Page 110 of The Pucking Date
For a few seconds at a time, I manage to forget. Just boys, blades, and the blur of joy. Then the hurt barrels back in, low and steady, lodged in my chest with no intention of leaving. No matter how fast I move, I can’t shake it.
Adam appears beside me, skating casually through the chaos.
“She was at dinner Sunday,” he says, low enough that the kids can’t hear.
I glance his way. “Jessica?”
He nods. “Started normal. Cocktails, chess, the usual Sunday ritual. Then your name came up.”
My jaw flexes.
“Dad made some offhand comment about your image, something about your social media profile and whether you’re good for the brand.” He pauses. “Didn’t land well.”
I look at him, lift my eyebrows, waiting for more.
“She lit into him. Tore him to shreds. Said he didn’t know the full story, had no right. She went full scale takedown. You ever seen Jess go off?” He whistles through his teeth, raising his eyebrows. “You don’t argue back. You survive it.”
I stay quiet. Let the words sink in.
“She burned him down so hard, he didn’t even finish his whiskey.” He pauses. “Sophie said she’s never seen Jess that fierce. That protective.” He nudges the puck off his blade, watches it slide. “And that’s saying something.”
I don’t respond.
He glances over. “So what the hell’s going on with you two? Do you love her?”
I stare straight ahead. “Doesn’t matter,” I say flatly. “She didn’t want what I was offering.”
He exhales through his nose. “Yeah? Then why have I heard from three different people that you’ve been hovering around her office every day like a stray?”
I cut him a cold look.
He shrugs, not backing off. “What are you doing there every day, O’Reilly? Jess doesn’t look fine. She shows up, but it’s robotic. Sophie won’t leave her alone. They’re afraid she’ll...” He trails off, shakes his head. “She’s not eating. Barely sleeping. Liam said she cried for three hours straight the other night. Just...broke. And they don’t know how to put her back together.”
“She made her choice,” I grit out.
“I came to pick up Liam this morning at his place. Did you know she’s staying there with Sophie since last week? She’s falling apart, man.” I feel his gaze locked on me, but I refuse to look. “I pressed Liam on the drive over. He wouldn’t say much, but it’s clear, they’re not leaving her alone. Not for a second. I’d really like to know why.”
Something in me lifts, quick and sudden. Not relief. Not quite hope. Just…a whisper that maybe we could still?—
Because if she’s falling apart, maybe she does care. Maybe she’s not fine without me. Maybe?—
But then what? She still chose to keep me out when it mattered most. Still chose to protect herself instead of us. And I can’t unknow that. Can’t unsee the way she looked at me when I held that bottle. Like I was the enemy.
I shut it down. Hard.
Don’t be an idiot. She made her choice. You already tried. Got torched for it.
“Then maybe you should ask her.” I push off, skating away before the burn in my chest boils over.
Dmitri’s watching from the far circle, glove tucked under one arm, brow furrowed. He doesn’t say a word. Just takes it in.
“Hey,” Adam calls after me, not loud enough to stop me. “That’s why I told you to stay away in the first place.”
I don’t turn around. Just mutter it low, the only thing I’ve got left. “Go to hell.”
Then I blow my whistle and skate faster, barking at the kids. “Drills, now. I want focus. Let’s go.”
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