Chapter 31 Emmett
EMMETT
The arena is packed. It's a Saturday night home game, and the energy is electric.
My sister and Cassidy are in the stands.
I can see them in their Mavericks jerseys, phones out, taking pictures.
Ember bought matching jerseys for them yesterday with mine and Sully's numbers on the backs.
It's sweet. Annoying. But it's also nice that they are supporting us.
"Your sister is wearing my number," Sully says, skating up beside me during warm-ups as he notices the girls at the glass. "And Cassidy is wearing mine. They thought it would be weird wearing their brother's numbers."
"Guess we should be happy they are supporting us. If they had a chance, they'd probably get jerseys with the St. Pierre's names on the backs."
This makes me laugh because it's true. "I'm going over to give them a puck."
"Are you going for brother of the year?" Sully moans.
"Come on. They are here. They are making the effort."
We skate over to where they are banging on the glass, giggling away with beers in their hands.
I pick up a puck and point to my sister.
She enthusiastically gets ready to catch it, then Sully does the same.
When they catch them, they both scream. They are such dorks.
We skate back and start doing our warmups.
"You're a little quiet at the moment. Are you all good?"
"Yeah. Just stuff on my mind."
"Stuff or someone?" he asks. I give him a look. "Right. Someone."
"I'll be fine. Just working shit out."
"Okay. I won't ask. But don't let it affect your game," he warns me.
"I won't."
He gives me a look that says he doesn't believe me.
We win 4-2. Pierre gets two goals, Felix gets one, and I get the other and two assists. Solid game. The guys are hyped in the locker room. Music’s blaring, everyone’s talking shit and laughing.
"Drinks at Murphy's," Bouch announces. "Who's in?"
"I'm in," Sully says immediately.
"Are you bringing your sister?" Bouch asks.
"Don't fucking touch my sister," Sully says.
"Or mine," I warn him.
"Easy, fellas. Just asking." Bouch smirks.
"I'm in," Fish adds.
Pierre looks at Felix. "You coming?"
Felix shakes his head. "Harper's waiting. We've got plans."
"Pussy-whipped," Pierre teases.
"Happily," Felix shoots back with no shame.
I'm halfway through getting dressed when my phone buzzes.
Ember: Great game.
Emmett: The boys want to have drinks at Murphy's. Are you up for it?
Ember: For sure. Send me the directions and we will meet you there.
I quickly search it up and send it to her.
"The girls are in," I tell Sully.
He nods and continues to get dressed. I toss my phone in my bag and finish getting dressed. I wonder if Joelle will be there? She usually comes to Murphy's after home games with Collette. I'm going to need to keep my distance. It's going to suck.
Murphy's is crowded, half the team is already here when I arrive. Ember and Cassidy are at a booth with Sully, laughing at something on his phone.
"Cap!" Bouch calls out, waving me over to the bar. "What are you drinking?"
"Beer. Whatever's on tap."
He orders two then hands me one. "Hell of a game tonight."
"You played well."
"That pass you made to Pierre in the second. Fucking beautiful."
I take a long drink. "Just doing my job."
Pierre and Issy arrive with Collette and Joelle. She's wearing jeans and a cream sweater that makes her look soft and warm and completely untouchable. Our eyes meet across the bar. She looks away first.
Fuck.
"Emmett!" Ember waves me over to their table. "Come sit with us."
I make my way through the crowd and slide into the booth next to Cassidy. Joelle and Collette are on the other side with Pierre and Issy at a safe distance.
"Great game," Ember says. "That goal in the third was insane."
"Thanks."
My sister doesn't get to come to many of my games. It was good having her there tonight.
"You looked good out there," Cassidy adds.
"Team effort," I say.
Joelle hasn't said anything, she's focused on her drink. Vodka soda by the looks of it.
"Jo, you were saying something about the game earlier?" Collette prompts.
Joelle glances up. "Just that it was a good win. The defense looked solid."
"Mike's been working with them all week to make sure they’re tip top," I say.
"It shows."
Pierre jumps in. "That play in the second period was textbook. Felix and I had perfect positioning."
"You mean I had perfect positioning, and you got lucky," Felix says, appearing behind Pierre with Harper.
"I thought you weren't coming?" Pierre says to his brother.
"I didn't realize everyone was going out after the game. So, I insisted we head out," Harper adds, greeting the girls.
"Anyway, what I was saying was there's no luck in hockey. Just skill," Pierre tells his brother.
"Not that you're humble or anything," Issy adds.
Everyone laughs. I glance at Joelle. She's staring at her drink again and won't look at me. This is torture.
Sully slides in next to Ember. "Did you see that save Nelly made in the third? Unreal."
"The glove save?" Cassidy asks.
"That's the one. Kid's got hands."
The conversation flows around us. Hockey talk.
Jokes. Stories from practice. I'm only half listening, because every time I breathe, I catch a hint of Joelle's perfume across the table.
Every time she shifts, I notice. Every time she laughs at something Pierre says, it feels like a knife. Ember's watching me, I can feel it.
"I need to use the restroom," Joelle says suddenly, sliding out of the booth.
"I'll come with," Collette says. They disappear toward the back of the bar.
As soon as they're gone, Ember leans forward. "What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Don't give me that. You two can barely look at each other."
"I ... um ..." I stumble over my words.
"I need another drink," Ember announces, standing up. "Em, come help me carry them?" It's not a question. It's a demand. I slide out of the booth and follow her to the bar. "What's going on with you and Joelle?" she asks quietly once we're away from the table.
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me. The tension is suffocating."
I signal the bartender. "Two beers."
