The Hot Hockey Player

Chapter 9 - Madeline 🌸

"Sofia.. I don't know. I really want it too but you know how my situation was back then and I still struggle with money, still don't have a job. It would be complicated and I don't want to be a burden." I try to explain to her, worrying she might take it the wrong way.

She tries again with an embarrassed grin. "I know I know, I mean I kind of guessed."

 Even that, I don't take it wrong. I don't have the latest fashion clothes but I still consider dressing pretty and decent, which is all that matters for me. And I know for a fact that she isn't specifically referring to that but to the fact that I am diabetic and except for the hypothesis that I'll win one day the lottery, I am not becoming magically rich anytime soon and I didn't overtime. 

She persists. "But do you want to live with me ? Answer with yes or No. What do you really want ?" 

"Of course I want to ! And I would sign for it right away if I could," I announce pretty sure of myself.

"Really ?" she asked one last time as she seems to have an idea in mind.

I hold her hands. "Really Sofia." 

My hands still holding hers, she seems relieved. "Okay, then let's make a deal." 

I close my eyes. "Sofia..."

We're out of the library and we are walking towards the building. I have to stop because I can't walk and try to reason her.

"No please ! Listen to me, you'll love my idea," she tries to convince me which is kind of working. 

I really want to live with her, it might be good for Matthew not to have me around that much. He could do whatever he wants to, having his girl over. Because I'm finally in peace with the idea that he doesn't want to present me to her right now. Maybe one day, but not right now and that's okay. The fact I have my brother and that he listens to me is enough. But I need to let him live his life. It'd been a few years since we were two peas in a pod and a team. I have to let go of that feeling and start embracing that new one. So I let her talk.

"I pay the first six months. The entire rent. You know I've got money. Not that I meant to show off in front of you, you know it but fact is I do. And so you'll pay me back every month from the seventh month adding a bit to your part everytime. And if you have financial problems one month, that's okay. You take your time but I am giving you a calendar, that way you won't consider it as a huge unacceptable favor."

I don't really like the fact that if I agree with her terms and conditions, she'll be paying the bill for the next six months but it isn't actually a bad idea. At all. And it will give me a goal. When I was younger, I used to have a calendar. I gave a bit every month to my parents and a gift here and there to my brother thanking them for paying for my insulin. I always had things sorted out. I tried the best I could. So her idea works with me. 

"I'll pay for the groceries every time at least," I tell her in a voice that left no choice.

"Deal. We're gonna be roomies !" she squeals happily, jumping on the spot.

I laugh. People might be taking us for idiots but at least two happy idiots.

We finally head to class and I am so happy having her back that I don't pay attention to anything else around me. The morning goes smoothly and we soon find ourselves on our way to the cafeteria.

We find an empty spot and sit down. We begin to eat, still talking about the lost time. I don't want to tell her about my life in London. If I have to do it, then I want us to be alone to talk about it. There is way too much people for me to talk openly. But I do tell her a few things, like how hard it was sometimes, how Matthew leaving me to come back here made me feel. Jealous, Angry, Sad. I went through every emotion imaginable but I understood his need to go away. Really.

At the mention of Matthew and my conflicted feelings, I see hers showing on her face "I thought I saw him in the hospital the other day. But I didn't want to make a fool of myself so I never asked him. I should have, I would have contacted you sooner."

Regret maybe ? 

"But it's better that way. It's even better we got to meet at college, chose the same major and are going to be roommates. Never know what would have happened if you talked to him that day." I try to reason her. Maybe I wouldn't have come back here, maybe I would have never left. I don't know and I don't want to know. I'm content enough with how things turned out. 

"You're right. You're right," Sofia finally abdicates. "Oh and how was your flight ? When did you come back to Nashville ?" She asks me innocently. I choke on my food because it was a funny flight. Real funny.

"Did I said something wrong or what ?" she asks confused.

"No, no," I try to tell her but a fucking piece of zucchini is now stuck in my throat. "I just went all diabetic on the plane and I had to be saved by a team of hockey players. What's really funny is that two and maybe more of their players are students here." 

"No way ! Who are they ? Who are they ?," she almost screams at me really excited to know who those boys are, making me laugh again. I don't think I laughed this much since a long time. It feels good. I can't wait to tell her too, really happy to finally have someone to talk with. 

I can't help the smile forming on my lips as she's waiting for a name with nothing but anticipation "Jude Miller and Colin Rodriguez."

She can't even answer back and just has time to open her mouth while shaking her hands frantically — it seems she knows who I am talking about — when a deep voice speaks behind me as someone else places their tray in the place next to mine "Did I just hear my name over here ?"