Chapter 35

chapter 35

EMMALINE

Everywhere I look, I see Bryce Wynward. There’s not one place in my house where Bryce’s footprint isn’t staring back at me. The living room paint—Faux Fur the exact color I wanted. The cabinet. The floors. The security system. The fence around the backyard so I can get a dog. And the pressed flowers he had framed.

It’s game day. Bryce messages me and says Jolie’s at the rink with him. Brooke will be with her through the first period and knows Jolie is dying to see me.

How did things get this bad? Why can’t I tell my brother to shove it up his ass and do what I want?

Because it’s my fault his life went down the toilet. My Grant stole Roman’s wife.

We have a three-game series with Roman’s old team, the Los Angeles Vipers. Originally, I wasn’t going to attend, but I know Roman needs me there and since Bryce and I are keeping as much distance as we can, we decided I would meet Jolie at the game .

I arrive at the stadium a half hour before the game and find Brooke with Caleb and Cannon sitting next to her. “Hey, can I squeeze in?”

Jolie leaps into my arms, and then I set her beside Cannon.

Brooke’s eyes fall. “He’s heartbroken, you know.”

“Me too.”

“Are you?” She sounds defensive. We’re friends, but she’s known Bryce for ten years. Since I’m the one in the wrong, I’m also the one taking the heat.

I swallow the cotton web in my mouth. “I am. We’ll figure it out.”

Won’t we?

“In his opinion, there’s nothing to figure out. He told you he loves you… the first woman since his college girlfriend.” Brooke straightens her spine and swallows. “He confided in you. Listen, I’m married to a guy with scars, and I know how hard it is for men who have a haunted past to open up. I promise you; you’re going to regret not jumping at the chance for someone who loves you completely. Someone who would bring a hypo-allergenic Christmas tree to your house… for you. Someone who tells his daughter’s mom that he will block any move she makes for full custody. That’s a man. A man willing to protect the people he loves at all costs.”

She squeezes my knee as she continues, “If you can’t be with him, tell him now. Don’t make him wonder for weeks or months. Don’t drag it out. And if you can, then for God sakes, do it, and everyone will be happy. Roman hasn’t started anything with Bryce, so maybe he’s getting used to the idea. ”

Roman is playing nice for two reasons.

One. I haven’t seen Bryce again.

Two. He can’t start a fight because of his contract.

Just then, the puck drops, and Bryce is in the game for the first time since Nashville, nine days ago. He hasn’t lost a step. He speeds across the ice and handles the puck like its Roman’s head, dribbling it back and forth.

A Viper comes from nowhere and slams him into the boards. Roman comes up behind and clips the Viper, but ninety percent of his weight lands on Bryce.

What the hell?

Reed breaks both my brother and the Viper away and has words with Roman. Roman nods. Bryce looks into the stands, and our eyes collide, but he looks away just as quickly. Like it hurts him to see me.

The rest of the game is a blur as my stomach churns, knowing I’ll be within feet of him as I give Jolie back to him. She holds my hand as we walk into the tunnel.

I hear Roman yelling, and I drag her faster. He’s finally letting loose on Bryce. I knew I would ruin his career.

But as we close in on the voices, it’s Grant and Penelope in a standoff with my brother. My eyes fill with tears at seeing them—together.

“Did you come here to rub it in my fucking face? Cause you’re both dirt.”

“We came to tell you in person that we’re getting married,” Penelope says quietly.

My brother’s voice rages from the pit of his stomach. “Perfect. Just fucking perfect.”

He lunges toward Grant and the sports reporter’s cameras flash. He can’t get caught in a fight and out of nowhere, Bryce grabs my brother’s shirt and throws him to the side. He doesn’t wait for an explanation from Grant and punches him in the gut one time. Grant crashes against the concrete wall.

“Roman and Emmaline moved across the country to get away from you two cheaters. Don’t ever come into my stadium again. As long as I’m a Jet, you’ll be banned from this barn.” He glances at Penelope and my brother, then says to Grant, “Congratulations on your wedding. I’m sure you’ll be divorced in a year. Cheaters cheat. Remember that.”

He takes a glimpse at Roman over his shoulder, walks up, takes Jolie, and leaves without a word. Like he didn’t just do the most chivalrous gesture in the whole world. He stood up for my brother who is the reason we’re apart.

With my arms crossed over my chest, and my heart splitting, I ask, Grant. “Can we speak alone?”

Grant nods, as he wipes the blood dripping from his nose, but he follows me down deeper into the tunnel. When I turn to face him, I realize I’m not hurt anymore. My heart has been healed by the Georgia Jets center, number nine.

He reaches for my hand and when his fingers clasp around mine, they’re clammy. He’s nervous. “Emmaline, I never meant for this to happen. I…”

I laugh. “Grant I should be thanking you. Because the week after you stole my wedding day, I met the most amazing man. I wanted to let you know that Bryce has done things to me you never even tried. I’ve sat on his face, rode him like a bull and now I not only know I’m beautiful and sexy. I feel it too. I’m enough for anyone and I’m really fucking happy that you didn’t see me for who I am. Because I’m fucking fantastic. Enjoy your life with Penelope. ”

Grant stands slack jawed as I turn on my heels.

