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.

"Fine, I'll drop it. For now !" She adds up in a hurry, her finger pointed toward me through the screen.

"Yeah, yeah."

She smiles back at me. She's walking. Certainly from work. I'm eager to hear about her day. "How was your day ? Something new ?" I ask, curious despite my exhaustion.

Her face shifts for a bit. And for a second, I think I'm imagining it. The way the smile on her face dropped ? Weird. But if she wants to tell me, she would.

"Fine," she answers eventually. "Just a long day at work."

She told me she's fine. She's a bit tired and I don't give it much more thought. If she wants to tell me, she will. I turn on my right side or at least I try too. I groan as pain shoots through my ribs and somehow my head. It's like a construction site in here. She mutters an 'easy, easy' with a worried voice.

"Don't worry, I'm much more resilient than I look like." I tell her, trying to flex my left arm.

She chuckles softly, amused by my behavior. "But you're human."

My own smiles soften, amazed by the love she's showing me every day. "You don't know that."

She keeps her soft tone while there's a bit of a teasing vibe before saying, "Okay, Superman."

I laugh or try to. I put down my phone on my nightstand, staring right at the window. It doesn't really hurt like this. The meds I guess, but maybe talking to Maddy is some kind of medicine too. I can feel myself drifting to sleep and I know I won't be able to hold this conversation much longer. Still, I'd like to get home with her.

"How much time before you're home ?" I ask her after yawning.

"Not too long. Five minutes tops," she answers, still looking at me. "Jude, you can go to sleep if you want too. You need it. Hope you're not sleeping alone though."

"Nah, don't worry. Mommy Colin will be here in a few."

She looks amused by the nickname I gave my best friend. Colin was worried as hell earlier. I don't think I've even seen him like that. Usually, this is the other way around.

"You know," I tell her. "Colin told me he finally understood why I act 'irrationally' when he's hypoglycemic."

"Yeah ?"

"Yeah. Well, it's not the same thing obviously. But when I was unconscious, he was so scared, he apparently couldn't even hold his stick after, Coach had to get him out during the third and get him back on the fourth."

I'm used to injury, blood, sweat and tears on the ice. But I think I've rarely been hit like that. It was beyond the game, way too much. It shouldn't have happened and it need to be sanctioned. I don't know what happened and I didn't really cared. But it jeopardizes my season and that, I won't allow it. As soon as I'm back on my feet — at least, enough to deal with everything — I'll do something. I know there's some hockey players that are known to be physical on the ice. But there's being physical and being mean. That, was pure evil. Pure madness.

"That's because you usually stay on your feet," she points out, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Guess, there's a bit of that too," I agree. "Now, I know he won't give me shit when I'm acting like his mother. Only, when he can't help himself."

She tells me with a soft voice. Without an ounce of judgement. She's stating a fact. "We'd like to be more rationals ourselves."

"I know, love. And nobody hates you for that. Hope you kn—"

A beep cuts me off. I know the sound and it just jolts me from my sleepy haze.

"Find a place and sit down Maddy," I urge her.

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* : Obviously, that's not true. I don't know the team per se, but I needed to make them the bad guys for the book. Sorry if they're a team you like :) And if you don't know anything about hockey, then welcome aboard ! I'm slowly learning everything myself. And turns out, I actually enjoy the sport (and watching it)!

Let me know your thoughts about ice hockey. Are you a fan, a casual watcher or totally new to the sport ?

PS : Guys, there's even a series on Prime Video (released last year) and I enjoyed every second of it