The Hot Hockey Player

Chapter 32 - Madeline🌸

After our little getaway in seventh heaven, we're still in bed. It's almost noon so we'll need to get up soon. I don't think I've entirely processed the fact that Jude's going to be away for two weeks. It seems like a lot of time but somehow, not that much. What are two weeks in a lifetime ? For some, it might be a lot, and I used to be one of those people. But now that I have someone in my life to care about besides my brother, I think I need to change the way I see things.

Jude's finger traces lazy, soft patterns along my arm, sending a comforting warmth through me. He's spooning me, his chest pressed firmly against my back and I like that. I like the security it brings. I like the way I feel in his arms. Happy. Loved. 

I close my eyes, breathing in his scent, letting myself sink into this moment we're sharing. It's one of those moments where no words are needed. Just the two of us like this feels perfect, like time has paused for us.  I'm slowly drifting to sleep, his gentle patterns not really helping to keep me awake. I can't let myself doze off though. I need to drive him and Colin to the airport. 

Fun fact, I didn't even have a driver license back in England. I started my classes online and after moving back here, I had my driving lessons. I successfully passed a few days ago. I can tell that Jude is not really reassured that I'll be driving his beloved car but hey, I got so start somewhere. I'm not confident about many things in my life, but I think I'll manage driving just fine. I think I'm a decent driver and even my brother says it. He let me drive his car a few weeks back and I nailed it. 

Anyway, my mind drifts to the boys and I'm still amazed by how incredible they are as athletes. Colin's ability to manage both his condition and the demands of being a high-level athlete is insane. And there's Jude. I can't help but be in awe with him. He's just so dedicated to his sport. His resilience is nothing but inspiring. He told me once that hockey is his whole life. He's getting a degree in business but only as a backup plan if anything goes wrong with his path in hockey. Since he was a boy, he dreamed of becoming a professional hockey player. He's worked tirelessly to make that dream a reality. And he did it. I've never wanted to be an athlete so I might not fully understand the sacrifices coming with it, but but I know what it means to pour your heart into something you really want.

Jude worked twice as hard as others to make it happen. The fact that he's dyslexic might be his biggest challenge. It has been, it still is, and I'm pretty sure it will be in the future. But it's nothing he can't overcome. He repeated a year in school, had to put in more effort than every other kid, managed to secure a scholarship, and still had to work hard if he wants to keep it. Which clearly made his schedule hectic as hell and I'm not exaggerating when I say that his schedule is already tight. 

The bullying quite helped when he was younger. I was shocked when he told me that, because bullying isn't supposed to help you. It's meant to break you. And yet somehow, Jude did what I consider to be impossible. I still don't know how he managed it, but the bullying became his strength.He turned every mean word, every jab, into fuel. He would brush it away and keep moving forward. If someone told him something was too difficult for him, he'd try it anyway. 

I vividly remember him telling me once, 'Sometimes we lose, sometimes we learn. But I didn't want to give up until I'd tried and I applied that motto to everything in my life. And naively maybe  I'd like to think I didn't do too badly.' 

And I couldn't agree more.

Even now, it's still a bit challenging on him, but he managed to get a routine to work and handle the pressure. For starters, he regularly meets with a specialist to help him in his everyday life. He doesn't exactly need to see him everyday, but he wants to be better. Every time. So he's working on little details to avoid any traumatic, too stressful situations.