Page 8 of Big Pucking Deal
My phone buzzes on the vanity in front of me and I take a quick look at it.
Bubba:Jo, are you going home? Bean
said you might go to the afterparty.
STAY AWAY!
My blood boils at yet another guy in my life thinking he knows best. I become irritated and it seals my decision to just get this over with.
“Yup. All I’ve got are leggings and a baggy sweatshirt but I guess that will have to do.” I get an idea in my head just as I tell Brooke what I was wearing when I walked into the arena tonight. “Hold up.”
I stand just as my phone dings again. Instead of dealing with my brother, I flip it over and grab my outfit. I peel out of my uniform –yes peel because it’s like second skin– and slip on my leggings. I leave my sports bra on and after pulling my sweatshirt on, I tuck the hem of it under the band of my bra,turning it into a crop top. I slip on my white Nikes and spin around to show Brooke.
“Ta-da,” I sing and hold my arms out.
Brooke claps with an oooh and aaah then says, “Perfection. Now let’s go bitch.”
I pick up my duffle, give myself a last lookover in the mirror and smile. The flutters in my stomach swirl, but I remind myself that it’s time. What’s the point in holding onto something for someone if they don’t want it?
I SITwith my back to the kitchen, eyes locked on the front door, hoping and praying Jolie doesn’t come walking through it. My fear is that I pushed her too far with my barbaric attitude the other day, so now she’s going to show up to spite me.
I just couldn’t help myself. One minute I’m on cloud nine thinking about sitting around the table at my parents house like we used to, and then next I’m feeling murderous because the thought of her being at this party –when I know what goes down at these things– made me want to go on a killing spree and lock her up in my tower.
Fictional tower as I don’t have a real one. Although, that may be an option if I can’t get her to stay away from all of the whorebags I call teammates.
I sure as fuck don’t want them to see her as just another puck bunny. She’s not the girl you use for fun until another one comes along. She is the one. She’s end game, and she deserves better than all of these assholes. Including me.
I see Jordan grab a couple beers from the cooler and swagger towards me, only slightly tipsy.
“I don’t want one. Thanks man,” I tell him, waving off his gesture.
“Dude. You never turn down a beer from your best bro. It’s the law.” He holds it out to me again and I reluctantly take it.
I want to be on my A game if she shows up. So far the party is fairly tame. A few of the guys, a couple of girlfriends, a couple of not their girlfriends, and me, the grumpy guy in the corner ready to pounce on anyone who makes a move at Jolie.
“So that Brooke chick is hot.” Jordan takes a pull of his beer and I see the smile that lies beneath it.
“Oh yeah. You think?” He nods, but stays silent. “You thinking of asking her out?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’m still reeling from that breakup with Lacie.”
I sigh and clench my jaw. “Jo, that was five months ago. And I’m sorry dude, but she was a first class bitch. Your mom hated her and your mom loves everyone. She can always find the good in people but with Lacie, she dug as deep as one could go and didn’t find a good bone in her body.”
Jordan met Lacie at a bar after a game one night. She thought he was a hockey player but when he explained what he really did, her hot feelings turned luke warm at best. He bought her a drink, asked her to dance, and was every bit the gentleman his mom and dad raised him to be. But still she asked about the availability of the players. He finally gave up on her and decided to just end the night solo.
A week later, Lacie pops up at a game and “spots” him in the crowd. Suddenly she had a change of heart and was extremely interested in Jordan. He fell fast and hard, but after six months of dating, Lacie broke up with him via text…on her way to Philly…with a player that had been traded by the Havoc.
Seems Lacie had been having a secret affair with a player, and when he was traded to a new team, she decided he was the better catch and packed up her suitcase and left. She didn’t even do him the courtesy of a face to face breakup.
“I know, Jo. It just took me by surprise that I didn’t see what she was doing right under my nose. I guess it makes me weary about girls.”
“But you like Brooke?” I ask.
With a shrug he says, “I mean, I think she’s cute but I don’t really know her to say I like her. She’s the first girl that’s really caught my eye since Lacie.”
I grip his shoulder and give it a squeeze. “That’s saying something, Jo. Maybe it’s time you bury the Lacie bullshit and move on.”
He nods his head slowly, looking out into nowhere. The wheels in his head are turning and I can tell he’s thinking of Lacie and the pain that followed their breakup. I’m not a man that believes in violence –off the ice– or violence towards women, for that matter. But damn, would I love to have the green light to just punch her in the gut. Give her a little taste of the pain she caused my best friend.
