Page 128 of The Love You Win

“All right, boys. Time to get back out there and shut those Gators out,” Coach yells. My teammates cheer.

Time to go out there and win my woman back.

Or humiliate myself trying.

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.

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