When we hear the music come on and then the roaring, we get up to go and check what is going on. I’m not even at the door when I see Matthew’s picture on the jumbotron. His face is hard, his eyes ready while he skates around, making sure his skates are exactly how he wants them to be.
I hear a couple of girls in the box next to me. “Holy shit, he’s hotter than I thought he would be,” one of them says while another vows to find his dick size by the end of the month.
I roll my eyes while my hand itches to point the fuck you finger at them. It’s the last girl that makes me lose my shit.
“I heard his cock is like a baseball bat. I know a girl who slept with him in Cali. Well, him and another teammate tag teamed her. I think she has pictures.”
I walk away before I tell them to keep fucking dreaming.
I grab another glass of wine, taking my phone out to text Vivienne.
I can’t go to these games alone. I almost bitch slapped a girl for knowing someone who fucked Matthew.
You know it is only going to get worse. I Googled him and there are about a gazillion pictures of him but none are with any women.
LIAR.
Okay, fine, none of him with the same woman twice.
ASSHOLE.
Him or me?
Both. I’m going to check Google now.
NO. DON’T DO THAT TO YOURSELF.
I think it’s best if I don’t do it. At least not now. Maybe when we are together.
I don’t have time to think of anything else but the game because the lights go down as the singer comes out to sing the national anthem. After that it’s game on. The first period, Matthew starts on shaky legs, messing up with a pass in the neutral zone, making the other team have a breakaway. Thankfully, the goalie is on fire, stopping it. He skates to the bench, his head down, his shoulders slumped, the hockey stick taking a beating when he smashes it on the boards before sitting on the bench.
The second period they come out with the same push and pull as before till Matthew intercepts a pass at the defense line. He skates up to the puck ahead of the defenseman toe dragging the puck through his skates and coming one on one with the goalie, shooting it just above his pad, hitting the net.
The building goes crazy. The fans are on their feet. I throw my hands straight over my head, yelling at the top of my lungs. Matthew celebrates by skating with one foot bent at the knee in the front while he roars with happiness.
His teammates all go to him, celebrating with him, then they skate over to the bench, high-fiving everyone on the bench. One guy puts his glove in Matthew’s face. His smile lights up his whole face.
The smile that lights up the room is now looking directly at me. He spots me and winks. The camera catches it and everyone in the arena is thinking that it’s for them, but deep down I know it’s all for me.
Chapter Seven
Matthew
I’m a nervous fucking wreck walking into the locker room. I grab a bottle of Gatorade, opening it and taking a big gulp. The media is all over, snapping pictures, watching my every move.
I’m introduced to the team. Some I know and have played with or against. The starting goalie, Luka, gets up to greet me, shaking my hand. “Welcome to the team,” he says while I nod.
Another teammate Phil gets up, coming to me. “Can’t wait to see what you’ve got.” I don’t say anything because my mouth has become suddenly dry.
The star defenseman Paul comes up to me. “Hey, golden boy.” He smirks at me. I’ve played against him many times before. I’m happy to say that I’ve beat him most of the time. “Glad you’re on my side now,” he says, turning around to tell stories of when I used to zip by him.
The star of the team, Max, comes up to me, his smirk coming out. “I don’t know what the big fuss is, but let’s see what you can do.”
I immediately want to knock his teeth out. His smirk is more like a leer. He comes closer to my ear so only I can hear, “You don’t fool me. You’re a has-been. Just a matter of time before everyone sees it.” He smacks me on the shoulder and walks away.
Brendan, another star on the team, sees this and looks at me. “Don’t take too much of what Max says. He hates it when someone tries to steal his thunder.”
“Don’t want to steal anyone’s anything. I just want to play the game,” I say, going to the cubby where I see my name on it. All my equipment is laid out for me. I shrug my suit jacket off taking my workout gear and heading into the room to change. Usually I would undress in front of the guys, but the press is in there and I need a second to breathe. Once I’m in my workout gear, I walk out of the room where I hear Karrie’s voice.