Chapter 18
Addison
I stare at Damien’s retreating back as he skates away, blinking in disbelief.
There’s no way he just said what I think he did, is there? I must have heard him wrong. That's it. It’s loud in here, I’m sure my brain is just hearing what it wants to.
It’s not possible that he just told me he’s in love with me. That he’s been in love with me for years.
This is Damien we’re talking about. My stepbrother. The guy with whom I hardly spoke two words to the whole time I was in Nashville.
“Addie, you okay?” Nina places her hand on my back, getting my attention.
“Ah, yeah, I’m okay,” I answer, not entirely sure if that's true.
“What was that about? Is he pissed?” Nina asks. “He sure looked pissed.”
Licking my lips, I cast my eyes toward the ice and find that he’s talking to Carson and Reid.
Oh god, this can’t be good. Damien is grinning, and whatever he is saying gets the other two riled up.
“Whatever has gotten into him, he seems proud of himself.” Nina sighs. “I feel like this game is gonna be a bloody one.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, following her back to our seats.
We sit down, and my attention is back on the ice. Carson and Reid are shouting at one another while Damien skates over to the net. He looks my way and winks before turning to Dean.
“It means your stepbrother is pissed that you’re wearing his rival's jersey. And from the way he’s goading your boys over there, I don’t think it’s in a big brother sort of way.”
“What makes you think that?” I whisper, dread filling my stomach as my Alphas look my way. They look hurt, angry, and worried? What did Damien say to them to get them this worked up?
“From how he reacted to seeing Dean’s jersey on you when you came to their game the first time.
The way he was worried sick about you at the gala when he went looking for you.
Then looked like a kicked puppy when I told him I saw you leave with two guys, and the way he’s grinning at you right now like a lovesick fool?
Yeah, I’d say big brother has it bad big time for you.
” She grins, shaking her head. “Girl, I’m not sure if I should feel bad for you or envy you.
That man is fine. And your Alphas?” She nods her head towards the ice.
“Three hockey players? Yeah, I’m jealous. ”
“It’s not like that with Damien.” I shake my head, feeling like I might be sick.
“No?” She raises a brow, not believing me. “You’re telling me you don’t have any feelings for that man?”
Looking back at the ice, I see Damien stretching.
He does those hip thrusting things, and a spike of heat flutters through me.
As if he can feel my eyes on him, his head turns my way.
Through his blond hair, I can see him watching as a grin takes over his face.
Another wink before he goes back to doing what he’s doing.
“He better relax before he makes it obvious who he’s looking at. I don’t think your stepdad would be too thrilled with finding out his son has a thing for you in the middle of a televised game. That can’t be good for the media.”
The game starts, and I’m a wreck the whole time. My stomach is in knots, my leg hasn’t stopped bouncing, and I think I’ve bitten off most of my thumbnail.
I just accepted the fact that I was going to let my feelings for my online friends go, to build what I have with my Alphas. Now I’m hit with the news that the one man I never thought to entertain my feelings for, because I knew it was never an option, is in love with me.
Maybe I’m being overdramatic, but I’m three seconds away from running away and joining a convent.
I miss the days when I just went to school, hung out with Cae, gamed, and that’s it. No love life, no worries. Just fun and sunshine.
Reality is a bitch, and she hits hard.
My eyes ping-pong back and forth between the guys. Every time Damien stops a goal, I want to cheer, but bite my tongue. And when the Scented Scorpions score, I get excited, wanting to jump to my feet and celebrate for my Alphas.
But I don’t, unable to bring myself to disappoint either side. The hurt look in Carson and Reid’s eyes when they cheer, throwing their arms up and then look my way, only to have their face drop when they see I’m sitting stone still with a guilty look on my face, makes it even worse.
I came here excited. I knew it was going to be awkward because of who my stepdad and stepbrother are, but at the time, supporting my Alphas trumped supporting my stepbrother. Right?
Boy, was I wrong. I can’t seem to please anyone. I’ve been wanting to just get up and leave, go home and think about what I’m going to say or do. Because I don’t have a clue. How do I even process all of this?
I watch as Carson skates by. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but I know Carson and Damien are having words because Carson turns around and gets in Damien’s face.
