Bash kisses his boy, then jogs back to the ice, fists in the air like a conquering hero, grinning while the crowd roars its approval.
Across the rink, Jaxson sits frozen, devastation etched into every line of his face. He watches the little family, and his color drains.
In the stands behind Jaxson, Mandy leans forward, a manic smile twisting her lips. Her eyes fixed on him, glittering with something unhinged, dangerous.
"Jaxson, darling, I'm here."
He glances back at Mandy, who is still watching him with that wild, gleeful, predatory stare. Finally, he says out loud, but barely whispers.
"Why won't she leave me alone?"
His teammate, Axel, leans over. "What was that?"
Jaxson nods to Mandy behind them in the stands.
"She… she won't let go," Jaxson repeats, rubbing a hand over his face. "She's always around. Yeah, we were friends with benefits, but nothing more. Now she thinks she's my girlfriend, even though I've told her repeatedly that we have no relationship—not even friendship. She won't listen. She laughs it off like I'm joking."
"Wow," Axel laughs. "That's intense."
"Yeah. The police say she hasn't crossed any lines they can charge her for. So, there's nothing they can do. They say she's just a hanger-on, a puck bunny. She even has some of them convinced she's my girlfriend. I keep trying to cut her off, but she keeps showing up, and we end up in bed together once again. It's exhausting."
"Man, that's bad," Axel shakes his head. "I don't blame Melly for never reconciling with the nutcase hanging around."
"I lost her. My own stupidity."
"Yeah, I remember how that went down. I have to agree with you, there."
Jaxson's voice cracks as he adds, almost to himself. "I understand too late that trying doesn't guarantee healing. Some wounds are beyond repair."
The lights blaze.
The crowd chants.
The game resumes, and it really doesn't matter at this point who wins. The choice has already been made.
Fade to black.
