The Hot Hockey Player

Chapter 12 - Madeline 🌸

"Sorry, where can I find the ice rink" I ask a random girl in the streets after classes.

Sofia had to go to her part-time job quickly after classes ended. She tried to explain to me where to find the ice rink but in vain. Because Jude is in a professional team, the ice rink's outside college. Hence, me being lost. The rink is not far away but I can't walk for the life of me, without getting lost. First, I have a poor memory when it comes to directions. Second, I don't know how to find my way in wide open spaces. Let's just say I have a really crappy sense of direction. For exemple, if I'm in a shopping avenue and go in a store, when I leave I don't know where to go. I kind of accepted my fate over time.

The girl kindly shows me where to go and it looks like I'm closer than I thought. Maybe not entirely hopeless after all. I thank her and start walking towards where she points.

I slow my pace and start thinking about Jude. But I understand, I'm kind of meddling in things that aren't my business. Still, I'm glad we have a truce. I don't really know why I agreed, though. Normally, I back off the moment someone says something like that to me. But with him, I don't. I stay. I even answered back, which is unusual for me. And honestly, he seems really eager to be forgiven. I have to admit, deep down, I want to say yes. So, I did. 

I don't know him. At all. Except maybe for facts everyone could find online. That's how I proceed. And well... he's handsome, that earns him a point. When our eyes locked, I couldn't look away. I didn't want to. His gaze had me spellbound, completely captivated. Beautiful, just like him.

I try to imagine him in his hockey gear and it's doing something to my body. A lot of things. Even if there's nothing hot in this equipment. I quickly shake my head. Now is not the time to think about such things. We're going to eat something, talk a bit. I'm going to listen to him give me an apology —if that's still what he wants to do— and that's going to be over. Everyone will resume to their usual routine.

I don't want to !

But maybe I'll have to.

Soon enough, I'm standing in front of the ice rink. And I'm wondering how on earth I couldn't remember something this huge. This is were the team practices on ice. For the strength aspect of their sport, they use our college gym because it appears to be one of the best in the area.

I see people making their entrance in there : mothers with their kids, entire families, friends. There's actually a steady stream of people,  even older couples walking hand in hand. I find myself smiling at them, wishing I could have had the half of what they have. I'm envious but I accepted the fact that I didn't have this and I'll maybe never have it. One thing for sure is that I will never repeat my parent's mistakes and I'll try my best to be anything but like them. I'm not staying here one minute more because if I do, I'll start overthinking and it will take days for me to get back to my normal self. I don't want to go down the rabbit hole. It's never good.

I don't even know if I can go in there. I don't think so, I'm not a family membre nor anyone really. Just a random girl, whom fainted on a plane full of hockeys players and one in particular : The hot hockey player. As I check the time on my phone, I know he won't be really long. I'm just outside the rink and I can hear the shouts of the player. On the other side of the professional rink are two public rinks, which explains the crowd. I don't know what to do but I don't want to stay on my feet for too long, so I just sit on the ground and wait for something, anything. 

Two girls run towards the rink where Jude ans his team are. They see me but only one of them stop.

"Katia, are you coming ?" The other one calls out to her friend. I'm not making assumptions but I'd bet the first girl is pregnant. I'm sure she is actually. She's cute. Long wavy brown falling down her back and eyes to match. She isn't wearing any makeup but she doesn't need it. She's naturally beautiful.