Chapter 12

Sebastian

I watch Bri drive away and feel a knot in my stomach. Stephanie’s eyes meet mine for just a moment in the backseat, and I fight the urge to do something to stop her from driving away. But I know I can’t. I put my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels. I’m used to going after what I want in life. I didn’t get to be a starting player for an AHL hockey team by sitting back and not doing anything.

“So she’s a runner, huh?”

I was so lost in thought, I didn’t hear my brother come out. “Yeah, I guess so.” He glances at me, waiting for me to say more. My older brother’s not much of a talker; he’s more like my dad.

“Did we scare her off?”

I shake my head. ”I don’t really know. She was fine on the way over here. I let her drive my car, and she—what?”

“You let her drive your Corvette?”

I shrug. “Yeah. So?”

“You don’t let anybody drive that thing.”

“Yeah I do.” I think about it for a moment. “Okay, yeah. You’re right; I don’t. But she was so happy driving it. Shoot. I’d let her drive it every day if I could get her to smile as much as she did while she was driving. But then we got here, and she just kind of...like froze or something. I don’t know what happened. That look in her eyes...” I shake my head. I could go the rest of my life without seeing that look in her eyes; it was equal parts lost and panic. I’d wanted to pull her into my arms, but I was pretty sure she wouldn’t allow me to. “The way she practically ran out the door,” I mutter to my brother.

“We’re a lot. You remember how it was for Kristin when she came into the family and that was before we got as big as we are now.” My brother slants another look at me. “What’s the deal with you two anyway? I didn’t even know you were dating until she showed up at the game.”

“We’re not. Well not for real anyway.” At his look, I continue. “Okay, I did something stupid. Yeah, I know, not for the first time. I had a run-in with her at Kayla’s school.” He frowns. “You know all this; she was the teacher that I had the run-in with because of Kayla’s homework. Anyway, I might have said during a press conference that there was this history teacher that I was interested in that wasn’t interested back. I can’t believe Kristin didn’t tell you all this.”

“She did; I just like hearing you admit to blowing it,” he says with a smirk.

“Thanks,” I say dryly. “So because I was stupid, people figured out who she is and went after her. They started showing up at her school calling her out, holding signs, saying stuff about her online. It really got out of hand.” Even as I say the words, I feel terrible that it got so out of hand. “Man, I am such a jerk.”

“So...” my brother prompts.

“So I decided to try and fix it, especially after she and Brielle both got hurt. Aiden was furious at me for that. I thought maybe if she came to my game and got pictures with me and then took a few photos with our family, it would make the haters leave her alone because they would see that we’re together now.”

“Even though you’re not,” he so helpfully points out.

“Yet,” I add.

“So you want to date her?”

I scoff. “I want to marry her, but as you can see, that’s not going so well.” He gives me a look, and I know him well enough to know I’m not going to like what he’s about to say. “What?”

“You sure you don’t like her just because she’s the first person to ever say no to you?”

His words immediately make me angry. “Yes. I haven’t always been this popular.” I scowl at him. “It’s not like that.”

He puts his hands up defensively. “You’re with a lot of women.”

“Not for real,” I defend myself. He shrugs. “I just take dates to events because I have to. I’ve never been serious about any of them. I’ve never found a woman that makes me want to pursue something with her.”

“But this one does?”

“Stephanie does.”

“Why?”

I consider his question. “I love verbally sparring with her. She’s not afraid to tell me exactly what she thinks of me, instead of saying yes and agreeing to everything I say. She’s both fire and ice, and she’s fun to get stirred up because I never know what she’s going to say. And getting a smile out of her is next to impossible because I’m pretty sure she hates me. But when I get one?” I smile. “It’s the most rewarding thing in the world. Most of the time, she’s tough as nails. She gives as good as she gets. She’s sarcastic and funny. But today, I got a glimpse behind all that. I saw her vulnerable and dare I say...scared. It made me want to hold her and protect her and never let her go. And yes, I know how sappy this all sounds,” I say in defeat.

Keith doesn’t say anything for a little while, and I’m okay with that. I’m feeling a little wrung out in the emotional department. Good grief. I’m glad my teammates can’t hear me or see me right now. They’d never let me live it down. “I’m going to head inside.”

“You’ve gone after what you’ve wanted with your whole heart your entire life, Little Brother. Don’t let this be the one thing you don’t go after.”

His words surprise me. “You think I should continue to pursue her, even though she’s not interested?”

“You already know the answer.” With that, he turns and walks back inside.

I stare after him as a slow grin fills my face. I need to make a game plan. If there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s make a game plan. I jump up the front porch, skipping the steps, and head inside. I need to come up with a plan.

