The Christmas You Crash (Going Rogue #2)

Chapter 51

fifty-one

LEXI

“Lexi! I am so glad you came tonight.” Isla’s fiery red hair bounces as she rises from her seat and pulls me into a tight hug, which I return.

“Hey, Lex.” Mira stands and gives me a hug too. It’s a lot of hugging, but I don’t really mind.

“Thanks for inviting me,” I say as we all sit. There are already three waters at the table. I take a sip for something to do and because my throat is suddenly dry.

Mira waves her hand dismissively. “We’ve been wanting to hang out ever since New Year’s Eve. I’m just glad you finally agreed.”

Mira is wearing a Rogues’ jersey with Graves on the back for her brother. Her dark hair is curled and tumbles over one shoulder. Isla is wearing a matching jersey with her boyfriend’s name. She’s pulled her hair into a messy, high ponytail. Both women have minimal makeup on and look completely at ease. It calms my nerves. For once, I feel like I truly fit in. I’m wearing Ryder’s jersey with a pair of trendy jeans. I’m not all dolled up—only minimal makeup for me too—but even if I was wearing a full face, I know these two women wouldn’t judge me. They’re kind and fun, and we’ve been texting since the morning after we got back from Chicago.

I could be friends with these women. Everything feels like it’s falling into place.

Our server stops by the table to take our orders, and once he walks away, I’m pinned in place by a pair of blue and a pair of green eyes. It’s Mira who speaks first.

“So, how are you? We heard about how things went down with your dad. It sounded pretty rough.”

I deflate, slumping back in my chair. “Um, I’m doing okay, I think. It was not a fun day, and I’m still worried about how my dad may try to retaliate, but things with Ryder are great.” We’ve spent almost every waking moment together, when we’re not at school or practice. He never misses a chance to tell me how much he loves me, and I say it just as often.

“He told you he loves you?” Isla’s blue eyes sparkle. She leans forward, her attention completely on me. “And in front of your dad and the whole team, right?”

I chuckle. Sounds like Maddox and Griffin have told them the whole story. “He did. It was stupidly romantic, in a way. I mean, I think he would have done it differently if shit hadn’t hit the fan, but I won’t complain. It left no doubt he meant it.”

Isla smiles brightly. “I’m so happy for you two. He seems like a great guy. I know Maddox speaks highly of him.”

“Doesn’t hurt that he’s hot,” Mira adds with a wink. Isla and I both laugh.

“Yeah, well, that’s practically a prerequisite for that team, isn’t it? God, have you ever seen so many massive, sexy men in one place?” Isla fans her face. “Obviously, I’m partial to my grumpy giant, but you’d have to be blind not to recognize the hotness on that bench.”

I shrug. “I may have noticed. Even though I tried really hard not to. I dated a hockey player in college. He was a real asshole. It put me off hockey players for a long time. I even tried to ignore Ryder’s charms when we got snowed in together, but I’m weak.”

They laugh. Isla nods. “I know how that goes. I tried to resist Maddox after our first disastrous date. But he worked hard to prove he’s a great guy. And really good in bed. That helped his case.”

We laugh throughout dinner. Conversation flows easily, and by the time we’re ready for the check, I’m flying high. I have two new friends who understand what it’s like being with a professional hockey player, and they’re both genuinely awesome people. The laughter doesn’t stop as we pile into the back seat of a ride-share. It even almost overshadows the buzzing of my nerves as the car pulls up to the arena and we spill out in a tangle of giggles.

Almost.

The roar of the crowd is less overwhelming in the semi-enclosed family box. It’s still loud enough to vibrate through my bones, but muted enough that I don’t have a problem hearing Isla or Mira.

The guys are killing it. Every single one of them is playing like they have something to prove. And maybe they do. I’m not blind to the wild gesticulations of my father or how red his face grows when he’s shouting at his players. It doesn’t matter that we’re up by three at the top of the third period. He’s not happy, especially when he notices Ryder’s gaze sliding up to the box where I stand, cheering.

“Girl, he cannot keep his eyes off you,” Mira says. “It’s cute as hell.”

It is cute. My stomach somersaults every time he looks my way and grins. Maddox does his share of looking up at Isla, too, but Ryder is way more obvious about it.

Isla clasps her hands beneath her chin. “Ah, new love. It’s the sweetest, isn’t it?”

Mira snorts. “New love? As if your love is so old?”

“You know what I mean.”

The crowd roars as Logan gains control of the puck and the Rogues kick it into high gear. Everyone in the box screams as the Rogues pull off a perfect odd man rush, taking the other team by surprise. Logan passes to Maddox, who passes to Ryder. He’s not normally on the first line, but my dad has him there now.

Ryder handles the puck with confidence and ease from the defensive zone, passing it back to Maddox when one of the opposing players gets too close. But instead of staying back by the Rogues’ net, Maddox nods at Ryder to head down the ice with them as Griffin gets caught up in a scuffle. Logan checks a defenseman into the boards, and then Ryder is wide open in front of the net. With expert precision, Maddox slaps the puck to Ryder, who lines up his shot and lets it fly.

The scoreboard lights up, the siren blares, and we all hop up and down, cheering right along with the rest of the crowd. Logan and Maddox clap Ryder on the back. Pride fills me. Then Ryder turns toward our box, stares right at me, and points.

“For you, baby,” he mouths. I know that’s exactly what he says because the camera is on him, and it plays in high definition over the jumbotron. The camera cuts to the box, and I see myself blushing furiously, a big, goofy smile on my face.

“Oh my god,” Mira says, clapping. “That’s so cute!”

I barely hear her. I’m too busy floating. I can’t believe he just did that.

