“No,” I look back at her, shaking my head. “The last thing I want is for him to worry or be preoccupied.”
“Good point,” she says, nodding her head. “Text him when the third period starts, that way he knows when the game’s over.”
I stare at her. “It’s not anything serious. I’ll tell him tomorrow or something.”
“Why? Why are you so resistant to letting him in?” Her eyebrows tug together. “I know you have reservations and you’re afraid he’ll hurt you, but give the guy a damn chance, Jade.”
Her words hit me in the chest. I’ve talked to her about everything, and this is the first time she’s coming at me with tough love.
“Are you in love with him, Jade?”
“I—”Shit.“Yes.”
Oh my god. My stomach flutters. I can’t believe I just admitted it outloud, but now that the words are out, there’s a lightness that spreads through my chest.
There’s no sense in lying. Not to her. Not to myself… and not to Matteo.
“Then you need to tell him. Life is too short, stop wasting it. If anything, coming to the hospital tonight should have showedyou that.” She stares at me, hard. “What if it were something serious tonight? What if it were the worst case scenario? Matteo would have never known that your stubborn ass feels the same way about him.”
I’m at a loss for words for a second. “It’s not that simple.”
“Says who?” She shakes her head. “You have a chance at something real with someone who loves you. He’s not an Aiden Scott. I don’t even know him that well, but it’s obvious. Everyone else is invisible to that man except for you.”
I swallow hard over the lump lodged in my throat. She’s right. I’ve let my fear and stubbornness get in the way. I’ve been quietly holding Matteo’s past against him, thinking he would end up being just like my ex.
When in reality… he’s nothing like Aiden.
Aiden never looked at me the way this man does. He never did half the things Matteo does for me. He never made me feel anything close to what Matteo Ford does.
“Stop overthinking it and just jump. You’re the only one holding yourself back and you don’t want to lose a good thing like what you have with him.”
Her words seep into my brain as I look back at the TV and see the guys lining back up on the ice. I look at her again. “You’re right. I need to tell him the truth.”
“Thank sweet baby Jesus,” she laughs, sitting back in her chair, leaning her head back with her eyes closed. “Wake me up when it’s time to go.”
A smile tugs on my lips as I unlock my phone and find my message thread with Matteo. My stomach flips as my fingers start to move across the screen.
I know what I want… and it’s a future with him.
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.”
