Chapter 33

Chapt er 33

Rico

I check my phone again, wondering if she texted me. Her text last night rocked my world. As soon as I read it, I tried calling her. Multiple times. I also sent several texts, but I've heard nothing from her. I don't know what happened. Everything was going great. The only thing I can think of is that she got spooked somehow. I know if I can just talk to her, we can get things back on track. But that's not going to happen today, not if she refuses to answer her phone. If I didn't have a game tonight, I'd be over at the library right now. Instead, I'm hours away. I force thoughts of my girl from my mind. I need to focus on the game tonight; I can't afford a repeat of my performance the last time something with Amber came up.

When we get to the arena, I head inside with my teammates. Once we're inside the locker room, we begin our pregame ritual. "Everybody listen up," Gunner calls out, and I stop mid-undressing. "Everybody needs to focus tonight, so I want everybody's phones in the basket." Silence descends for about five seconds, and then pandemonium erupts. I stay quiet. Cap's always got a reason for why he does things.

"Hey," Aiden barks out. "He said to do it, so do it." He's the first to drop his in the basket. Sebastian is next. Following their lead, I walk over and drop mine in next. Gunner's eyes meet mine for a moment, and he gives me a look I can't read. I wonder if he knows somehow about the text Amber sent me last night.

"Dude, what's the deal?" Zac complains loudly. "What are we? Five?"

"Five-year-olds don't have cell phones, Dummy," Sebastian says with a laugh.

"Is something wrong?" Dylan asks, dropping his in the basket.

"I just want everybody to focus," Gunner says. His eyes meet mine again, and this time, I know something is up.

I cross my arms across my chest. "You got something you want to say, Cap?"

"I just want you and everybody else on this team to focus tonight," he says evenly.

I glance over at Sebastian, who has worry written all over his face. He doesn't hide his emotions well. "Seb?" Sebastian glances at Gunner, and they seem to have a conversation in that look.

They know about Amber's text somehow. I keep getting ready. I'll talk to them when our teammates go out. A few minutes later, Gunner, Aiden, Sebastian, and I are the only ones left. "Okay, what is going on? And don't try to pretend nothing's wrong. You just took everybody's cells, something you've never done. What's up?"

"You need to focus on tonight's game," Gunner says. "We'll talk about this after the game."

I want to argue with him, but I know he's right. If we go down this path right now, I will definitely lose my focus, and I can't afford to do that tonight. "Fine." I follow them out for our pregame warm-up.

"Garcia," Coach waves me over to the bench.

"You good? You focused?"

I eye him, even as I nod. Something is definitely up. I don't bother asking; I have to focus. I skate away, putting a lock on my thoughts and emotions. I'll figure things out with Amber just as soon as I get home; she's probably just panicking and overthinking things. We'll work it out.

The game is a tough one, but we manage to walk away with the win. They managed to get two goals on us, but we got four. I'm frustrated they got those two on me, but a win is a win. And we get to go home tomorrow. That's a win for sure. We finish our post-game wrap-up, and I hit the shower. We all hustle to get out of there. Soon, we're at a local restaurant in a private room. It's loud and crazy, but it's good. We won; we're going home tomorrow....all good. I slide into a seat next to Aiden and across from Sebastian and Gunner. Whatever Seb was saying to Gunner stops the second I join them. I laugh. "You guys are so not discreet. What is up?" I turn my gaze to Gunner. "And don't think I haven't noticed that I'm the only one who hasn't gotten their phone back." I put my hand out. Gunner eyes me a moment before handing it over. I check it quickly, noticing there are no texts or calls from Amber. I put it down next to my water. "So with the way you've all been acting, I'm going to assume you know about the text from Amber." Three blank expressions meet mine. "Okay. Maybe not. What's all this about then?" When none of them say anything, I turn to Sebastian. If any of them are going to crack, it's going to be him. "Why is everybody being weird around me and why did Coach ask if I was okay before the game?"

He releases a sigh before he pulls out his phone and does something on it before sliding it across the table to me. I pick it up. I stare at the screen and swipe through the pictures. Pictures of Amber...with Adam....at a restaurant. At first, I would assume they're from the past, but there's one at the end where she's standing. I feel gut-punched when I see her belly. It's obvious this is recent. I don't want to see anymore. I slide the phone back to Sebastian. "There's more," he says quietly.

"I don't want to see any more."

But he keeps talking. "She was at his game tonight."

The breath is knocked from my lungs. I don't know what to say or think. "Are you sure?" It's all I can think to ask.

Sebastian nods. "Yeah."

