11. Maddox
11
MADDOX
Jocelyn’s marching down the hall, disappearing around the corner and I’m issuing apologies left and right and center.
“I’m sorry. Not right now. Find me later. Another time.” I hate disappointing fans, but right now, the most important thing is getting to Jocelyn and explaining myself to her.
Once I extricate myself from the cluster of fans, I take off down the stairs at a run. Most people have cleared out already, but those lingering for post-game shows or trying to score signatures and photos with players are still milling around.
I ignore everyone calling for my attention as I chase after my girl, pushing through the doors and stumbling into the night.
And there she is, striding toward the parking lot, her dark hair streaming behind her. I’m by her side in less than a minute.
“I don’t have anything to say to you, Maddox.” Jocelyn keeps walking briskly, arms crossed under her breasts and wet tears trailing down her face.
Fuck. How did I mess up this badly? I never want to be the cause of her tears, her pain. My own eyes sting as a tight lump lodges in my throat.
“Don’t say anything then,” I say, “Just listen. Please. Hear me out.”
“Why? So you can lie to me again?”
“I didn’t lie, Jocelyn. I would never fucking lie to you.” My voice turns pleading and I throw my arms out to the side. “What do I have to do for five minutes, sweets? Get my on my knees? Beg? I’ll do it.”
I’m already lowering to my knee, right there on the pavement when she whirls on me, eyes narrowed.
“Don’t you dare. The last thing I need is another scene or viral video.”
“Fair enough. No begging.” I straighten up, lifting my hands in the air even though all I want to do is grab hold of her. “I screwed up, okay? I’ll cop to that, but I didn’t lie to you and I didn’t mean to blast it out on social media for the world to see. It was an accident.”
I take a step toward her, and she cradles herself in her arms.
“Do you honestly think I would do what Luke did you? I wouldn’t use you or violate your trust in me like that. All I was trying to do is tell my family about you because I meant what I said. You’re the one for me, sweets.”
Even in the dark, with her brown eyes as large as pools, I can see the hurt reflected in them. Melissa takes a few steps away to give us some semblance of privacy even though we’re standing in the yellowed light of a parking lot lamppost.
“I’m not like you, Maddox. I don’t want to live my life in the limelight.”
“That’s fine. I’m not asking you to,” I say. “It’s true, I don’t mind the attention, but for me, it’s just part of the job. Celebrity doesn’t matter to me. I’m not— what did you call it? Fame-chasing?”
She blinks at me, some of the suspicion fades from her gaze.
“That message was meant for my brother. He called right before the game and I mentioned you. Told him I met someone special and he wanted to know who.”
A heavy sigh passes through her lips and she stares at the toes of her boots. She shuffles her feet, sending a pebble skittering across the way, but she’s still got her arms crossed. She’s still closed to me.
“I believe you, Maddox. I don’t think you meant to hurt me, but it still stings. People are whispering about me. Criticizing my appearance. Evaluating my suitability for you.”
“Fuck ‘em,” I bite out.
Her head jerks up even as she shushes me, glancing around to make sure no one can overhear.
“You don’t owe anyone anything, remember? They don’t get to have a piece of you if you don’t want to give it to them.” I risk taking a step in her direction, and even though there’s a wariness in her eyes, she doesn’t step back. “After this, I will never mention you on social media ever again if you don’t want me to. But know this, Jocelyn. I don’t care what random people on the internet have to say about me, but I will happily fight the haters for you.”
A cute, inelegant snort escapes her as I tip her head back up and wait for her gaze to meet mine.
“You’re my perfect match, my dream girl. My angel. I stand by what I said. You’re my one. I was overexcited and rushing to tell Dominic about the knockout that I fell head over heels in love with in a week, and I pushed all the wrong damn buttons.”
“How did you even manage it?” She gives me a sidelong glance, but uncrosses her arms as I settle my hands on her shoulders and slide them along her arms.
I shrug. “I was in a rush to get on the ice. I’ve got big hands and a tiny phone.”
“People are asking if I’m going to propose to you.”
“Well, I’ll tell you now that my answer would be a resounding yes.”
One corner of her mouth twitches and my heart skips a beat.
