But when I get to Dominik’s box, the attendant there holds his hand up as I approach. “I’m sorry, Miss Monahan,” he informs me, clearly having been given instruction if I show up. “But the box is full tonight. I understand you have good seats down on the ice.”
Oh my God, this is humiliating. Dominik has actually gotten one of his employees to thwart me. I can’t even imagine what this guy has been told.
“I just need to speak to Dominik for a moment,” I say, grasping at straws. “If I can just pop in—”
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Carlson isn’t even in the box tonight,” he replies. “And, as I said, it’s full.”
I stare suspiciously. “You wouldn’t just be telling me that so I’ll leave, would you?”
The man looks offended. “I most certainly would not.”
“Because I’d understand if Dominik told you to keep me away,” I continue.
“Miss Monahan… the box has been given to another party to use tonight. Mr. Carlson is actually availing himself of regular arena seats tonight.”
I look back toward the escalator that leads to the main seating level, then back to the attendant. “He’s sitting with the regular crowd? Where?”
“I don’t know where his seats are,” he replies stiffly. “I only know the box is in private use, and Mr. Carlson asked me to let anyone who usually sits up here know that it’s unavailable tonight.”
Maybe he has a seat down where we’re all at.
Maybe he’s chosen to sit down there with me.
It’s a good sign, I’m sure.
“Thank you,” I gush to the attendant before taking off back through the arena.
I’m huffing and puffing as I make my way to our seats. I’m disappointed that I don’t see Dominik, but there are still some empty seats around. It’s a good fifteen minutes before the game starts.
I sit down next to Regan, halfheartedly listening as she goes on about how excited she is. I keep watching the seats around us filling up with no sign of Dominik. I take to scouring the crowd, peering around the entire arena, hoping I can spot him.
It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack, and for all I know, the attendant could have been lying.
Or he could have been telling me the truth as he knows it, given to him directly by Dominik.
Regardless, by the time the puck is dropped and the game starts, a few things are impossibly clear.
Dominik does not want to talk to me.
Dominik most certainly doesn’t want to see me.
There’s even a chance he’s doing this to purposefully hurt me, the way I hurt him.
Most importantly is the realization that the crushing weight on my chest and the hurt deep within me is the most awful thing I’ve ever experienced. No one has ever managed to hurt me this way, and I feel completely destroyed.CHAPTER 26DominikI sit in the lobby of the hotel waiting on the bus to arrive with my team from the airport. Normally, I would have been on the plane with them from Phoenix to Raleigh as we head into games three and four of the Cup finals, but I needed to make a visit to New York City for some business dealings.
Despite the fact the Vengeance took games one and two, I have no expectations we’re going to sweep the series by winning three and four. I mean, it would be nice and the headlines would be amazing, but the truth is the Cold Fury is our toughest possible opponent. Games one and two were bitterly fought battles, and they could have gone either way, to be honest. I expect the play will be just as intense during the next two games, but the Cold Fury will be on home ice and have the advantage of the crowd behind them.
Regardless, we’re in the thick of things now, and all I can do is continue to have faith in my team.
Admittedly, I’ve had a bit of a difficult time putting my full energy into anything lately. The victories in games one and two were incredible, but they also felt bittersweet because of the way things had ended with Willow. I’m still pissed, yet I miss her. I don’t think we have a future, and I’m angry we don’t.
Angry at Willow and myself because I can’t seem to think past my own hurt. In my mind, things are black and white. I proposed and confessed my love. She shot me down, which means she clearly doesn’t love me back.
I should let it go and move on, yet I’m wallowing like a fucking loser.
I have no clue what Willow’s thinking. She tried hard the day after we broke up to initiate more conversation, but I wasn’t ready. Didn’t want to talk to her or hear all over again that hopefully one day she could get to the spot I’m at. I mean, how fucking offensive is that… that maybe with a lot of hard work and perhaps a bit of luck, she might be able to fall in love with me?