Page 1 of Madden

1

MADDEN

Distracted.

I flinch as the puck sails through the air, narrowly missing hitting me in the head. Bradford skates towards me, a frown on his face. “I’m okay," I shout, doubting he can hear me over all the angry fans yelling about what I should have done.

I have this unsettled feeling inside that says something is wrong. Very wrong. It's a feeling I get every time my mind wanders to the events that happened while I was in New York during an away game. Especially the beautiful Tessa George.

Gemma, Dario's girlfriend, was the target of the bullet that struck poor Tessa. The brass had skimmed along her cheekbone and part of her scalp. I'd seen it happen, and a rush of protectiveness had taken over. I couldn't explain it then, and I can't explain it now. My need to go to New York and check on her is becoming unbearable. I care about my friends and would do anything for them, but to be concerned about someone I hardly know is not like me at all.

A little voice in the back of my head tells me that Idoknow her. We text daily, and lately we talk in the evenings. I look forward to those calls. The sound of Tessa's voice on the phonedoes things to me and has created a need in me for the girl. A need I suspect she feels as well.

"Hey," Nash nudges me as we step off the ice, "I'm the new guy who's supposed to screw up. What happened to you?"

I give him the finger and stomp off. Though I should have known that Bradford would be on my case as soon as we're alone. "I think there's something wrong with me," I mutter as he steps up to his cubby. "There has to be, right? I mean, why else would the girl be in my head? This isn't normal."

I toss my sweaty clothes into the big hamper, grab my shower bag and towel, and head for the showers. I don't give a shit about running around naked. I've done it since the day I was born. It's natural.

Bradford chuckles. "I think you should take the few days we have off and go see her." He shrugs.

"I'm not going to visit her. She's up in the mountains. Somewhere in Vermont. That's where she's from." I lather my hair with my favorite shampoo and wash it out. "I can't just show up, can I?"

Bradford the ass bursts out laughing. "You don't have to go up there with a bag packed and knock on her door. Drop your shit at a hotel and run into her somewhere. You see that shit in a Hallmark movie." He wiggles his eyebrows. "I watch those movies with my mom around the holidays."

Rolling my eyes, I step around him and continue to think about what he said. My sister and my mom watch the Hallmark Christmas movies every year. One a day starting on Thanksgiving. I'm not sure that's what I want. I mean, Tessa is a gorgeous girl with ruby red hair styled in a long bob, or so she described it. Freckles across the bridge of her perky nose. High cheekbones that turn a lovely shade of pink at the slightest compliment. She's neither slim nor overweight. She is somewhere in between. And so damn sexy.

I grin as I leave the locker room.

Thanks to Bradford, I know what I'm going to do.

I shoot off a text to Tessa:

I’m done!

I lovethat flaky white stuff. It's pretty the way it settles on the ground until people go out and mess it all up. Right now, I'm standing in front of a hotel covered in snow and Christmas decorations, wondering if there's ever been a time in my life when I've seen so much decoration in one place. I want to say it's over the top, but something stops me. It’s festive in a way that brings a smile to my face and a feeling of warmth, like a hug from an old friend.

My stomach rolls with a bundle of nerves as I put one foot in front of the other. I'm really doing this. I'm here to see Tessa. The girl who has me tied in knots. This hotel was the only one with a room at the inn, so I booked it on a whim, wanting to impress Tessa. It's not like me to be nervous, so I pull myself together as I stride up to the reservation desk.

I give the receptionist, Becky, a megawatt smile as I lean on the desk between us. "Hi Becky, I have a reservation under the name Tyler for a couple of nights."

Becky hits her keyboard with nails so long I'm not sure how she hits the keys. "I've got you right here. All I need is the credit card you want charging.”

I hand over the card and get it all sorted out, then find myself with the key in my hand as I ride the elevator up to the top floor of the hotel—the fourth—where the suites are located. I open the door and step inside, feeling warmth wash over me.

The room is large and comfortable. The large bed in the center of the room is where my eyes land and refuse to move. I imagine Tessa's red hair on the pillows as I make love to her. After dropping my bag, I rub my aching cock and turn my attention to the fireplace. The crackling fire casts a warm glow over the room, creating a romantic ambiance that is hard to resist. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my pounding heart, before walking over to the window to take in the breathtaking view of the town, which certainly looks ready for the Holidays.

2

TESSA

I love watchingthe snow fall in big, delicate flakes. It's so pretty. At least from where I watch it, curled up under a thick blanket in my reading nook. Dad built this into a corner of my bedroom when he transformed the room from a little girl's palace to a teenager's obsession with books. The words between the pages are my escape from life. They always have been. Whenever my mind needs a distraction, I find one of my favorite books and start on the first page. It's been more active than usual this past month. If I'm honest with myself, it's been on the fritz for a few months.

Especially today after the message I got from Madden last night. I couldn't think why he would send such a message. His messages kept me going. Kept me strong when I wanted to curl up and cry. I thought our relationship had changed recently, even for the better. Then'I'm done'popped up on my phone.

And there is Ralph hovering around me. I'm not even sure if he really likes me. More my parents' money if I have to guess. He's been persistent and I've given in once or twice and gone out to dinner with the man.

I was furious when I found out that my mother had invited him home with me. It was the last thing I wanted. Others toldme how handsome he is. How lucky I am to have his interest directed my way. Ever since I was shot by a stray bullet, my eyes have been open to those around me. I've begun to ask why. Why is Ralph with me when he spends most of his time on the phone? I can't remember ever seeing him without the phone in his hands. I've also noticed that he's critical of what I wear. I consider myself well dressed. According to Ralph, I need help in that department.

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