My father turns, craning his neck to see who Ryder is pointing at. As if it would be anyone besides me. As if my face wasn’t just plastered, larger than life, on a huge LED screen for everyone in the arena to see. Even from the box, I can tell he’s pissed. His face flames red, and he turns, yelling at Ryder and the rest of the team.

“Uh-oh. Daddy Cross looks mad,” Mira teases.

I shrug, despite the nerves that begin to churn in my stomach. “What else is new?”

Dad calls for a line change, and Ryder and the guys hop over the boards while the second line surges onto the ice. I watch as my boyfriend squirts water into his mouth, a huge grin on his face as his teammates congratulate him on the goal. They slap his back, and all of them laugh. Until my dad turns their way and points a finger at Ryder.

“What a dick,” I grumble, watching. I want to climb out of this box and demand my father stop being such a condescending, retaliatory prick. But I know that wouldn’t help. It would probably just get me thrown out of the arena.

I can’t tell what Ryder says, but he fires something back at my dad with a roll of his eyes. That doesn’t go over well with Arthur Cross. My dad shouts again, wagging that damned finger in Ryder’s face. Maddox holds up a hand and tries to defuse the situation, but it doesn’t seem to calm my dad down.

There are only four minutes left in the final period of the game, and the Rogues are up by four. It wouldn’t be completely impossible for the opposing team to pull off a win, but it’s unlikely. That my dad is letting himself be distracted from the game isn’t a great sign. He doesn’t do distractions. Not when it may mean his team loses a game.

“What’s going on down there?” Isla asks. Her eyes are locked on the bench with mine. So are Mira’s. My dad gesticulates wildly, and every single player on the bench stares at him like he’s grown a second head. He and Ryder exchange more words, and soon, Logan and Maddox join the conversation. If you can even call it that. Argument is more appropriate.

“I don’t know,” I say. “But I’d guess my dad’s not happy at the little goal dedication Ryder did for me.”

Mira rolls her eyes. “No offense, but your dad needs to pull the stick out of his ass.”

“Oh, I don’t take any offense. Unfortunately, I think the stick up his ass has fused with his spine. If he pulled it out now, he may not survive it.”

Mira snorts. “I don’t get it. You’d think he’d be thrilled his daughter is with someone who loves her the way Ryder loves you.”

“It’s more about him being pissed that Ryder is with me, not the other way around. He thinks I’m not good enough for Ryder. That I’ll end up ruining his career.”

“What bullshit,” Isla growls.

I open my mouth to say something else when the crowd roars and my eyes dart back to the bench. The bench where Ryder and my dad are now chest to chest, and every Rogues player not on the ice looks like they’re about to jump into a brawl.

“Oh my god,” I murmur.

My dad screams something in Ryder’s face that causes his body to lock up. Even from up here, I can see Ryder’s jaw tick. Ryder says something back to my dad, and then my dad shoves him.

My dad, the coach, shoves his player.

Ryder flies backward. He’d hit his ass if Maddox and Logan didn’t catch him. Once he’s back on his feet, Ryder shakes his head and says something to my dad. My dad shoves him again, and then Maddox and Logan are holding Ryder back from retaliating.

“Oh my god,” Isla says. She covers her mouth with her hand as she turns wide, shocked eyes in my direction.

The crowd roars as my dad and Ryder continue to exchange heated words, but I don’t hear them. All I can hear is the pounding of my heart and the ragged intake of each breath I suck into my lungs. I fly out of the box, down the hallway, and make turn after turn until my feet slap against the stairs leading to the main floor.

Ignoring the shouting of security, I barely dodge a few men in uniform and push through the double doors leading to the tunnel. I run as fast as I can toward the Rogues’ bench. People shout and scream, the mob mentality desperate for a fight, even if it’s between a coach and his players. I want to scream at them. To demand they shut up. But they don’t matter. Not really. What matters is getting to Ryder before he does something that could end his career.

I shove past the camera guy who’s documenting the argument. He shouts as I push him out of my way, and he almost loses his footing. I don’t care.

My heart pounds in my chest and my body feels cold. It’s not the normal chill of the arena. It’s the icy fingers of dread gripping my spine.

I get to the glass surrounding the bench just in time to hear what my dad shouts at Ryder.

“I made you a star, you ungrateful little shit. I can ruin you just as fast. Is that what you want? I hope that cunt was worth it, because I’m trading your ass to fucking Alaska the first chance I get.”

My heart seizes in my chest. I can’t breathe.

“That’s your daughter you’re talking about like that,” Ryder screams. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“She was a mistake ,” my dad hisses as my heart shatters. “And she’ll ruin your life, just like she ruined mine. Just you fucking wait, Hanson. You’ll see. You two deserve each other. Though I doubt she’ll still want you when you’re down in the minors and barely making enough to pay your bills. Nothing’s ever good enough for that brat.”

My heart crumbles into a pile of rubble at my feet, and a pained cry slips from my lips. It must just be loud enough for Ryder to hear because his beautiful, sky-blue eyes snap to mine. Tears stream down my cheeks, and I don’t even care that this is probably being televised. That the whole world may be watching me break. All that matters at this moment is the pain swimming in my love’s eyes. The devastation etched into my face is mirrored in his. My dad looks over his shoulder and sneers at my tears.

“Always with the dramatics, huh, Alexis?”

Ryder lunges for my dad, but his teammates hold him back. “Let me go! Let me out of this fucking bench right now.” He strains against Maddox and Logan’s hold. “Lexi, baby, don’t listen to him. Don’t listen to him, sweetheart.”

The game has come to a stop at this point. Everyone is watching my humiliation. I cover my mouth with my hands as the first sob rips free.

And then I run.