Page 98 of Redeeming Heart
I slipped out through the balcony door when the girls got too loud.
“Different as what I remembered,” I answered, sitting down on the lounge chair.
“I think it had to do with proving everyone wrong and regaining their respect.”
“When are the nationals starting?” I looked over my shoulder when I heard the girls coming out and joining me outside.
“In about a week. We are heading home tomorrow and Friday we are leaving again for two months.” I explained, wondering what he was up to.
“About the same time, we are facing the Philadelphia Flyers before getting ready for the World championship.” I kind of felt nervous for the sake of him as it would be his second World Championship.
“Have your team already received their invite to the world championship?” I asked.
They were competing in the NHL league and have won the championship a couple of times, and as far as I was concerned there is no limit to the World Championship. You just have to make sure you end up in the top 8 to make it through the championship.
“Yeah, a week ago.” I closed my eyes when I realized he received some important news and I wasn’t even there to share his excitement with him.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you found out.” I felt like a selfish jerk.
“Hey, Adams. You’ve got things to worry about as well. One of these days, you will also have a chance to compete in the World Championship. I know how important it is to you to get through nationals and then glide through to regionals to get a shot at the Olympics. We haven’t had a team competing since 2016 and everyone here at home is cheering you, girls, on.”
I smiled at how considered and selfless he was. “You are an NHL legend, Hills. The world championship is also as big as you are facing 36 international teams.”
“We are both legends, Angel.”
I didn’t say anything about the endearment he used because I kind of figured it had to with my tattooed angel wings.
“I’m sorry about the other day though. The thing with Ashley…” He apologized and I could hear he was unsettled about it.
“It’s me who has to ask for forgiveness.” I felt like an idiot for lecturing him about things that I have no right to.
“No, Adams. Everything you said was the truth. I didn’t think about the consequences of suggesting that she and I can be friends and not realize that it was hurting her. Giving her false hope that I would give her a chance when I am ready when the truth is that I will never be ready because my heart belongs to someone else.”
Was it crazy that I wanted to know who that someone else was?
He has never spoken of her. Maybe he was keeping her a secret—not wanting the reporters to find out and start stalking her.
“Have I met this someone else before?” I asked. We were friends and I felt like we can talk about almost everything.
There was a pause and the silence was making me anxious. “
You have and she’s closer than you think.” I immediately looked at the girls and wondered if he was seeing anyone on my team. None of them has said a word to me or made it obvious that they were sneaking around.
Then I asked myself, why did I give a damn?
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
We’ve spent the last few hours in Texas cruising through town and having their hometown athletes show us around.We ended up spending the rest of the night at the Social Beer Garden and the next morning came way too quickly.
Going to bed only around 3 am and getting woken up by 6 am was nowhere close to fun. We looked like a bunch of in-shape zombies who had one hell of a night out drinking. I felt bad for the girls who decided to have a few drinks last night and had to deal with a hangover. I had my first taste of walking on the wild side a few weeks back and I didn’t enjoy waking up with the feel of a hammer slamming against my skull.
The bus ride was filled with silence as everyone dosed off on the way back home and we got at least plus-minus 5 hours of sleep.
We got waken up by the coaches when they blew on their whistles to get our attention. I didn’t miss their amused grins when everyone almost jumped to their feet. “I hope each of you had a good night last night.” Isabelle began.
“Coming Friday we are leaving for Pennsylvania for two months. I will be booking the plane tickets for each of you, we will discuss prices once I’ve finalized them. I need you, girls, to take this competition seriously. It’s going to be way tougher than the try-outs as we have to beat the top three teams who have already had a chance at the cup more than once.”
“I’ll see all of you Monday morning on the field and ready for practice.” She then excused us and let us off the bus.