____________

The next day, I park in the players’ and staff parking lot and walk inside the building. I’m ready to get to practice; I need a hard practice to work out my frustration. I asked Stephanie out on a date. She gave me a big fat no. Not no thank you, maybe another time...just a no. I spent all last night thinking through what I should have done differently yesterday—how it all went so wrong. I was really looking forward to spending time together with her with my family; I thought maybe they could provide a good buffer so she would be comfortable. But that didn’t work at all. One good thing out of it was that I made two hundred dollars, though they all fought me on it, saying Stephanie didn’t stay. But I held to my argument—I never said she had to stay; she just had to come.

I head into the locker room, ready to get my thoughts onto hockey and off of my current heartache. Wow, I sound sappy, even to myself. I shake my head; I need a good hard workout.

“What’s with you?” Zac asks as soon as I step into the locker room.

I ignore him and go to my spot to get ready for practice. I ignore the guys goofing off. I’m tying my skates when a body lands next to me on the bench. “You good?”

“I’m fine,” I tell Rico, our goalie and one of my good friends.

“You sure? Because your face says a different story.”

“Want your face to tell a different story?” I ask without looking up.

He laughs and stands. “Got it, Man. Just remember I’m here if you want to talk.”

I finish with my skates and head out of the locker room, grabbing a stick on the way. I”m ready to hit the ice and work out this frustration. Coach Seers is ready and waiting, and we start with drills. Within minutes, I’m sweating. Then we start scrimmaging.

“Hart!”

I wipe off my sweat and listen as my coach reams me out for at least the third time this practice. I can’t remember the last time I got yelled at this much; not since I was a rookie. When we finish practice, I’m the last off the ice. I’m not really in the mood to face my teammates. I skate a few extra laps, getting rid of the last of my energy, before heading to the locker room. My hope is that my teammates have already showered and moved on. No such luck.

When I get to the locker room, Rico, Aiden, and Gunner, our team captain, are all waiting for me. “That was a terrible practice,” Rico says. “You going to be good for the game tomorrow night?”

I’m irritated that he’s even asking. Of course I’m going to be fine for a game. “Yeah.” I whip off my shirt, so I can head to the showers. I’m not in the mood to talk, so I take my time in the shower. When I come out, everyone’s gone except for Aiden. He’s staring at his phone when I walk into the room.

“Somebody sent Stephanie black roses,” he says without looking up from his phone.

His words stop me in my tracks. “What?”

He finally looks up. “Somebody sent Stephanie black roses and a card.” By the look on his face, I know I don’t want to hear what the card said. “Tell me.”

“He’s better off without you.”

“Is that a threat? Are you kidding me?” Anger consumes me, hot and swift. “This is getting out of hand. What is wrong with people?” A thought hits me. “At school or at home?”

“At school.”

Only the tiniest bit of relief fills me. “What idiot delivered them to her room?”

Aiden shakes his head. “Don’t know.”

“Is she okay?”

“Brielle said she’s okay; she’s strong.”

I drop onto the bench, getting dressed quickly. “This is so out of control.” I’m angry, but I have no one to blame but myself. “What do I do?” I say the words more to myself than to Aiden, but he hears me anyway.

“Are you interested in her?” he asks. I pin him with a look. “I’m just asking. Have you asked her out yet?”

“I tried. She said no.” Defeat hits me again.

“And you gave up already?”

My head snaps up. “No. Since when have I ever given up on anything?”

“Exactly.”

I ignore him and finish getting dressed. “I’m going to head over to the school to see if she’s okay.”

Aiden’s already shaking his head. “She’s not there; the principal sent her home.”

“Why?”

“Brielle said he’s worried it’s going to become a problem. Between the hecklers at school and now the flowers, he wants Stephanie to take a few days off.”

I swear, low and swift. “She’s going to hate me.” I run a hand over my head. Aiden gives me a look of what I think is sympathy, but it’s hard to tell with him. “Can you ask Brielle for her cell number for me?” I feel like a high schooler asking a girl for another girl’s number, but it is what it is. Aiden doesn’t say anything, but a few minutes later he rattles off a number. I put it into my contacts; then I call her.

“Stephanie, it’s Sebastian.” I pace as I leave a voicemail. “I heard about what happened at school. I’m sorry. I—” I pause. “I’m going to fix this; I promise. I’ll hire private security for you if I need to. I just...can you call me back? I need to know that you’re okay.” I pause. “Call me.” I pace the locker room as I wait for her to listen to my message and then call me back. When five minutes turns into ten and then twenty, I drop onto the bench next to Aiden. “She’s not going to call me back, is she?” Aiden wisely doesn’t say anything. I stand up and grab my keys and phone.

“Where are you going?” Aiden asks warily.

“I’m going to drive over to her house and bang on the door until she talks to me.” I don’t look at him when I say it because I don’t want to know his opinion of my plan. “See ya,” I call out as I leave the locker room. I jog through the building and out to my car. I just need to see her in person and make sure she’s okay; then we’ll hash out a plan to fix all this.