Chapter 2 – Penalty Kill
Amelia takes the ice
October
Amelia
“It's been over a month since you've seen Jaxson. I don't understand why you've let him get away with this for so long, Amelia!” Nita huffs, curling my hair as she helps me get ready for the night out.
I remain silent. We've been over this before, and my answer hasn't changed.
I don't know either, but I love him. I'd hoped he'd admit that this was a foolish idea and apologize for even suggesting it.
But no. He's dropped off the face of the Earth.
Oh, I see him on sports and news channels, living his best life, crushing his opponents on the ice, laughing and high-fiving teammates. But he hasn't darkened my doorstep since that day something inside me finally broke, and I agreed to open the marriage so he would leave me to grieve in peace.
Yet, every morning, as if on cue, my phone lights up with a text from him. Same time. Same words.
Jaxson:Morning, Melly. Love you.
That's it. No calls. No visits. Certainly, no date nights. No effort at all. Just that one meaningless text, perfectly timed. It's all I get from him now, and it's not enough.
What's the point? Why does he bother sending it if he doesn't care enough to talk to me? To show up?
Whenever I try calling, I'm sent straight to voicemail. It feels like shouting pleas into a void he chooses not to hear, and it's too painful. I no longer bother to call, let alone leave messages. It's easier this way, pretending his silence isn't intentional, that he hasn't already moved on.
“You're too beautiful and classy to settle for his crumbs, Amelia,” Nita groans, snapping me out of my gloomy thoughts.
I roll my eyes, looking at her in the mirror. “Nita,” I whisper, “you and Shelly know me better than anyone.”
“I know, I know,” she sighs in resignation, raising her hands to placate me.
"And if that were really true, what am I doing here?” My voice cracks, full of hurt I can’t hide. “How did I end up like this, with my husband all but abandoning me?"
"Because Jaxson’s an idiot who doesn’t deserve you," she growls.
“That's why I let you girls talk me into this.” I'm not sure where it’ll lead, but I agreed to go out with them tonight—my very first time without Jaxson.
Nita and Shelly wanted me to wear a cute red minidress they found in the back of my closet. I refused. Going out with my friends feels like enough of a stretch, and I’m not ready for a man-hunting expedition. So, I pull on black skinny jeans, a white tank, and layer it with a cashmere sweater and boots. My outfit may be modest, but it hugs my curves perfectly.
“Girrrrl! Youarehaawwt!” Shelly drawls after applying the final touches to my makeup.
Now, ready, I stop in front of the mirror and stare at my reflection. I barely recognize the woman looking back, her mouth open. I touch my cheek in disbelief andrun my fingers through my hair. Melly Kingston, Jaxson's mousy, insecure wife, is still there somewhere, but fading. Her edges blur beneath the surface. Tonight, a beautiful, confident woman smiles back at me. Amelia Smith. And, I'm going to embrace her.
I usually prefer a more natural look. With a celebrity husband, it's easier to fade into the background and avoid the spotlight. But not tonight.
Tonight, my hair is done differently. Usually hanging in curls down my back, now it's sleek, soft tendrils framing my face. My friends have worked their magic with makeup, just enough to highlight my best features. My skin glows golden, my big dark eyes look sultry, and my full lips are pouty. No longer plain, ordinary me in the mirror. I'm strong, beautiful, and undeniable.
I turn first one way, then the other, studying my reflection. The girl who lives in the shadow of her husband, quietly erased by his choices, is gone. The woman who claims her space owns it. She doesn’t need anyone's permission to exist or breathe. I square my shoulders and feel something rising from deep inside, something I buried for far too long. Me. And I'm not going anywhere ever again.
I take a slow breath and whisper, "I'll never be anyone's afterthought again. I am not invisible. I am Amelia."
And for the first time in a long time, I actually believe it.
Since I don't drink, I'm the designated driver tonight. We hop into the car and head to The Iron Pier, an exclusive club the girls frequent. It's located right on the Waterfront, a hotspot in Thunder Bay, which is home to two colleges. The place attracts a younger crowd, so it's always lively.
Jaxson's never been a fan of me having friends outside our friend group, and his fame only makes that more challenging. I tend to be quiet and often stay on the edges of social situations, unnoticed by those around me. My tendency to keep to myself usually helps me remain unrecognized and avoid drama. But I can’t meet friends on my own without worrying that someone will recognize me and either tell Jaxson or blow it out of proportion and sell it to a gossip rag.
