The Hot Hockey Player

Chapter 36 - Jude 🏒

"Jude! For God's sake!" Madeline's voice cut through the phone, panicked. 

I can see why she's freaked out. I don't look so good. What am I saying. I know I look like hell — black eye, split lip and my ribs aching like I've been passed over by a truck. 

The Avalanche ? Somehow, they got mad we were leading and went berserk. The ref was clean but even with that, it didn't change a thing. No matter how many times they were called into the penalty box. But we've won nonetheless. I've already played against them. They used to be good guys but since their coach changed and basically the entire team, something changed*. Anyway that's a story for another time.

So, yeah, I took a bad hit during the third period earlier. The moment replays in my head and I still don't understand how all of it happened. 

Colin had passed me the puck so I'm basically skating through the neutral zone with it glued to my stick. It was a clean feed, and I was feeling fucking good and I knew I had a good shot. I was looking right ahead so I couldn't have made a stupid mistake. No way. 

A hockey rink is not really big and I'm fast, my first steps are really fast and I'm not joking about it. That's one of my strengths and I'm glad to brag about it. And then, BOOM.

I fucking got blindsided by a body check. A man — I'm not proud to say — bigger than me and obviously who came in like he wanted a war. He came out of nowhere, from the right and probably in my blind spot. I couldn't have avoided him. Even the fastest of the man in the NHL couldn't have. He slammed into me with such a force that it clearly knocked me out. I don't remember much but I never stood a chance. And, I don't think my stance was stable, meaning I was still pushing on one of my legs.

Everything went sideways. I hit the ice, with a scary deafening noise. I only remember that, during the fall, my helmet came off my head and the back of my head hit the rink. Hard. I tasted blood as if filled my mouth. I also remember John's face hovering above mine, panic filling his expression. Then nothing.  

I have a few bruises here and there. But what annoys me is my broken rib, my black eye and this fucking headache. I have a minor concussion, or at least that's what Meredith told me and apparently, this is surprisingly good, considering the impact. Which means I have a strong head. I try and joke about it with Maddy but she doesn't get it.

"It's not funny Jude ! You could have been seriously more injured. What the hell was that ref thinking, not stopping the game ?!" She whispers-yells.

She's funny. She keeps brooding and I just watch her, amused, despite the pounding in my skull. It even looks like she's shouting but she's whispering. I should rest and avoid light but I can't tear my eyes away from her. Eventually, the pain is too much. So as soon as I know she's a bit less worried (a bit being the key word), I reach for the switch, the movement making me groan and dim the lights. 

Here. Better. And I can still look at her.  

"Why are you looking at me like that ?" Maddy asks me with furrow eyebrows.

"Because you're pretty," I say, grinning despite the pain. "And funny when you're angry." 

She doesn't answer for a few seconds and finally, she sighs. "You must have hit your head pretty hard, seing all that nonsense coming out of your mouth."

It's my turn to scowl. "Maddy," I warn. I don't have the strength nor the energy. "You're the prettiest person I've ever met. And of the story."

"But—"

I cut her off with a wince. "My head hurts."

Guilt take over her pretty face but she gets it. She rolls her eyes, pretending to sulk. But the smile trying to make its way tells me otherwise.