Page 57 of Off The Rush
“Agreed,” JD chimes in, sliding the bacon onto a plate and turning off the stove. “Now, who wants breakfast?”
As we sit down to eat, my thoughts return to Emma, and the way her green eyes sparkle when she’s excited about something. I know that no matter what happens, I’m loving this time with her.
“Hey, JD,” I say, trying to steer the conversation away from my uncertainty. “You and Luka had that joint date with Emma, right? How did that go?”
JD grins at the memory, his warm brown eyes lighting up. “It went really well, actually. I’m glad we did it. It helped me understand what it feels like, you know, sharing her attention.”
“Emma was great at making both of us feel special,” Luka adds, a hint of fondness in his voice. “It was comfortable, just like last night.”
“Good to know,” I mumble.
“Alright, guys, let’s get ready for practice,” Luka suggests as we finish our breakfast. We clean up quickly, grab our gear, and head out to the rink.
Practice flies by, smoother than it has been in recent days. There’s no tension between us on the ice, and our camaraderie feels genuine. Even though our situation is unconventional, maybe this can work after all.
After practice, Coach pulls me aside, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Alec, I’ve been hearing some talk about your new girlfriend. How are things going with her?”
“Coach, she’s incredible,” I gush without hesitation, my mind immediately conjuring up images of Emma’s expressive green eyes and wavy brown hair. “I’m really lucky to have her. She’s helping me settle down, and focus on what’s important.”
“Good, good,” Coach says, nodding approvingly. “We need you at your best, Alec. Keep it up.”
“Thanks, Coach,” I reply, feeling a surge of pride and determination to not let Emma or my team down.
Stepping out of the rink, I’m greeted by the cool, crisp air that wraps around me like a comforting hug. It’s moments like these that I love - that sweet spot between the sweat and effort of practice and the rest of my day.
Snow crunches under my feet as I walk. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I can’t help but grin when I see Emma’s name light up the screen. I’m annoyed that Kenny is causing her problems but hopefully, this project ends soon.
I’ve been mulling over ideas for our next date, and an idea suddenly strikes me like a lightning bolt. I quickly tap out a message to her.
Hey, are you free on Friday? I have a plan for our next date.
Her response comes almost immediately.
I’m free! Can’t wait to see what you have planned.
My heart swells as I envision spending an evening alone with her, just the two of us, strengthening the bond we’ve been building.
“Whoa, Alec, you’re practically glowing,” Luka teases, slapping me on the back as he exits the rink behind me. “What has you so happy? Got big plans with our girl?”
“Maybe,” I reply, smirking as I tuck my phone away. But before I can say anything else, I notice a familiar figure waiting nearby.
“Hey there, superman,” my ex-girlfriend coos, sashaying towards me with a suggestive smile. I feel my blood boil, still angry about the photos she posted online. But I force myself to stay composed, determined not to let her ruin my good mood. “I was wondering if you wanted to come over to my place tonight?”
“Look,” I cut her off, holding up a hand. “I have a girlfriend now, and it’s time for you to move on.”
Her eyes narrow, her flirting replaced by annoyance.
“Really, Alec? Just like that?” My ex-girlfriend scoffs, her hands on her hips as she glares at me. “You think you can just replace me with some new girl and pretend I don’t exist?”
“Enough,” I say through gritted teeth, feeling my patience waning.
“Seriously?” JD chimes in, walking up beside me with Luka following closely behind. “Alec’s moved on, so should you.”
“Get lost,” Luka adds, his intense gray eyes narrowing at her.
“Fine, but you should really treat me better! Those aren’t the only pictures I have,” she huffs, tossing her hair over her shoulder before storming off.
As I watch her leave, I can’t help but think how different Emma is from her. Emma is kind, ambitious, and passionate.
