Page 10

Chapter 10

Zeke

T wo weeks off the ice had felt like the longest days of my life. Which only made me even more scared of what my life would be like once I retired. I was meant to be on the ice, meant to be training, meant to be busy. The only thing that had kept me from going completely crazy were my physical therapy sessions with Piper. It had helped to feel like I was working on something .

Things between Piper and me were…fine.

It seemed like a lifetime ago when she’d been at my apartment, helping with my knee, making dinner with me. She’d left as soon as she’d cleaned up after dinner, acting like she couldn’t leave fast enough, probably because I had shared too much with her that night.

I still couldn’t believe I had told her about Anna. I never told anyone about Anna. She was this painful part of my past I liked to pretend had never happened. So why I had decided to blurt out how Anna and I had gotten together was beyond me. There really was just something about Piper, no matter how much I tried to ignore it.

Seeing her in my kitchen had sent me instantly into a daydream of evenings spent together, maybe with her wearing my jersey, as we cooked dinner together. It had been a crazy thought. One that had hit me so hard and so sudden that I hadn’t known how to guard my expression or figure out something else to tell her. But then again, I had also found myself wanting to tell her, wanting her to know I liked her being there with me.

“Yo, Zeke.” A hand waved in front of my face. “You ready for this?”

I blinked, focusing on being back in the visitors’ locker room, not realizing I had spaced out for a minute.

Holden stood in front of me, waiting for me to answer him.

“Of course I’m ready.” I pushed him out of my personal space. “I’m always ready.”

“You sure sound confident for someone who has missed our last two games for an injury,” he said, pulling his jersey out of his locker. “Tuvalo is going to push you hard tonight. He knows you’ve been injured and is going to be itching to get you out for another few games.”

I ground my teeth, knowing Holden was right. We were playing the Blue Jays again tonight at their home arena. Normally Tuvalo was just an annoying pest, but now that I knew he was also Piper’s cheating ex, I had a score I wanted to settle with him. I hated the thought of him with Piper, and knowing that he’d had her—and hurt her—was enough to get my blood boiling.

“Hey.” Holden slapped me on the shoulder. “Save all that anger and adrenaline for the ice. Just make sure it doesn’t get you put in the sin bin.”

If I had any hope of putting Tuvalo in his place, I’d have to maintain control. But when it came to Piper, I hadn’t proven to have much of that.

Thankfully, she had enough control for the both of us. The past few weeks, she’d been distant, keeping most of our conversations strictly about my physical therapy. I wondered if it was because of me saying that I liked seeing her in my kitchen—that I’d gone too far when I’d told her that. Or maybe it had been because I’d shared something so personal with her and she had no interest in our relationship going beyond the professional interaction of physical therapist and player. Either way, things had changed between us since that night at my apartment. I tried to not let it bug me, but after every session with her, I left a little more irritated than the last time. Every once in a while, I’d try to say something flirty, hoping to get a reaction out of her, but she’d always dismiss it.

Her lack of interest in me, platonically and otherwise, should have been a good thing. And in a way it was. But that didn’t stop me from thinking about her way more than I’d ever thought of a physical therapist before.

Really, I hadn’t thought about a woman this much since Anna. Which I was taking as a bad sign. I couldn’t have Piper taking up all the space in my brain when I needed to be focused on hockey and not re-injuring myself. Except here I was, thinking about Piper right before I was about to play.

Grabbing my helmet and stick, I got ready to hit the ice. It was game time.

I’d mistakenly thought that Coach would put me in during the first period, but I was wrong. Then I’d thought for sure I’d be playing the second period. Wrong again. By the start of the third period, I was bouncing in my seat and if I didn’t get put in soon, I was going to explode.

This was ridiculous. I was a way better right wing than Cornell. But also more of a liability , a voice in the back of my head liked to remind me. We were down by one, and everything in me wanted to be out there on the ice.

“Lawson,” Coach Hill yelled to me. “I need you to make something happen.”

Finally , I wanted to yell.

“Yes, sir.” I jumped up, putting on my helmet.

I sent up a little prayer to the hockey gods, hoping that not only could I help us score a couple goals but that I wouldn’t get injured again. I needed this game to go well. If I got hurt again, this could be my last game.

As soon as my skates hit the ice, it was like I could breathe again. The mere thought of not being able to do this anymore was terrifying. How could I let go of the only place that had ever felt like home?

Tuvalo bumped into me, harshly bringing me back to reality.

“I almost forgot you were on the team,” he taunted. “A duster, just like I told you.”

I ignored his chirping and got my head in the game.

The referee dropped the puck on the ice, wiping out thoughts of anything else. I threw myself into the game, my heart beating fast from adrenaline and physical exertion.

Holden sent the puck flying my way, and Tuvalo was on me almost as soon as I received it. I only had a split second to send it off to our forward, Ryder, before I was shoved against the boards. Pushing Tuvalo off me, I looked around him to see Ryder get a shot on goal, the puck flying past the goalie into the top shelf of the net. The perfect assist.

Tuvalo swore.

“Looks like you can’t even stop a duster ,” I said with a smug look, skating away.

That goal only fueled Tuvalo’s dislike of me, with him pushing me even harder, which resulted in two turnovers.

I breathed out my frustration, not wanting to lose sight of winning as a team instead of sticking it to Tuvalo. I wanted to give it back to him twice as hard as he was giving me, but I knew that was what he wanted.

