Jack

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Maddie

We were curled up on my couch together and getting ready for the Blizzard game. Things had been great for the Storm lately, but the Blizzard where in a nose dive since Jack left. They had two losses immediately following his leaving and they were blowouts. The team had no spark.

Jack was not himself, I mean he loved me and wanted me, but he was a little withdrawn and I knew he felt responsible for the team losing like they were. He was an honest man, and this whole thing was killing him.

"Baby, I know what you are going to say, but hear me out." I started but he put his finger on my lips and then kissed me.

"I will not go back. I want to be with you Maddie. I feel bad for leaving but not bad enough to ever give this up, like this, with you. I am where I want to be, and I even have a job interview tomorrow with the local channel eight station. They are looking for a co-host for their hockey show on Saturday nights."

"You didn't tell me," I said poking him hard in the shoulder.

"I wanted it to be a surprise, but I saw the way you were looking at me, and well, you need to know I am moving on."

"Fine, but we don't have to watch the game if it bothers you." I countered.

"No, I owe it to them to watch and root and pray and anything else I can do. Besides Eric needs our support," he said with a grimace on his face.

Eric and Cussman had been scoreless since Jack left, and worse was , they looked terrible. They looked so bad they were getting demoted down the lineup. My heart was breaking for my brother, but I had Jack. I mean shit, why did it have to be like this?

"Maybe they will come out of it tonight," I said getting my hopes up, but Jack was shaking his head." Uh oh, what" I asked?

"They put Orlov on their line. They will not be able to function together. It's almost like they know they are going to lose and yet they still keep doing everything they can to make it worse."

"Well they already tried everyone else" I said.

It was time for the anthems and we both stood. Jack may not be on the ice, but he was still a hockey player. The anthems played but they didn't pull in the red rug they used for the singer, instead Mr. Green came out. He looked terrible, I mean like real bad.

"I am sorry to delay the game, but I want to share some news with you. Haley Mills, the young girl with cancer, is back in the hospital. Her parents called me today and told me the news. I would ask for all of us to pray for her recovery. I also want to share this video that channel nine got from her room this morning."

The Jumbotron flared to life and Haley was there lying in bed. She looked terrible and tears were coming out of my eyes. This was the little girl that Jack and Eric and the whole team went all out for that day.

"Haley, you were a big part of the blizzard team recently, and we know you are a member of the team. What do you want to say to your teammates on the Blizzard?" The reported asked.

"I don't know. I like Eric Maddison, he is my favorite, but I am sad about Jack leaving. I think Eric is too. I mean they don't play like they did. They all seem sad. Jack left because he had too, but I wish he was there. Jack told me to fight. I tried. I'm tired of fighting. I mean we didn't fight for Jack either, so I guess everyone is tired."