"Emmett."
I pull out my phone and show her the texts from Thanksgiving night. She reads them and her expression shifts.
"Oh, Em."
"Yeah."
"She's scared."
"I know that."
"No, I mean really scared. Look at what she said. She can't blow up her life. Her brothers are right there." She gestures back to the table where Pierre is laughing at something Sully said. "She works for your team. If this goes wrong, she loses everything."
"I wouldn't let that happen. I'd protect her."
"I know you would. But she doesn't." She hands my phone back. "You also can't promise that because you don't know what will happen. The consequences of everyone's actions. You both have a lot on the line here."
"So, what do I do?"
"Maybe patience is what's needed. You keep building on what you have until she feels safe enough."
"I'm not great with patience."
"I know. But maybe this time you don't have a choice." She pats me on the back, then her eyes shift past me. "Oh, there's Joelle. Jo! Come here for a sec!"
My stomach drops.
Joelle appears, looking confused. "Hey?"
"I was just telling Em how much I enjoyed Thanksgiving. That turkey was incredible."
"Oh. Thanks." Joelle glances at me, then away.
"You need to teach him to cook sometime. Em's hopeless in the kitchen." Ember grins, way too pleased with herself.
“Um, from what he’s told me, he can cook. He did cooking classes in Europe with his cousin,” Joelle explains.
“He did?” Ember asks.
“Yeah, with Lincoln. I learnt a few things.”
My sister stares at me. “Then why the hell have you never used these skills?”
“Didn’t say I was good.”
My sister shakes her head. "Well, I need to get back to the table. Sully's probably eaten all the pretzels by now. Can you grab those beers?" She asks me. I nod. She walks away, leaving us standing there alone at the bar.
"Your sister is ..." Joelle starts.
"Annoying. I know."
"I was going to say meddling."
"That too."
The bartender sets down the beers, I grab them both. There’s awkward silence.
"I should get back," she finally says.
"Okay."
She walks away, and I watch her go before heading back to the table. Ember gives me a sad smile as I hand her a beer. I'm never bringing her to another team event again.
Hours later, the drinks are flowing, and the noise level has tripled.
Pierre and Issy left twenty minutes ago.
Felix and Harper disappeared not long after.
Fish is arguing with Bouch about some game from five years ago that nobody else cares about.
Sully's got his arm around Cassidy's shoulders, telling some story that has her laughing so hard she's crying. Ember’s on her third glass of wine, her cheeks flushed. And Joelle.
Joelle is on her third vodka soda, sitting across from me, finally starting to relax.
"I'm getting another round," Collette announces, sliding out of the booth. "Anyone want anything?"
"I'm good," Joelle says.
"Another beer," I say.
Collette heads to the bar. Sully follows, claiming he needs to help carry drinks. Which leaves me, Joelle, Ember, and Cassidy at the table.
"I need to pee," Cassidy says, standing. "Em, come with?"
Ember gives me a look, then nods. "Sure."
And just like that, it's just me and Joelle, alone in a crowded bar.
"They are not subtle," Joelle says.
"Never have been."
The music shifts. Something slower. The lights dim slightly as the late-night crowd filters in. She looks at me then, really looks at me, and I see it, that same want I feel reflected in her eyes.
"This is impossible," she whispers.
"I know."
"My brothers ..." Her voice is low.
"I know."
"Your teammates." She looks around the bar. The boys got pulled into a conversation with some puck bunnies.
"I know." I lean forward slightly. "But for the record, I'm not going anywhere. When you're ready, I'll be here."
Her breath catches. "Emmett ..."
"I'm just saying. I'll wait."
"You shouldn't have to wait. What if I'll never be ready?" she whispers.
"We'll work it out."
Collette and Sully return with drinks, shattering the moment. Joelle sits back quickly, putting distance between us. But when I glance at her a few minutes later, she's staring at her drink with the smallest smile on her face.
By midnight, Murphy's is starting to clear out. Bouch and Fish left. Most of the team is gone.
"I need to get home," Cassidy says, yawning. "Early flight tomorrow."
"We should all head out," Ember agrees.
We settle the tab before heading outside.
It's cold. The city is quieter now. The Saturday night energy is fading.
The walk back to the building is short, just a few blocks.
Cassidy walks with Ember, the two of them talking about something.
Collette and Sully are arguing about some movie.
Which leaves me walking next to Joelle, just the two of us, a few feet behind everyone else.
"Thanks for tonight," she says quietly.
"I didn't do anything."
"You respected my space. That's something."
"I'm trying."
She looks up at me. The streetlight catches her face. "I know this is hard."
"It's fine."
"It's not fine. But thank you anyway."
We reach the building, and everyone piles into the elevator. The ride up is quiet. Cassidy's leaning against the wall. Tired. Ember's checking her phone. We reach our floor.
"It was so nice meeting you guys. We have to catch up next time you're in town," Collette says, hugging the girls.
"You're more than welcome anytime to Wisconsin," Cassidy states.
"Not sure what is there, but never say never." Collette smiles.
"It was so nice meeting you," Ember says, hugging Joelle. She whispers into Jo's ear, and I still.
What the hell is she doing?
Joelle nods as she hugs Cassidy. I glare at my sister. She waves me away.
We say goodbye to the girls and head into my apartment.
"What did you say to Jo?" I ask my sister once the other two have left.
"Just that you're a good guy and that she should give you a chance."
"Ember."
"Look, she likes you. You like her. I'm just trying to help."
"I appreciate it. But we have to work it out ourselves."
She nods. "I love you." She pulls me into a hug.
"Love you too."