Page 84 of Ice Queen

Markus

Playoffs, Round two, May 5.

“Markus,” Kaitlyn’s voice calls from somewhere behind me.

I quickly turn, a smile on my face, only for it to fall as I take her in. Her face is ashen, cheeks hollow. The usual glow in her eyes was nowhere to be found. Panic sears through me, and I push myself off the ground, screaming in pain when the metal I didn’t see rips at the top layer of my skin.

“Hold on, Princesa,” I yell, crawling over scraps of plane metal that are still hot enough to brand.

“You promised, Markus,” she slurs. “You promised you’d keep me safe. That you wouldn’t let him hurt me.”

I crawl faster. “Who?” I beg. “Who hurt you, Kait?”

“Wyatt.”

I gasp as I shoot up from the bed. My hands fisting the sheets, like I’m clawing my way to get to her. My lungs burn as I try to get a handle on what the hell just happened.

It takes me a second to remember where I am. In a hotel room. On the road, and shit. My head swivels to the side to where Reed’s bed is. His eyes are cracked open, blinking slowly as he fights sleep. “You alright?”

I run a hand through my hair, trying to figure out what the hell to say here. Because no, I’m not alright in the slightest. “No, I will be though,” I mumble.

My heart is still beating so aggressively that I can hear it in my ears. Sweat slides down my spine, causing a chill to roll through me. I shove the blankets off as if shedding their weight will lessen the feeling of being suffocated. The second my feet hit the floor, and I try to stand, the room tilts.

“Damn it,” I mutter, pressing the heels of my palms into my eyes hard enough to make my vision go black.

I haven’t had a nightmare since Kait pulled me out of the last one. Since I wrapped my arms around her neck, and she bit me in the bicep. A smile threatens to form as I grab my phone and head to the bathroom. Pulling up the picture, I feel my pulse slow. I miss her. The thought hits like a brick.

You awake?

I wait for a second, but the dots never appear. I stare at the screen longer than I should. I could call her, she wouldn’t mind, I know she’d answer. But the clock reads, surprise surprise, a little after three AM.

I drop the phone against the sink and pace the length of the bathroom. My skin feels too tight, and the walls feel a little closer than they did a minute ago. I can’t be here.

Before I can talk myself out of it, my fingers fly across my screen, finding me the first flight home. It’s reckless, selfish, and there’s zero doubt that Sterling is going to be anything other than an absolute dick about it.

I don’t care, though. I want her.

I splash some water on my face, running some through my hair, grounding me even further. Staring at myself in the mirror, I don’t feel the same sense of loathing I used to after a nightmare. You’re not a failure, Markus. I repeat over and over.

I text Coach Stevens that a family thing has come up, that I’m catching the first flight back, and I’ll meet them back in Tennessee tomorrow. The family part may be a lie, one that feels heavy, but not heavier than the pressure still swirling in my chest.

I don’t bother trying to go back to sleep, just text Reed my plans and quietly pack my things. The drive to the airport passes by in a blur, fluorescent lights line the streets, and the smell of the driver’s awful coffee lingers after I get out. I make it through security in record time, given that I only have my backpack with me. Luckily, my gear is still on the bus and will be waiting for me in front of my locker in the morning. As soon as my boarding group is called, I’m on my feet, all but running to the plane that’ll bring me closer to peace.

The second the wheels touch down, I’m pulling out my phone and texting Kait. Smiling when I realize she texted me first.

I wasn’t, I’m sorry. I’ll sleep with my ringer on next time.

Are you okay?

Tell me again why you refuse to watch my games?

Really? That’s why I got a “You up” text at 3 am?

Humor me.

*sigh* Because apparently, if you hand me a baby, I fall asleep.

Tate told me that because I slept through the first one and you guys won, I wasn’t allowed to watch because it’d throw off the “playoff juju.” Whatever that means.