Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
JADE
“I should have gone back to my room after that last drink... I should have said no when Julian asked me to come back to his.” - Clara Foss, Painted Inferno
Ellie
Girl, please don’t hate me, but I can’t make it tonight.
I’m behind on so much stuff with work and my boss is making me stay at the office late until it’s all done.
Istare down at Ellie’s two messages, feeling the disappointment and dread mixing together in the pit of my stomach. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter to myself as I look up at my reflection in the mirror.
Matteo sent me tickets for the game tonight. Tickets for the two seats he has for every game. His sisters or family normally take the seats, but tonight was open and he gave them to me after I finished writing my book.
This was a planned night and Ellie was supposed to be my emotional support human.
My lungs deflate with a sigh as I type a response.
Jade
It’s fine, I get it. Your job is definitely more important.
Ellie
I owe you mimosas for life.
My gaze rakes over my reflection once more. My makeup is subtle and I’m just wearing a simple sweater and jeans. It’s not too late for me to change into a pair of sweatpants. I could pretend to be sick and just tell Matteo I can’t make it.
Before I get another chance to think over my possible plan, my phone lights up again. I’m half expecting another text from Ellie, but instead, it’s Matteo calling me.
“Hey,” I say, answering on the second ring.
“Hey, Sunny,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “Is this a bad time?”
“No, no,” I sigh again. “Ellie bailed. She has to stay late at the office tonight.”
“Bailed?” His tone shifts and his voice is quiet, almost as if he’s hesitant to ask. “You’re still coming, though, right?”
I swallow. “I mean, yeah. But I feel weird showing up by myself and sitting alone.”
He’s silent for a second. “I’ll come get you. You can ride to the arena with me.”
My eyes widen slightly as I stare back at myself in the mirror. “I don’t want to trouble you. You have a game in—”
“Two hours,” he interjects. “I’m walking out my door now. I have plenty of time.”
“Matteo,” I start, shaking my head to myself. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t,” he responds, his voice softer. “I want to. I’ll be there in fifteen.”
My heart kicks into overdrive as we end the call and suddenly, I’m moving like a whirlwind around my apartment. I wasn’t anticipating leaving just yet, so I quickly make sure everything is in place, double checking my outfit before grabbing my purse and heading down to the lobby.
I head out onto the sidewalk in front of my building to wait for him and he shows up in record time, pulling his dark SUV along the curb. The passenger door pushes open from the inside and Matteo is leaned across the center console, a smile tugging on his lips.
“You goin’ my way, beautiful?”
A giggle escapes me and my purse swings as I jog over to the car, hopping into the passenger seat. The car smells like him, woodsy and bold. He’s wearing a black sweatsuit with the logo for the Hillford Hawks over his left breast.
“Hey,” he says, mischief dancing in his eyes as I slide in.
I’m a little breathless. “Hi.”
His eyes linger, his gaze raking the length of my body as a slow smile creeps across his lips. “You look amazing.”
Heat spreads across my cheeks. “It’s just jeans.”
“Yeah,” he muses, pulling away from the curb. “But it’s you in jeans.”
“Thanks for giving me a ride,” I say, settling into my seat and securing my buckle.
He reaches for my hand, sliding his fingers between mine, resting our hands against my thigh as he runs his thumb along my skin.
“I’m just glad you’re coming.”
A warmth settles in my chest. “Me too.”
We fall into a comfortable silence, his thumb stroking mine as we head to the arena. My stomach does a somersault as he pulls into the parking lot for the players. A sudden nervousness settles over me.
This isn’t weird, right? We’re not together, we’re just friends showing up at the game. It doesn’t mean anything else.
I glance down at his hand still holding mine, resting against my thigh.
I swallow roughly. Yeah, totally doesn’t mean anything.
“Are you okay, Sunny?” he asks as he pulls into a parking spot, putting the car in park and killing the engine. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I turn to look at him, my heart hammering away in my chest. “Are you sure this is okay?”
He tilts his head to the side. “Why wouldn’t it be okay?”
“I don’t know. I know usually it’s family and stuff who come in this way with the players and—”
“Sunny,” he says softly, his hand squeezing mine. “You’re overthinking it. I promise it’s okay. Lucy is supposed to be coming tonight. I’m sure she’ll sit with you so you’re not alone.”
I wince. I don’t want to be an annoyance or a burden to anyone else. The last thing I want is for Lucy to feel obligated to sit with me.
“If you don’t want to come in, you can just take my car and pick me up later.”
