
A slow smile tugs on my lips.
Matteo
How’d I do?
Sunny
It was impressive and entertaining.
I’d watch again.
Matteo
Let me know before next time so I can make sure I pull out my best moves.
Sunny
Show-off.
Matteo
Only for you.
Maybe sometime you can come watch it in person.
Sunny
Would you want that?
Matteo
You in the stands while I’m on the ice? Fuck yeah.
Sunny
Lol. Maybe if this deadline doesn’t send me on a grippy sock vacation.
Matteo
I hope not. I need you for the rest of the season still.
Sunny
Well in that case, I’ll postpone my trip to the psych unit until after your season’s over.
Matteo
If we make it to the play-offs, that just extends it, you know?
Sunny
Are you looking for an extension on our deal, Ford?
Matteo
What if I am?
Sunny
You’re crazy.
It’s late. I’m going to try and get some sleep.
I’ve stopped myself from asking her when I get to see her again every time I’ve talked to her this past week.
I think that moment outside of her door caused a shift between us.
It caught me off guard just as much as I think it did her.
I don’t want to fuck this up. I can’t afford to lose her, not now, not when everything is going right.
Matteo
I leave tomorrow for another week of away games.
Can I see you when I get back?
Sunny
Yeah. I’d like that.
My heart stumbles over itself. I ignore it, swallowing hard as her next message comes through.
Sunny
Goodnight, Ford.
Matteo
Sweet dreams, Sunny.
I lock my screen and set my phone down on the center console. Both hands find the steering wheel, my fingers wrapping around it as I stare straight ahead.
What the hell am I doing? I don’t need to see her for this to keep working.
I blow out a breath, my stomach sinking at the realization.
I want to see her so this keeps working.
Fuck.