I know it’s not fair, but all I have to offer are pieces of a defective heart. After the hell it’s been through, I’m not sure they can fit back together.
The only thing I know for certain is Alondra deserves better than my heart as cold as ice.
CHAPTER 26
Alondra
Once the blizzard let up,and it was possible for the city to start clearing the snow from the roads, the guys spent the next two days at the rink practicing. Thankfully, Jack was feeling better by this morning, and able to play tonight.
He’s been in a great mood all night, though, and rightfully so, after the Wolves pulled off an incredible win in the last period. We’re at Twin City celebrating with everyone as one last hurrah before they head out on the road for a quick away series while the rest of us go home for Thanksgiving.
Jack’s been acting like nothing is different between us because technically, it’s not. I only kissed one of his best friends on a dare, then Jack claimed he was tired right after and stormed off. I crashed in the living room with Ellie and Sara, but when he came down the stairs the next morning while I was making breakfast, he seemed fine.
I’m struggling to keep up with the whiplash, but I’m assuming Jack’s perception of love is based on whatever happened between his parents, yet I’ve been too afraid to ask him about his dad like Dylan suggested.
It hurts to think, but the reality of this is that I can’t change his mind about relationships, so friends are all we’ll ever be. The sooner my heart realizes the minor detail, the better off I’ll be.
Still, here I am wearing Jack’s away jersey again, but only because he insisted on it. It was more of a fight with him to not wear it, so I agreed. The guys have all shed their jackets, and look overdressed in their ties and button-downs, but I’m not complaining. Jack looks hot, and I’m not the only one who’s noticed.
I’ve been sipping on the same beer for so long, it’s now lukewarm. Coop looks like he’d rather be anywhere else than at the dartboard he can’t use because of the girl standing in front of him, talking his ear off. Sara’s flirting with a pretty girl up at the bar, grabbing us shots, and I’ve been chatting with Macy, Ellie, and Dylan most of the night, trying to avoid acknowledging Chad in the corner of the booth as he continues to try to speak over Macy.
Jack is talking to a girl who caught him on his way back from the jukebox, and I’ve looked over at them a suspicious amount of times that Macy hasn’t stopped eyeing me. She has no room to talk, though. Chad’s sitting next to her because Macy caved when he begged her to take him back, but I’m staying out of it.
I swear, she has no backbone when it comes to him.
Okay, fine. Now I’m staying out of it.
“You played one hell of a game,” I say to Dylan who is sitting across from me next to Macy. Ellie is to my left, but she’s too busy giving Chad a dirty look to notice.
“Thanks, Al. I’m just glad you were able to make it tonight. I think Jack plays better when you’re there because he’s trying to impress you,” Dylan teases, and I roll my eyes.
“Whatever. He plays just fine without me there.”
“And I’m chopped liver, I guess,” Ellie says sarcastically to herself, and I take a sip of my warm beer, grimacing.
“You are not. I wouldn’t go if you didn’t, so that makes you Jack’s other lucky charm,” I say, just as Jack slides into the booth next to me.
“Jesus, I didn’t think she’d ever get the hint,” he grumbles, fanning the spark of hope in my chest, but just because Jack didn’t want to talk to her, doesn’t mean he wants to talk to me.
Dylan snorts. “Well, it was a big night for you. Don’t worry, Al was just telling me how great I played.”
I sip from my beer again as Jack’s thigh presses against mine. “And what about me? I scored the winning goal.”
“If you’re going to toot your own horn, then I don’t need to,” I tease, and Jack’s eyes shimmer with amusement.
“You can toot my horn any day,” he says, and it sounds so dirty, I can’t help laughing.
“I think she wanted to toot your horn,” I say, despite hating every word. I feel better when Jack rolls his eyes.
“The offer is only for you,” he says, taking a sip of his water as Macy asks Ellie what her family does for Thanksgiving.
“Congratulations on tonight’s game,” I say, playing it safe while an old country song starts through the speakers, and he smiles, his dimple appearing.
“C’mon, darlin’. Dance with me,” Jack says, pulling me along with him out of the booth before I can say anything.
I get a few dirty looks as Jack holds onto my hand, and we claim the small space in front of the jukebox. “Since when do you dance?” I ask, looking at him curiously, and his other hand slides around my lower back, tugging me closer.
“I’m from Texas. Everyone there knows how to swing dance. It’s a rite of passage,” he says, his eyes twinkling as he smiles down at me.
