Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
MATTEO
“My heart... it was always meant for her.” - Julian Hart, Painted Inferno
“Switch me to the second line, Coach.”
Coach Frost’s eyebrows tug together. “Why the hell would we do that?”
Aiden fucking Scott, that’s why.
The muscle in my jaw tics as my mind flashes back to warmups. I knew we were playing his team tonight since the game schedule came out last year.
“Hey, pretty boy,” he called out to me as we both skated past the center of the arena. Normally, I’d pay no attention to him, but the next sentence had my stomach in fucking knots. “You and my ex looked good at that little charity gala.”
We only ended up on the ice together once during the second period and he’s lucky. He’s been blowing kisses and chirping at me all goddamn game.
“Just for the start of the third,” I press, sitting up straighter as I plant my hands on my thighs. “I have some shit to take care of.”
Frost shakes his head. “We can’t afford to do that, not when we have so much riding on the line.” He purses his lips. “Handle your shit off the ice.”
My heart pounds harder in my chest and I give him a curt nod, my teeth clenching to the point where it feels as if they’re going to crumble beneath the pressure. He’s right. Switching up lines while we’re tied is a bad idea.
And Aiden’s team winning might send me over the edge.
The second intermission is over and we all file back down the tunnel and onto the bench. I squirt some water into my mouth before heading over to the center of the ice for the first faceoff of the third.
Things start off as expected. We maintain possession of the puck for more time than the other team, although their goalie’s a brick wall tonight. We have more shots than them and with all the saves he’s making, it’s just padding his stat sheet.
Volkov ends up losing an edge skating toward their net and barrels into the goalie, knocking the net out of place. Play stops and the ice crew comes out to clean the snow from the rink. Some of the guys leisurely skate around, keeping their blood moving.
And then Aiden Scott comes past.
“Hey, pretty boy,” Aiden calls out as he slowly skates by on his way to the bench. He lifts his chin, a smirk pulling on his lips. “How’s my ex been for you? Did she show you that little trick I taught her with her tongue?”
Nausea rolls in the pit of my stomach and I’m immediately on my feet, rage rushing through me.
I can’t stop myself as I lean over the boards, grabbing him by the front of his jersey, pulling him closer.
“Careful, Scott. I’ll turn your face inside out if you don’t watch what the fuck you say about her. ”
“Oh, I’m so scared.” He fakes a terrified look. “You must not be that important to her. When I saw her last, she didn’t even mention you.”
What the fuck? He’s trying to get to me and it’s working. He can say whatever he wants about me, but he needs to leave her name out of his fucking mouth.
Shaw grabs my arm, his grip firm as he tries to pull me away from Aiden. “Matty, not now.”
“Yeah, Matty, not now,” Aiden mocks.
“Shut the fuck up,” I bark at him, tightening my grip on his jersey. “You don’t get the privilege of speaking about her, do you fucking understand me?”
“Matteo!” Coach Ford’s voice booms. “Let go of him.”
I release him with a shove, even though I want to knock that stupid fucking smirk from his face. The refs don’t see the exchange and Aiden skates off, rubbing at his chest as if I actually did something to him.
“What the hell was that?” My uncle's voice calls from behind me.
“Nothing,” I look at him, shaking my head. “Sorry.”
He stares at me for a moment, his gaze hard, the muscle in his jaw tightening and then he looks back out at the rink.
He has every right to be pissed, but so do I. And Aiden Scott has had it coming for quite some time now. I glance over at the other bench. I could easily hop the boards and be over to him in a few strides.
“Wait until he’s back on the ice.” Shaw says, bumping into me, as if he can see me formulating a chaotic plan inside my head. “There are too many of them over there.”
The blood whooshes past my ears and I glance at Shaw. He gives me a knowing look, bobbing his head before releasing my arm. He pats the top of my shoulder. “Just wait ‘til he’s back out again.”
I’m on the edge of my seat, my hands resting on the top of the boards as I stare out onto the ice, watching as play commences again. We end up scoring, just before I head out for my next shift.
The rage simmers inside, a steady boil to the blood in my veins as I push harder, hitting a few of their guys just on sheer principle.
I glance over at Aiden as I’m heading back to the bench for the next guy to come out.
Aiden’s about to hop over the boards when we lock eyes.
He pushes his tongue against the side of his cheek and winks as his skates hit the ice.
Motherfucker.