I look at Gunner, but he confirms it with a nod. I don't bother looking at Aiden. I stand to my feet. "Where are you going?" Gunner asks, standing as well.

"Back to my room at the hotel."

"No, you're not," he argues.

I run a hand over my chest. I am so not in the mood for this. I turn around and come face to face with Coach. "Garcia, you going somewhere?"

"I'm heading back to my room."

"No, you're not," he says, echoing Gunner's words. "You're going to stay here with your team and eat, and then we'll go from here." I know right then that Coach knows everything. He puts a hand on my shoulder. "We'll figure it out."

I really don't want to stay, and I sure don't want to eat. But I respect my coach, so I slide back into my seat. "Welcome back," Sebastian says, but I ignore him. When the food comes, I eat because I need to fuel my body. But the food tastes like cardboard. Somehow, I make it through the night and finally settle in my room in the hotel. Only then do I open my phone and google Amber's name along with Adam's. Picture after picture pops up of them. Pictures of them at dinner together, pictures of her and him. My heart squeezes painfully at the sight of her standing next to him in his jersey. Anger burns through me, and I don't know what to do with myself. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block out the images; but I'm pretty sure they're burned into my memory. I grab my room key and head out; there's no way I'm going to be able to sleep. Aiden stands up from where he's leaning against the wall. I don't say anything to him, because I'm too mad. I make my way to the workout room, and he follows silently. I wish there was a punching bag, but there's not. So, I hop on the treadmill instead. I'm not really a distance runner, but I have a feeling tonight I will be. I put earbuds in and turn my music on full blast and start. I'm aware that Aiden claims the one next to mine. When I can barely feel my legs anymore, I finally begin to slow down. I wipe my face with a towel and step off the treadmill. I realize for the first time that sometime during my workout, Sebastian and Gunner showed up as well. They're sweating nearly as much as Aiden and I are. As frustrated as I am, I appreciate that they're here with me. "Thanks, Guys." Sebastian and Gunner both finally turn around and acknowledge me.

"For what it's worth, I'm really sorry," Sebastian says.

I lock my jaw and look away. I don't want to talk about it, and yet... "I just don't understand what went wrong. I thought things were going really well." For some reason, I look at Aiden, as if he can give me the answers I need.

"I'm sorry, Man," he says quietly. "Brielle didn't know anything about any of it." He smirks. "If it helps, she's madder than a hornet right now."

"Oh, so is Stephanie. She was livid," Sebastian adds.

Even though I'm hurt, protectiveness surges through me. "Don't let them take it out on Amber."

Sebastian glances at Aiden and Gunner and then back at me. "I gotta say, Man. I'm in the same boat. She probably better hope she doesn't run into me."

"Yeah." That's from Gunner. Aiden doesn't say anything, but this is going to be tough on him. For him, it's family.

I shake my head. "I just don't know what I did wrong."

"This isn't on you," Sebastian says, and I can hear the clear warning in his voice. "This is all on her."

I rub my chest that aches fiercely. "I just wish I could talk to her."

"She won't talk to you?" Aiden asks.

"I've tried calling and texting multiple times. Nothing. But she texted last night that things weren't going to work out between us."

Sebastian shakes his head. "What? Does he make more money than you?"

"Seb," Aiden warns.

Sebastian shakes his head in anger. "This is messed up."

"It is," Gunner agrees. "But we've got your back." He puts his hand on my shoulder. "You're not alone."

" Thanks."

"You feel like you can sleep now?" Aiden asks.

"Yeah. Thanks for coming; you guys didn't need to."

Aiden claps my back. "You're family."

I nod and swallow hard. These guys are like brothers to me. "Thanks, Guys."

When I get back to my room, I shower and then crash in bed. After staring up at the ceiling for a while, I pull out my phone and read her texts to me. I know it's late, but I send a text anyway.

Me- hey amber, i don't know what's going on. i saw the pictures of you with adam. would you please call me or even text me? i just want to know that you're okay.

I don't expect to hear anything from her, especially considering it's one in the morning her time. So when my phone dings, it startles me. I open it quickly, seeing it's from her.

Amber- no, i'm not okay

Before I can text her, she sends another one.

Amber- please don't keep contacting me

Amber- for what it's worth, I'm sorry

I clench my jaw and resist the urge to text her back. I vacillate between anger and worry for her. I'm angry that she keeps trying to take control of the situation and telling me what I can and cannot do. Part of me wants to contact her and tell her just that. The other part of me is worried for her, and I want to do what I can somehow to help. I don't understand why she'd let him back into her life, not after the way he hurt her. I try to not text back, I really do. But I fail.

Me- i'm not giving up on us. we're going to figure this out.