Page 17 of Pucking Matt
I grit my teeth, punching their order into the register with more force than necessary. But then, Riley's text messages from earlier flash through my mind. Maybe I've been too quick tojudge. If Matt is telling the truth then I definitely jumped to a conclusion too fast. I turn to Harvey, mustering up a smile that I hope doesn't look as forced as it feels.
“You know what?” I say. “I'll go to the party with you, Harvey.”
The look on Matt's face is almost worth the discomfort I feel. His jaw clenches, and for once, he seems at a loss for words.
Harvey, on the other hand, looks like he's just won the lottery and been hit by a bus simultaneously. “Really?” he says, glancing at Matt. Matt wipes the look off his face and nods at him.
As we exchange numbers, Matt seems to recover his voice. “Well,” he drawls, that infuriating smirk back in place. “Looks like someone's desperate for a date. You sure you want to lower your standards this much, Harv?”
Harvey nudges Matt, his face reddening. “Quiet,” he mutters.
I ignore Matt, focusing on Harvey instead. “Text me the details, okay?”
Harvey nods, looking relieved. I don’t think Matt has told Harvey anything about our past. I hand them their orders, making sure to 'accidentally' splash a bit of Matt's shake on his shirt. Oops.
Matt scowls at me before turning on his heel and marching out. Harvey lingers for a moment, looking uncertain.
He says, lowering his voice, “I'll talk to Matt, okay? Tell him to stop being such a dick.”
I nod, appreciating the gesture even if I doubt it'll do any good. “Thanks, Harvey. That'd be great.”
He blushes again, which I find oddly endearing even though I feel absolutely nothing towards him romantically. “So, uh, I'll see you tomorrow? For the party?”
“Right,” I say, suddenly remembering what I've just agreed to. “I'm bringing Jen.”
On cue, Jen pops her head out from the back room, waving enthusiastically at Harvey. “Hi there!”
Harvey looks between us, clearly thrown off balance. “Oh. Okay. That's…cool. Yeah.” He laughs nervously before backing towards the door. “So, uh, see you both tomorrow then!”
As soon as he's gone, Jen rushes over to me, practically jumping with excitement. “Oh my God, we're going to a college party! This is going to be so much fun!”
“Totally,” I agree. “Have you never been to a college party before?”
She shakes her head. “I didn’t go to college, no. This is my dream come true!”
As Jen chatters on about outfit choices and potential party scenarios, my mind won’t stop overthinking. The reality of what I've just done starts to sink in, and a mixture of dread and something else begins to churn in my stomach.
I know exactly why I agreed to go to this party, and it has nothing to do with Harvey or his nervous smile. Oh no, this is all aboutGod's Gift to Hockey and Womankindand his world-class douchebaggery, Matthew.
The way he waltzes into the café, barking orders like I'm some kind of servant rather than a person just trying to do her job. The condescending tone he uses, as if making sandwiches is beneath him and, by extension, beneath anyone with half a brain. It grates on my every last nerve.
But now? Now I have a chance to turn the tables. To step into his world and show him that I, too, can overstep into unwelcome territory and piss him off too. The thought of seeing his face while I’m at that party, of proving that I belong in spaces beyond this café counter, sends a thrill of anticipation through me.
I imagine the annoyance in his eyes, the way his smug grin might falter for just a moment. Maybe I'll even manage to makehim jealous, stealing his friend for the night. The possibility of knocking Matthew Pearson down a peg or two is intoxicating.
Of course, there's a small voice in the back of my head warning me that this could backfire spectacularly. That I'm playing with fire and might end up getting burned. But right now, the potential for sweet, sweet revenge overshadows any rational concerns.
I tune back into Jen's excited chatter, a slow smile spreading across my face. “You know what, Jen? I think you're right. We are going to have so much fun.”
Because one way or another, I'm going to make sure Matthew Pearson remembers this night. And if I'm lucky, maybe I'll finally wipe that smug look off his face for good.
Chapter 6
The locker room buzzes with pre-game energy, a mix of nerves and adrenaline filling the air. I'm lacing up my skates when Harvey plops down next to me, already suited up and ready to go.
“We’re going to win this one. I can feel it,” Harvey says. Crew shoots back a look like he feels it too.
Crew says, “And we’ll celebrate it tonight at the party. Is that chick from the Grind Stone coming, Harv?”
