Page 21

Chapter 21

Jacob

M y lip is throbbing, and every time I try to open my mouth, I taste blood. Giovanni's sitting across from me with a black eye that's already swelling shut.

Great.

We look like a pair of brawling idiots who forgot they were supposed to be playing hockey on the same team. And, well, we kind of are.

Coach bursts into the locker room like a hurricane, his face as red as our jerseys. "What the hell was that out there?" he roars, his voice echoing off the cold metal lockers.

Every one of us flinches. It's not often Coach loses it, but when he does, it's like facing down a grizzly bear.

A grizzly that could bench press a truck.

"Not only did you two dumbasses spark a brawl," he growls, pointing a shaky finger between Gio and me, "but you lost the damn game! The Chicago Blades are now 0-3 against the Seattle Sparks! Do you have any idea what that means? We're hanging by a thread, and it’s fraying. Fast."

The room is silent, or as silent as it can be with a dozen sets of lungs sucking in air like our lives depend on it.

Because they kind of do.

Gio and I lock eyes, and for a brief moment, I think I see a flicker of guilt, but the anger and determination burn brighter.

Coach paces back and forth, practically pulling his hair out. "We’re supposed to be a team! A united front! But all I see out there are a bunch of individuals playing with their heads up their asses!"

His glare sweeps over us, daring anyone to respond.

But no one does, not even the constantly joking Halstead.

We all know this isn't just about a game anymore. It's about our pride, our careers, and for some of us, our friendships—wrecked and bleeding, just like my lip.

I lean back against the cold wall, feeling a mix of shame and frustration twisting in my gut. We've got a lot to fix before the next game, and I'm not just talking about the scoreboard.

After a few more curses and nearly blowing a gasket, Coach finally snarls, "Hit the showers, all of you. Move it!"

The team scrambles to their feet, relief flooding the room like the first calm after a hurricane. But just as Gio and I start to rise, Coach's steely voice cuts through the chaos.

"Not you two."

We freeze.

The rest of the team sneaks quick, pitying glances our way before taking off. Coach's eyes narrow as he focuses on us, waves of fury practically emanating from his large body.

"You think this is some kind of joke?" he thunders, fingers shaking as he points between us again. "You want to cost us more games, more respect? I needed leaders out there, and instead, I got a circus."

I feel my stomach knotting tighter with each word. Gio looks like he's chewing on glass but doesn't flinch.

Coach steps closer, his voice dropping to a low growl, making it all the more menacing. "You two had better fix whatever personal crap is going on between you, and fix it fast. We're a team, not a soap opera. And if I catch even a whiff of more conflict, you’re benched for the next game. I mean it."

With that, he storms out, leaving a deafening silence in his wake. I finally let out a breath and look over at Gio.

"What the hell is your problem?" I ask, my voice breaking the heavy quiet.

Gio’s eyes smolder as they meet mine. "You already know," he says, the words hitting me like cold water.

My mouth goes dry as I realize he's right.

We both know exactly what this is about, and neither one of us wants to be the first to back down.

"Gio, listen, it's not what you think," I begin, swallowing hard. But Gio holds up a hand, his eyes blazing with barely controlled fury.

"Save it." His voice is like gravel, harsh and steady as it reaches me across the room. "I’ve got one question for you, just one."

I can see the storm brewing behind his hard green gaze, and I brace myself, knowing what's coming. He takes a deep breath, then spits out the words that slice through me like a knife.

"Are you and Gabi together?"

"What? No, Gio, Gabi and I...we're not..."

He cuts me off again, shaking his head. "That's not the real question, Jacob."

He glances up, his eyes meeting mine again.

"Don't fucking lie to me, Jacob. Tell me. Who's the father of Gabi's baby? I know you know who it is."

Time seems to freeze, the weight of his question pressing down on me like a ton of bricks.

It hits me then that Gabi's attempt to explain things away as a one-night stand to Gio didn't wash. He never would have believed I could be that one-night stand.

The truth is wrapping around my throat like a noose. I can't speak.

And even if I wanted to lie, I couldn't. I can't lie to Gio.

He knows me too well, and he can see it in my eyes.

I hang my head, defeated. The silence stretches between us, broken only by the sound of our heavy breathing.

Finally, I lift my gaze to meet his again. "I know who it is."

As soon as the words leave my mouth, my shoulders sag. The weight of keeping this secret has been suffocating, and finally letting it out feels like a breath of fresh air.

I'm about to confess, the words are on the tip of my tongue, when suddenly the locker room door swings open, and Halstead, the team's resident comedian, strolls in like he owns the place.

"Hey, fellas! What’s with the long faces? Did someone eat the last donut?"

"Get out, Halstead!" Gio and I shout in unison, our voices echoing off the locker room walls.

Halstead's grin fades a little, but he doesn't move. "I can't," he says, a rare note of seriousness creeping into his voice. "Gio, your sister's outside. She’s freaking out."

The gravity of his words hits us like a freight train. Panic flickers in Gio's eyes, matching the sudden icy dread in my chest. We both start firing off questions at Halstead like machine guns.

"What do you mean she's panicked?"

"Is she hurt? Did something happen?"

"Is it the baby?"

"Where is she? Tell us now!"

Halstead holds up his hands. "Whoa, whoa! Chill the hell out! She's okay...physically. But you really need to see her. She's waiting by the vending machines."

Gio doesn’t waste a moment, whipping around and bolting for the door. I’m hot on his heels, my heart pounding. Halstead's words ring ominously in my ears as we race down the hall.

We skid to a halt in front of the vending machines, nearly colliding with each other along the way.

And then suddenly there she is.

Gabi.

With her wild chocolate brown hair and frantic emerald eyes.

“Gabi, what's going on?” I blurt, nearly tripping over my own feet.

“Are you okay? What's wrong?” Gio asks, edging me out with his shoulder to get closer.

Gabi puts up her hands, and we freeze like two guilty schoolboys caught by the principal. Her green eyes flick between us, serious and unwavering.

“Stop it, both of you."

My heart is thudding in my chest as I stare at her. I hate how pained her voice sounds.

My words are almost a whisper. “Gabi, please. Just tell us. What's wrong."

She takes a deep breath, steadying herself. “It's Nonna." Her ample chest rises and falls as her gaze flickers between her brother and me. “She's in the hospital.”