“Yeah. Just tired.”
Time to put your girl problems to the side and focus, Lewis.
Minutes pass, turning into hours, and I find myself consumed by the game. Hockey’s familiar rush brings me the peace I’ve longed for. Yet my eyes continuously scan the stands, hoping to catch a glimpse of Zoe silently cheering me on. Every time I look up, disappointment floods over me as I’m met with empty benches.
She’s not showing up.
When the whistle blows, Coach gathers all of us at the bench.
“Alright, boys. I know we’re all tired, but you’re asleep, and I need more effort. Put yourself in your opponent’s shoes. They’re smarter and sharper than you right now. Step it up!” Coach hollers, shooing us away.
Are we all asleep? I believe we’re just fatigued, but his words feel a bit harsh as I glide back onto the ice. The bitterness of today’s disappointment lingers on my tongue. I circle around while the rest of the team takes a break, attempting to distract myself from Zoe. She was supposed to be here by now.
I noticed a change between us when we were away. It felt good, maybe even primal, but it all felt right. It was as if we finally fit together like puzzle pieces. I thought we were makingprogress, finally moving forward, but now I’m full of fresh uncertainty and doubts.
I quickly scan the stands, desperately hoping to find her familiar face. Just when I’m about to give up on the idea of her showing up, she suddenly appears. As she walks down the stairs toward the players’ bench, a smile on her face, a feeling of relief floods through me. Yet, in a split second, my excitement morphs into something entirely different as I process the scene unfolding before my eyes. Zoe nonchalantly places her coat on a seat, and that’s when I notice she isn’t wearing my jersey.
That’s notmyfucking name on her back.
It’s Noa’s.
My heart pounds in my chest, the adrenaline from practice morphing into a different kind of intensity. I’m fucking vibrating with rage. I don’t understand why she would show up to my practice wearing another player’s jersey. Another player on my team!
She is deliberately trying to hurt me by seeking revenge for everything. Is that it? Is she trying to even the score? Maybe her goal is to display dominance over me, to establish that she holds power in this twisted game we’re playing. I’m at a loss. I don’t know what to think anymore.
The whistle blows, signaling for us to assume our positions, but my concentration is destroyed.
There is no way in hell she’s going to stand there for the rest of this game, wearing someone else’s number on her back.
Over my dead body.
Just then, our eyes meet, and I make sure she is fully focused on me as I silently mouth a single word:Run.
Witnessing her smile slowly fade away, I skate over to her, undoing my helmet and listening to the sound of it hitting the ice.
There is someone calling my name from behind me, but I barely register it. My vision is consumed by red, while the sound of my pounding heart fills my ears.
Zoe turns and starts running toward the back hallway. As soon as I remove my gloves, I sprint across the remaining icy surface, determined to catch up with her. The animal inside my bones stirs as I chase her through the padded hallway, feeling my skates puncture the floor. Glancing over her shoulder, Zoe rounds the corner toward the locker room. I know exactly what I’m going to do. Spotting a nearby closet, I speed up, my fingers itching to snatch her.
She slows down, and that’s when I make my move.
I grab her waist and hoist her over my shoulder. She yelps, punching my back but I ignore her. Carrying her toward the closet door, my heart races. I pull on the handle, silently praying it’s unlocked. It gives way, and I stumble into the cramped darkness of the closet. I place her on the ground. We’re both breathless, and she’s shocked, but there’s excitement in her eyes too. I can smell it on her.
The air is thick with tension as I secure the door. She’s not going anywhere. Not until I’m ready to deal with her.
Through the cracks in the door, a faint light filters in, providing minimal illumination.
“What are you doing?”
I crowd her. “What am I doing? What the fuck are you doing wearing someone else’s jersey?”
Zoe’s eyes widen, a mixture of fear and defiance reflected on her face as she stares up at me. The fiery intensity in her eyes matches my fury.
“This is payback.” That’s all she says, but it’s all I need to hear.
With my heart pounding in my chest, I take a step closer, fueled by the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins.Determined, I grab her arm and pull her up forcefully, paying no attention to her protests. I press her against the unforgiving coldness of the concrete wall, and the sound of her gasp fills the cramped space.
“This isn’t payback,” I growl, my voice laced with a raw power. “This is you being a brat. You’ve pushed me too far this time. Now you’re going to face the consequences.”
