Chapter 19
“DEFENSE! DEFENSE!”
I wince as bodies slam against the plexiglass, and everyone around us rises to their feet.
It’s fucking loud. Louder than when I’m in the football stadium—maybe because we’re crammed into a tiny fishbowl of a rink and the chants ricochet off the glass, leaving a lingering scent of ice and spilled nachos.
“Come on, St. Michael’s!” More cheers from my girlfriend. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are bright with excitement.
I should be happy seeing her like this. She’s alive, engaged in the game and free from the weight she's been carrying lately. So why do I feel a knot forming in my stomach?
It’s because she’s different. This isn’t the girl who avoided my games for an entire year, who only came once and cowered into her seat so no one would recognize her.
This girl watches everything. She knows the players’ names, tracks the penalties and follows the puck as though she’s been watching this her entire life.
“That was amazing!” she says, turning to me with a wide smile. “Did you see how he just—”
“I saw,” I cut in, smiling like it doesn’t taste like battery acid. “Yeah. It was great.”
I did see.
I’ve been seeing a lot lately.
Her laugh… her texts… her smiles.
They’re there, but I’m not at the center of them anymore. Yet, I’m sitting here, watching some other guy play hockey between my girlfriend and a girl I’m convinced is playing a game of her own.
One I don’t know the rules to yet, but I’m starting to think I’ve already lost.
“Ooh, that was close,” Jenni coos from my other side, leaning across me like I’m a piece of furniture in her way.
With pursed lips, I watch as Jenni’s arm presses into mine, but I don’t say anything. I promised Honey I’d keep the peace and that’s what I’m going to do. “Chris almost had that one.”
“Almost,” Honey agrees, and I turn my attention to her, hoping she’ll notice that Jenni’s hand is now resting on my forearm, her thumb tracing idle patterns as though we’re the couple tonight.
I shift, inching away under the guise of adjusting my jeans and shaking her off.
It’s not the first time she’s tried this tonight.
Not even the fifth. She’s been playing this game all evening—casual brushes here, shoulder bumps there, leaning in so close she might as well just sit on my lap and call it a day.
But Honey? Nothing. Not even a flicker of suspicion, and that’s when it hits me. It must’ve been so damn easy for Jamie to cheat on her. She trusts with her whole heart… and people like him count on it.
Jenni’s hand brushes my thigh again.
“She's my friend, Zach. She's not like that. You're being paranoid.”
Right, because Jenni just accidentally forgets what personal space is every time I’m within breathing distance.
As if on cue, she shifts her hand back to her own knee.
Thank God.
Maybe Honey’s right.
Maybe I am paranoid.
Maybe it’s the pressure—the season, the scouts, the travel, the internship Honey refuses to give up even though she hates it. Maybe it’s all getting under my skin and making me see threats where there aren’t any.
But then Jenni leans in again, her breath warm against my ear.
“You look tense, Zach. Not enjoying the game?”
I lean away, my jaw tight and my eyes glued to the ice. “Just tired. Long practice today.”
“Must be so hard,” she says, her voice low enough that only I can hear over the crowd. “Must be exhausting carrying the whole team on those broad shoulders of yours.”
The buzzer saves me from saying something I’ll regret, signaling the end of the second period. St. Michael's is up 4 - 1 against Rome U, and the crowd erupts into cheers as the players skate off the ice.
“I'm going to grab some drinks,” Honey says, already standing. “You guys want anything?”
“I’ll come with—” Jenni starts before I can offer myself and tell Honey everything.
“No need,” Honey cuts in with a smile so bright it borders on passive-aggressive. “You stay with Zach.”
“Okay,” Jenni replies, chipper and full of fake enthusiasm.
Just like that, my girlfriend is bounding up the steps, and I’m watching her ass because it’s the only good thing about this night.
Leaving me alone.
With her.
She’s done this on purpose. She wants me to be stuck with Jenni. This is her way of forcing unwanted bonding time with her apparent new bestie.
The crowd thins around us as people head out of the rink for the break. The sudden space and quietness make the tension between us more palpable.
“So,” Jenni says, turning in her seat to face me directly. “I feel like we got off on the wrong foot.”
I raise an eyebrow, not bothering to hide my skepticism. “That's one way to put it.”
She sighs, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “Look, I know you don't like me. You made that pretty clear at Hail Mary's.”
“I don't know you well enough to like or dislike you,” I counter. “I just don't trust you.”
