Chapter 56

fifty-six

ISLA

What is happening right now?

The whole arena buzzes with chatter as we wait for the guys to take the ice for the third and final period of the game. After Maddox's first goal, I had my fair share of gawkers. But after the second goal and having my face plastered across the jumbotron? My name is being whispered all around me.

"What is he doing?" I ask Mira. "He hasn't spoken to me in over a week, and now he's scoring goals for me?" I hate the hint of hysteria creeping into my voice, and that Maddox's mom is hearing this conversation, but I need to know what's going on. The uncertainty of it all is making my stomach eat itself and I'm worried I'll toss my cookies—and the giant pretzel I ate in the first period—all over the plexiglass in front of us.

With my luck, that would make it on the jumbotron, too .

Mira squeezes my hand as the clock ticks down on the intermission. "I know you think he doesn't care, but that couldn't be further from the truth. All I can say is that I hope you give him a chance to make it up to you."

"Make it up to me?" I splutter. "Mira, did Griffin tell him what really happened that day?"

Mira nods.

"But he never called me. He didn't say anything. I sat there, staring at my phone hoping he'd at least text, and nothing !"

My friend winces. "Yeah. That may have been Griffin's doing. I should probably kick his ass for it, but his heart's in the right place." She sighs as the clock ticks down to zero and the lights in the arena flash. Mira studies my face before coming to a decision. "Look, all I can say is that he's been miserable without you. A complete ass. Maddy needs you. He cares about you. A lot. And I think you need him too."

The crowd roars as the guys take to the ice. Maddox stares at Mira and me as he skates by, a frown marring his brow.

"He doesn't want me, Mira." No one does for long.

Mira chuckles as she watches her brother watch me. "Come on, Isla. With the way he's staring at you right now, like he wants to scale the glass and steal you away? You can't actually believe that."

I don't respond. Just shrug. Because I desperately want to believe what Mira is saying. I want all of this to have been some awful misunderstanding. For him to leave the ice, drag me somewhere private, and profess his love for me .

But my life doesn't work that way. And hope is dangerous.

The Rogues come out swinging in the third period. My eyes dart across the ice, following the puck. Florida's shots on goal number ticks up as they attempt to score throughout the third, but Sebastian blocks them all. Both teams battle it out and the game gets more physical as the Gators' frustrations grow.

Seven minutes into the third, the Rogues take possession of the puck. I watch, mesmerized, as these massive men fly down the ice. Who knew a bunch of six-foot behemoths could be so graceful? They pass the puck between them like it's nothing. Griffin, Logan, and Maddox evade the Gators wingers, out-skate their center, and barrel through their d-men. Back and forth, they tap the puck, getting closer and closer to the goal. The crowd starts to chant and cheer. And then, with a flick of the wrist so fast I almost miss it, Maddox sinks another goal. Right between the goalie's legs.

The arena erupts into chaos. The red lights behind the goal flash, the siren blares, and the fans are on their feet.

"Maddox Graves scores his third goal of the night with an assist from Logan Byrne and Griffin Wright." The announcer's voice booms over the ice. "He's pulled off a hat trick, ladies and gentlemen! Can you believe that?"

Mira and Camila are cheering like madwomen and hugging each other. Jess and Nev are hooting and hollering. But me? I'm staring at Maddox as he says something to the ref, who nods, then hands Maddox the puck. Then he's flying over the ice until he comes to a sharp stop directly in front of me. We lock eyes, and I swear my heart is trying to beat its way out of my chest .

Maddox searches my face before mouthing I'm sorry . He holds the puck to his chest. This is for you . And then he tosses the little black disk up over the plexiglass. The man behind me catches it, and Maddox doesn't even have to scowl at the guy to get him to hand it over. I look down at the puck, then back up at the man I'm still hopelessly in love with. He presses a gloved hand to the glass, then gives his mom and sister a wink, and skates back onto the ice to join his teammates.

I… don't know what to think. Or do. Or feel.

Clutching the puck to my chest, I turn to Mira and blink owlishly at her. "What just happened?"

She throws her head back and laughs. "What just happened is my brother scored a hat trick for you." She grins at me. "I know you aren't all that familiar with hockey yet, but that's as good as a love letter from a guy like Maddy."

There's a lump in my throat. I look for Maddox and find him on the bench, watching me. Logan says something to him, but Maddox only gives him a short nod in answer. His attention doesn't waver. Not until he has to get back on the ice.

The Rogues wipe the floor with the Gators, shutting them out completely. But unless Maddox is on the ice, I don't see any more of the game. I'm lost in my head. And his rich, brown eyes.

Until the final buzzer sounds and the announcer tells everyone to stick around for a special presentation on the ice. And then I'm lost in my panic.

"That's your cue," Mira says with a huge smile. "Come on, I'll show you where to go."

