My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 14

Nina

My encounter on the football field with Enzo left me both confused and upset.

First of all, how had he shown up like that just in time to catch the football helmet before it hit me in the face? Second, why did he continue following me around campus like a lost puppy? For someone who was supposedly the campus playboy, it felt odd that he was so obsessed with me of all people.

After seeing Enzo and Lisa talking so dramatically, I felt for certain that this was all some sort of huge prank. Surely Justin was in on it, too. They wanted me to be humiliated for getting involved with the hockey team.

Just a little more and I could walk away from this internship and not have to deal with it any longer…

The next day, Friday, was the day of Enzo’s game. Jessica used her VIP ticket to go and sit in one of the VIP box seats. I let her use my ticket to bring Lori, who really only ever liked going to hockey games to see the fights. I didn’t want to go at all, but it was my job now to attend sports games in case anyone got injured.

I wore a lowkey outfit that day in the hopes that Enzo and Justin wouldn’t notice me as much. It was chilly out, even in the arena, so I wore a university hoodie, jeans that weren’t too tight, and a beanie. I even wore my glasses, even though I had been wearing contacts since I left high school. I usually only wore my glasses at home because I thought they looked dumb on me, but I figured that maybe they would get Justin and Enzo to leave me alone.

Tiffany and I stood on the sidelines while the game took place. She bought me a hot cocoa and a soft pretzel while we watched.

“You know, he clearly really likes you,” Tiffany said, leaning closer to me so I could hear her over the roaring of the crowd.

“I know,” I replied, taking a bite of my pretzel. I didn’t bother saying that Enzo was the person I slept with because I figured she already knew.

“I totally understand if he’s not your type, but let me just say this…” Tiffany paused to take a sip of her hot cocoa. Her red lipstick stained the white paper cup. “I’ve known these boys for two years now. They’re obnoxious and full of themselves, but most of them are good kids. Enzo especially.”

My heart leaped a bit at Tiffany’s words. I looked out at the rink, where Enzo was taking the lead over the opposing team. He moved fluidly on the ice, easily flicking his hockey stick this way and that to control the puck as he flew toward the goal.

As I watched Enzo play and pondered what Tiffany said, I thought back to the night that Enzo and I had sex. He had been so gentle and understanding with me, not bothered at all that I was a virgin. He took care of me and made sure that I felt good, too, and didn’t just use me to get off like most guys did at this age.

Were his actions genuine that night?

I wasn’t sure, but even though I enjoyed the night I spent with him, I knew I wouldn’t do it again. I didn’t want to be tangled up in this mess.

Just then, my thoughts were broken by the sound of splitting wood and a collective gasp from the crowd as a player from the other team slammed full-force into Enzo, knocking him onto the ice. I watched as his helmet came off and slid across the rink while his broken stick went in the other direction.

People screamed as the other player climbed on top of Enzo and began punching him deliberately in the face, repeatedly. The referee blew his whistle several times and skated over, but he couldn’t get the other player off of Enzo by himself.

Enzo didn’t fight back. He seemed like he hit his head on the ice when his helmet came off and it knocked him unconscious.

Finally, with the help of two other players from our team, the referee managed to get the angry player off of Enzo and drag him away.