Push (Colorado Storm Hockey #3)

Chapter 20

20

HUX

Ada’s car disappears down the winding mountain road, taking with it any remnants of warmth I’d felt during our brief time together. The signed annulment papers riding away with her.

I stand on my porch long after she’s gone, Max whining softly at my feet. I should believe this is for the best, but if it’s for the best, why does it feel so wrong? When my back starts to ache, I go back inside and try to ignore the silence that is filling up all around me. It’s such a contrast from when she was in here just an hour ago. Her laughter may be the most beautiful sound that’s ever been made in this place.

My phone buzzes in my jeans’ pocket and for a second, I think it could be Ada. Maybe she’s on her way back. But my face falls into a frown when I see it’s Debbie.

“Hello?” I answer.

My rough voice must give everything away because Debbie lets out an exasperated sigh. “Well, don’t you sound like a ray of sunshine, Hux.”

“Sorry,” I say. My bad mood is impossible to shake. “What’s up? ”

“I just wanted to let you know that the Church approved our annulment.”

“Great,” I mutter sarcastically. “Couldn’t you have texted me this information?”

“Wow, fuck you too, Hux.”

“What do you expect from me? Want me to do a fucking cartwheel?”

“You need help, you know that, right? Stop punishing me for being nice.”

“This is nice? Tell me how you think you’re being nice,” I demand.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay when you heard the news.”

“This is the problem, Debbie. You call too much. I don’t believe for a second that you want to make sure I’m okay. You want to keep me tethered to you.”

“That’s bullshit,” she argues.

“Is it?” I snap back. “You keep talking about moving on, but you’re somehow still around. Somehow always needing to contact me. It fucks with my head and I want you out of my head. Forever.”

“I don’t have to listen to this.”

“Then don’t call me.”

I hang up on her and throw my phone across the living room. I can see the new cracks on the screen before I even go to retrieve it.

I plop on the couch and let my head fall back to stare at the ceiling. Max jumps up and lays across my lap. “It’s just you and me now, buddy.”

The next morning, I throw myself into practice with a vengeance. My body still hurts from the Western Conference Semifinals against L.A. But I push hard. Harder than I have to. Skating faster than I need to for practice. The chip on my shoulder is more like a boulder. Practice ends much too soon and as my teammates file off the ice, I stay behind and consider how I can keep training. I’m not ready to go home and face my empty house.

She was there for a mere hour or two and it’s never going to be the same again.

Coach Bliss eyes me warily before heading to the locker room. “Don’t overdo it, Hux,” he warns.

I nod, barely registering his words as I set up cones for some defensive drills. We’re so close to winning the whole damn thing I can almost taste it. This should be the most exciting time of the season, but all I can think about is Ada and those damn annulment papers.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t notice Mac skating back onto the ice until he’s right beside me, stick in hand. “Thought you could use a practice partner.”

I eye him critically. “You sure about that? Shouldn’t you be resting that shoulder?”

Mac rotates his arm. “It’s fine. Besides, I need to work on my wrister.”

We start with some simple passing drills and then move on to taking and defending shots. Mac attempts a shot on goal, but I easily deflect it.

“Weak,” I grunt. “You telegraph that move every time.”

Mac’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t say a word. He retrieves the puck I cleared and tries again, this time with a quick deke. I still manage to block it.

“Come on, MacCormack. My dog could do better than that.”

“Your dog must be one hell of a player then,” Mac mutters. He’s visibly frustrated now.

We continue like this for a while, the tension between us building. Mac’s shots become more aggressive, and my blocks more forceful. It’s not our usual friendly practice anymore. There’s an edge to it.

After I deny him for what must be the twentieth time, Mac slams his stick against the ice. “What the hell, Hux? You trying to prove something?”

I skate up to him, getting in his face. “Yeah, that our captain needs to step up his game if we’re gonna win this thing.”

Mac shoves me, hard. “Back off, man. Whatever this is, it’s not about hockey.”

We glare at each other for a moment before I finally back down. “Let’s take five,” I mutter, skating towards the bench.

We sit in tense silence, gulping down water. Finally, Mac turns to me. “Alright, spill it. What’s really going on with you?”

I shrug, avoiding his gaze. “Nothing. Just focused on the playoffs.”

Mac scoffs. “Bullshit. I know you, Hux. This isn’t your usual pre-series intensity. It’s Adaline, isn’t it?”

I flinch at her name, and Mac knows he’s hit a nerve.

“Come on, man,” he presses. “Talk to me. What happened?”

I remain silent, staring out at the empty rink.

Mac sighs, clearly frustrated with me. “Look, I’m trying to help here, but I can’t if you don’t let me in. We’re teammates but we’re also friends. Or at least I thought we were.”

His words push me, and he’s broken through my defenses. “I screwed up, Mac,” I finally admit.

“How?” he asks.

I take a deep breath to steady myself. This is going to be so embarrassing. “Ada and I were together, you know, intimately. And I called out Debbie’s name.”

