The Hot Hockey Player

Chapter 6 - Madeline 🌸

No freaking way I just meet with Colin in a cute restaurant because I was hungry. That is destiny.

"How... ?" I ask confused.

"Why.. ?" Colin tries to ask at the same time. "You first," he says with a hand gesture towards me.

We're up and because of the shock, my legs are shaking so bad. I decide to sit down. He imitates me and we are now facing each other not having a table for two because we basically choose to be loners tonight. I am actually a bit intimidated. I don't know why...It's weird. I was all like yes if I met them or one of them again, I'll excuse myself AGAIN but now that Colin is actually facing me, it is weird and a bit scary.

"I live here now ?" I say more like a question than an affirmation.

"Really ? That's great !" he exclaims still very happy like I am his best friend from a long time which I don't really get.

"You think so? Sorry, that was mean. It's just... we don't really know each other and you seem really content with my presence. Why ?" I ask, now really confused.

"Because since the day we saw you on that plane, I knew I'll see you again. Do not ask me how but I always got those moments of certainty. Guess, my instinct was right about you too," he says way too kindly for me not to believe him. "And it'll be nice to have another diabetic's friend here." he adds a bit shy like he is really happy to know another diabetic person but also ashamed for thinking that way.

I can't help myself but say something to reassure him. I am not even lying. So am I grateful to finally meet another diabetic person and that it's happening in this town.  "I am really happy to know another person like me. And even more because it's you. I got that very same feeling on the plane. You seemed like a kind person and guess I wasn't wrong either," I tell him with a smile.

He then finally sit back down and we talk. He first asks me if I always lived here. I tell him that I have to travel a lot with my parents's job ; that it is a bit complicated and don't know how to explain it to him, that it is very boring anyway bla-bla-bla. Basically I just lie to his face but I don't want to explain to him how and why I got here. So I just tell him that I wanted to stay at my brother's for a change and that I am going to the same college as him. And weirdly enough, we are in the same major, which is super cool. Obviously, he quickly gets that I searched him up, which make me blush and make him laugh. Again. But that's nice, having someone other than my brother to laugh with.

I also learn a bit more about the man and his life with the disease we both share. He was diagnosed at the age of 10 and we are the same age. So I've got more experience which I tell him so and that makes him laugh again. He's a good audience and that's pleasing enough to not want to stop talking to him. He then asks me how it is to live with diabetes as a kid and now, as an adult. Once more, I don't or can't go into details and just tell him it wasn't always easy but I had to made it anyway, otherwise I wasn't going nowhere in life. 

My answer has its part of truth. I can tell he doesn't fully believe me, or at least understand me but he doesn't seem to be the type of guy too curious which I am gladly taking.

"Are you doing better than that day on the plane ?," he questions concerned.

"Yes, yes everything's fine." I answer enthusiastically. That is my chance to apologize again. God really loves me today. "And thank you again. To you, your friend, the doctor of your team. Everyone. I don't know how I would have ended up if it wasn't for you. I know that giving up you GlucaGen Kit is a risky move when you're traveling away so thank you." I conclude sincerely.

"No big deal really. I bet you would have done the same," he says.

"I would have."

The night goes on and so our conversation. It seems I have a lot more in common with that boy than I think. We both like to read, to eat and to travel. When he doesn't have any game — mostly during summer — he enjoys traveling with his friends or his family ; which makes me envious.

Because I never had that chance. Everything is either too expensive, or the time isn't with us. Oh, Dad has to move away for work. No, mom won't go. Matthew got away every chance he gets. And here I was, Maddy the little girl going to her grand-parents house for holidays. 

Back then, I didn't unlike it. I truly love my grands-parents. When I am there, it is the perfect family picture. And it is the only type of traveling I've yet experienced. They live in Nashville. 

But as a little girl, I also wanted to enjoy those holidays with my parents and my brother. Never happened and trust me, never will. Our grandparents help us pay for the medical supplies. They once propose to pay for our — Matthew and I — plane tickets from when we moved to London. My parents never wanted to. And honestly I think I needed to decline the opportunity to get away too. My parents got in my head way too much and to prevent them from being mean to me, the only solution I found back then was to work my ass off during holidays to compensate and pay for my insulin. They were afraid the social services will get to them if I died or if I dreamed one day to report them. So obviously at 14, I wasn't doing enough money to support my needs and they helped me. What was strictly needed. Nothing more, but maybe less. For exemple, when Matthew did, they wouldn't. And vice-versa. I knew Matthew wasn't not helping on purpose. He had to set aside money for himself. My parents were doing it on purpose and that was an entire other story.

When I was old enough to have a real job, I did and stopped going over to my grandparents' house. They used to come too, but my mom's parents never liked my dad and as much efforts they gave, it was never given back by both my parents. 

So, the relations were and are still cranky. Now that I am back in Nashville, I know I have to go and see them. But first, I still got to make money. I have enough to supply myself for a few months but I need to find a job, and soon. I am not going to stick to Matthew for help, not when it isn't vital anymore. 

"Colin to Madeline, are you there ?" Colin says, shaking his hand in front of my face, bringing me out of my slumber. 

I blink twice before answering "Yes, yes sorry. I just got lost in my thoughts." 

He doesn't seem to believe me but yet again, doesn't try to make me tell him what is happening. I can't believe, the only mention of traveling got me lost so far from our initial conversation. I shake my head before looking to the wall clock behind Colin and I realize how late it is. Shit. It is 11 pm and Matthew might start to be worried if I don't get back home... like right now.

"I should go, it's late and my brother might worry," I explain to Colin as I got up. He does the same and pull a light denim jacket. He still has his glasses and cap on his head. And it might be super cliche, but with all those accessories, I can't tell it's him. He seems to be pretty famous around here so I understand.

We're heading towards the exit. "It was really great seeing and talking to you again Madeline."

"Maddie. You can call me Maddie. And it was really great seeing you again too. Hope we'll see each other on campus more often," I tell him without a second thought.

Shit. Maybe he really doesn't want to be seen outside with me and was just being kind. I know he isn't mean and I sense we both enjoy this moment. But maybe that stops here...

I try to explain myself before he cuts me off "Or not, if you don't want too. I'am so sorry, I just assumed—"

"Maddie," he says a hand grabbing my wrist. "Of course I'd like to hang out with you again, on and off campus. I was actually debating to ask you the same. Guess, we're really alike," he shares with excitement hardly contained in his words.

It makes me laugh and I hug him before waving at him and making my way back to Matthew's. He calls me not even two seconds later. I hear his voice even though there were a lot of people outside. Yes it is a bit late but it is truly good to see a lot of young people hanging out, drinking, eating, laughing. I am going to be one of them too. And it fells about right. Like I finally can live my life. I turn and wait for him to talk.

"I am not the only one who's gonna be happy you're here. See you !" he quickly adds with a wink, leaving me confused. I frown at him and I can't even ask him what he means by that, because he is now hidden in a mass of people. 

As I am opening the door to the house and sending a message to Matthew to tell him I am back home, I still try to understand what Colin meant by that. How is it possible for him not to be the only one to be—

Oh god.

I never thought about him. But I just did.