Chapter 22
MATT
This game was getting chippy.
We were tired from back-to-back games on the road, and New York was fighting hard tonight. Especially Chester. He was getting in Noah’s head so much he fucked up on the faceoff in his last shift, and that was unlike him.
If Chester knew I was dating Maddie, he’d probably be going after me. He didn’t expect it when I got away with slashing him. I told Maddie I wouldn’t go after him, but this guy sucked. Fuck him for making her feel bad about herself. She had no reason to be ashamed of anything.
“What’s Chester”s problem with Kennedy?” Benny asked.
I chewed on my mouthguard. It wasn’t my place to tell him what happened to Maddie.
“I’ve never seen him like that,” he said, confusion marking his face.
“He’s Maddie’s ex,” I muttered.
“Oooh. That’s why you keep going after him.”
“Fuck that guy.”
He couldn’t press me on that because the arena started getting loud, and I looked back on the ice and saw Noah had dropped his gloves.
Oh, shit! I specifically promised Maddie this wouldn’t happen.
Fuck. Fuckity. Fuck.
My teammates banged on the boards like the dicks they were, egging Noah and Chester on. Chester dropped his gloves down, and they danced around each other for a bit. Noah struck first, getting in a few blows, but Chester fought back. They fought long enough for the refs to pull them away and send them both to the box for a five-minute penalty.
“Fuck! What the fuck was that shit?” Riley swore.
It was 2-1 us, with only a few minutes left to spare in the last period, and we needed to be on the offensive. Noah getting into an uncharacteristic fight was the last thing we needed.
I watched my teammates on the ice as they tried to set up a play. If we could wait out the clock, we’d still get the W. The shift changed, and then, out of nowhere, McCarthy found an opening, and the boos poured in. The lamp behind the Gladiators’ goalie lit up and our bench cheered.
The clock ticked down, and Noah was let out of the box. Pretty sure Coach would have words with him later. I hopped over the bench for the last shift of the game, but I didn’t put up any points. We unfortunately couldn’t make another play, but a win was a win.
In the locker room, TJ had our victory song going while we stripped off our gear. McCarthy got the silver bucket this time, and he said a few words before we all headed to the showers. I got an assist off one goal, so I talked to the media with Noah briefly. He was prodded about the fight since it was unusual for him, but he tried to brush them off.
“He knows what he did,” Noah said with a hint of finality, and then our PR handler signaled we could leave.
“Dude, you shouldn’t have lost your head,” I told him afterward while headed toward the bus where we’d ride back to Philly as a team.
Noah stared at me. “Do you know why I did that?”
“Maddie asked me to make sure you didn’t lose your cool,” I snapped at him.
He gave me a hard look. “She told you?”
“Yes! Because she’s my friend, and she was venting about how the overprotective shit has gotten worse and that you blame her for what happened.”
Noah stopped as he was about to get on the bus. “She told you all that?”
I nodded.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “I didn’t realize you were so close.”
“We’re friends,” I reiterated.
Maybe I let that slip so he’d realize how much his overprotectiveness was driving her away. Last week, she had been working for Dinah at the house when we got home from practice, and she barely said anything to either of us before she left. When we talked that night, she said she was still mad at him.
“I don’t blame her. But that guy’s a piece of shit,” Noah snarled.
“She doesn’t know that. She thinks you’re ashamed of her. And you need to stop treating her like a child.”
He wanted to say something else, but Hallsy yelled at him to get on the bus already, and he turned back around. I needed space away from Noah, so I found a seat in the back next to Cully. He didn’t mention my bad mood, but he had his phone to his ear, and his voice was soft. He was either talking to his girl or saying goodnight to their kids. I tried to be quiet so I didn’t interrupt him.
I took out my phone and saw a frowny face and then an angry face emoji text from Maddie.
ME: I’m sorry, sweet pea.
SWEET PEA: You promised!
ME: I know.
SWEET PEA: [angry face emoji]
She stopped texting me after that, and I sat on the bus for the next two hours, stewing in my thoughts. Guilt wrapped itself around my chest. I couldn’t fulfill my promise. I wanted to rock that douche’s shit like Noah had, but I had no reason to do so. I even tried to goad him into a fight, and he brushed me off.
I let out a long sigh.
“You alright, man?” Cully asked.
“Girl trouble.”
He nodded and ran a hand through his shock of red hair. Cully gathered I had a girlfriend by now since we had to share a room when we were on the road. That was also why I knew what songs got his kids to sleep.
“You wanna talk about it?” he asked.
“Nah, it’s okay.”
He peered at me for a second. “Alright. What was up with Kennedy tonight?”
I sighed. “Don’t worry about it. That was a one-off.”
I couldn’t help but wonder if that was what Noah was gonna do to me when he found out I had been fucking his sister behind his back. I sat back and watched the skyline go by and tried not to think about it too much. Maddie wasn’t ready to tell him, and I wanted to respect her wishes, but this weight on my chest kept getting heavier.
It was late by the time we got home. I changed out of my suit and slumped down on my bed. The futon bed was so much more comfortable than Maddie’s twin bed, but I missed her pressed up against my side.
As if she knew I was thinking about her, my phone vibrated, and I saw she was trying to video chat with me.
I answered immediately. Her cute face greeted me, along with her dark makeup and a witch hat. But she was pouting. “Aw, sweet pea. What’s wrong?”
“You promised…y-you…said you would reel him innn,” she cried, slurring her words.
It was loud wherever she was, and I didn”t like that because it was so late already. “I’m sorry. I tried. Where are you?”
