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Chapter Twenty-Seven

IZZIE

A fter what happened at the game in Vancouver and the prank at the hotel, I thought I was done with hockey games. But Chad got us tickets to the VIP room for game seven. I had to come for Jane’s sake. It’s a do-or-die situation, and my sister is a mess.

Not that I’m any better. I’ve never been to a more nerve-racking game in my life. The atmosphere in the arena is electric, and you’d have to be dead to not feel it your bones. Whenever I’m this invested in sports… hello, sailor mouth. I don’t think Jackson’s aunt, who’s also in the VIP room, is very impressed with me. She keeps giving me scathing glances. I’m usually more well behaved, but... fuck , this game is stressful.

The score tied up 1-1 in the third period, and with only five minutes left on the clock, the win could go to either team. The crowd is loud, shouting encouragement to the Lions and booing whenever the Vikings have the puck. My voice is hoarse from shouting so much.

Even Chad’s parents, who could very well be related to Jackson with the way they act as if they have sticks up their asses, are riled up. Chad’s father is as drunk as mine, and for now, they’re best friends.

One of our players has the puck, but he fucks up and loses possession to the Vikings’ golden boy, Tim O’Connor. The hotshot center takes off, and our defense is too slow to keep up. He’s wide open in our zone and it’s him against Chad.

Jane grabs my arm. “Oh my God! Oh my God!”

My heart is racing as we watch Tim O’Connor make his move and shoot his shot. But Chad is on fire tonight, and he denies the Vikings the lead, gloving the puck. Instead of freezing it, he sends it toward Logan Kaminski, and the young forward takes off like a bullet train, dodging the Vikings’ defense.

Jesus, he’s fast.

Everyone is shouting “Go, go, go!” myself included. Jackson is already near the goal and in perfect position to shoot. Logan sees that and makes the pass. The play happens in seconds, but it feels like I’m watching everything in slow motion. Jackson controls the puck and then elevates it enough to go over the goalie’s shoulder and find the back of the net.

Jane and I jump and shout at the top of our lungs like everyone else in the VIP room. The noise in the arena is so loud that it manages to drown out the Lions horn.

“Holy shit! That was amazing,” Jane blurts out.

“It was.”

I don’t tell Jane, but I’ll never forget that play. I think I’m turning into a hockey fan after all. That’s what I tell myself anyway. It has nothing to do with the fact that Jackson scored that goal.

But the game isn’t over yet. A one-goal lead in hockey isn’t much. Now the Vikings are gunning for the equalizer. The next few minutes are intense as hell, and a few fights take place, but no team gets a power play. When there’s a couple minutes left on the clock, the Vikings goalie heads to the bench. Now they have an extra man on the ice. Shit. My stomach is twisted so tight, it hurts.

The Lions tighten their defense, with Jackson playing a huge part in it. But the couple times they clear the zone, the puck fails to go in the empty net.

“Oh come on,” Lydia whines.

Tim O’Connor rescues the puck and accelerates toward the Lions’ goal. He reminds me of the shark in Jaws , going for the kill. I hope he chokes on a gas tank. But he can’t penetrate the zone easily. We’re now down to one minute of game. I’m so nervous, I feel like I’m going to throw up. I can’t imagine what Jane must be feeling.

After the Vikings’ failed attempt to score, the puck ends up in the corner, and our guys keep it trapped there as long as they can. The seconds are ticking by. The tension in the entire arena is palpable.

When the buzzer announces the end of the game, the entire place erupts in cheers. It’s a collective roar that’s as loud as thunder. Chad throws his gloves up in the air and joins his teammates in the corner. Soon, the entire bench is in the group hug.

Jane, Lydia, and I have our own celebratory hug. Everyone in the room is shouting and whistling. Euphoria has taken over, and I can hardly believe this is happening. It feels surreal. I’ve never felt such intense joy over a game outcome.

I’m in a daze when someone fills my cup with champagne, and I toss it back in one shot. Everyone is talking at once, and the collective excitement is nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I wish I could capture this moment in a bottle to relive it again.

Jane goes hug Louisa and when they break apart, both are crying. Hell. I’m misty eyed too. I turn around and find Lydia talking to her camera. I bet she’s doing a live. Typical teen behavior—if it’s not on camera, it didn’t happen.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. It’s a message from Manuel.

MANUEL: Joder! The arena must be about to explode.

It’s insane. Did you watch the game?

MANUEL: Fuck yeah. Paco had the game on all TVs. It’s crazy here too.

You’re gonna make a killing.

MANUEL: I know! Wanna work tonight?

Not a chance.

MANUEL: LOL. Gotta go. Have fun!

You too!

I’m smiling from ear to ear when I put my phone away. It’s party central here in the VIP room with booze flowing freely. I make sure Lydia isn’t sneaking a glass of champagne, but she’s currently busy with her phone.

I turn my attention to the TV when Jackson, as the captain, is awarded the coveted Cup. He raises it above his head as if it weighed nothing, but I know that thing is heavy as hell. The cheers from the crowd intensify, and it gets louder in the VIP room too.

