Capture the Moment (Moments #1)

7. Cleo

seven

Cleo

A large fluff of gold blinds me before I have a chance to speak; I can feel my skates lift from the ground. All eyes are on me and the massive golden retriever in human form. Jace's engulfs me in a hug so tight that I lose my breath and footing on the ice momentarily,.

“You should’ve told me you’d be here,” Jace mumbles into my hair, pulling me closer to him. My heart swells as my best friend holds me in the warmest embrace I've felt all year and I can’t help but feel safe.

It’s only been a day since I’ve seen Jace Heart in person. Yet, he holds me as if it’d been an eternity. His embrace is warm and holds so much love my heart nearly bursts. He gently places me back on the ice, a large smile brightening his tanned face as he peers down at me with large sage-colored eyes.

“You get to see me train today! I can’t wait to show you that move I was talking about last—”

“Ahem.” Dad interrupts Jace, a cold stare darkens his already hard features as he looks between the blonde and me.

“Like I was saying to everyone. My daughter’s going to be helping with today’s practice…” Dad starts up again, I zone out from whatever he’s saying to the boys as my skin begins to prickle.

The hair on my neck rises and it takes everything in me not to look over each of the taller men around me. You know that feeling when you know you’re being watched? And it may either be a serial killer or a hot stalker... I’m hoping for the latter because I could really use a dark romance thriller kind of love right about now .

Should I be mysterious and act like I don’t feel them starring?

Or should I stare back? Assert dominance, or whatever…

As a matter of fact, fuck dominance and mysteriousness.

My neck practically snaps as I turn my head to face my admirer and my breath hitches as soon as my eyes land on my hot stalker.

Only, he isn’t a stalker.

He’s a hookup.

And he’s on my dad’s hockey team.

Shit.

I immediately look away from Blake, my goosebump-riddled arms are thankfully covered by long sleeves. Coming into a new semester at a new school, I had one goal.

Stay away from the hockey team.

This goal is so simple and yet very much easier said than done. My dad coaches hockey for Christ’s sake and I knew before today that Jace was on the hockey team. Though, I would never hook up with Jace. That ship sailed in high school when we tried to kiss, and both gagged immediately after. I still shudder at the thought of our fifteen-year-old selves playing Spin the Bottle at a party and then nearly puking on each other.

I can feel his water-colored eyes on me as I skate towards Jace when Dad finishes his spiel. His gaze burns holes into the side of my head, and it takes everything in me not to turn back to stare at the beauty of a man.

Blake Wilder .

“You’re helping us today? I thought you hated ice warriors?” Jace questions me as soon as I’m in front of him.

“Ice warriors? Do we get powers or something?” a deep voice asks, sliding beside me and Jace.

He’s, well, he’s fucking gorgeous.

He shines a bright smile my way, his white teeth bright against his dark skin and I’m taken aback by how gorgeous this man is. He’s boyishly handsome; the kind of handsome that can be a load of trouble, and oh my God, are those dimples ?

I think I’m going to melt.

“I’m Braxton–” He pauses, eyes widening as ours collide. I mimic his expression as he clears his throat. “But you can call me Brax,” he says, holding his hand out for mine. I stare at his outstretched hand in horror before regaining my composure and awkwardly shaking it.

“Cleo.”

“Oh, I know.” He smirks, sending a quick wink my way before skating back to the rest of the team.

“Ignore him.” Jace chuckles, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

“I’m trying,” I say, my voice a pitch higher, and I curse myself for it when Jace rolls his eyes.

“Seriously, what’re you doing here?” he asks again, gently rubbing my arms, warming me up like he did when we were kids.

I groan trying to think of a way out of this conversation and sigh as I come up with nothing. I’d known he’d want to talk about my abrupt appearance at SFU and in time, I’d hopefully tell him. But being on the ice with 24 other men was not the place to cry about my life at Brighton and the year of hell I’ve been through.

I help the boys with simple drills and basic techniques for the next hour and learn that not only is Blake ‘Mr. Sexy Eyes and Mistakes’, he’s also the captain of the team and the Blake Wilder.

As in the Blake Wilder that my dad has been both gushing and bitching to me about for the past two years… Blake Wilder. How did I not realize who he was? I fight to push this piece of information out of my brain as I help the guys. I’ve talked to nearly everyone in here while also avoiding the man I’d been too close for comfort with not even two days ago.

In my small group, I have Charlie Tyson, a senior right defenseman, Braxton, who I found out is a left defenseman, and Alec Tu, one of the senior right-wingers.

The three boys keep me laughing more than teaching and I’m not mad about it as I learn all about them and the team despite my not wanting to .

They tell me about when Blake and Jace went streaking last year after winning the championship and how my dad got them a pet goldfish that lasted most of the season until Ivaan Brar, a senior right-winger, accidentally killed it. I tell them bits and pieces about myself and how it feels to have Clef Jones as my father.

