Page 21

There’s a pounding fist against my bedroom door as I stare at Maddie’s name on my phone. I’ve been tempted to text her all morning, but I can’t get myself to press any of these fucking buttons. I can’t stop thinking about her. I was slamming the puck around the rink well past midnight last night, imagining how much more fun it would’ve been if she was there. And after all of it, I still couldn’t sleep.

The pounding is nostalgic, taking me right back to high school when Matt would pound on my locked bedroom door for any fucking reason under the sun. Dinner, school bus, just because.

I place my phone down, knowing damn well it’s Matt.

When I open the door, his eyes meet mine. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I snap.

“Good morning to you too,” he says, pushing through the door. He scoffs when he sees Maddie’s things around my room.

I grab him and point out the door. “Not in here.”

He listens, walking into the hallway as I say, “Cave.”

“Cave?” he questions.

I get irritated as I point to the basement door. “The fucking basement.”

He walks down the stairs, taking in the cave. He stops at the couch. I stare at the side of his face, pissed off that he’s here unannounced.

“What the hell do you want, man? I got shit to do today.”

Matt nods. “Yeah, me too. Ryan’s party?”

I stare at him, unable to answer.

He laughs. “You know she’s probably already up there by now. That girl loves to host parties. She would never miss an opportunity to help her brother.”

“Cut the shit,” I say, hating the small talk. “Is it your mom? My dad?” The last time he needed to chat with me, it had everything to do with my dad still fucking his mom. He seems to think that I have a say about where my dad inserts his dick. I don’t know how many times I have to tell him that it’s none of my fucking business.

“No,” Matt shakes his head, patting the top of the couch. “This time I’m not here for that.” I wait for him to continue.

“Everybody saw you go upstairs with Poppy,” he says with pride.

I glare at him, calming my nerves before I do something stupid. He tends to start every conversation like this with me, thinking that he’s the alpha. And he loves to push my buttons.

He continues, “This is how it’s going to go. Maddie knows you fucked Poppy last night. I’m assuming that’s why last night she stayed at her place instead of here.” I clench my jaw, checking out his because I’d love to plow my fist into it.

He continues, “I never fucking cheated on her, and she knows it. And you… you’re just a rebound. A placeholder. Because I know that girl loves me. I’m going to that party tonight, and you’re not.”

I scoff. “You’re staying here where you fucking belong, Grey.” Here we go. He’s going to bring up how his mom got me into this University, and it’s only because of her I’ve had this opportunity to stay after the divorce, so I need to kiss his ass because he knew how badly I needed to stay the fuck away from my dad and apparently, he talked to his mom about keeping me here. Because at the very least, he respects how good I am on the ice. He continues, “And I’m going to get back my fucking girl.”

“Matt, she doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

He laughs, so I step to him and catch his eyes.

I seethe, “You think I’m fucking joking?” I keep my hands to myself, but I point at him and say, “She wants nothing to do with you.”

“Hey, I fucking backed off after that talk I had with her at the auditorium. She told me to, but now it’s been some time, and you just fucked up big time with Poppy, so guess who’s swooping in, and you’re not going to fucking stop it.”

I watch his face closely. It’s stupid to say that I know this guy better than I know myself, but it’s true. I’ve seen him crumble from his mom’s dating life, I’ve seen him go through a hard breakup in high school, and I’ve seen him battle his own demons from his father. He’s an exceptional hockey player, yet I don’t think he’s signing a contract. And if he’s here pounding on my bedroom door for old good time’s sake, it’s with good reason. Matt goes after what he wants, and that’s something I’ve always admired about him. I’ve already told him that Maddie wants nothing to do with him, so I don’t need to say it again. If he wants her back, then he can a fucking go. I’m pretty sure I fucked it all up last night.

I nod and shrug at the same time. “She probably won’t talk to me again.” And I need to come to terms with that.

He smiles like I’m paying him back a million bucks I borrowed. No, Maddie is worth more than that, but what the fuck can I say to him? Yeah, throwing a punch and telling him fuck no would do the trick, but when I caught Crew Nixon staring at me, I already knew he would run to Madison to tell her. It’s definitely over. She’s going to believe her brother’s best friend. It was a fun little ride we had for a moment. I can’t stop thinking about her, and I probably won’t stop. But I doubt she’s feeling the same. That’s why she couldn’t answer the question that night in the rink.

Matt pats my shoulder. “That’s probably for the best.” He walks off. “Fuck you, Matt,” I say to him.

“Fuck you, too.” But he smiles. That’s our twisted way of coming to an agreement.

He takes a step up the stairs as I say, “You better take good care of her, Matt.” He nods as he leaves. He swings the cave door open, and I hear Knox greet him in the living room. I wait until I hear him leave the front door before walking up and making myself breakfast.

“What was that about?” Ace asks.

“Telling me that Madison Wilder is his,” I mutter as I move around the kitchen.

Ace laughs. “He said that?”

“He tried threatening that, but I don’t fucking care, bro. He can have her.”

Ace scoffs. “Grey, what?”

“Yeah. Last night Nixon was staring at me when I was walking downstairs with Poppy.”

Ace chuckles. “Shit, dude. That guy thinks he’s a fucking Wilder.”

I shrug. “Exactly why she’ll listen to anything he says.” And I don’t stand a fucking chance. I inhale because I need to fucking let it go.

Ace says, “Bro, we both know that you didn’t fuck Poppy that night. You were up there for two seconds. Now I know why you left. And the way Poppy was acting after you left, man. She was getting shitfaced. And it was obvious you didn’t fuck.”

“Did you fuck her?” I ask Ace, knowing that he’s attracted to her. I need to change the subject. I would be happy for the man if he did.

He laughs. “Fuck no, dude. She was plastered. And I don’t need your sloppy seconds.”

I shake my head. “I see the way you look at her.”

He shrugs. “Yeah, she’s hot. But bro code. I’ll never touch her.” He pauses for a moment and then looks at me. “Are you seriously going to let Matt win this one?”

I nod, unable to meet his gaze. I’m embarrassed by the reality of it. “Yeah.”

Ace laughs, which pisses me off. “Come on, man, fucking admit it. You really fucking like this girl, and you’re scared she doesn’t feel the same way.”

“I’m done talking about this shit.”

Ace stands. “And he seizes up. Denial is never a good place to be.”

He leaves the kitchen and finally, I have peace and quiet.