“I’m not asking you.”
“No, ‘course not.” I pull her toward me. “Not yet, anyway. And not while your cousin is filming.”
“What?” Melissa squeaks, locking her phone and stuffing it into her pocket while Jocelyn sends her a murderous look. “I’m not doing anything. Habit. Sorry. Carry on with the groveling. Don’t mind me.”
“Delete it!”
“Okay, fine, jeez.” Melissa rolls her eyes and punches buttons.
I cup Jocelyn’s cheeks, swiping away any more tears and vowing to myself to never again make her cry.
“I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you or break your trust. Can you forgive me? If not today, maybe tomorrow?”
It takes a minute, but her lips quirk up and my heart stutters. “I mean, I guess I have to consider it, if it was truly an accident.”
“Fat fingers,” I say, waving my hand at her.
She chuckles and finally leans in, banding her arms around my middle and tipping her face up to mine. My gaze falls to her curved lips as I tuck a few of her windblown strands behind her ear. My fingers brush along the curve of her ear, over her piercings, and I remember the first time I’d done this to her in the front office.
It wasn’t that long ago, and yet, so much had happened in such a short span of time.
“I love you,” I breathe. “I know I keep saying it, but I can’t keep it in. And now the whole worlds knows it. And while I’m sorry about the way it came out, I’m not sorry that everyone knows. I’m not ashamed, but I never meant to embarrass you.”
“It’s okay,” she says, reaching up to touch my cheek. Her finger traces the space where my dimple indents. “Deep down, I know you didn’t mean to do any harm.”
“Never.”
Her fingers trace my jawline and I close my eyes for a moment, bowing to her touch.
“Maddox?” Her voice is heavy with emotion, and I open my eyes to meet her gaze.
“Hmm?”
“I love you, too.”
I go utterly still as the words sink into me, taking root in my heart and spreading through my entire body.
“Say it again,” I croak.
“I love you, Maddox. I didn’t think I could ever trust someone else again, but you came barreling into my life, knocking down my walls and dancing your way into my heart. You took me by surprise, and your willingness to be vulnerable gave me courage to do the same.” She smiles. “I’m not sure I know how to thank you for that.”
“A kiss is a good place to start,” I say, bending down and crashing my lips to hers. I cradle her face as her mouth opens to me and my tongue tangles with hers, seeking her sweetness as I pour every ounce of love I feel for her into our kiss.
When we break apart, a group has gathered around us, puffing into their cold hands and clapping loudly. During our talk, I hadn’t realized that some of our special guests have joined us in the parking lot. Melissa managed to hold them at bay and keep them quiet.
“So, does this mean he’s your boyfriend now, Miss J?”
She laughs and snuggles into my side. “Yes, I think so.”
“At least until she proposes,” I tease.
Everyone cracks up and Jocelyn elbows me in the ribs.
“It’s going to be so awesome when the community center gets all fixed up,” Simon says, leaping ahead of the pack in full Frostwolves regalia that I’d sent up in gift boxes for each one of our guests.
“Fixed up? What do you mean?” Jocelyn’s brow furrows, then she looks up at me. “Did you tell them I was buying it?”
“No, I?—”
“You didn’t see?” Simon interrupts. “Right at the end of the game, when you’d disappeared for a bit, a huge message came on the Jumbotron congratulating our dance troupe on raising enough funds to fix up the whole place.”
“What fundraising?”
“A charity auction,” I say. “I convinced the team to donate autographed equipment and run a silent auction during tonight’s game. The whole team pitched in. All proceeds raised will benefit the children of the community center, fixing up the building, funding the continuation or expansion of programming. Whatever it is you think will be most helpful.”
Jocelyn’s mouth hangs open and fresh tears well up in her eyes.
“You did this?”
“Yes. For you. For your dream.” I lean down and kiss her wet cheeks. “This is the surprise I was talking about earlier. You can use the money you’ve rightfully saved and earned to set up the non-profit and do something just for you. Because you deserve it.”
“I don’t know that I deserve you,” she says, throwing herself into my arms and mumbling her thanks against my lips.
“Sweet cheeks, you deserve the world.”