Page 100 of Off The Rush
“Alright, maybe next time,” Alec says, clapping his hands together.
“Absolutely,” JD agrees, his brown eyes filled with determination.
“Fine, next time,” Luka adds, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze.
Right before we walk out the door I watch as JD and Luka exchange a glance.
“Are you sure about this?” JD asks Alec. “We could sit out the game too, you know. We don’t have to play if you’re not.”
Alec shakes his head, his blue eyes resolute. “No, you guys go ahead. The team needs you. We’ll figure this out together, but for now, just focus on the game.”
Luka frowns, the crease between his eyebrows betraying his worry. “If you’re certain, then we’ll do our best out there, but know that we’d drop everything in a heartbeat for you.”
“Thanks, man,” Alec replies with a half-smile. “Now go kick some ass on the ice.”
“Will do,” JD says, giving Alec a playful punch on the shoulder before they stride towards the door.
As they disappear from sight, I let out a shaky breath, trying to shake off the guilt that threatens to consume me. I grab my purse and head out, determined to find some support in Tessa. She’s always been there for me, and I know she’ll understand what I’m going through right now.
When I reach our house, I start to pull out my keys. Moments later, Tessa swings it open, her red hair cascading over her shoulders and her hazel eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Emma! Are you ready for the game?”
I can see the worry in her eyes after the incident but she forces a smile.
“Almost,” I say, forcing a smile. “But first, I need to fill you in on something.”
Her expression shifts to concern as I spill the details of Alec’s suspension. Her eyes widen in disbelief, and she crosses her arms over her chest, her lips pressed into a thin line.
“That’s ridiculous,” Tessa fumes. “How can they penalize him for being in a loving relationship? It doesn’t affect his ability to play the game!”
“I know,” I agree, my voice thick with emotion. “But there’s not much we can do about it now. Alec wants JD and Luka to play while we figure things out. And I still have no idea what consequences I’m going to face. Everything is falling apart, Tessa.”
Tessa’s face softens as she reaches out to grip my hand. “Well, then we’ll be there to support all of them and they’ll support you. We will figure this out and you know I’m here for you too, right?”
“Of course,” I say, grateful for her loyalty.
“Are you sure you want to go today? Word will likely have gotten around and people may be whispering.”
She’s right and I don’t want to face that but I can’t let my guys down.
“I’m not going to let people stop me. If they’re going to be on display then the least I can do is be there for them,”
“Then let’s go cheer on your boys,” she says with determination, linking her arm through mine as we make our way to the rink.
The moment we step into the rink, a wave of cold air washes over me, sending a shiver down my spine. Tessa and I find our seats, the excitement in the arena palpable as fans chatter animatedly around us. My heart aches with each passing second—Alec should be out there, warming up with his teammates.
“Look, there they are,” Tessa says, pointing towards JD and Luka as they glide gracefully across the ice. Their movements are fluid and strong, their expressions focused. But even from this distance, I can see the tension in their shoulders, the concern etched on their faces.
My gaze wanders to the bench, where Alec sits, looking dashing in his suit, but I know he must feel like a caged animal. He catches my eye and offers a small, reassuring smile, but it does little to ease the guilt gnawing at my insides.
“Emma, just remember that none of this is your fault,” Tessa whispers, clearly reading the turmoil in my expression.
“The guys said the same thing but isn’t it, though?” I murmur, watching as the players skate through drills without Alec. “If it weren’t for our relationship, he’d be out there. Alec wasn’t even sure about this arrangement from the start.”
“Hey,” Tessa says firmly, turning me to face her. “You can’t think like that. You all chose to be together, and you’ll figure this out. If Alec wants to leave, he can. You aren’t forcing him to stay with you. Let him make his own choices.”
I nod slowly, trying to believe her words, but it’s hard when the consequences of our choices are so painfully visible. As the warm-up continues, I overhear a conversation between two fans seated behind us.
