Page 28 of Breaking Point (IceHawks #1)
Bella
MOM
confession time
do you remember during high school when you were caught skipping school?
BELLA
I was grounded for two weeks
and missed my first date with my first crush who ended up dating Bianca because of it
hard to forget that one
MOM
Well, I extended your time being grounded because I overheard Jeremy talking in the grocery store with his friends that he was trying to go on as many dates as he could to rank them in a book they all shared
BELLA
YOU KNEW ABOUT THE TROPHY BOOK?
MOM
that’s a disgusting name for it
BELLA
they named it, not me. And I agree, it was revolting when photos of it got leaked
MOM
Yes, I knew about it. I didn’t want you to end up in the book so I grounded you for longer
BELLA
my guardian angel
MOM
forever and always
T here was no time to get comfortable with one another. No time to test the limits of physical affection. There was no time for anything with Grayson’s grueling pre-season schedule. Hence why when Layla sends another encouraging text message, my hands shake and her words blur on the screen.
I wish she could have come. I didn’t let her hear it in my voice when she called to tell me she was bedridden, another flare-up from lupus, but I desperately wish she was here beside me because I’m beyond nervous.
I’m not just being thrown into the deep end of this arrangement, I feel like I’m being catapulted into the lion’s den.
Grayson tried to give me as much warning as possible.
He called me early this morning and ran me through everything that will happen.
The security I’ll go through, the rink-side tickets I’ll pick up because I favored that over being left to the sharks of the WAG box upstairs.
He also told me how loud and chaotic the game can be.
Yet I still feel like a fish out of water as I take the ticket the woman at the box office hands me.
There’s so much riding on tonight, not only for Grayson but for myself. We have to make everyone believe that I was the person who helped turn his world right side up again, and if I don’t, I’m afraid I’ll lose the money my mother needs for her treatment.
She’s gotten more fragile in the past five days. I’ve never seen someone deteriorate so quickly.
My phone buzzes in my palm as if Grayson can hear my spiraling thoughts.
GRAYSON
everything will be okay
BELLA
what if no one believes us?
I peer down at my ticket, following the signs toward my seat, far too anxious to eat anything though the smell of popcorn tries to beckon me. But I know it won’t go down well. All it’ll end up doing is making me more nauseous. Another text comes through.
SCREENSHOT OF ICEHAWKS CHAT
I stop dead in my tracks, unable to squelch my laughter. Thankfully, the arena is packed to the brim with people drinking and hollering, along with music blaring from the speakers so no one pays me any attention as I continue to giggle down at my phone like an idiot.
GRAYSON
they love you already
BELLA
Taylor Swift? Been spying on me on the Ring camera again?
GRAYSON
would you make a report with HR if I said yes?
BELLA
depends on who HR is
GRAYSON
technically you
BELLA
don’t you have somewhere better to be? Like, I don’t know, a game in front of thousands of people?
GRAYSON
bored of me already?
BELLA
you and your fifteen personalities?
GRAYSON
harsh. I’d say I’m closer to two.
BELLA
and those are?
GRAYSON
I’m referred to as a Golden Retriever a lot
BELLA
I can see it
the other?
GRAYSON
you’ll have to butter me up to unlock that one
My cheeks are aching by the time I enter the arena. I’m glad he messaged me; every buzzing bee that was taking flight beneath my skin has settled to a low hum. It’s not entirely gone but I’ve never had someone be able to calm me so quickly when I’m in a nervous state.
My breath puffs in front of my face, the cold of the arena seeping into my pores as I cling to my oversized hoodie.
My fingers instinctively tap against my thigh in a set of threes as I make my way down, down…
and down. I’m shocked by how close the seats are.
I know he said rink side but I didn’t think?—
I stop suddenly in the walkway, apologizing to whoever slammed into me from behind.
I’m seated directly behind the home bench.
Plopping into my seat, the second of reprieve I felt explodes into a whirlwind of chaos as every situation that could go wrong slams into my mind.
Will his teammates ask me questions over the board?
Are people going to stare at me?
Do they even realize I’m seated here?
Does Grayson?
What if they talk about me and don’t realize I’m in earshot?
“Bella?” A small female voice draws my attention.
A blonde takes the seat beside me, a kind smile stretching across her face. She’s adorned in an IceHawks jersey and beanie, the jersey practically swallowing her small frame.
“I’m Cindy, Asher O’Connor’s girlfriend.” She gives me a small knowing smile. “Grayson sat you beside me and told me to look out for you.”
The bees fall and stumble in their flight path.