“Hockey house,” she muttered, and she wiped her eyes.
Panic coursed through me. “What’s wrong?” I asked again.
“I miss you. Did you get home okay?”
I stared at her image on the screen, sensing something wasn’t right. Her makeup was a little smudged now that I was paying attention. “Where are you?” I asked again.
“Hockey house.”
“Give me the address.”
“Why? You’re tired from the game.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m coming to get you.”
“Okay,” she muttered and then ended the call.
I shoved clothes into my bag and headed upstairs. Faint sounds of voices floated down from the second level. Dinah was a night owl, so it wasn’t unusual that she was still up working when we got in late. I didn’t say a word to either of the Kennedys as I left the house.
Maddie texted me an address so I could order my rideshare, and I waited a while before it got here. Something was wrong with my girl, and I might not know how to fix it, but I was gonna try.
Plus, I missed her. Traveling could be rough on the body. I loved playing hockey, don’t get me wrong, but since Maddie and I started dating, I realized how the travel schedule got to some of the guys. I understood now why Noah was always antsy to see Dinah. Or why a lot of the coupled-up guys ditched us to see their partners. That’s what I was doing. McCarthy even called me out on it for bailing on him a couple of nights ago. Ty, too. I hadn’t told him about me and Maddie yet.
After my rideshare picked me up and dropped me off at the hockey house, I heard the party bumping from outside. Spooky music played on the stereo, and I didn’t need to knock because a sexy nurse walked out, letting me inside. I moved through the crowd, searching for my girl in vain.
I wasn’t familiar with this house. When she said ‘hockey house,’ I thought she meant the one we went to last time, but realizing the amount of women in the room, I think she meant the women’s team.
“Yo, Cally!” a familiar male voice called out to me.
I weaved through the crowd into the kitchen, where I found my best friend doing shots with my girlfriend. Maddie’s face lit up when she saw me, and I had to gulp when I saw her outfit. Her video call did not do that slinky black dress justice. Or the fishnet stockings she wore underneath. Or the stilettos. Good God, I wanted to see her in nothing but those.
“Baby!” she cried and jumped into my arms. I stumbled back at her immediate action, but then I wrapped my arms around her as she planted a big kiss on me.
I brushed her hair behind her ear. “I thought you were mad at me.”
“Noooooo. I’m mad at my brother. Not you. I missed you.”
I set her back down, and all Ty did was raise an eyebrow. “Later,” I mouthed to him.
“Your girl can hang with the best of them,” Ty teased and then knocked back his shot.
Clearly. She smelled like a brewery, and her words were slurring. But still, she had a sadness in her eyes, and I wanted to know what that was about.
“Can you take me home?” she asked. “Please?”
“Where’s your coat?”
“Didn’t bring one. I drank enough to make me warm.”
I sighed. Yup, sweet pea was pretty drunk. I took off my coat and wrapped it around her. We waved goodbye to everyone, and I slipped my hand into hers. I smiled when she swung our arms together.
She asked me how the game was as we walked back to her dorm. I was glad I came to find her because I didn’t want her to walk home alone. Might need to ask Ty to watch out for her while I was on the road.
When we got inside her suite, I helped her get out of her costume, and she drunkenly washed off her makeup. I grabbed her water from out of her mini-fridge and her trash can, just in case.
I pulled back the covers of her bed and helped her in.
“Matt?” she asked, her voice a hushed whisper.
“Yeah?”
She gave me those big, blue, hopeful eyes. “Stay?”
“I will. Gimme a minute.”
I changed into pajamas and crawled into bed with her. I stroked her hair, waiting for her to tell me what was wrong.
“Noah shouldn’t have fought him,” she whispered.
I bent to kiss her neck. “I know.”
“Now it’s worse.”
“Between you and Noah?”
She shook her head.
“What’s wrong?”
“Jaime texted me.”
Rage ran through me. He fucking what? I wished I had fought the guy, too.
“He was taunting me, and he called me…he called me…” She trailed off into a sob. “He said I was just a stupid puck slut. He doesn’t even know I’m dating a hockey player!”
Ah. She looked like she’d been crying when she video-chatted with me, and now I knew why.
I cupped her face. “Sweet pea, you’re not any of that. Nobody, and I mean nobody, makes you feel inferior. You got me?”
“Oh, Matt. How did I get so lucky with you?”
I gave her a quick kiss. “I’m lucky with you. But I’m mad I didn’t rock his shit tonight, though. Fuck that asshole.”
“Please don’t fight some douche on my account.”
I pulled her into my chest. “You’re not any of those things your asshole ex said to you. He was trying to get a reaction out of you. You’re smart, kind, and beautiful inside and out. I don’t want anyone to ever dim your sparkle.”
“Matt…” she whispered.
I pressed a kiss to her temple. “Go to sleep, sweet pea. I’m here. I got you.”
“You didn’t have to come over. I know you must be so tired.”
I was. After a game and travel, I was beat to shit. Then I saw the tears in my girlfriend’s eyes. I’d never forgive myself if I hadn’t made sure she was okay.
I squeezed her against me. “S’okay. I wanted to see you and make sure you were okay.”
“I wanted cuddles,” she said with a sheepish grin.
“Well, now you’ve got them. It’s late. Let’s get to bed. We’ll talk more in the morning, okay?”
She snuggled down into my chest, and we fell asleep together.
If I ever faced off against Jaime Chester again, I was dropping the gloves and punching his face in. Nobody made my girl cry. Nobody.