Page 50 of Nodus Tollens
“Let me take a pic of you.” Kate announced and reached into her purse to pull out her phone. She was way too eager, and all I could do was scowl.
“You know I hate taking pictures of myself.” I groaned all while she smiled playfully and set up the camera on her phone.
“I know you do, but I want to capture this moment and….I thought maybe you could send it to Hayes.” She peered her eyes up at me as if to gauge my reaction, and I sure as hell gave her one as I glared.
“No way. Absolutely not, Kate. Knowing him, he’d use my picture as his lock screen.” I grumbled.
“Don’t forget the home screen, too. He seems like the type of boyfriend who would go all out.”
I had a feeling she was right, and although my initial thought was less than enthusiastic, another part of me was curious to see what his response would be. I hadn’t told him I was coming to his game. I thought it would make for a shocking surprise to see me in the stands, and with each passing minute, my nerves were peaking.
“Fine.” I grunted. “Take the picture.” I twisted in my chair until I was now facing Kate with a forced smile. With her phone lifted and pointed toward me, she tilted her head to the side and frowned.
“Turn to the side a bit.” She motioned with her finger. Following her command, I spun until I was my legs were facing away from Kate, and my back was now the only thing visible to her. “Good, now look over your shoulder at me.”
With a groan, I turned my head and gave her a look. “Why can’t you just take a normal picture of me?”
Smiling, she used her free hand and reached toward me to fluff up my hair. “Because, this way, his last name will be on display, and trust me, there’s nothing hockey men love more than seeing their name on their woman.” Once she was satisfied with how my hair looked, she held her phone back up.
With my eyes now narrowed in her direction, I contemplated turning back around and saying screw the photo. Not because Hayes wouldn’t like to see my face and his jersey on full display, but because I knew he would, and I wasn’t prepared for what would come after. Would it alter our already nonexistent relationship and turn it into something more? Was I even prepared for more? I wasn’t quite sure yet, but I knew I at least wanted tonight.
“You’re gonna have to smile for me, Wren.” She teased, causing my eyes to refocus on her face.
“Alright, just make it quick, please. I don’t want anyone staring at us.” I shifted in my seat and sat a little straighter, ready to get this over with. With a quick check that my ears were concealed, I swiped my tongue across my front teeth and gave them a quick clean before giving the camera a timid smile. It wasn’t a wide flashy beam with my mouth stretched or eyes twinkling in excitement. Instead, I kept it mild, not too broad, and not too stern-looking either. Just the right amount of upturn on each corner of my mouth to notice a soft smile. She snapped at least ten photos in the thirty seconds I remained still, and when I started to feel eyes on me, I quickly dropped my grin and slouched back in my seat.
“Wren…” Kate dramatically sighed as she sat back in her seat beside me and began scrolling through the pictures on her phone. Glancing over at her side profile, I could see her eyes softening and a misty haze gradually forming. “These are…. Wow. I have no words. You just have to see for yourself.” She handed me her phone, and with my brows dipped, I peered down at the screen and met the eyes of a beautiful blonde who, in no way, could have been me. The girl in the picture didn’t even resemble me in the slightest. Not when I knew I looked like a homeless woman most days. This person looked like she belonged on a runway. Her face was entirely too perfect and smooth, while her lashes were unrealistically long and alluring. Even the reserved smile that was meant to be overlooked undoubtedly became the focal point of the entire picture. Though, to most, it would have been the eyes that were unknowingly filled with confidence and charm, for me, someone who rarely smiles, I found it the most compelling. I didn’t know what type of trickery the camera lens was playing on the photo or if the lighting was even a factor, but this bold, beautiful blonde was most certainly not me.
“Do… I.” I swallowed while still peering down at the photo. “Do I actually look like this?” It felt stupid that tears brimming in my eyes, but I couldn’t help it. Not once had I ever looked or felt pretty. There was no need to dress up or put effort into my appearance when no one ever took a second glance at me, and it wasn’t their fault. In my ball cap and baggy clothing, I wasn’t exactly attracting any attention, especially from the opposite sex.
But tonight. Tonight, I was.
“Those pictures don’t do you any justice.” She praised me and reached for my hand. “You’re always beautiful. But, right here, in person, you look like the stunning, happy woman you’re supposed to be.”
My eyes lifted and met hers. She was giving me the most authentic smile she could give. There was no deception or dishonesty in her words that I could sense. Even her eyes were filled with a contentment that made my heart feel so full. Averting my stare, I felt seconds away from bawling my eyes out, but with happy tears.
“Anyways…” I handed her phone back and scanned over the ice. Still, there was no sign of the players yet, but I could see the seats around us were almost filled already. Large crowds weren’t exactly my cup of tea, but at least down by the glass, I wouldn’t feel so cramped and confined. “When exactly is the game supposed to start?”
“Anytime now, I would think...” She answered as she narrowed her eyes off to the right, and then suddenly, her teeth snagged her bottom lip on a widening grin. “And…look at that. Here comes your man.”
My head whipped too fast in the direction she was looking, and I swear my heart went into overdrive at the sight I found. What appeared to be a broad tunnel was filled with huge, padded, and covered-in-gear hockey players. There was no way I could tell who was who when they all had their helmets and matching jerseys on, but as soon as they touched the ice with their skates, my eyes landed on one particular player. He immediately took off, gliding around the rink as he owned it. His moves were graceful and calculated. Even when he was avoiding other players and moving around them, he looked like he was floating. Then finally, he started to skate in the opposite direction, giving me the perfect view of his back.
Decker.
The back of his jersey read, and just like the day we met, my whole body lit up. Though he wasn’t in front of me like last time, the effects were just the same as if he were.
“There he is!” Kate squealed as she bounced out of her seat and began waving her arms like a crazy woman.
Oh my god, what is she doing?!
Horrified, I grabbed the back of her Hendricks jersey and yanked her back with all my strength until she fell back in her chair.
“What the hell are you doing!?” I yelped, feeling the temperature in my cheeks rising as I swore. I felt almost every pair of eyes on us.
“I was trying to get Hayes’s attention!” She said as if it was something I should have been okay with.
“Yah, well, now we have everyone else’s attention!” I whisper-shouted while shrinking down in my seat as if that would fix everything. God, I was totally out of my element here.
“He’s going to find out that you’re here sooner or later! Might as well do it now! I mean, maybe he’ll play better if he sees that you’re here cheering him on.”