“He did?” I ask, shocked.
She snorts. “Of course. He takes care of everyone. He wouldn’t leave you to the wolves.” She cranes her neck, looking at something behind us. “And if you ask me, this is much better than the drama that fills that box.”
She must be talking about the wives and girlfriends box upstairs. I wonder why she doesn’t like it.
Settling into the seat, she turns to me, her gaze roaming. “I can see it.”
My head shakes at the speed in which she changes topics. “See what?”
“Why he likes you.” Her pink lips tip up into a smile, her blue eyes practically glowing. “You’re his type to a T.”
I frown. “I am?” At the look she gives me, I quickly recover. “That’s reassuring, I wouldn’t want to be dating someone if I weren’t their type.” To redirect from my slip-up, I ask, “How long have you and Asher been together?”
That was something I was able to do—memorize his teammates’ names and faces. If I’m supposedly dating an ice hockey player, I should know their friends and colleagues.
A dreamy look comes over her face. “We grew up with each other actually. My mom and his mom are best friends, so it feels like longer than it has been, but around five years.”
“That sounds adorable and like you’d have a lot of blackmail on him.”
She winks. “Oh, you have no idea the dirt I have on that man.” She sighs heavily. “But he has just as much on me, a double-edged sword.” Pulling out candy from her purse, she offers me some. I decline, still too unsettled to eat. “How did you and Grayson meet? ”
My eyes land on the mascots that skate out, warming up the crowd. “I started working as his assistant actually.”
“Oh, nice! God knows he needs a good one. I swear this past year he’s gone through them like bowling pins.”
I can’t help but snort. “Well, hopefully he’ll keep me around for a while.”
“Asher hasn’t shut up about how happy Crawford suddenly is. I have no doubt that’s because of you.”
Her words jar me so much my head snaps to her with bewilderment, but her focus is on the mascots dancing around the rink.
This is fake , I remind myself. You are not dating him so you are not the source of his happiness.
This is all fake.
“Has he told you much about the players?” she asks, onto the next topic already.
Grateful for the change, my eyes roam the arena. “Not much outside of names, but I’ve met Kieran.”
Cindy snorts before munching on a handful of sour worms. “Did he hit on you?”
I cock my head, trying to recall, and then my eyebrows rise. “Yes actually. The first time we met, but he’s mellowed out now.” I frown. “All he does is eat Grayson’s cereal.”
“Asher’s too. The man has a supersonic radar for cereal. I hide ours before he comes over but every time he still finds it like a sniffer dog.”
A small chuckle tumbles from my lips. The tension in my body loosens with every second that passes in her company. She reminds me a lot of Layla in the sense that she’s easy to talk to.
“Anyone else I should be wary of?”
She grimaces. “Plenty. It’s more so the rookies. They’re still in their era of soaking up all the fame. It gets to their egos pretty quickly but I find by their second year the newness has worn off.” She bumps my shoulder. “But don’t worry. For athletes, this team is full of great guys.”
The arena lights dim, and then strobe lights start flashing. Cindy grins at me. “Ever been to a hockey game before?”
“Never. ”
She whistles under her breath. “You’re in for a night of entertainment, let me put it that way.”
The announcer’s voice fills the arena, his fast-paced speech barely understandable through the crackling rumble of the speakers, and yet it’s easy to follow as a spotlight shines on a tunnel across the rink.
A sea of men skate out, all adorned in green. The crowd cheers, die-hard fans traveling to watch their favorite team play.
Ice settles in my veins.
I suppose my father is watching this game.
Shivers wrack my body at the thought.
“Cold?” Cindy asks, already moving for her purse at her feet.
Clutching her arm, I wave her off. “It’s okay! Was just a gust of cold air. I’m fine now.”
“Are you sure? I can get?—”
Screams pierce my ears. Cindy and I flinch at the same time as the squeals threaten to make us deaf. Lifting my head, I find out why. Black-and-white jerseys have entered the arena, IceHawks skating through the rink, waving to fans and making them scream.
Cindy rubs her ears. “You never get used to that part, though.” She frowns down at her bag. “I always forget to bring earplugs.”
I take in the group of men stretching, seeking out Grayson. I should have googled his jersey number. I’ve done his laundry for weeks now, how do I still not know his jersey number?
Until I do.
My eyes snag on blue eyes peering up at me through a helmet. They seem to twinkle, and the corner of my lip twitches. And then he goes and winks.
Screams ring out directly behind me.
“Oh my god! Did Grayson Crawford just wink at me?” one squeals.