But then, like the hockey gods had heard my prayer, I received the puck without Tuvalo breathing down my neck. I only had a few seconds before he’d be racing over to me, and I was going to make this breakaway count. There was no one between me and the goalie, and this was my moment to finally get us ahead before the buzzer signaled the end of the game. I rolled my wrist quickly and powerfully, getting a shot off, the puck zipping toward the goal.

I held my breath as I waited, but less than a second passed before the puck hit the back of the net and the red light went off, signaling a goal.

I pumped my fist in the air. “Yes!”

Holden and Ryder slapped my helmet, congratulating me on my score.

The seconds wound down, the final buzzer signaling the end of the game and a win for the Wolves. The Blue Jays fans booed us, but we skated off the ice with smiles on our faces.

After Coach Hill talked to us, I showered and then headed to meet with Piper for my regular post-game physical therapy session. It used to bother me that I had to go do a session after every game, but now I looked forward to it—looked forward to seeing Piper.

When I showed up, she was tense. Her movements were rigid and exact, her lips pulled down in a grim frown. I wondered if it was because we were at the Blue Jays stadium, where she’d used to work, or because her ex was around here somewhere.

We went through a few exercises, exchanging a few words, but our session felt stilted. I only caught a glimpse of the real Piper for a split second when she complimented my wrist shot that won us the game.

She ended our session earlier than normal, and I figured she wanted to get out of here. I didn’t blame her. I wouldn’t want to hang out at a job I’d quit, especially not when it was likely my ex was lingering somewhere in the stadium.

I sat up, about to thank her, but was interrupted.

“I hoped I’d find you here.” That voice. It grated on my nerves.

I turned to see Jordan walking through the doorway, freshly showered, his chin held high like he was some kind of god. Just his walk made me want to hit him.

Piper sighed. “You need to stop showing up when I’m working. I’m doing my job and don’t have time to talk to you.” She began packing up her things, avoiding his gaze.

“You’ve blocked my calls and texts, and now you don’t want me to come see you after games. Do I need to show up at your apartment so we can talk?” he asked, frustration lacing his tone.

My hands clenched at the thought of him showing up at her apartment, especially when she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested in rekindling whatever they’d had.

“I don’t know how many times I have to tell you,” Piper said, matching his frustrating tone, “but we don’t have anything to talk about. It’s over. I don’t have any feelings for you anymore.” She paused, looking up at him. “Except for annoyance.”

His jaw clenched as he looked away from her, breathing heavily, clearly struggling to calm himself down.

I didn’t trust him with her, and there was no way I was leaving her alone with him. I’d be staying here until he was gone, and even then, I would walk her out to make sure he didn’t try to bug her again.

“I get that I hurt you and that you’re upset with me,” he started again. “But I’m a changed man. I took you for granted, and I’m sorry. Let’s go grab some dinner together. It will be like old times.”

“Jordan.” She put up her hand. “I don’t want it to be like old times. I don’t want to be with you at all. I’ve moved on, and you should too.”

His head pulled back like her words had shocked him. “You can’t be serious.” His eyes turned cold, and his nostrils flared. “Are you with someone else?”

Piper opened her mouth to tell him what I assumed was no, but my body was already up and moving.

I put my arm around her and tucked her against my side. “Yes, she is.”

Her body stiffened next to mine, and I squeezed her shoulder, silently telling her I got this.

Jordan’s eyes bugged out. “You?” He shook his head. “No way. Piper wouldn’t go for a has-been when she could have me.”

Piper’s arm wrapped around my waist, her eyes narrowing on Jordan. “He’s not a has-been. He’s the player who had an assist and a goal tonight, on your watch.” Her hackles were raised, and knowing it was for me was extremely hot.

Jordan looked between the two of us, his features angrily distorting his face. “You think I go from woman to woman?” He looked at Piper incredulously, pointing at me. “He’s notorious for it. He’s not worth it, I can promise you that.”

Piper’s grip on my waist tightened, and I inwardly cringed at Jordan’s words. He was exaggerating, but it wasn’t exactly false. My reputation was more for not settling down rather than making the rounds with lots of women. Yeah, I’d never been seen in public with the same woman twice, but that didn’t make me a cheater.

“I don’t go from woman to woman when I’m committed to one,” I growled. “And what I feel for Piper is different. She’s the only woman I want.” It surprised me that with those words, I didn’t have to lie. What I felt for Piper was different, and she was the only woman I thought about—couldn’t stop thinking about.

He rolled his eyes at me. “Different. Sure.”

“I’m not your girlfriend anymore.” Her voice was harsh. “I can do whatever I want and date whomever I want. My life is none of your business.”

Jordan’s jaw clenched, his lips pressed together. “I’m not giving up, Piper.” He pointed at the two of us. “I don’t believe this for a second. Eventually we’ll be back together.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the room.

A full minute passed while the two of us continued to stare at the open doorway, Piper still under my arm. My brain tried to catch up with everything that had happened, but it was a lot to untangle. Had I really said I was Piper’s boyfriend?

I hadn’t planned on jumping up and claiming to be Piper’s new love interest, but the way he’d kept pushing her, insinuating that they would be getting back together eventually, had made me want to shut it down so forcefully that he wouldn’t bother her again. And what better way than to say she was in a relationship with someone else? Her having a new boyfriend was a sure-fire way of letting Jordan know she’d move on. Except it seemed like he wasn’t buying the charade I’d put on and would still be harassing her about getting back together. So now my plan didn’t sound so great.

Piper pushed away from me. “What the heck was that?”