The Hot Hockey Player

Chapter 19 - Jude 🏒

I'm not even thinking when I grab him by the collar and take him outside. Were we on the rink, I doubt it would have happened that way. Reyes orJohn would have probably stop me. But we're not. I can hear Madeline's voice calling me as I take long strides towards the exit, William's shirt still in my hands and he's literally letting himself be dragged. William finally tries to get out of my grip but I'm stronger than he thinks. By the time I reach outside, he stops fighting. Not even one minute after, Maddy, Sofia and the rest of the guys join us ; lunch long time forgotten. Still, my girl needs to eat. I check my watch. I have less than thirty minutes to show this guy what he get himself into.

When I raise my head, the first thing I see is Madeline and worry's written all over her face. "Please, don't do anything you might regret Jude," she asks with such emotion. "Don't beat him too much for that."

I let William go unwillingly and wait for Maddy to get closer. I'm shocked. How can she think that I'd be the violent type ? Coldly I answer, "I'm angry Madeline, not mad nor crazy and no idiot."

Her features softens. "This is not what I meant. I know you're not a violent person. Just... Don't be too hard on him, that's what I meant."

Oh... I see and understand now. I blush a bit, knowing I shouldn't have jump to conclusions and I'll apologize later for making assumptions. I hear her now but our friend Willy seems to be the only one who doesn't. So naturally, he opens his mouth when not required to speak. He scoffs, "Even your girl thinks you're a beast."

Okay. Now, I'm done with him. I'm going to see Coach after training. It can't just pretend everything's fine with the kid. As I've said, I'm not a violent person but right now, my fists are practically itching. It's hard not to do something about it. But I'm more than a fool who only knows how to solve his problems with his fists. So, I try to calm down, take a deep breath and truth be told, Maddy's hand on mine helps a lot.

I straighten up, locking eyes with William as I prepare to speak, my voice calm but sharp,"You've got your share of problems, I get that. We all do actually. But listen up man because I've had enough. Where did you think that protecting yourself with arrogance and pushing away everyone who actually wants to know and help you is the right way to handle things ? What exactly do you think you're achieving here ?" He's just about to open his mouth but I don't give him the chance. 

"I'm not fucking done," I say my voice unwavering, "t's been a month since you're here and I've tried to be as kind as possible because I know how all of this can be... challenging. But it's done now. You've had your chances and right now ? You have none left."

Colin's eyebrows furrows with worry, "Jude..."

I cut him off with a sharp voice. "No, I'll talk to coach right after training today." I don't like to put on my captaincy and I barely do it. So this is a big deal and the guys knows it. But nobody's contesting my decision, except —obviously— Colin.

He whispers in my ear, so I'm the only one to hear what he has to say. "Dude, you're going too far. The kid obviously behave like that for a reason. Whether it's a good one or not."

I run a hand through my hair and sigh. "We all have our share of problems Colin, that's no reason to drag others down and make them suffer along with us. If he needs help, even if he won't ask for it, he can at least allow people to try and break out his shell. Or not even that, he can simply not be a dick."

"I don't need help," William says in a trembling tone and he walks off. Where to ? I don't know.

I look at Colin as a way to say See ? But I don't know why, an unsettling feeling washes over me. Maybe, and just maybe I should have handle this a tad differently. I sigh again and look at my watch. To hell the 'I will solve this in 20 minutes'. 10 minutes have passed and I didn't fix anything. I only made it more difficult.