The Hot Hockey Player

Chapter 14 - Jude🏒

After our weird encounter with Reyes, we got out of the rink. We took my car and I drove us to the restaurant. We're now seated and it seems to be the same restaurant she and Colin had met a few weeks ago. I'm not jealous of my best friend but knowing he saw her before I had a chance too, just makes things weird in my stomach. 

Okay, maybe it's jealousy but how can it be when I swore off that feeling two years ago ? Why did it came back crawling to me since I saw Madeline in the plane. I don't want to admit it because I've known the girl since what ? Less than a day ? Still, I think she does something to me or to my brain because I'm clearly not reacting as I should.

And how should you react. 

Fucking conscience. 

The one thing raising my hopes is the fact we've been laughing since the beginning of the night. I haven't apologized yet, too caught up in the moment but as soon as we calm down a bit, I will. Now, I just want to hear her laugh at my silly jokes. It brings me joy, much more than I care to admit. Hearing her laugh makes me happy so I can just imagine how happy I'll be if she were in my arms. All day and all night. A shiver running down my spine makes me realize in what mess I'm about to find myself in. The mess of feelings.

"I hope I'm better company than Colin," I tell her playfully while we're waiting for our food.

She taps her chin with one of her finger as if she's really thinking about it. "Depends on how you define the word "better". Are you better than Colin or... are you a better date in general, with all girls ?"

I smirk, enjoying her little play. "Is there any difference between the two ?"

Honestly, I couldn't care less. I know I'm better, period. But I don't want to scare her off, so I go along with her little game.

She smirks back at me. It's the first time I see that sparkling glint on her face. It suits her. It makes her look less innocent and more adventurous. "No, I just made that up. But you're good".

My eyes are glued to her lips. Her bright red lips, perfectly matching her green eyes. So fierce and yet so delicate. She's truly beautiful. I absorb her words as if it's a potion. A potion crafted to bewitch me and I can feel myself slipping further under its spell. I'll soon be all hers if we continue down that road. Fast. My mind screams for me to take it slow, to proceed with caution  But my heart doesn't want to. It races in my chest, urging me to dive in headfirst, as if it knows something I don't. 

The tension builds within me, a mix of tentation and maybe apprehension ? I can feel the air crackles in the air and the tension seems to leave my body to take a place between us, thick with unspoken desires. 

I approach slowly. Just enough so my face is now only a millimeter away from her lips. The perks of being seated next to her, "Only good ?"

I'm afraid of my feelings and yet here am I, flirting with her.

She is flustered, "Well— no. I mean You're good yes. I mean great and— and handsome. Crap !"

She quickly cover her mouth with both her hands. Guess, she never meant to let me know that fact. So handsome huh ?

I try to hide my smile but I can't. She playfully hits my arm and I can't not laugh anymore.

"Can we please forget I ever said that ?" she asks me with red staining her cheeks.

Beautiful.

I want to appease her suffering "Of course. But just to be clear, about the fact that I'm good, great or handsome ?"

It sounds like music to my ears. I often hear all those things : great, strong, handsome and many more similar adjectives. It's flattering and I'm grateful for the support. But hearing those words from her carries a weight of its own. I'm now beginning to understand what Zack and John feel when their wives compliment them, support them during training, games, life. It gives you a sort of feeling you don't feel coming from your fans. And yet, she's not even my girlfriend. What is it about her that effects me so deeply ?