Chapter 198

The arena was buzzing with energy as Matt got the puck and darted forward to take advantage of the breakaway. He sent the puck into the corner of the net, and I jumped to my feet. Beside me Fiona screamed so loud, heads turned in our direction. Jack cringed slightly, throwing her a bemused look.

It was the first home game of the year, and Matt was giving everything he had to make sure the team got a win. Around us, the school cheered as he skated by, knocking fists with his teammates. It was his second goal of the night, his first a tricky tip in after Seth’s initial shot rebounded. It was 3-1 with only four minutes left in the third period.

“He’s playing great,” Nina said from my other side as the cheering died down, and we took our seats again.

“He is.” Over on the bench, Enzo stood in a dark suit, his head bent as he talked to one of his players.

He and Nina were staying one more year. Even though Nina graduated in the spring, her father was giving her the year to clean up the town and run the Peacekeepers. I was grateful to have her around still, and I knew Matt was too. It was likely he would run the Peacekeepers when Nina left, and even though we all knew he could do it, he said he didn’t feel ready. He just wanted to enjoy the year.

I understood. I wanted to enjoy it, too. Even though a few months had passed since the war, it still clung to my thoughts. I just wanted to have a normal year–find a way to put it all behind me. Normal was all I really wanted. Well, as normal as a Maiden werewolf could get.

The play started up again, and they battled for the puck. Matt sat on the bench, his head tipped toward Seth as they talked.

I loved seeing him like this. He deserved to have fun and be happy. I knew the war plagued him as much as me. He woke up from nightmares some nights, breathing hard and reaching for me, just to know that I was there. That I was safe. Sometimes I was the one waking with a gasp, fumbling for the light switch to make the demons go away.

Still, we found a way to go on. We had our happy moments, just as much as our sad ones. Sometimes, time was the only thing that could help. We just had to move forward and try our best to be happy. Knowing that we’d dealt with the Schreibers made it easier to sleep at night. Blake seemed to want a working relationship with us. She wanted to change what being a Schreiber meant, and I hoped she accomplished her goal.

Matt jumped over the boards at the next shift change. I kept my eyes on him, not really caring where the puck was. I mostly just enjoyed watching him.

He got the puck again and passed it to Seth. They got a few more shots on the goalie, but he managed to not let any of them in. Both goalies were playing well, otherwise the score would have been significantly higher. Matt seemed to have made it his mission to take as many shots on net as he could.

Time slowly trickled down as the play continued. When the clock finally ran out, we all jumped to our feet, cheering for the team. Fiona shook my shoulders as she screamed.

Matt skated to a stop in front of the glass and gave me a wink. I blew him a kiss and watched him turn to celebrate with his teammates. Around us, people turned to look at me. Ever since we started school again, eyes had been following me everywhere.

Matt alone drew a lot of attention, but even when I was alone, people’s eyes followed me. They didn’t seem to know what to make of me. Then, like a switch had been flipped, everyone wanted to talk to me. I heard whispers about me in the halls, but they weren’t cruel like they once would have been.

People were curious about me. They wanted to know me. I was popular. It was weird and uncomfortable. I wasn’t used to so much attention, and I wasn’t sure I liked it.

I followed Nina out into the foyer. We stood in the corner and waited for the team while the crowd filtered out of the room. People were still throwing me curious looks, and I did what I could to avoid making eye contact with anyone.

Beside me, Jack and Fiona had their heads tipped together. They were talking in low voices, and I was glad I couldn’t hear what they were saying. It was still a little weird that my best friend was dating my brother, but I was happy for them. They deserved each other. Jack was so much happier now, and I knew Fiona was good for him.

Fiona met my gaze and gave me a sheepish look. I poked fun at her all the time about it, but she knew I was just teasing.

She stuck her tongue out at me, and I returned the gesture. Jack just rolled his eyes.

“We’re going to head out,” Fiona said.

“Alright. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Jack made a face. “Don’t forget we share a wall.”

Warmth rushed into my cheeks, and I gave Jack an incredulous look. “What?” I squeaked.

He just shrugged. “Thank God for headphones.”

“Oh my God!”

Nina and Fiona both laughed.

“Please just go,” I said, my cheeks really starting to burn.

Jack laughed and took Fiona’s hand. Fiona gave me a wink before she turned and left. I really wanted to sink into the floor. Matt and I needed to get our own place or something. He was back in the dorms, but he spent most nights over at my house. I was suddenly grateful Jack spent a lot of time over at Fiona’s place.

Nina and I made idle conversation as we waited for the boys. By the time they appeared, most of the arena had cleared out. There was another party going on at the goalie’s house, but I didn’t know if I felt like going. I just wanted to get Matt alone.

The minute Matt appeared, he crossed to me with a wide grin on his face. His smile was contagious, and I found myself grinning back, my earlier embarrassment gone. He dropped his bag and swept me into a big hug.

I laughed. “Someone’s happy.”

He sent me down and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I had fun.”

“You looked great out there.”

He gave me a knowing look. “Oh, I know.”

Behind us, Enzo and Nina were talking with their heads tipped together.

“Want to get out of here?” I asked.

His gaze strayed over my form-fitting shirt and black skinny jeans. “Oh, yeah. I’m ready to celebrate.”

“Scoring in more ways than one,” Enzo called. “Huh, Matt?”

Matt rolled his eyes as my face flushed for the millionth time. “Sure, bud.”

Matt put his arm around my shoulders and picked up his bag. “Come on,” he said in my ear.

I leaned into his side and waved goodbye to Nina and Enzo. They returned the gesture, and then we were outside. The sun hadn’t set yet, and the September heat removed the chill from the hockey rink. I shrugged off my sweater and tucked it over my arm.

“You look amazing,” Matt said, gazing down at me.

I gazed up at his tight t-shirt, the front pulling against his broad chest. He’d gained back the weight he’d lost during the war, and then some. Sometimes I couldn’t believe he was real. He was that good looking.

“So do you,” I answered.

He smiled. “I love you. You know that, right?”

I tipped my head up, and he gave me a soft kiss. “I know, baby.”

“And you love me,” he said with confidence, smiling to himself. He still looked like he couldn’t quite believe it, and it warmed my heart.

“More than words.”