J O D I E
PRESENT DAY.
THE GUYS HAVE A game today. As always, a ticket arrived for me from Nick. Great seats behind the bench. Yes, I swore off the box since Mrs. Hidalgo expressed some sort of interest in Alex's games. And while Liz, Bri and Kim are sad about it, they understand.
I'm coming back from my morning walk when I see a figure wandering impatiently at my door. When I recognize who it is, I freeze. Andreàs, again. What does he even want this time?
Things between Steven and I have been good the past few days. That includes him showing up at my apartment with a celebration wine for it, and the constant texting and gifs. He's alright, honestly, but I don't feel that maddening spark I felt with Alex and that terrifies me. As much as I hate to admit it, Alex succeeded in damaging my heart for any future men and that sucks ass. Or maybe, maybe I don't need to feel a spark to move on, maybe I just need to put my foot forward.
"I don't want the gun, Andreàs and it would be nice if you would kindly take the hint and be on your goddamn way," I fold my hands the moment our eyes meet. The words stumble out of me before I even have a chance to rethink them. And Andreàs being Andreàs, stares at me with a bored expression on his face.
"It's nice to see you too," he replies dryly. "Now would you be a dear and kindly let me in," He says and I visibly roll my eyes. He notices, and he stuffs his hands into the pocket of his expensive two piece suit. Why does he always have to wear a suit? And more importantly, what the hell is he doing here?
"Get lost, I mean it," I'm annoyed already. Who does he think he is anyway?
"There's no easier way to say this," he takes a deep breath, and it's almost like he's forced to, "I need your help." He states like I'm supposed to help him immediately. "Señorita the next step of action for you is to kindly ask what I need your assistance with," And then he grins, the closest thing to a smile I've ever seen on his face. He called me Señorita. What century is he living in?
"What, pray tell, do you need assistance with?" I draw invisible air quotes at the assistance, and I go back to folding my arms.
He sighs, moving closer to me, so close that I have to stop myself from freezing at his stance and stark boldness. I mental slap myself for not taking Zac on a well deserved walk this morning, although given the circumstances, Zac is probably growling at the door, ready to ambush Andreàs if I let him in.
"Alexander got me a ticket for his game." He starts and my stupid heart softens at his name. "Now my big brother didn't deliver the ticket by himself, he mailed it to me, because he can't stand the look on my face if I tell him I want to attend. But here's the catch, I actually do want to attend, to surprise him, so I need someone to walk me through what a hockey game is like. I know it's violent and it involves a couple of grown men skating around a particular annoying tiny object-"
"A puck, the tiny object is called a puck," I tell him, and a small wave of laughter washes over me.
"See, I know I chose wisely when I decided to come here."
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"SO THERE ARE six players on each team, one goalie, one center, two wings........"
I spend the rest of the morning teaching Andreàs everything I know about hockey. Back in El Paso I was a Rangers fan. While we didn't have a hockey team in our small village, I worked at a bar where my boss was a die hard hockey fan. So yeah, I built my knowledge of hockey right from when I was a pre-teen trying to save herself and her Mom from her abusive dad. Didn't work out so well though. Catalina chose to stay together with a man that was divorced by his legal wife.
Andreàs seems interested while my hockey rant goes on and on. He asks a couple of questions in between, politely-gasps-like what Alex's position is and what his job is in the rink. I also don't fail to tell him that it's always super cold in the arena because of the ice so it's advisable to wear heavy clothes. Shocker, according to our tickets, Andreas will be sitting right next to me, behind the bench. And while I'm still offended that he offered me a gun, and Isabella and him exchanged words that I didn't understand, I can't deny him the knowledge of the kind of sport his brother plays. Even though said brother keeps smashing my heart in pieces every chance he gets.
It takes a lot to stop Zac from breathing down Andreas' neck, but when he stops, it's totally worth it. That's if you minus the part where he pees on Andreas' three thousand dollar shoes.
A knock is heard on the door and I tense for a bit before going to get it- and Zac watches me while I do, ready to attack anyone uninvited. When I ask who it is, Liz replies in that calm, soothing voice of hers. I throw the door open and we share a long hug- well, not so long because Liz notices Andreas and well-
"Jo, did you get a boyfriend that I don't know about?" She walks towards where Andreas sits on my new white couch, her eyes dissecting him with every step she takes. Yes, Liz is practically a fashion icon. With her Chanel heels, No. 5 and Prada dress, outlining every curve and inch of her body, exposing her cleavage and her back, it's safe to say that Liz intimidates the masculine species of Seattle, wherever she goes. Yes, she's the sexy mama of a cute boy, and she's already pregnant and she's not showing- not yet.
"And why does he look like Alex?" The question comes out in a high pitched sound. Smart Liz seems to put the dots together before I'm able to get a word in, "Oh my God, he's not a doppelganger, he's Alex's brother- oh god Jo, are you into the brother-brother thingy?" Leave it to Liz to think so many goddamn things at once. And yes, Andreas is definitely checking Liz out- and avoiding her piercing gaze too.
"Okay, Liz, all this is not good for the baby, why don't you sit down, eh," I gesture for her to take the second couch and she does. "Liz, this is Andreas and Andreas this is-"
"Elizabeth Summers West," He finishes for me and I nod to Liz- who isn't impressed at the fact that he knows her full name.
"Does he work for the FBI or something?" She directs questions to me and I have to stifle a loud laugh. She turns to Andreas and faces him with a scowl, "Look you better stop looking at me like that because if my husband gets you, he'll behead you with his hockey stick and he won't go to jail," She then turns to me, "The cops love him,"
"Yes they do," the laugh I've been holding finally lets go and Andreas nods his head, clearly accepting the threat and saying nothing about it.
