“That greeting is never a good sign,” I said warily.
“Any chance you’re watching Colt’s game?”
Dread sank to the bottom of my stomach. “He told me not to. Is he okay?”
“He just got kicked out. Game misconduct. He, uh . . . it’s Pete.”
“Fuck,” I breathed before my voice turned more wheezy. “I didn’t want him to make a scene.”
“It’s okay,” Kitty said quietly. “He didn’t kill him or anything. Just concussed him probably.”
“Everyone’s going to know it’s about me,” I rushed out.
“They won’t,” Kitty said. “There’s no way.”
“People already figured out that Colt and I dated in college. They know Pete went to college with him. It’s not hard to draw the lines.”
“They’d have to be making huge assumptions. I’m sure it’s fine.”
“I didn’t want this, Kitty.” I started to cry.
“I know. I get it, though. If I had a chance to take a swing at him, I’d probably do worse. Talons would be involved.”
I laughed through my tears picturing Kitty attacking Pete. “Right, but Colt’s already on thin ice because of me. Because of the makeout thing. I know he wants to find some way to undo it, but the damage is done.”
“We all wish we could. Colt just took action.” Kitty paused. “I hate that it happened to you.”
I put the call on speaker. “Do you have a video of it?”
“Already texted you the clip.”
I clicked the link from Kitty’s text, my hands clammy and my vision swimming.
First, Colt’s stick catches Pete under the chin, resulting in a slight scuffle. After the next faceoff, Colt bowls right through Pete, and Pete is facedown on the ground.
Then a fight breaks out and Colt takes a pretty fierce hit to the head. It doesn’t stop him, though. He’s swinging and shouting at anyone he can reach, all while Pete still lies motionless on the ice.
I see a hurt man, a man lashing out. I see the man I love, hurting, because of me. Hurting others because of me.
Goaltender interference.
Major penalty.
Game misconduct.
A sob wracked through me, a confusing mix of emotions spiraling. I was horrified. Scared for what consequences and backlash he’d face. And I was also honored, touched even. But the deepest, most primal part of me was turned on. Proud. Because the thing that shone through the most was that I loved him. I wasn’t afraid to love him, the man who would do anything for me, no matter the risk. The man who I was sure loved me too. The man who waited.
“I need to call him.”
“Okay. Let me know how it goes,” Kitty said. “Love you, Violet. It’ll all be okay.”
I hung up with her and immediately dialed Colton.
His voice was a low grumble. “Hey.”
“Are you okay?”
Colt let out a sad chuckle. “I told you not to watch.”