Damn, that felt good.

Next on my to-do list, fix my relationship with Bryce. I message him throughout the night with no response. When I wake up this morning, a message is waiting.

Bryce: Belinda is watching Jolie today. No need to come… for me.

My heart plummets. He’s given up on us.

Well, I’m not giving up. I call Roman and tell him to meet me here pronto, before the game.

I look through my drawers to find something meaningful to Bryce and stumble upon a bag. When I open it, it’s his jersey. He must have put it in here when he was restoring my house.

Considering whether to wear it, I shove the fabric in my face and am surprised when it smells of him. Should I be? Probably not because he’s thoughtful and possessive in the best ways.

When he stood up for Roman, and for me yesterday, my ovaries blossomed into full grown baby makers. But then, he marched out without his eyes meeting mine.

Roman arrives, and I tell him in no uncertain terms, “If Bryce will still have me, then I’m his, regardless of how you feel about it. He once said, ‘Your brother loves you, so he’ll be happy that you’re happy.’ He said that, and why I didn’t I believe him?”

I let him stew on my words for a second.

“No one goes through life without pain. And the pain you and I have experienced is nothing compared to his. Now you can be happy for me, or I’ll pin you down with one of my Ju-Jitsu moves until you cry like a baby.”

Roman hangs his head. “I’ll talk to him before the game. But Reed says that Bryce understands why I wouldn’t want a teammate to date my sister. He’s upset because he thought you would put up a fight for him.”

“The fight starts now.”

I sneak into the locker room after bribing the security guard to let me put something in my brother’s locker. But I’m leaving something in Bryce’s. He’ll get it before the second period. I just hope it’s not too late.

Bryce,

0514

These four numbers changed my life. The day I met you.

I might not have known your name, but I knew you were my soulmate.

I didn’t know how or when I would find you again but subconsciously, I knew I would.

Did I know you would remember me and want me? No. In fact, I thought you would be repulsed. I was in an awful place, and you made me feel like a wanted woman.

So, when you said you loved me, I didn’t quite believe it. I’m sorry I didn’t see it before. I’ve always known you were perfect for me, but now I realize I AM the perfect woman for you.

If you want a life with me, come to my gorgeous, restored house tonight, and I’ll make sure to thank you.

All my love,

Emmaline, a.k.a. your Rust i

Roman has one ticket in the front row that was supposed to be for his date, but he gave it up for me this one time. I weave through the fans. The game has started, and the Vipers are more aggressive than I ever remember. Maybe they heard about the fight between Bryce and Grant, who represents some of the Vipers players.

I know most of them well, so when Friezen hits Bryce, lifting him up and flipping him over, I’m shocked at the fierceness.

Reed gets to Bryce swiftly who isn’t far from me. “Did you hit your head?”

Bryce shakes his head no; my eyes are magnetized by my brother beating the hell out of his former friend. Bryce finds me on the front row and winks, then lifts his jersey at the number. A split second later, he joins the bench-clearing fight to end the first period.

During the break, I find Jolie in the stands with Belinda, Brooke, and the kids.

“Emmaline,” Jolie shouts.

“Hey. Have you and your daddy decorated the tree yet?” I ask her.

She shakes her head no and sighs. “No, Daddy said he’s waiting for you to come over.”

My heart feels like it’s floating outside my body. I introduce myself to Belinda, and she smiles. As the guys come back to the ice, my brother isn’t among them. The announcer calls out, “ Roman Rustavelli of the Jets and Sven Friezen from the Vipers have been ejected from the game.” I fear that Roman’s career is over. Both benches have been warned.

Jolie gets on my lap. “You’re wearing daddy’s jersey. ”

“You are too.”

“Daddy wanted us to look alike.”

Jolie is talking up a storm not just to me and Cannon but everyone. It makes my heart sing at how far she has come in the last two months.

Bryce, Reed, and Lykins move swiftly over the ice and pass the puck with finesse and ease. Reed slaps it toward the goal, but their goalie defends it well. The Vipers winger, Brad Shaw, jukes several of Jets defenders and shoots on goal. Snow saves it, and the puck is passed back to Bryce. God, he’s gorgeous, talented, possessive, protective, and thoughtful.

He’s skating like the champion he is. I hope it’s because he read my letter. While I’m daydreaming, he sinks the puck in the back of the net.

The team slaps his helmet and shoulders, then they release them from his grip, and he skates over to me. Instead of pointing like Reed does to Brooke, he kisses his fist and beats it against his chest, very close to his heart.

Jolie yells, “That’s my daddy.”

I don’t know what to yell. Am I his girlfriend?

So, I bounce on my toes, clap, cheer, and smile. God, I smile so much, my face hurts.

My stomach dips and turns as the game ends. Belinda is watching Jolie, so do I leave Jolie with her or…

“Hey, Reed texted me and said Jolie’s spending the night with us. Have fun.” Brooke wiggles her eyebrows.

I hug her tightly. “He’s coming? He wants me?”

Brooke’s enthusiastic grin widens. “He is. Don’t make him wait. Get out of here.”

I don’t even remember driving home because Bryce Wynward is mine.