But as I turn to see who it is, my stomach churns.Fucking Mara. She whips her head around to look at me, her sunglasses on the ground at my feet. I pick them up for her, despite her audacity, and her eyes meet mine. A chill runs down my spine as she quickly looks away while snatching her glasses from my hand. She sneers like I just stole her diamond necklace. Then, just as quickly as she ran into me, she storms off with a childish grumble.
Okay…rude much?God, that was fucking weird. I’ve never been this close to her; if anything, she seems to keep her distance from me, but she’s giving me the creeps more than usual. My pulse races, a worry that hasn’t been there before, blanketing me.Something’s off.I pull out my phone to shoot a quick text to Ray.
Jordan:
Hey…can you dig into Mara? She works for the Riders. She’s the broadcasting assistant for the team and also Chadd’s little cartoon villain-looking girlfriend. Short gal with a black bob haircut. Always wearing sunglasses.
Ray
On it. Get back to you shortly.
I shiver as I walk into the arena. Not because of the cold—I’m used to that—but because of that weird encounter. My jaw tenses, something heavy in my gut I can’t put a finger on.Maybe it’s just the nerves for tonight’s game?I’ve only waited to play in a Cup game my entire life, so nerves are not out of the question. I start counting my steps. Nerves help amp you up for a game, too, if you know how to channel them right.That’s all this is…right?I shake it off as I head down the hall to the locker room.
“Hey, Bougie,” Tay says as I walk in.
“Hey, man. You ready?”
“As ready as you can be for something like this. I can’t believe we’re here. And we have a home game. Can’t get any better for us! Your family here?”
“Yeah, they have a suite for tonight. All my sisters are coming too.”
“And Hannah?”
My teeth clench, and I reply a little more curt than usual, “Yeah. She’s here. Can you help me keep EJ and his bloodsucking vampire mouth away from my cousin? The last thing she needs is to date a hockey player. They were like…making eyes at each other the other night.”
He aggressively laces up his skates in the cubby next to mine. “I’ll do my best. But you and I both know EJ and his relationships are out of my control.”
“Shit, Tay. I didn’t mean to?—”
He shrugs, fiddling with his paracord bracelet. “I’m used to it. I’ll keep my eye on them for you, though.”
“Thanks, man…” Quickly trying to change the subject, it dawns on me that Tay usually has the inside scoop on all things Riders. “Hey, what do you know about that Mara chick that works here. Is it just me, or is she weird as fuck?”
He shakes his head. “All I know is that she’s the production assistant for the broadcast team. From what I understand, she keeps to herself, so I honestly don’t hear much about her. Why do you ask?”
“I just bumped into her and got a weird vibe. And…” I groan, “remember me telling you about the weird texts I was getting?”
His eyes pop to mine. “Jordan,pleasetell me that’s not still going on. Does Kennedy know?”
“Sadly, yes to both. Whoever it is has decided to start a group chat; apparently, not responding pissed them off. My security is on it, but we still haven’t gotten any leads. They just keep saying to stay away from each other. But Tay…I can’t let her go. She’s my person. I fucking love her. She’s my forever.”
“Then don’t let her go. When you find the person you want to love forever, you don’t ever let go.” He stands and places a hand on my shoulder. “I hope you catch whoever is behind this soon. And know you can ask for help if you need it. Despite what you like people to think, I see the real you. And you’re a good friend, Bougie.”
I choke back the lump in my throat. I cannot fucking cry today until this game is over. If I start now, I don’t think I’ll ever stop.
“Thanks, Tay. You’re a good friend, too. One of the best. Now, let’s go get ready to beat the shit out of Montreal tonight.”
61
kennedy
“Miss Kennedy!” Hazel, the barista, greets me as I walk up to the counter. “Want the usual today?”
A knot twists deep in my stomach.Why do I have a feeling ‘the usual’ is going to be the farthest thing from my reality soon?Also, is this my last chance to have caffeine? Alcohol? Lunch meat?Fuck.
“Yes, please. Can you throw an extra shot in there today? I need the kick.”
“You got it. That’ll be?—”