Mac winces. “Shit, man. That’s rough.”

“Yeah,” I agree, pulling at the tape on my stick. “Ada was hurt, understandably. And now she’s talking about moving on, maybe even with this guy George her family wants her to be with.”

“And how do you feel about that?” Mac probes gently.

I hesitate, not used to being this vulnerable with a friend. But Mac—to his credit—waits patiently, giving me the space to find the words.

“Honestly? It kills me,” I finally admit, the words feeling like they’re being torn from my chest. “The thought of her with someone else…I can’t stand it. But I don’t know if I have any right to feel that way after what I did.”

Mac considers that for a moment. “Look, we all make mistakes. God knows I’ve made my share with Summer. What matters is what you do next. Do you want to fight for her?”

I nod without hesitation. “Yeah, I do. But I don’t know if she’d want me to. Or if I even deserve another chance.”

“Hey,” Mac says firmly, grabbing my shoulder and forcing me to look at him. “You deserve to be happy. Hell, we all do. And if Ada makes you happy, then you owe it to yourself to at least try, man.”

“I wouldn’t even know where to start,” I admit, feeling lost.

Mac’s expression softens. “Start by being honest with her. Tell her how you feel. And maybe consider talking to someone professional about all this stuff. You know how it helped me with Summer last winter. It helped so much when I couldn’t figure out how to have her and have this,” he says and holds up his stick.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Good,” he says, then grins. It lightens the mood. “Okay, old man, why don’t you get out there and show me why we’re gonna win back-to-back cups.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Fine. But this time, try to actually challenge me, eh?”

As we head back onto the ice, Mac’s words echo in my mind. I want to dismiss them, to fall back into the comfort of denial. But a small part of me knows he might be right. And that terrifies me more than any game ever could.

After my training session with Mac and an ice bath, I drive aimlessly through the city, still not ready to go home. Before I know it, I’m parked across the street from Ada’s shop. I stare at the storefront, frozen with panic.

“What am I doing?” I mutter to myself, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Real smooth, Hux . Nothing says I’m not desperate like showing up unannounced.

I should drive away. I know I should. But I can’t seem to make myself start the car. Instead, I sit there, feeling like the world’s biggest idiot, watching customers come and go.

“This is ridiculous,” I growl and force myself to open the car door. “You’re a grown man, for Christ’s sake. Act like it.”

The little bell above the door chimes as I enter, and I’m immediately enveloped by the shop’s familiar botanical scent that I’ll always associate with Ada from here on out.

Mallory looks up from behind the counter. Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

“Well, well,” she says, a hint of amusement in her voice. “If it isn’t the hockey star himself. What brings you to our humble shop, Mr. Huxley? I’m guessing you didn’t just come for our orange blossom toner, did you?”

I clear my throat, suddenly feeling very foolish. “Is Ada around?”

Mallory leans on the counter, pinning me in place with a scrutinizing stare. “She’s not here right now. Did you need something?”

I shake my head. “I need to talk to her.”

“Hmm,” Mallory hums, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “You know, Ada told me what happened. That was quite a faux pas you made there.”

I wince. I should have expected this. Women will always tell their friends everything. “Yeah, I know. I messed up big time.”

Mallory’s expression softens slightly. “Look, I get it. Nobody’s perfect. But Ada…she’s really special, you know? And it sucks that you hurt her so badly.”

“I agree, completely,” I admit. “She is a really special person.”

Mallory studies me for a moment, then nods. “Well, as I said, she’s not here. She texted me earlier saying she was going out for smoothies with George.”

Hearing his name is like a cross-check to the back that you don’t see coming. I do my best to keep my face neutral, but judging by Mallory’s expression, I’m not entirely successful.

“George, huh?” I manage to say, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears.

Mallory nods. “Yep. They went to that place down the street. Juice Junction, I think it’s called.” She pauses, then adds, “But between you and me, I think she’s just trying to convince herself she can move on.”

My eyes widen, surprised by her candor. “You think so?”

“I know my best friend,” Mallory says. “She’s stubborn as hell, but I’ve never seen her light up the way she does when she talks about you. Even now.”

Her words give me a glimmer of hope. “So, what do you think I should do?”

Mallory gives me a pointed look. “That’s up to you, dude. But I will let you in on a little secret.”

“What’s that?” I ask.

“She hasn’t turned in those legal papers yet.”

I’m shocked. “She hasn’t?”

Mallory simply shakes her head .

I nod, feeling a surge of determination. “Thanks, Mallory. I appreciate your help.”

As I turn to leave, Mallory calls out, “Hey, Hux!”

I look back at her.

“Don’t mess this up, okay? You two could be good together. But if you hurt her again, I swear I will kick your ass. Hockey star or not.”

I can’t hold back my smile. “Understood. I’ll do my best.”

My heart is racing as I leave Ada’s shop. It might not be too late for us. And an idea forms in my head. Without hesitation, I head towards Juice Junction.