Jackson does his victory lap around the arena as the crowd chants his name. Pride swells in my chest, which is crazy. I’m not his girlfriend or even just a friend. No surprise, he hands the Cup over to Chad. More cheers erupt in the arena. This goes on until every player, and coaching staff has touched, kissed, and skated with their hard-earned prize.

After a while, people begin to leave the VIP room. Some must be going to the ice to congratulate the players. There’s obviously a limit to the number of friends and family that can go out there, so I’m surprised when Jane grabs my hand.

“Come on.”

“Are you sure?” I see that Jackson’s and Chad’s families are already out the door.

“Yes, I want you to come.” She leans closer and whispers in my ear. “And I’m sure Jackson does too.”

Heat spreads across my cheek. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m not blind, Izzie.”

Dad walks over. “What are you waiting for, Jane? Go congratulate your fiancé.”

“I want Izzie to come with me, but she’s being difficult.”

“Go on, darling. You two better go before your mother and Lydia return from the restroom.”

I didn’t even think about them wanting to go greet the players. I let Jane steer me out of the room. It’s better if Mom and Lydia aren’t around me when I see Jackson. Jane isn’t wrong. Something is going on between me and the team captain, and I’m too drunk already to try to hide it.

* * *

JACKSON

My face hurts from smiling too much. God knows I’m not used to it. But hell, tonight I can’t stop smiling. I’m at the top of the world. I glance at Chad and open my arms. “The job is fucking done!”

“So fucking done!” We hug, then heavy bodies jump over us.

“The cup is ours, motherfuckers!” Alex Kaminski yells.

There’s more shouting, and it takes a while before we break apart. Family and friends are coming onto the ice, so naturally, we search for them. I see Aunt Catherine first, looking as out of place as a camel in the North Pole. Her silver hair is pulled into a low bun, and I don’t see a strand out of place. The way she’s holding her Chanel bag close to her body as she tries to avoid bumping into any player is comical.

To be a pest, I open my arms wide and pull her into a tight hug. “Aunt Catherine. You came!”

She remains stiff as a board. “Of course, dear. Congratulations.”

I pull back, grinning from ear to ear. “Thank you. It means a lot to me that you’re here.”

“Well… you made me a promise, didn’t you? You’d be the best hockey player in the world if I sponsored your training. It’s only fair that I came to witness the fulfillment that promise.”

“Are you happy?”

Her expression softens, then she touches my cheek. “I am, Jacks. Your mom would have been so happy too.”

A fist seems to tighten around my heart. I lost Mom at such a young age that her memory is already fuzzy. But tonight, I feel her absence to the fullest, and I get choked up. I’m saved from crying like a little boy when I glimpse Izzie Bennet in the distance, walking side by side with her sister. The heaviness in my chest lessens.

Aunt Catherine looks over her shoulder to see what caught my attention. She stiffens again. “Oh, the Bennet sisters.”

“You don’t like them?”

She looks at me again. “I have nothing against Chad’s fiancée. Jane is sweet and, despite her background, she’s a good match for Chad.”

I exhale in relief. Things got a bit tense yesterday between the Bennets and the Bingleys when Caroline decided to be antagonizing. If Aunt Catherine hadn’t approved of Jane, that could have been disastrous, since she’s such good friends with Chad’s mom. I had my own reservations about Jane in the beginning, but I made a promise to Chad to be supportive, and I intend to keep it.

“I’m glad you think so.”

“Her sister, however…” Aunt Catherine shudders. “Dreadful girl.”

My stomach coils. “What did she do?”

“She couldn’t stop cursing. Every other word out of her mouth was an F-bomb or some other unsavory term.”

Izzie Bennet has a dirty mouth? I’m intrigued. “Is that so? Why was she cursing so much?”

“Oh, you know. Whenever one of the Vikings got the puck, or there was a call on the ice in their favor.”

“She was that into the game?” I glance in her direction again.

“Jackson Darcy, please don’t tell me you’re interested in that girl.”

I shake my head but don’t take my eyes off Izzie. “I’m not interested in her at all. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go say hello.”

I walk away before Aunt Catherine can say anything else. She’s never approved of any girl I dated, so the fact that she doesn’t like Izzie doesn’t phase me.

Izzie turns in my direction as I approach, and then, her face splits into the most radiant smile. Fuck me. She’s never smiled like that at me, and now my heart is beating at a hundred miles an hour. She takes a step in my direction, and before I can stop it, I’m hugging her.

“Congratulations,” she says with her face pressed against my chest. I’d hold her longer, but she leans back after a moment.

Now I’m fighting the urge to frame her face with my hands and kiss her soundly. I’m not impulsive at all. This must be the euphoria coursing through my veins. “Thank you.”

“You guys so deserve this.” Her eyes twinkle with genuine happiness.

I open my mouth to reply, but then Jane comes to congratulate me as well. Izzie moves aside, and then more people come talk to me. It’s busy, and I get pulled into the celebratory fray. There’s so much going on, and my attention keeps shifting. I lose sight of her, but I know it’s only for now. We won the Cup, and now there are no more excuses. I want Izzie Bennet, and I won’t fight it anymore.