“Looks like number 77 from the Scented Scorpions and the Royal Alphas’ goalie are having a disagreement. I wonder what it’s about? Is it their typical rival spat, or is there something more?” The announcer chuckles.
Carson gets in Damien’s face, and Reid skates over to pull Carson away. He says something to Carson, but Carson pushes him away. He goes to get back in Damien’s face, but a few of the Royal Alphas get between them.
More shouting starts, and the next thing I know, the players start throwing punches.
I jump to my feet, hand covering my mouth as tears sting the back of my eyes. I have no idea what’s going on or why they’re fighting, but I know it has something to do with me. The way Carson looks over at me when Reid manages to pull him away from the fight makes my stomach sink.
“Damn, girl. What is going on?” Nina asks.
“I–I don’t know,” I whisper, lower lip wobbling. I’m so confused, and I feel like the worst person ever. All I do is hurt people, and I don’t even know what I did.
“I gotta go.” I grab my bag and rush down the aisle. “Excuse me, sorry.” I apologize as I step over feet and other things in my way.
I can hear my name being called as I run out of the arena, but I don’t stay to find out who it is or what they have to say.
My chest is tight, pressure pushing down, making it hard to breathe.
Bursting through the arena doors, I stumble to a nearby bench. With my face in my hands, I cry.
The idea of upsetting my Alphas makes me feel like a bad Omega.
What makes me feel worse is that when Damien told me how he felt, part of me was thrilled.
There was a whole body rush that made me giddy, hopeful, and excited.
I shouldn’t feel that way. Not when I already have two men who adore me. Who I also care so much about.
When the tears dry up, I head back inside and find the nearest bathroom to clean up.
I groan when I see the mess of my face with all the smeared makeup. Digging into my bag, I pull out my makeup wipes and clean my face.
What do I do now? Wait around here to talk to them? Who do I talk to first?
I don’t want to do this here, not with so many people around.
There’s going to be press, and the last thing I need is the world to find out who Carson and Reid are mated to like this.
And then add a scandal revealing that the goalie of the Royal Alphas is in love with his stepsister?
Yeah, that wouldn’t go over well at all.
My mother is going to kill me. She’s going to bury me six feet under in the middle of nowhere so no one can find my body.
The one thing I wanted was to stay out of the spotlight, to live my life without having the world judge me for who I am or what I look like.
And then I have to go and end up mated to two famous hockey players. Now Damien? It’s too much.
I can’t think. I can’t breathe. I need to go.
I text Nina first to let her know I’m taking an Uber home.
After ordering the car, I text my Alphas and Damien that I’ve left. I don’t want them to worry if they come looking for me after the game and can’t find me.
The whole ride home, I stare out the window, confused and anxious. I have no idea what I’m going to say to Damien, or to my Alphas. This is a mess. A big mess.
When I get home, I trudge into the house and up to my room. Throwing my bag onto the ground, I crawl into bed, pull a blanket up over my head, and unlock my phone. I pull up the live feed of the hockey game.
It’s almost over, only five minutes left. I should have stayed.
The Royal Alphas and Scented Scorpions are tied, three to three. I’m sure the crowd is going crazy right now.
I watch as Carson and Reid move along the ice like they were made for it. They’re quick, catching the puck, passing it back and forth between their teammates.
Over the next few minutes, I watch as the two teams steal the puck back and forth from one another, everyone determined to get that win for their team.
Minutes tick by like quicksand, and yet I feel like it’s never going to end.
Then I see it, thirty seconds until the game is over. It looks like it’s going to end in a tie.
My heart pounds, eyes all over the screen as I try to take in everything that's going on. Then someone on the Scented Scorpions has the puck and races for Damien.
I focus on him, watching, waiting. The guy is open, no one else is around to take the puck from him. The Royal Alphas aren’t fast enough. The guy goes for it, taking the shot. I watch as Damien crouches down and waits for it.
My heart stops, my breath stuck in my throat. Is this going to be a win for my Alphas?
Five. Four. Three. The puck flies through the air, and at the last second, Damien’s hand shoots out and goes for it.
I wait. And wait. From the sound of the quiet crowd, so does the rest of the crowd. The buzzer sounds, ending the game.
That's when Damien opens his glove and tosses the puck into the air, letting it fall to the ice. He caught it, blocked the goal.
The game is tied.
The crowd goes nuts, and they get ready for sudden death.