People eye us curiously as we make our way through the crowd. Lots of people stand and head for the exits, but plenty of others stay in their seats, waiting to see what happens next.

A few crew members hurriedly place long mats on the ice so we don't slip once we're out there. Mira leads me toward the tunnel where the guys file through. They smile and wave when they see me. Maddox isn't with them. He must already be in the locker room. I can't deny the pulse of disappointment that reverberates through me at that.

After the show he put on tonight, I thought for sure he'd stick around.

Guess not.

Two guys in suits who are obviously big wigs with the team and a smiley young brunette who introduces herself as the Rogues' social media manager greet me. One man holds one of those ridiculous checks the size of a child. They shake my hand and introduce themselves, but the moment they say their names, I've already forgotten them. I'm too lost in my head to do more than smile and nod.

"Okay," the social media manager says with a huge smile. "Just follow them out onto the ice. They'll say a few things, hand you a big check, and I'll get some video. You'll shake, say thanks, and then you're done. Think you can handle that?"

I glance at Mira, then back at the brunette. "Uh, sure. Yeah. Smile and accept a big check. Got it."

The brunette laughs. "This is going to be the cutest video ever."

Right . More like the most awkward video ever. But I don't have time to dwell on how much I'm dreading all of this, because a moment later, the announcer begins to speak .

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special guest with us tonight."

The two men in suits stroll out onto the ice like they were made to command the attention of a crowd of thousands. I hesitate, and the social media manager has to give me an encouraging push to follow them. If it weren't for the camera she then points in my direction, I'd probably turn tail and flee. Instead, I paste a fake-ass smile on my face and pray to Chris Hemsworth that I don't slip on the ice and fall on my ass in front of all these people.

"The Minnesota Rogues are proud to partner with Center High. They're a local high school with big dreams for their students. At the beginning of the school year, we partnered with them to expand their after-school programs. Now, we're excited to provide all new computers for not only the school, but its students."

People in the audience clap. A few get up and leave. Apparently, seeing some random teacher accept a big check isn't all that exciting. If only my nerves would get the memo.

The announcer continues to speak as we find our marks out on the ice. A commotion at the tunnel draws my eye.

"As a thank you to the teacher who made this partnership possible, a few of Ms. Isla Harding's English students have prepared short essays which they will present tonight."

Four of my best students grin at me as they file onto the ice, and my heart swells. Nerves forgotten, I beam as they clutch their printed essays and wave at the crowd.

One of the suits has a microphone now, and says some things I don't really hear. It's all nice stuff. How the Rogues are proud to be investing in Minneapolis's future. That they look forward to partnering with Center High for years to come. And then they flank me on both sides and we pose for photos with the stupid big check.

The announcer thanks the suits, who begin to leave the ice. I go to follow, but the social media manager stops me with a hand on my shoulder.

"Hold on. You won't want to miss this next part," she says with a wink.

The lights in the arena dim, and a spotlight shines on the first of my students. She holds a microphone in one hand and her speech in the other, smiles brightly, and begins to speak.

"Some of you may have heard of our amazing teacher, Ms. Harding." I flush when people in the stands cheer. "Yeah, you should know her because she's one of the best teachers around. But you probably know her because she was dating Maddox Graves."

The crowd goes nuts at that, and I can feel my face growing hot. "Teresa," I hiss. "What are you doing?"

My student just winks at me. "Oh, come on, Ms. Harding. We all saw the pics. You two are cute as hell together." She grins when the stands erupt in laughter. "You were happy with him. And then you weren't. Which is why when Mr. Graves asked our class to help him win you back, we said yes."

"Plus, he promised to sign jerseys for us," one of my other students says, leaning toward the microphone. Teresa rolls her eyes and pushes him away. No one is leaving, now. They're all watching this spectacle unfold.

And I'm frozen in place while I try to compute what she just said .

He asked my students to help him win me back?

"Mr. Graves said you don't really like being the center of attention like this, but he wanted the world to know how great you are." Murmurs break out in the arena as Rogues players take to the ice. Each holds a paper lantern, complete with flickering tea lights. They encircle the rug I'm standing on, each giving me winks and waves.

I turn to Griffin and mouth What's going on? He simply shrugs with an impish grin.

"Mr. Graves asked us to tell everyone what makes you awesome," another of my students, Eddie, says. He holds his paper out. "Our whole class got together and made a list, but it's pretty long. So we're going to give these to you to read later." Eddie and the other students hand me their papers with massive smiles on their faces. "We think there's someone else who should tell the world how great you are."

The spotlight shifts, illuminating Maddox as he steps onto the ice. He's no longer wearing his uniform like the rest of the guys. He's in his game day suit and skates. My students pat me on the shoulder as they file past, leaving me alone in the middle of the ice with a bunch of hockey players and the man who broke—but still holds—my heart.