"It's wonderful to meet you Mrs. West," Andreas finally lets out his hand for Liz to shake.
"You're going to have to do a lot better than how wonderful it is to meet me," She rolls her eyes, her hand rubbing her small belly. "And I don't shake men whose brother's are too blind to see what's in front of them- I'm here for a well deserved girl's day before the game tonight, so you might as well shoo out," I'm holding back my laughter, watching Andreas and Liz in a face-off.
"Um, I'm actually here to learn the specifics of the game tonight, I'm watching Alex play." Andreas explains and Liz practically dissects him with her eyes.
"Is your sister-in-law going to attend the game tonight?" Liz asks.
"Isabella has other more pressing matters to attend to." Andreas shifts uncomfortably on the couch, it's the first time I've seen him look like that since I met him, and I can't help but laugh. Remember what I said about Liz always intimidating the masculine species? Yeah.
"I'm doing this because Jo here is looking awfully comfortable while you sit around in her space. I'll have an Alex Jersey delivered, and that's what you're wearing to the game- I also hope you own a pair of jeans- the arena is no place for nine thousand-dollar suits." She rises for the for. "I'll be right back Jo, make me some pancakes will you?" She faces me with that cherry smile of hers and I nod. She loves my pancakes, sometimes she claims the baby loves them too.
"Of course, they'll be ready by the time you get back," I hug her and she waltzes out of the apartment, with one last glare at Andreas of course.
Andreas shifts on the couch, releasing a breath he probably didn't realize he was holding as he asks, "Are all your friends as scary as her?" He breathes.
"You think Liz is scary? You gotta meet Bri." I laugh and he freezes. This is going to be fun.
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LIZ ARRIVES LATER with Bri and Kim. Yesz she called them and told them that Andreas is lurking in my apartment. Their reactions to the poor Italian will forever be ingrained in my memory
Bri: "She's my best friend and she's not into the brother thing- the only reason we're not kicking you out is because you wanna learn hockey."
My friends are crazy.
And yes, I snagged a last minute ticket for Steven. And yes Andreas didn't look too pleased, and I didn't care. It's going to be a huge game night. It's a home game, my favorite and I hope the guys win because that means chocolate cake from T. And that's my highlight of the night.
The girls don't let Andreas go, and Liz didn't just get an Alex Jersey, she also got a pair of dark jeans and white sneakers and a baseball cap. Oh, they also took life threatening pictures. And Andreas looked uncomfortable as ever- best day of my fucking life.
We all head to the game together, Andreas looking super uncomfortable and the girls thriving on that fact.
As we approach the Arena, I silently pray that Isabella doesn't attend the game. My prayer goes unanswered when she exits her black Rover and our eyes meet. Liz immediately moves into Mama mode.
"Thought you said she had more important things to do?" Bri glares at Andreas.
"She must have decided last minute, I'm not her servant." Andreas responds and Bri's nostrils flare.
"No, of course not, you're just the little brother of the man whose neck I want to snap." She snorts- something she does when she's annoyed.
Isabella chooses now to walk towards us. But she doesn't make it because Alex appears out of nowhere, taking the spot right in front of her- avoiding my gaze. My heart clenches.
Steven also chooses now to drive his sports car into the parking lot, a smile playing on his lips as our eyes meet. I force a smile- and I hate myself for it.
"Come on, Jo," Kim gestures and I follow her, at the same time Steven and I say our hellos and head towards the arena. The girls follow behind us and I mentally resist the urge to look backwards. No, I will not look. I will not look.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE GAME BEGINS.
It's us against Washington- last year's Stanley Cup winners. And from the way it's going, there's only one conclusion Steven and I have come close to. They hate us. And it's a hate so strong that they might go as far as dirty play just to win. No goals yet and we're three periods in. The guys look gella frustrated already and I give T a heart with my hands, which he sees and responds with a nod. But I'm his best friend, I know he smiled underneath that huge helmet.
"I'm jealous of you." Steven chuckles. "Youvget to hang out with them." He laughs and I join him. Andreas however, hasn't said a word since the game began. Knowing him, he's probably confused and hiding it. When the guys got on the ice at first, I didn't want to but I noticed a wordless conversation between the two brothers. And Alex's shock to see Andreas wasn't hidden before he threw his helmet on.
And then it's like a breakthrough. A minute to the end of the game Alex scores a goal with an assist from Aaron and the entire Seattle arena erupts with a thousand screams and yells of excitement, and Alex skates back, the guys skating around him and hugging him. And yes, I catch a small smile on Andreas' face before it disappears. He looks incredibly awkward in casual clothes but then again, it was fun while it lasted.
I'm on my feet, Steven too, as we yell and scream in excitement. Steven throws his arms around me and I do the same. It's the excitement and thrill of the arena that is my favorite part of the game. And I love this moment.
The arena continues to erupt as Alex skates towards the bench? I freeze and my heart thunders in my chest. What is he doing? He takes his helmet off and he touches the plexiglass. I gulp, unsure where this is going, my heart racing away from my body. When he reaches me, with a huge smile on his face, he mouths,
"il mio cuore è tuo."
My heart is yours.
I think I just fell off the face of the earth.
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A/N
gahhhhh!!!!!!
I loved this Chapter, did you?
Jo teaching Andreas hockey because he asked, Liz interrogating Andreas, Bri and Kim's reactions, The girls making him ditch his formal clothes for Casual clothes!!!
Next chapter is coming with the bomb y'all have been waiting for.
I'm thinking this book is going to be 40 chapters? I'm going to try and sneak in more past chapters as we go on I promise.
See you next update!
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