Hockey Christmas (A Holiday Sports Romance Love Story)

by Naomi Niles

  Maybe at the end of the day, we were all just scared.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Elizabeth

  He walked me down the street until we found a lonely, secluded spot away from the bustle of restaurant lights and people. He was quiet as we walked and he had on a pensive expression on his face. I glanced at him every now and then, wondering if he was being serious or if he was simply drunk and didn’t know it.

  When we were surrounded by silence and empty space he turned to me. “Elizabeth,” he said my name as though he missed saying it and I reminded myself not to be taken in by him again. That was how I ended up agreeing to marry him in the first place.

  “Can you make this quick, Paul?” I said. “Maddie will be waiting for me.”

  “I never liked Maddie,” he said with an expression I recognized from back when we were married.

  “Big surprise,” I said sarcastically. “Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

  “No,” he said quickly. “No … I just … I guess I wanted to talk about everything?”

  “Everything?” I repeated with raised eyebrows. “You want to talk about everything? Now?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, you’re a little late, Paul,” I said in frustration. “Because in case you forgot, we’re divorced. Remember all those times I came home and begged you to talk to me so that we could work out our problems?”

  “I remember,” Paul nodded slowly.

  “You weren’t very interested in talking then, were you?” I demanded.

  “I was …” he hesitated for a moment as he swung towards me. I moved back and put my hand on his chest, pushing him away from me a little.

  “Careful,” I said. “You’re drunk.”

  “I’m not,” he said defensively and I didn’t bother to argue with him.

  I sighed. “Paul …”

  “I still love you, Elizabeth,” he said abruptly and I stopped short.

  I stared into his bloodshot eyes and tried to muster up a little patience. I was not someone who held onto to anger, but with Paul it was hard not to. He had destroyed my sense of hope, my ability to believe, and all the optimism that had fueled my wild imagination. I remembered the day we’d gotten divorced. A part of me was relieved to be free of him but another part of me was in mourning for the girl I used to be. Because I knew then that she was gone and I was pretty sure she was not coming back.

  “That doesn’t mean very much to me now, Paul,” I said softening my tone somewhat. “In fact, it didn’t really mean very much to me then, either. You can’t treat a person like crap and then say you love them. It’s a lie.”

  “I was confused.”

  “For two years?”

  “I … yes. I just needed someone.”

  “Someone?” I repeated incredulously. “You had me! And I would have been whatever you needed me to be. But you were too busy getting drunk and jealous and angry. You were too busy spreading rumors about me all over town.”

  “I hated the way men used to look at you,” Paul said swaying towards me again. “I hate the way they look at you now. I can see it in their eyes: the want, the desire.”

  “Paul,” I said starting to get a little agitated. I could tell that the calm that had held him together so far was beginning to wane. He was starting to get more and more shaky on his feet, and a part of me wondered if it wasn’t just alcohol that was in his system.

  He reached out suddenly and put his hand on my neck. I froze in place and stared at him. He looked at me with a pathetic expression on his face. “Give me another chance,” he said.

  “What?” I gasped. “No!” At the same time, I pushed away from him so that he was no longer touching me. He looked shocked and hurt as though I had insulted him deeply. I saw a flash of anger flit through his eyes and it reminded me of the old days when we had still lived under the same roof. I started to back away from him.

  “I should go,” I said as I backed away from him.

  “No,” he said quickly as he grabbed me and pulled me to him. “I want you to stay; I’m not done talking to you.” He leaned in and slammed his mouth against mine. I gasped and with both hands on his chest I pushed him away.

  “What the hell are you doing?” I demanded staring at him in anger.

  Paul’s eyes were cold as he regarded me. “Is this because of him?”

  “What?” I asked pretending as though I didn’t know what he was talking about.

  “Is this about that jumped up asshole you were with the other night? Dylan?”

  “This has nothing to do with Dylan,” I said firmly. “This has everything to do with you.”

  “You loved me once.”

  “I thought I did,” I said bitterly. “But to be honest, I don’t think I ever really loved you.”

  “You blamed me for everything,” Paul said. “But you were as much to blame as I was.”

  “How do you figure that?” I demanded.

  “You were in love with Dylan,” Paul spat. “And you married me anyway. You used me. You hurt and humiliated me long before I ever did anything to you.”

  I stared at him in shock for a moment. “Don’t do that,” I said at last. “Don’t try and turn everything around on me. Don’t bring Dylan into this and don’t pretend as though you were the victim.”

  “It’s the truth,” Paul said stubbornly. “I’ll admit I handled it all wrong, but it is the truth.”

  “You don’t know anything,” I spat at him as I tried to walk away.

  Paul caught me by the arm and swung me back around to face him. “Elizabeth, I’m trying to talk to you.”

  “Well I’m done talking to you,” I said trying to get him to release my hand.

  His grip was vice like and unbreakable. “Paul, please,” I said desperately. “You’re hurting me.”

  “You make me crazy, you know?” Paul said in frustration. “I try to talk to you, just talk, and you freak out and make me out to be the bad guy. This was what you did when we were married too.”