Maddox murmurs his thanks to my students as they pass him, and he takes the microphone from Eddie. His molten-chocolate eyes fix on me as he skates up. He stops before the mat and clears his throat.

"Eddie's right," he says. His voice is raspy and low. "Even though your students have probably written a much more eloquent speech than I ever could, I'm the one that has something to prove." His eyes scan my face before they drop to my hands, which tremble as I clasp them together over my stomach.

"Everyone here tonight has heard the rumors about me. The stupid Gravedigger nickname and how I always break women's hearts. But until the other week, the nickname was a lie. I hated that name when it was based off of falsehoods." His voice cracks. "But I hate it more now that it's not."

Maddox reaches for my hand. I only hesitate for a moment before placing my palm in his. He takes a step toward me.

"I've been a coward and an idiot. I let my fears and assumptions rule me and I hurt you, Short-Stack. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for how I acted, baby. It's stupid, but I was so terrified of my feelings for you. No one has ever had the power to break me before you. I've never cared enough about anyone to let that happen. So I lost all sense of reason. The last week and a half I've been miserable. Just ask the guys."

Maddox's teammates grunt their agreement and the crowd laughs.

"The thing is, I don't like who I am without you. You make me want to be a better man, Isla Harding. Ever since our practice date when you ripped me a new one for being rude, you've been it for me. I didn't realize it then, but I almost let the most brilliant, hilarious, beautiful, and loving woman walk away from me that night because I was stuck in my head. Because I was stuck in my fears."

Maddox runs a hand through his hair. He takes another step closer. "Then I did it again the other day. Except this time, it was me who walked away. And it was the biggest mistake of my life. "

I'm shaking now. There are still hundreds, if not thousands, of people around us in this arena, but I don't see or hear any of them. Because my whole body is attuned to Maddox. Nothing exists except him.

"Isla, you're too good for me. You know it, I know it, the guys know it. Hell, everyone in this arena probably knows it. You deserve someone who isn't jaded. Someone who doesn't have issues with relationships. Baby, you deserve the best." He takes one final step closer. Our chests are almost brushing. He drops my hand and brings his up to cup my face. When a single tear slips down my cheek, he gently wipes it away with his thumb.

"But the thing is, I'm selfish. And even though you deserve better than me, I can't seem to let you go." He presses his forehead to mine. "So I'm going to tell you how I feel, and I'm going to wish on every single one of these lanterns that you can find it in your big, beautiful heart to give me another chance."

Maddox pulls back and nods at the guys. At his signal, they each release their paper lanterns. They're tethered with a long length of string so they don't set off the sprinklers in the arena, but they still float high enough above us to look like stars.

Or the hot air balloon where I fell for him.

My heart thunders in my chest and more tears pool in my eyes. Maddox looks down at me with so much tenderness.

He's not done with me. He hasn't moved on. In fact, it seems he's been just as miserable as I've been.

"I don't deserve another chance after the way I hurt you. You have no reason to trust me, baby, and I know that. But I'm too selfish not to tell you I love you, Isla Harding. I'm so fucking in love with you."

The crowd roars, and Maddox winces. "I shouldn't have said the f-word. There are kids here."

A giggle bubbles up out of me. Along with more tears.

He loves me?

My knees feel unsteady. I need to tether myself to something. So I reach out and grab hold of the man who was my rock and is asking me to let him be again. My breath comes in short bursts as I cling to his suit jacket. His gorgeous, earthy eyes sparkle under the spotlight. And they're trained on me.

He brushes a thumb over my cheekbone, his forehead still pressed to mine. "I love you, Short-Stack. I got a taste of what life would be like without you this past week, and it was worse than I could have imagined. If you'll let me, I want nothing more than to love you and support you and cheer you on. I want to fall asleep next to you and wake up to your adorable bedhead. And I want you wearing my jersey. Every single game."

Maddox sucks in a deep breath. I hold mine.

"Can you forgive me? Would you give me another chance? I can't promise that I won't mess up again. But I can promise that I will never walk away from you again. I'll fight for you. Always. And I'll love you as long as you'll let me. Even after." He presses a kiss to my forehead as my body quivers with the emotions I'm trying so hard to repress.

I don't need to break down and ugly cry in front of all these people.

"What do you say, baby? Give me another shot? I promise I won't miss this one. "

Squeezing my eyes shut so I can have a moment to compose myself, I breathe deeply through my nose. I can't believe this is happening. Never in a million years did I imagine Maddox putting something like this together. He's pushing me outside of my comfort zones, but it's also perfect. I may hate the attention I've gotten because of our relationship, but he's claiming me. Publicly. Telling the world he's not embarrassed of me.

He professed his love for me. In front of an arena full of Rogues fans.

Opening my eyes, I'm met with an achingly familiar face filled with a potent mixture of hope and fear.

My answer is easy.