Page 31 of Breaking Point (IceHawks #1)
“Thank God we have you two, otherwise all we’d talk about is hockey,” Ellington grumbles, holding out his hand to Bella. “I’m Caleb.”
And just to piss him off, I wink. “One of the best defensemen in the league.”
Ellington rolls his eyes as Valenti scoffs beside him, the best friend duo always grappling with each other.
“I think you’re forgetting Ellington isn’t the only one in the first line defense, Cap.” He leans forward, a charismatic smile spreading across his dark cheeks. “I’m Matteo, the one Caleb can’t defend without.”
Caleb chuckles. “Bit full of yourself tonight, Valenti.”
Cindy leans over. “Before you ask, yes, they’re always like this.”
Bella snorts as she takes a sip of her drink. “Nice to meet you all. Although, Matteo…” At this, his head pops up, his smile widening. “Were you the one that sent that Twilight meme?”
His face falls along with his smile as laughter explodes around the booth.
“This is the skin of a killer, Bella,” Ellington imitates, tears pooling in his eyes with how hard he’s laughing.
Valenti glares my way. “Since when do we share the privacy of our group chat?”
“Since forever,” Cindy deadpans.
Valenti’s jaw drops as he turns his accusatory glare to O’Connor. “You too?”
He shrugs, a wicked grin on his face. “We have no secrets.”
“It’s not a secret, it’s a group chat.” His eyes widen. “I’ve said some personal shit on there, O’Connor.”
“Oh, we know,” Cindy sing-songs before she bursts out cackling as Matteo’s face pales. “I’m just messing with you. He only shows me the funny stuff. ”
His eyes narrow on O’Connor and then on me. “I’m going to get you back. Just wait.”
After taking a sip of his beer, he leans forward, the conversation suddenly forgotten as he turns his attention on my girlfriend . “So, Bella, what are your intentions with our man?”
Ellington and O’Connor snort in sync.
Bella’s brows rise. “Nothing short of good.”
Valenti nods along. “I like to hear it. I like to hear it.”
I shake my head, laughing. “Go on, get all your questions out now. I can practically see them in your eyes.”
Ellington leans forward, the first to break. “Why did you start working as his assistant?”
“Jesus Christ, here they go again,” Cindy mutters into her wine.
Bella’s lips part in shock before she answers, “Because I was fired from my last one and his was the only well-paying job.”
Valenti’s eyes cut to mine. “She’s truthful, I like it.”
“It’s not a job interview,” I remind him.
Ellington holds up a hand, silencing me. “Why were you fired?”
Valenti sits back, pointing the top of his beer bottle at her. “Ooh, that’s a good question. Did you steal from the company?”
“What? Of course not. I worked in tech as their designer and they were too trigger happy on hiring people.”
Valenti frowns. “That’s…boring.”
Bella chokes out a laugh. “I’m sorry my firing story isn’t more entertaining.”
“Past boyfriends?” Ellington asks, truly taking on the role of questioning her seriously.
“In college.”
“Criminal record?”
“No. I doubt Lucy would’ve hired me if I had one.”
“Too true. The woman is as ballsy as they come.” He slumps back, pondering. “What about hockey? Are you a fan?”
That silences everyone around the booth.
Bella’s cheeks warm. “Honestly? No, I’m sorry.”
Valenti hoots in triumph before high-fiving Ellington. “We have a winner, my friends!”
Cindy rolls her eyes before leaning over to Bella and whispering, “They just don’t like puck bunnies moving into the circle. You passed their test.”
Bella’s eyes widen as her head whips back to my teammates, now onto an entirely new topic. As soon as they get into one of their heated debates, I tune them out.
O’Connor holds up a finger. “I would like to state for the record that I did not ask any questions.”
“Noted,” Bella teases.
As a server walks past, I quickly stop her and order a Coke, suddenly feeling awkward to be the only one without a drink in my hand.
Bella peers down at her drink before returning those big brown eyes to me, her brows furrowing in concern. “Should I be doing this in front of you? Are you okay? I’m more than happy to pour it out.”
