I can tell he’s anything but fine by the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice, but he’s already skating off before I can question him further.
There's another switch to the line, and then we’re getting set for the face off, when out of the corner of my eye, I see movement from the bench. I try to ignore it and focus on the game, but I’m immediately drawn to the commotion and my vision turns completely red.
Kailyn has her back to Eric, as if she were walking away, and Eric is grabbing at her wrist, yanking her back into him. I don’t care that I’m on the ice, I don’t care that millions of people are watching, I just react. I skate off toward the bench, yanking my helmet and gloves off.
“Get your fucking hands off of her.”
Immediately every single eye in the arena is on me. But all I can see is her, the fear in her eyes at his touch. I hop over the boards and immediately have him pinned to the plexiglass, people behind us banging on it.
“What are you doing? Get off of me.” He yells back, feigning innocence. I push my arm into his neck harder, cutting off his oxygen just a little more and shoving him even more.
“You know exactly what you’re doing, scum bag. Keep your fucking hands off of her.” There’s yelling coming from behind me, but I can’t make anything out clearly. My heartbeat is in my ears, adrenaline is racing with pure rage. I was already pissed when Coach told me about him being back, and while we have a plan in place, I’m not going to sit back as he tries to hurt her or anyone else.
Hands tug on the back of my jersey, and two of my teammates come to my sides, pulling my arms from him. Reluctantly, I release him. He slumps forward, bracing his hands on his knees. Connor holds me back, knowing thatif he releases me I’ll attack him again. After a few moments, Eric stands back up, a shit-eating grin plastered on his face.
“Keep your hands to yourself,” I seethe.
“Threats don’t scare me. I like when they bite back, and she sure is good at that. Must be what makes her so good…” Before he can finish, I’m lunging forward, trying to break free of Connor’s grasp when a small figure steps in front of me.
“Jake, stop.” Looking down, I see Kailyn looking at me, and all I can think about is the fear in her eyes when he grabbed her. I look at her wrist and see a bruise forming, and all rational thought goes out the window as I try to lunge past her.
“Jake, please stop.” She pleads, her hands grabbing at my face to pull me to her.
My chest feels like it’s on fire. I’m filled with so much rage and fear mixed together. Rage at this man for hurting her, rage at the state of the world for how it dismisses these kinds of cases. When people don’t believe victims, when they step up and speak out only for nothing to be done.
My breathing becomes shallow and my vision starts to blur. I’m losing focus and control, and I don’t know how to get it back.
Kailyn’s hands on my cheeks and her calm breathing are the only things anchoring me to reality. We breathe each other in and out, the foggy haze of my mind clearing every so slowly as I let myself sink into her touch.
She’s my anchor, my calm in the storm, my safe space, and the only thing I need to bring me back to myself.
“That’s it, just breathe, Jake. Focus on me and nothing else.” We continue to breathe for a few more minutes, and slowly the world starts to come into focus again, myheartrate returning to normal and the ringing in my ears fading until it's just a dull hum.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper to her.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, handsome. It’s not on you.” She reassures me, and once I’m finally settled, as much as I can be, she gently brushes her nose against mine before pulling away. I can feel Connor pull me back slightly as Coach comes into my peripheral vision.
“I’m sorry, Coach.” I swallow. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“No, you should have, because if you didn’t, there’s twenty other guys on this bench that would’ve.” He nods behind us, and I turn to see my entire team looking on with various gazes of disgust and anger, all pointed at where Eric was, who must’ve been escorted off when I wasn’t in control.
“Jake, I need you to head back to the locker room right now. Get your gear, and go home. Don’t talk to anyone, and wait for me to call you, okay?” I nod at Coach, before Connor releases me, a reassuring squeeze on my shoulder.
Without looking at anyone, I make my way to the locker room, where I sink into my stall, my head between my knees, wondering if my anger and actions tonight just made everything ten times worse.
Chapter 35
Kailyn
Ten minutes prior
Tonight's game has been interesting, to say the least. The team is on fire, working together so well and really hyping the crowd up. The atmosphere is electric and intense with the roar of the crowd and echo off the walls.
My team hasn’t had much to do tonight, just making sure the guys are all staying hydrated and standing by for when we’re needed. It’s the beginning of the third period now, and the score is five to one against Minnesota. I’m not going to jinx them, but I think it’s safe to say if they keep playing like this, the game will be ours.
The whistle blows, signaling a stop but I didn’t catch what the penalty call was.
I’m underneath the tunnel, gathering some supplies to help the equipment staff out since they've been changing and sharpening blades all night and needed some more back up sticks since the guys keep breaking them.