I spend most of the time talking with Alec about using the puck to our team’s advantage. Of the three guys, Alec is the calmest and more reserved. It took him a full ten minutes to finally say more than two words to me while Braxton and Charlie practically talked their heads off.

“ Aaannnddd shoot!” I exclaim, nearly jumping for joy as Alec lets the puck rip from his stick back out onto the rink.

“You just saved my life.” He chuckles, his nose scrunching as he watches the puck slap someone’s skate.

“Sorry…”

I laugh as the player sighs, shaking his head and it isn’t until the player skates off that I see him again.

Blake’s blue eyes bore into my soul as we watch one another. He gives me a small smile, the crooked kind that’ll make a girl’s heart stop, and it takes everything in me not to smile back at him because smiling back is an invitation. When it comes to hockey players, I refuse to invite any of them back in. I didn’t leave Brighton to stumble into the arms of another ice warrior.

So instead of smiling back, I look away and focus my attention back on Alec. He and I practice more one-on-one shots, while Braxton and Charlie do their own thing on the side. Getting to know Alec may be the best thing to come out of today, he speaks to me as if he’s known me for years and though he’s on the quieter side, he makes me feel comfortable to talk with him.

I feel like I’ve run four marathons back to back as I exit out of the boys’ practice in the afternoon. What originally was supposed to be a two-hour session with them quickly turned into three and a half one. Dad somehow convinced me to stay and help with two more groups. So now I know way more of the team than I’d planned. Which is fine… I just don’t need to learn any more names or get to know any more of the guys .

I sigh as the early September air warms my skin; it’s still warm in Maryland and I am not complaining about it one bit. This warm air is exactly what I needed after spending a day in the rink with only a sweatsuit on.

Pulling out my phone I groan at the sight of two new messages.

Unknown

you know what they say about mice

the cats away, young Cleo but just know I’m always watching

My breath is shaky as I inhale sharply. I had to leave Brighton. It was not safe for me or anyone in the situation… I had to leave. I had to leave. I had to leave. I had to—

“Hey… You okay?”

The voice that calls out to me is warm and soft like a hand that fights to pull you out from underwater. For just this once, I let it pull me to the shore of peace and sanity.

My breathing calms as my brain tries to place where I am and what’s happening. I’m still in the arena parking lot, the sun is on the verge of setting, and there is a man in front of me. My breathing shakes again and I realize I’m trembling. His eyes are cloudy as he watches me with brows dipped in concern.

“What?”

“Just breathe for a second,” he says softly.

Though skeptical, I nod, taking a couple of deep breaths, and then slowly, my heartbeat steadies.

“Are you okay, Cleo?” Blake asks me.

No. I want to scream and shout at the top of my lungs that no, I am not okay. No, I am not fine. I’m scared for my life every day because of something I can't control. I’m scared of repeating history with a new man. I’m scared that everything will crumble if I ever speak about the things that I’ve been through. I’m just scared .

But being scared isn’t going to pay the bills and crying about it won’t do me any good.

That thought alone brings my breathing back.

“Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” The lie spills out of me like a tipped over glass of water.

For a second, I think Blake is going to dig deeper but he doesn’t. He just throws me another crooked smile. “I’m happy I got a chance to see you again, you come here often?” he asks and cringes immediately after.

“To men’s hockey practices? Or to nearly empty parking lots?” I chuckle, and then slide my phone back into my bag, steadying my shaking hand as I play with the bags cold metal strap.

“Both?” He scratches the back of his neck; the tip of his ears burns bright pink as he looks at his feet.

Cute .

Wait…no.

Not cute.

Absolutely not cute.

“No, I like to stay away from serial killers, you know?”

“Oh, definitely, you can never be too careful.”

I can see him scratch the back of his neck again from my peripheral, a small smile tugs at my lips before I quickly drop it. The air around us is thick with awkwardness as he and I stand in front of one another not saying a word.

But what am I supposed to say? Wow, Blake, I didn’t know you played for my dad . Or , you have an excellent tongue…maybe the best I’ve ever experienced . No, neither of those sentences will be coming from my mouth. I shift my weight onto my other leg uncomfortably.

Blake does an awkward cough before looking back up at me, his eyes lock with mine, and my stomach drops for only a moment as we stare at each other.

“About the party, I—”

“CJ! Wait up!” Jace’s loud yell breaks through whatever held Blake and me in our staring contest, and I sigh as I let out the breath of air I’d been holding in .

Jace furrows his eyebrows at Blake as he approaches. Blake rolls his eyes as Jace throws an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side.

“Yes, sir?” I peer up at Jace as he groans.

“Oh, c’mon mama, don’t call me that, you know what it does to me.” Jace smirks looking down at me, I gag as he proceeds to give me “fuck me” eyes and laugh when his facade fades. “You’re no good for a man’s ego.” He sighs looking down at me for a split second then back up at Blake.

Both Jace and Blake are about 6’4”, with the same muscular build, though I’d say that Jace was slightly leaner than Blake.