I shake my head immediately, shoving away the negative thoughts. “No, I want to come in.”
“Okay.” He rolls his lips between his teeth. “If you want to leave at any time, you can. No questions asked.”
Relief washes over me at his words. It’s not that I feel uncomfortable… it’s just what he said exactly. I’m overthinking things. Overthinking things because we’ve been sharing a bed and now, he’s holding my hand, pulling up to his game.
But we aren’t together. We aren’t anything.
Matteo gets out of the car, walking over to my side like the gentleman he is. We bypass the players entrance, and he shakes his head at the photographers as we head over to the family entrance instead.
His hand finds the small of my back as he guides me inside and I try my hardest to ignore the flutter in my chest at the small gesture. He pulls out his phone and taps on the screen as we head down the hallway.
The entire arena buzzes with a palpable electrical energy. It’s been so long since I’ve been to a game, I forgot how intoxicating the atmosphere is.
“Lucy is going to meet you by the elevators,” he says after a second, turning down another hall. “She came with Theo and planned on sitting alone in his seats.”
“Oh, perfect,” I smile, glancing at him as we reach another hallway that leads to the dressing rooms to the left and the elevators to the right.
Matteo stops, turning to face me. “Lucy is coming down now.” He glances over his shoulder at me. “I have to head in. You remember which seats?”
“Yes,” I smile, nodding. “I have the tickets in the wallet on my phone.”
Matteo lets out a breath. “Okay. Text me when you get to your seats.”
“Okay,” I nod. “I will.”
His eyes slowly search mine before dropping down to my mouth. My heart stumbles over itself as he takes a step closer, his hand sliding along the side of my face. “For good luck,” he murmurs, leaning down as his mouth brushes mine.
Anyone could see us, yet he doesn’t shy away from kissing me in the middle of the hallway.
“Good luck,” I breathe, my eyelids fluttering open as he pulls away.
His thumb brushes against my bottom lip and he smiles down at me. “See you after the game, Sunny.”
And then he’s gone.
My head and heart are in the clouds as I slowly turn around, walking over to the elevators in a daze. I lied. The atmosphere here isn’t what’s intoxicating.
It’s him.
“Hey, Jade!”
Lucy’s voice carries down the hallway and I catch sight of her, weaving around a few employees. She waves as she jogs over to me.
“Hey!”
“I’m so glad you’re here tonight!” She pulls me in for a hug, as if we’re old friends. I don’t know Lucy well, but she’s never been anything but nice to me. There’s a warmth to her that just makes you feel welcomed.
“Do you want to sit in Matty’s seats or Theo’s?” She pushes the button to call for the elevator. “Actually, we can see which has a better view.”
I laugh softly, unable to fight the smile tugging across my lips. “That’s a good idea. Are there seats not near each other?”
“No idea,” she shrugs as the elevator doors slide open and we step inside. “Guess we’ll find out.”
Our laughter fills the space as the doors shut and we ride up to the floor we need. We compare seats, which are both in the lower bowl, but we ultimately end up sitting in Matteo’s. His has a better view of the entire sheet of ice.
We have time until warmups start so we end up walking around, buying merch and some candy and fries. The concourse is packed full of people getting food and drinks and we duck into the section where we’re sitting, making our way down to the seats in the third row, just along the aisle.
“So, you and Matty have been spending a lot of time together,” she says casually as we settle into our seats and wait for the guys to come out.
My stomach does a somersault. “Yeah, we’ve been hanging out a bit.”
“He really likes you, Jade,” she says after a moment, her voice soft. “I’ve never seen him like this before.”
I turn to look at her, my eyes widening slightly. “We’re just friends.”
She tilts her head to the side. “I’m not so sure that’s what you guys are anymore.”
The lights grow brighter and the music grows louder, the bass vibrating through the floor. The crowd roars, echoing around the arena, filling the space. It’s my own personal reprieve from having to formulate a response to Lucy.
Matteo skates out, stopping for a drink at the bench before skating along the blue line. His head lifts, turning in our direction. His gaze flickers to mine and I don’t miss the way his lips curl upwards.
Lucy glances at me from the corner of her eye, shaking her head with a knowing smile. “Friends don’t look at friends like that.”
Matteo holds my gaze and my stomach flutters.
No, they don’t, do they?
The first and second period fly by and Matteo’s unstoppable on the ice. They’re down by one going into the third, but he scored a goal in the first and got an assist in the second.
Lucy and I rise to our feet. “Want to get a drink?”