Chapter 112

Luckily, Jack agreed to let me attend Matt’s game. As long as I sent him pictures with Fiona and came home well before midnight, I was free to go. A part of me wanted to argue further. It seemed silly that I had to prove to him I was with Fiona the whole time, but I didn’t want him to change his mind and try to stop me from going. Plus, I planned on defying him, anyway. I might have had plans to watch the game with Fiona, but I knew Matt wanted to take me out later, just the two of us.

“I can’t believe you and Matt are dating!” Fiona gushed, not for the first time, as we neared the rink.

My cheeks warmed. “We’re not official. We’re just getting to know each other again. As Celeste and Matt. Not Rose.”

“Still,” she said. “I knew things would work out between you two.”

I gave her a dubious look. Based on all the things she said about him when he broke my heart the last time, I seriously doubted that.

A seed of doubt took root, and I stopped walking. The doors of the rink loomed up in front of us, our classmates already piling inside. Fiona had lent me her jacket again, but the icy wind sent a shiver through me, anyway. Maybe this was a bad idea. I hadn’t told Fiona about my test for Matt, though she definitely noticed my shirt earlier. What if Jack was right, and Matt wasn’t attracted to me as Celeste?

“Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” I mumbled, biting my lip.

She elbowed me playfully. “Come on, we’re already here. You can’t back out now. Plus, he’s expecting you.”

“Right.”

“You wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings,” she continued. I knew how she felt about my secret identity, and though she hadn’t said anything, I didn’t think she was all that surprised when he reacted poorly. Sure, she took my side, but I had a feeling she saw it coming.

“You’re right,” I said, steeling myself. I knew I’d feel better once I saw Matt.

I followed her up the steps and through the doors. People stood in huddles, chatting and drinking. Both food stands had long lines where people were buying popcorn, hotdogs, and beer. We had about fifteen minutes until the game started, and people were already heading into the rink.

The atmosphere was charged. This was an important game for them. They were playing against one of the best teams in the league.

I got a text from Jack and sent him a quick picture of Fiona and I with our thumbs up.

Fiona grabbed my hand and started leading me toward the rink. I followed her, my eyes flitting over the crowd. My gaze landed on a boy leaning against the far wall, his dark hair slightly mussed, and an easy smile on his face. Alyx. I froze as his eyes met mine.

“What’s wrong?” Fiona stopped and glanced around. Her gaze darkened when she saw Alyx.

He gave me a tight-lipped smile and turned his head away. He was talking to some girl from our class. I think her name was Layla. She leaned into him, a wide smile on her face. She was putting on the charm, and he was grinning down at her.

Fiona tugged on my hand. “Let’s go.”

I pulled my arm free and walked over to the bathroom, doing my best not to run in front of anyone. I didn't want people to know something was amiss. Tears pooled in my eyes and ran down my cheeks. I spent so long on my makeup, and now it was all going to be ruined.

Fiona followed close on my heels as I shouldered my way into the ladies’ room.

A group of girls were standing by the row of sinks, checking their makeup in the mirror. They gave us both curious looks before trailing a tall blond out of the room. She gave me a once over as she walked by, but she didn’t say anything.

I waited until they were gone before I started hyperventilating in earnest. “I can’t do this.”

Fiona put her hand on my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Yes, you can. You can’t let him ruin your night. You’re here to see Matt, not him.”

“What if he tries to talk to me?”

A mean glint entered her eyes. “Don’t worry, I won’t let that happen.”

I wanted to run. A small shiver tore through me at the memory of us on the park bench. I’d managed to avoid him during and after class, thanks to Fiona, but I knew I couldn’t avoid him forever. I just wasn’t ready to deal with it yet.

“Come on,” Fiona said, her voice soft. “We’ll sit as far from him as possible. He won’t get near you, I promise.”

I nodded.

“And then Matt will take you out, and you’ll have a wonderful time.”

I nodded again. She was right. I couldn’t let Alyx ruin my night, or my time with Matt. I forced myself to take a few calming breaths before I cleaned up the mascara from my cheeks.

Fiona took my hand again and led me out of the bathroom. Luckily, most of the crowd had trickled into the rink to find their seats. I couldn’t see Alyx anywhere.

We ended up sitting on the other side of the rink, where the fans for the other team sat. True to her word, Fiona made sure we were as far from Alyx as possible. I had to force myself not to search for him in the crowd or look in that direction. It became much easier when the teams skated onto the ice, and I spotted Matt.

At one point I could see him looking at the crowd, his eyes roving over the seats in the other section. He seemed to give up, and I felt a little guilty. I didn’t want him to think that I bailed on him.

It was a very exciting game. The other team pulled ahead in the first period, scoring two goals before the buzzer went off. In the second period, one of Matt’s teammates got a breakaway and scored on the goalie. The other team returned with a goal of their own within minutes. Then, just before the buzzer went off, Matt got the puck, passing it between his teammates until he got a tricky shot at the net. The puck went in and the fans on the other side of the rink stood up, cheering. Fiona and I clapped along with them, even though the people sitting with us gave us dirty looks.

The third period was very back and forth, no one scoring any goals, until one of the defensemen on the other side got a penalty for roughing. One of Matt’s teammates scored on the breakaway, tying the score.

“This is so close!” Fiona shouted gleefully, as the crowd erupted in cheers. There were only three minutes left in the game.

In the last minute of the game, Matt passed the puck to one of his teammates, who took off across the ice. Other than Matt, I didn’t think I’d seen anyone skate that fast. They shot the puck at the net, but it bounced off the bar. Before the goalie could get the puck, Matt was there, tipping it into the net.

“Oh my God!” Fiona exclaimed, jumping to her feet. “Oh my God!”

Most of the crowd was standing as the other team raced to tie the game again. I watched the numbers on the clock wind down, my heart thumping in my chest.

When the buzzer went off, Fiona and I erupted into cheers. Matt looked over, spotting me and Fiona for the first time in the crowd. I could just make out his grin as he skated by.

“Come on,” Fiona said, tugging on my arm as the players filed off the ice. “Let’s go wait for him.”

We went back to the front, where it was warmer. Our classmates and some of the player’s parents stood around, gushing about the game. I didn’t see Alyx anywhere, and I was grateful.

By the time Matt and the other players appeared, most people had left. Just a few remained to congratulate their friends. Matt walked straight over to me and Fiona the moment he saw us, a wide grin splitting his face. Wet strands of his hair fell across his face, and he wore a form-fitting black suit. He dropped his hockey bag and lifted me into a hug.

I squealed, clutching onto his shoulders as he spun me around.

“I’m glad you came,” he said with a laugh, setting me gently on my feet.

My cheeks warmed as I felt Fiona’s gaze on me. In fact, I could feel a lot of people looking at us. I chanced a glance around. People were watching us, most with shocked expressions on their faces. My gaze caught on Sabrina’s, and she gave me a dirty look. Great.

“I didn’t know if you were here. I couldn’t see you in the crowd,” Matt was saying, and I forced myself to look back at him.

“We were sitting in the other section,” I replied.

His brow pulled together. “Why?”

“Um…” I glanced at Fiona. “Well…”

The smile on Matt’s face froze. “Did something happen?”

I had a feeling this wouldn’t go over well.