“Sir, what do you want? I have to call for my ride or else I’m going to be standing out here all day.”

“Uber? Baby doll, you’re coming with us.”

“With us? Who is us ?” Looking around, I note that the lot is empty save for us three.

“ Us … the guys…” He rocks on his heels, looking to Blake for help.

“Didn’t your car break down?” The words spill out of me before I can stop them, and I mentally slap myself for it.

Good going, CJ.

Blake’s cheeks and the tip of his ears redden as he looks everywhere but me while Jace dies of laughter.

“Then we’ll all take an Uber with you. I’m not letting you out of my sight now that you’re back in it and I have questions for you, missy.” Jace’s voice is stern as he looks down at me, booping my nose. I scrunch it immediately and roll my eyes; I’d rather drown on the Titanic than answer any of his questions.

“I can get to my apartment on my own.” I sigh just as Jace’s eyes brighten.

“Your apartment?! Do you live here? Why are you holding out on me, Cleo? You got a roommate? Is she hot?” He’s practically buzzing beside me.

“ She is Georgia.” I laugh, feeling him stiffen around me.

“Gross.” He grimaces.

“You go to school here? Have you always?” Blake interjects, his eyes hopeful as he looks at me .

“I just transferred,” I answer with a small smile, only to be shaken by the man-child beside me.

“And you didn’t tell me?!”

Shortly after Jace and I finished arguing about him asking too many questions and me not answering a single one, Braxton, Alec, and Charlie joined us in the parking lot. I like to assume that Blake ordered us an Uber but I’m not sure who truly called for the car service. So, here I am now sitting between Blake and Alec as Braxton sings in the front seat. Listening to Lovestruck by my cousin Zola, in an UberXL with singing hockey players was not how I expected my Saturday evening to go.

Zola’s a big name in the music industry, she was in a popular girl group, COSMIC, but they disbanded a few years back. She and her twin sister, Zahria, played a big role in my decision to transfer to Brighton. When shit hit the fan, Zola gave me advice about handling drama with boys and keeping my “energy” protected. Zahria, on the other hand, stressed the importance of me knowing that she’d “skin any fucker alive” for me.

Her words…not mine.

“Is he always like this?” I ask no one in particular but earn snickers from both Alec and Blake.

“Yeah, we got used to him being a Zola guy quickly… ” Blake smiles as he watches his friend sing louder with the chorus.

“Good to know.” The giggle that bubbles out of me is completely foreign to my ears and I grimace as the sound rings through the car.

I've learned a few things on this short ride that I initially refused to go on: One, Blake is the second quietest of the group; Alec is the first. Two, Charlie cannot hold a pitch to save his life. And three, Braxton can hold one .

The car ride to the boys’ house is filled with laughter and singing as Braxton and Charlie try going bar for bar in a rap battle which lasts about five minutes until Jace cuts in with a rap of his own.

I sit content as I listen to the guys joke with one another, and it isn’t until we reach their house that I sort of feel sad that the ride is over. The six of us say our thanks as we hop out of the Uber and walk up to the other cars parked in the driveway. Stopping at the familiar dark green Ashton Martin SUV, I sigh as I wait for its owner to unlock it.

“Who says I’m taking you home?” Jace asks with a raised brow as he peers around the car.

“You did, or I can always call Georgia—”

“Get in the car… and stop speaking of the devil before she shows her face.” He groans unlocking the door as I smile hopping in the passenger seat.

A grin plasters itself across my face as I look around the familiar car Jace’s parents had gotten him for his eighteenth birthday. Jace’s family is a well-off group of CEOs and entrepreneurs, who love their sons to death. This car was one of their “I love you” gifts to their youngest.

The SUV shakes as more bodies than I can count file into the backseat, my eyebrows furrow as I watch Blake, Charlie, and Braxton slide into the car. The three of them are in a quiet heated discussion as Jace gets into the driver’s seat. I suppress a laugh as I hear something along the lines of “blonde bitch” and proceed to ignore them as we set off toward the River View complex.

The ride to my apartment is silent for the most part; I’m grateful that I don’t have to deal with Jace questioning me about things I’m not ready to talk about.

Lord knows when I'll be ready to talk about last year.

“So, who’s the girl, Wilder?” Jace chirps from the driver’s seat, and my back stiffens as I turn my head slightly to hear his response.

Girl? Does he have a girlfriend?

This cannot be happening…

“What girl?” Blake coughs from behind me.

“The girl from last night? The one who’s going to mess with our season—Oh, don’t worry about Cleo, she won’t tell anyone about this. Won’t you, bub?” Jace asks me, briefly looking at me before focusing back on the road. For once, I want to curse the nickname we gave each other fifteen years ago because I can feel the thickness in the air as the name leaves his mouth.

My and Blake’s eyes lock in the rearview mirror and I truly don’t expect him to answer Jace. But when he does, my heart does a summersault.

“I don’t fuck and tell, Heart.”