  “If you truly believe that, then why do you want me back in the first place?” I demanded.

  “Because I love you,” Paul said leaning in again.

  I wrenched my hand free from his and slapped him hard across the face before he could kiss me again. I barely made the decision to do it when my hand smashed across his face. There was a split second of stillness and then his hand flew to my face and he slapped me right back.

  I stumbled backwards and fell against the cold brick wall at my back. I shook my head and stared up at Paul in shock and disbelief. He was staring back at me with an expression that suggested he was just as shocked as I was.

  “Elizabeth …” he said as he took a step towards me.

  “Don’t!” I gasped as I backed away from him.

  “I … I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

  “Stay away from me,” I said with a shaky voice trying to ignore the searing pain on my cheek. “Stay away from me.”

  He stood where he was and I turned around and bolted. For a moment, I thought he might try and follow me, but then I glanced around and realized that he wasn’t. I raced back onto the paved streets of Bastrop’s main shopping district and looked around frantically for Maddie. People passed me by, giving my odd glances but I ignored them all.

  “Maddie!” I said frantically. “Maddie!”

  She appeared it seemed as if out of thin air. She came towards me with a worried expression and as soon as she was close to me her eyes grew wide. “What happened?” she demanded in a voice that suggested she knew exactly what happened.

  “I … he … he …”

  “Did he hit you?” she asked without hesitation.

  “I … how did you know?” I stammered.

  “Shhh,” Maddie said as she grabbed my hands and held them tight. “Your cheek is swelling up.”

  “I slapped him,” I said. “And then he slapped me back.”

  “That bastard,” Maddie spat, and I was grateful for the fact
that she was calm. It made me feel calm too. She hugged me hard until I had stopped shaking and then moment she let go I felt more in control of myself. “Are you ok?” she asked staring into my face.

  “I am now,” I nodded. “It was just …”

  “Come on,” Maddie said as she pulled me along behind her.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “We’re going to the police station,” Maddie replied. “Right now.”

  “No,” I said pulling my hand free and coming to a stop. “Maddie, I can’t.”

  “Why not?” Maddie demanded looking furious. “That bastard hit you, Lizzie. He hit you and if you keep ignoring his behavior, he’s going to think he can get away with anything. You need to stop this now.”

  “I don’t want this to become a big deal,” I said lamely.

  “Look at your face,” Maddie said. “It’s already a big deal.”

  I sighed.

  “Stop being afraid to fight back,” Maddie said. “Don’t let him walk all over you. You know that dad is police chief; he can help us.”

  I nodded.

  “Are you coming?”

  “Yes,” I nodded and we started walking back towards Maddie’s car.

  We got in and Maddie drove us in the direction of the police station. The station was lit up and filled with officers walking in and out of the building. There was a line of police vehicles camped out in front. Maddie and I passed them on our way in. As we entered the building, Maddie waved to a man behind the reception desk.

  “Hi, Officer Fitzpatrick,” she greeted. “Is my father here?”

  “He’s in his office, Maddie,” he replied. “Go right on in.”

  “Thanks,” Maddie replied and she led the way while I followed close behind.

  Maddie’s father was a big, burly man with a thick moustache and a charismatic air about him. He could be charming when he wanted to be, but I knew from experience that he could be equally terrifying when he was crossed. His face lit up into a smile the moment Maddie and I walked in.

  “Well, well,” he said as he stood up. “What brings you ladies here?”

  As soon as he finished the sentence his eyes landed on my face and the smile slid off his. “Elizabeth,” he said and then he looked towards Maddie. “What happened?”

  “It was Paul,” I replied. “My ex-husband.”

  “He hit you?”

  “I hit him first.”

  “Sit down,” Chief Stuart said motioning to the two chairs opposite his desk.

  We sat down and Maddie spoke up before I could. “He’s been dogging her for months,” she said. “Practically from the time they were divorced. He comes into the bar she works at and makes scenes—”

  “How often has that happened?” Chief Stuart asked.

  “I … I have no idea,” I answered. “Too many times for me to count.”

  “Has he ever been violent with you before?”

  “He’s come close,” I replied. “He’s pushed me around a little bit, but he’s never actually hit me.”

  “What can we do, dad?” Maddie asked.

  “We can file a report against Paul,” Chief Stuart replied. “And we can file a restraining order against him.”

  “What will that do?” I asked.

  “It will keep him away from you,” he answered. “And if he doesn’t adhere to the restrictions and limits of the restraining order, then you can report him and we can take him in.”

  I nodded. “All right.”

  “Good,” Chief Stuart nodded. “You girls can sit here and I’ll go get the paperwork ready.”

  He left us in his office and closed the door behind us. Maddie reached for my hand. “Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked with concern.

  “I think I just want to get home.”

  “Lizzie, we should go to the hospital and see about the bruise,” Maddie suggested. “It seems to be getting worse.”

  “I’ll be fine,” I replied. “It’s not even hurting that much anymore.”

  “Still—”

  “I’m fine, Maddie,” I said abruptly. “And I need one more favor from you.”

  “Of course,” Maddie replied. “What is it?”

  “Don’t tell Dylan what happened.”