Without waiting for a response, Bella turns to Valenti, who’s frowning at Ellington, and slides her glass of wine toward him. “Here, some sweetness to brighten up your sourness.”
Ellington chokes on his beer as O’Connor bursts out laughing.
Bella sits back once more, nestling within the confines of my warmth, a pleased smile stretching across her face before she pulls out a pack of gum and plops one in her mouth.
Dropping my head, my lips brush the shell of her ear, and with such delight I note how the move elicits goosebumps down her arms. “Thank you,” I whisper.
I’m grateful beyond words that I didn’t have to express I was uncomfortable. I clear my throat and pointedly ignore the ribbing my teammates try to get her into. I cut in, “How was watching your first hockey game?”
Ellington and Valenti’s brows rise in sync. “This was your first game?”
O’Connor lifts his drink. “Glad we put on a good show for you. ”
Cindy whistles. “And show it was. That was a great start to the season, boys.”
Nobody says it and they don’t have to. Everyone besides Bella is extremely aware of how severely I was lacking before. It’s a miracle I scored once, let alone twice.
Perhaps Bella is my lucky charm.
She beams as she tucks a lock of her brown hair behind her ear.
“I honestly loved it. I feel like I’ve been missing out.
It’s so fast-paced I felt like my heart was going to fly out of my chest.” She gasps, her eyes widening slightly.
“And the violence and fighting! I never knew it was so physical besides the skating.”
O’Connor grins at me over Cindy’s head. “You’ve gone and converted her.”
“Not a bad sport to be converted to.”
Cindy grins at Bella and the girls fall into a random fit of laughter. I look to my teammates for answers. “Any clue?”
“I’ve known her since she was in diapers and I still don’t understand half the shit she says. You just have to go along with it and nod,” O’Connor says over their laughter.
Cindy elbows him. “Hey!”
He smirks down at her, love very clearly written in his gaze as he kisses her forehead, effectively silencing whatever Cindy was going to say next.
The women fall into such an easy conversation something in my chest warms. I knew Bella would be perfect for this arrangement. Something within me just knew she would fit in.
Although, now I’m worried she might have slipped in too perfectly.
What happens when this is all over and we have to end things?
Cindy and Bella exchange numbers as the evening wraps up, the pair promising to get coffee over the weekend before the next home game.
Everyone flowed into such easy banter I forgot to do the rounds, forgot that she isn’t my real girlfriend and that the entire point of her presence here tonight was to introduce her to the entire team and convince them all.
All I successfully managed to do was forget that this isn’t real. At least for a short period of time .
Reality always has a way of crashing down around me.
Bella and Cindy hug their goodbyes while I see my teammates off. At first, I get a few puzzled yet excited expressions as I do so, and it takes until I’m saying goodbye to Mitchel for it to truly sink in.
This is what I used to do.
I used to come to the celebratory drinks, have one or two and take care of my friends. I used to send off my teammates and watch over them if a puck bunny had a history.
This is the Grayson I used to be before my life came crumbling down.
I slipped back into the past version of myself so easily it frightens me. I don’t want to forget what happened to Drew, which only occurred because I was careless and I wasn’t watching out for him.
That version of myself was so na?ve it was dangerous.
I’m in my head by the time I move back to the booth and wrap my arm around Bella. In fact, I don’t even realize I’m no longer steering Bella. Instead, she’s maneuvering me into an Uber, and when I finally look around, I realize we’re already halfway home.
An apology is on the tip of my tongue, but it seems I’m not the only one in my head.
“Are you sleeping with puck bunnies?” Bella blurts out, making our Uber driver choke.
GRAYSON
good game boys!
let’s keep it up
THEO IRVING
aye aye Captain
GRAYSON
*Crawford
THEO IRVING
*Captain
GRAYSON
*Crawford
Theo Irving has changed the group chat name to Grayson Crawford is IceHawks captain.
Grayson has removed Theo Irving from chat.
LOGAN JOHNSON
I second Irving
thanks for the two shots that led to victory, Captain!
HUDSON MITCHEL
*pirate meme of a captain*
Hudson Mitchel has added Theo Irving to group chat.
THEO IRVING
I’m butt hurt you removed me, Captain