Their team ices the puck and play momentarily stops. Aiden’s skates hit the ice.
“FORD! COME ON!” Volkov yells for me, slapping his stick against the boards.
“Better go, pretty boy,” Aiden calls over to me as he starts to skate backwards. “Tell J to give me a call after she’s done with you. You’ll get bored with her and I’d gladly reminder her what a good fuck actually looks like.” He winks at me.
That’s it. That’s all it takes for my self control to go directly out the fucking window. It’s like he’s asking for someone to put him on a stretcher and I am more than happy to deliver.
I charge at him, my blades cutting into the ice as I rush toward him. He’s laughing maniacally and doesn’t even bother to dodge me. Instead, he takes the hit, but he stands his ground.
My gloves are somehow already on the ice and I grab the front of his jersey and his chest protector, holding him right where I want him.
“Aww, you gonna defend her honor?” He smiles right before I drive my fist into his face. His head whips to the side, blood flying onto the ice before he looks back at me. “You motherfucker,” he snaps. His teeth are covered in blood, except one of the front teeth is now missing.
He comes at me and we’re both throwing punches. Both of our helmets end up on the ice and I manage to keep him far enough away that he can’t quite get a good hit on me. I hit him in the jaw and then in the side of his torso.
“Break it up!” One of the refs yells at us, but I can’t stop now.
Aiden stumbles backward as I hit him in the face once more and I go down with him, landing on top of him. Just as I’m about to hit him again, I’m hauled up, ripped away from his body. “Enough!”
Aiden lies there for a second, his eyes a bit out of focus and I don’t get a good look at him as I’m pushed away. Adrenaline courses through me and I can’t feel my hand. I look down at it and just from the first sight, I know it’s broken.
“Get him out of here,” the ref barks at our bench as he pushes me over to them. Theo pulls open the door and I stumble onto the bench. I don’t know where the hell my gloves, helmet, or stick are.
Coaches Ford and Frost both look at me, their eyes widening slightly as they look down at my hand. “Get him in the back. He’s lucky if they don’t throw him out of the game,” Coach Ford orders Gabe, one of the athletic trainers.
My legs are wobbly and my heart pounds harder as I blindly walk toward the tunnel. Gabe meets me there and falls in step with me as we head back to the dressing room. Dr. Herr, one of the team doctors, meets us at the end of the hall with an icepack.
“What the hell happened, Matty?”
I shake my head, tasting the tinge of metal on my tongue. “Motherfucker kept running his mouth.”
Dr. Herr clicks his tongue. “Guess he deserved it then.”
“Oh, he did,” I say, my breathing erratic as I sit down in my stall. “Shit,” I mumble, the throbbing starting as I look down at my hand.
“Yeah,” Dr. Herr agrees, his face wincing. “That’s definitely broken.”
Gabe shakes his head. “Let me help you get your gear off and we’ll get someone to take you to the emergency room.”
“What about the game? The period isn’t over yet.”
Dr. Herr lifts his brows. “There’s no way you’re playing with that hand… and that is if you didn’t get ejected.”
“Shit…”
Gabe helps me get undressed and into my street clothes while Dr. Herr calls the emergency room, letting the orthopedic doctor on call know we’re coming in.
“Do you have all your stuff, Matty?” Gabe says as he grabs his keys. “I talked to the coaching staff and they said for me to go ahead and take you.”
“Yeah, it’s right here,” I say, setting the icepack down as I rise to my feet to fetch my keys from the top of my cubby. I tuck them into my pocket, making a mental note that I’ll need to come get my car somehow. I grab my phone and the screen lights up with an unread message.
I open it, ignoring my throbbing hand when I see Jade’s name.
Jade
Hey. I wanted you to see this when you get off the ice, instead of during the game because I don’t want you to worry.
My stomach drops and my surroundings fade away, my eyes widening as I quickly move my gaze to her next message.
Jade
I’m in the emergency room because of some heart stuff. I’m okay and waiting to be discharged now.
I was wondering if I could see you soon. We need to talk.
I don’t bother grabbing the ice pack as I stride toward Gabe with my phone in my good hand. Fuck my other hand. None of that matters right now. I just need to get to her. I need to see her with my own two eyes to know she’s truly okay.
Matteo
I’m coming, Sunny.
“You look like you’re going to faint. Are you okay?”
I swallow roughly, my heart hammering against my ribcage, my stomach gnawing with fear.
“I need to get to the hospital. Now.”