To my surprise, she laughs—a genuine sound that momentarily throws me off guard. “Fair enough. I did come on a little strong when we first met.”
“A little?” I scoff, shaking my head. “You showed up at my house uninvited, tried to give me your number, and then pulled the ‘who, me?’ act at Hail Mary’s like we hadn’t already met.”
She has the decency to look slightly embarrassed. “I panicked, okay? When I realized you were Honey's boyfriend, I didn't want to make things awkward.” She pauses, her blue eyes searching mine. “I really do care about Honey. She's been a good friend to me.”
Something in her tone doesn't fel right. It's too polished, too rehearsed.
“If you care about her, then why are you still hitting on me?” I ask bluntly.
“Hitting on you?” She looks genuinely surprised or at least does a good job faking it. “I'm not—”
“The touches, the whispers, leaning into me every chance you get.” I keep my voice low and controlled. “I'm not an idiot, Jenni.”
She stares at me for a long moment, then shifts back in her seat, creating distance between us. “You're reading too much into things. I'm just a hugger.”
“Right.”
“It's true,” she insists. “Ask Honey. I'm the same way with her, with Chris, with everyone.”
I don’t respond, because it’s bullshit, and we both know it. But I don’t have the energy to unpack her performance—not when Honey could come back any second.
“Look,” I say, dragging a hand down my face. “Whatever your game is, drop it. For Honey’s sake.”
Something flickers in her eyes—frustration, maybe, or anger but it's gone so quickly I might have imagined it.
“There's no game, Zach,” she says softly. Then, after a pause: “But I get it. She’s special. I’d be protective too.”
“So,” Jenni says, turning in her seat to face me directly. “I wanted to ask you something.”
I raise an eyebrow, not bothering to hide my skepticism. “What?”
She pulls out her phone, and she gives me a wide, too perfect smile. “It’s Honey’s birthday next week, and I’m organizing a surprise party for her. It’s nothing huge, just a few close friends at my place. I thought you’d want to be there.”
I pause, my guard dropping slightly. Honey’s birthday. I want to be there for that. Especially since I had something special planned for her myself.
“Yeah. I want to be there.” Even if it’s just to make sure she and Chris don’t do anything shady.
“Fantastic.” Jenni smiles. “Do you think you’d be able to help coordinate too?”
“Coordinate?”
She flits her hand in the air. “You know, just things like how we get her there without her knowing, and maybe some information on her favorite things.”
“Sure,” I drawl. “When are you planning this?”
“For next Friday at 7 p.m.”
“That works. My next game isn’t until Saturday.”
“Perfect.” Then she holds up her phone expectantly. “Can I have your number so I can coordinate everything?”
Every instinct tells me not to give this girl my number, but it’s for Honey’s birthday. I can’t be known as the asshole boyfriend who ruined her surprise.
Reluctantly, I pull out my phone. “Here, just put your number in and I’ll text you.”
I hand over my phone and Jenni’s eyes immediately land on my lock screen. It’s a photo of Honey and me from our trip to the lake last summer. Honey’s eyes are closed, her hair is wet, but there’s a beaming smile on her face because I’m kissing her on the cheek.
“Aw,” Jenni coos, her smile stretching wider. “That’s so cute. You two look really happy there.”
She angles the phone, so my face unlocks it and quickly navigates to my contacts. I watch as she adds her information, then calls her own number, making her phone buzz in her pocket.
“Perfect,” she says, handing my phone back with a satisfied smirk. “Now we have each other’s numbers. I’ll text you all the details about the party.”
“Great,” I say curtly. “I’ll be there.”
Jenni tucks her phone away, then her expression shifts to one of concern. “I'm really glad we're doing this for her. She's been having such a tough time lately.”
That catches my attention. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you know.” She glances around, then leans closer, lowering her voice. “Those people at the firm are brutal to her,” Jenni continues, watching my reaction closely. “Did you hear the shit her father’s partner said to her this morning?”
My jaw clenches. “No.” I hate admitting it, but the need to know so I can protect Honey is too strong for me to ignore.
“Figures,” Jenni says with an air of confidence that makes me instantly suspicious. She leans closer, lowering her voice. “She’s told me she doesn't like to burden you with her problems. Especially when you've got so much on your plate with football.”
“What did they say?”
“Who?”
“Cut the crap. What did the partner say?”
“Oh, you know.” She flits her hand in the air, looking anywhere but me. “Something about her being a consolation prize. Apparently, everyone thinks the only reason she’s there is because they couldn’t get her ex to fill the role.”
Fuck.