  Maddie’s face immediately clouded over. “Lizzie …”

  “Please. I don’t want to bring him into this,” I said fervently. “This is my mess. There’s no reason to involve him in it.”

  Maddie sighed. “Ok,” she said.

  “Thank you,” I nodded.

  All I craved now was silence.

  Once it was all done, Maddie drove me home. She offered to stay with me for a few hours, but I just wanted to crawl into my bed and be alone for a little while. Elvis rushed to my feet the moment I opened the door and I lifted him up and walked into my bedroom. I didn’t bother to turn on the lights; I just kicked off my shoes and crawled under the covers with Elvis.

  It was cool, comfortable, and dark under the comforter, and once the silence settled in and I could really absorb what had happened, I started to cry. The memories of my short-lived marriage came rushing back to me and I realized that I hadn’t moved on as much as I thought I had. I still lived with demons in my head, with doubts rushing around inside me preventing me from really living my life.

  I thought about Dylan and instantly I felt awful. I had made him responsible for my happiness. I had projected my hopes and dreams on him and relieved myself of tat duty but now I understood how wrong I was. He wasn’t responsible for my happiness. No one was but me. I was the one who had control over my life; I should be the one to protect myself. Dylan was a hero and I believed that, but he should never have been my hero.

  If I ever needed saving, I would have to save myself.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Dylan

  I could hear the dial tone and the subsequent ringing, but she didn’t pick up. It was the third time I’d called her in two days and she didn’t seem very interested in answering her phone. I cut the line in frustration and stared at the receiver. I missed her and I wanted to see her, but apparently she didn’t share the feeling.

  She had picked up two days ago only to tell me that she was busy with work and that she couldn’t meet me just yet. I hadn’t thought anything of it but now I was starting to doubt that everything was fine. I wondered momentarily if she had heard about the girls I had danced with at the bar a couple of nights ago. Lizzie had never been the jealous type and it’s not like we were exclusive or anything. Still, it floated around in my mind and I couldn’t let it go. The dancing and flirting had been innocent, and it’s not like I’d even kissed one of those women. I had had no interest in kissing any one of them.

  I ground my teeth together and dialed in her number again and again there was no answer. Finally I heard the beep go off and Lizzie’s recorded message telling me to leave a message and she would get back to me.

  “Lizzie,” I said. “I’ve tried calling a few times … are you all right? Is everything ok? I know you said you were busy but … I don’t know … just call me when you get this ok?”

  I hung up, frustrated with my confused and blubbering message. I thought of calling back and trying to re-do it, but that would only make me look more desperate. I lay back in my bed not knowing what to do with all this free time I had on my hands. I realized that I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything anyway as long as Lizzie kept avoiding me.

  I waited till dinner, ate with mom, and then I rode down to Dillard’s on my motorbike. The night was cool and crisp; it was the perfect night for a stroll or a hearty dinner but I wasn’t in the mood for any of those things. I felt almost obsessive as I entered the bar but I couldn’t suppress the feeling. I walked up to the skinny bartender behind the counter.

  “Hi,” I said.

  “Hi,” he responded. “What can I get you?”

  “Actually, I need to speak to one of your waitresses,” I replied.

  “Joni?” he asked. �
��Or Heather?”

  “Neither,” I shook my head. “Her name is Lizzie … Elizabeth.”

  “Oh,” he nodded. “Sure she works here but she’s not in today.”

  “She’s not?”

  “She called in sick,” he replied. “Actually she’s called in sick the last couple of days.”

  “Did she tell you what was wrong?” I asked.

  “I think she said it was the flu.”

  “The flu?”

  “I had no reason not to believe her,” he said giving me a curious look.

  “Right, ok,” I nodded. “Thanks.”

  “Sure,” the bartender nodded and went back to mixing drinks. I walked out of the bar and got my phone out. I scrolled through my contact list and found Maddie’s number. She answered on the third ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Maddie?” I asked. “This is Dylan.”

  “Dylan?” she repeated my name sounding slightly surprised and a little reluctant at the same time. “What can I do for you?”

  “Well … I’m calling to ask after Lizzie actually,” I admitted. “She’s been kind of MIA these past few days and I was just wondering why?”

  She hesitated pointedly and I knew something was up. My instincts whizzed to life and I knew that Lizzie had lied about being sick. There was a bigger reason at play here.

  “She’s sick,” Maddie replied and I could sense the lie plain on her tongue.

  “No she’s not,” I said immediately. “Come on, Maddie; tell me what’s wrong?”

  Maddie sighed. “I promised her I wouldn’t tell you.”

  I said nothing for a heartbeat. “She made you promise not to tell me?” I asked incredulously.

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “If I told you I’d be telling you,” Maddie replied. “I’d be breaking my promise.”

  “Make it up to her later,” I said insistently. “Just tell me.”

  “Don’t put me in this position, Dylan.”

  “Did I do something to upset her?” I asked. “Because you have to know I would never do anything to intentionally cause her any pain. I thought she knew that.”

  “I think she does,” Maddie nodded. “I … don’t think this has anything to do with you, Dylan.”