Page 61 of Pucking Matt
Chapter 16
The puck slams into the net just as the final buzzer blares. The crowd erupts, a wall of sound crashing over us. I raise my stick, a grin plastering itself across my face despite the exhaustion seeping into my bones.
“Pearson! You beautiful bastard!” Crew crashes into me, nearly taking us both down to the ice. “Four points! Four fucking points!”
I laugh, patting his back. “Fuck yeah!”
As we skate off the ice, Coach gives me a nod. Coming from him, it's practically a standing ovation. In the locker room, the energy is high. Guys are shouting, laughing, reliving every moment of our 4-2 victory.
“Party at Kappa Pi!” someone yells, and a fresh round of cheers erupts.
I should be riding high. Two goals, two assists. But as I strip off my gear, a heaviness settles in my chest. My mom's voice echoes in my head about James proposing. The woman has beenmarried four times before. Now I have to add another step-dad to the collection.
An hour later, I'm pushing through the doors of Kappa Pi.The place is packed, a sea of bodies swaying to music that's more beat than melody.
“Pearson’s here!” someone shouts, and suddenly I'm surrounded by backslaps and congratulations.
I catch Grey’s eye. He shakes his head at me. And I smirk back. Fucker always hated that I was popular and well-loved. I flip him off and he rolls his eyes.
I paste on my best grin, playing the part even as my head starts to pound in time with the music.
Across the room, I spot Michelle Swift. She's wearing a dress that leaves little to the imagination, her eyes locked on me. Great. Just what I need tonight.
I make my way to an empty couch, claiming it before some drunk couple can turn it into their personal make-out spot. The leather is sticky against my arms – I don't want to know why – but it's better than standing.
“Yo, Matt!” Crew appears, two red cups in hand. He shoves one at me.
I take a sip, grimacing at the taste. “Christ, what is this? Lighter fluid?”
Crew grins. “Secret recipe. Guaranteed to make you forget your own name by midnight.”
“That's what I'm afraid of,” I mutter, handing it back to him. “Not tonight.”
“Ah, come on!” He takes the cup back. When he realizes I’m serious, he sighs. “Guess I’ll go find Dylan.”
As Crew wanders off to find Dylan, I let my eyes roam the party. Harvey’s at the kitchen counter, trying (and failing) to look cool as a group of girls talk to him. Dylan's at the beer pong table with a few other guys.
I should be out there with them. This is supposed to be our celebration. Instead, I'm sitting here like a party pooper, nursing a deep childhood wound that only a mother can bring about. Not to mention this headache alongside it.
“Well, if it isn't the man of the hour.”
I look up to find Michelle standing over me, a smile on her face. Before I can react, she's sliding onto the couch next to me, pressing herself against my side.
“Great game tonight,” she says, her hand finding its way to my thigh. “You were on fire out there.”
I shift away, trying to put some space between us without falling off the couch. “Team effort.” Now I wish I had that drink.
She leans in closer, her perfume overwhelming. “You know, I was thinking about that video.”
“Michelle,” I cut her off, my patience wearing thin. “We've been over this. What you did wasn't cool.”
She pouts, her lower lip sticking out in what I'm sure she thinks is attractive. “Oh, come on, Matt. It was just a bit of fun. You can't still be mad about that. I heard you were bragging about it in the locker room.”
I take a deep breath, reminding myself that causing a scene at a party is not the way to go. “Look, it's not just about the video. We had our fun, but it's over. Done. Finished. How many more ways do I need to say it?”
Her face hardens, all pretense of flirtation dropping away. “You're seriously still hung up on that? God, Matt, I told you I deleted it, but pirates uploaded it again anyway. There’s nothing we can do.”
I'm about to retort when movement by the door catches my eye. For a moment, I think the headache is making me hallucinate. Because there's no way that Amber is walking into this party right now. She refused when I asked her. She rejected the idea. She said absolutely not.
