The clamor and excitement of the hockey rink surrounded me, but amidst the cacophony, I felt a million miles away. The brilliant white of the ice, the fast-paced movement of the players, the occasional brush of cold air that swept past—it was all so familiar and yet so foreign.
Lori and Jessica sat on either side of me, faces lit up with enthusiasm as they cheered for Enzo and the team. They would often turn to me, trying to engage me in their banter and laughter, but my heart wasn’t fully in it.
“Come on, Nina!” Jessica teased, elbowing me lightly. “You’re the girlfriend-sorry, wife-of the star player. Show some spirit!”
I mustered a weak smile, my gaze instinctively searching for Enzo on the rink. There he was, maneuvering the puck with grace and precision, a force to be reckoned with. I remembered when I first met him, being shocked by how he moved around the rink with a supernatural speed.
Now I knew the truth, and almost felt a little bit bad for the opponents as they struggled to keep up.
But Enzo was always fair about not using his werewolf abilities to win, and instead relied on his sheer skills. I admired that about him. And now that I had Claimed his entire team, he was strict with them about doing the same.
“I am,” I replied. “It’s just… I don’t know. I feel a bit out of it today.” Some paragraphs are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jobnib.com. Visit Jobnib.com to read the complete chapters for free.As we kept watching, the hockey game’s energy pulsed around me, but the wave of nausea that washed over was all-consuming. The loud cheers and the blare of the commentator’s voice seemed to fade into the background as a rush of dizziness took over.
I gripped the armrests of my seat, taking deep breaths and willing the sensation to pass. But the feeling intensified, and I knew I needed to get to a bathroom —fast.
“Be right back,” I said, without waiting for a response from Lori and Jessica.
Scrambling out of my seat, I pushed past fans, offering a rushed “Excuse me,” as I sprinted toward the restroom. I barely made it into the stall before the contents of my stomach emptied. Gasping for air and feeling utterly drained, I sat on the floor for a moment, collecting myself.
When I emerged from the stall, I was met with the concerned faces of Lori and Jessica.
“Are you okay?” Lori asked, reaching out to touch my arm.
this.”
Jessica handed me a bottle of water. “Here, drink
I took a sip, then another, trying to rid my mouth of the bitter taste. “Thank you.”
Lori sighed, her eyes searching mine. “Nina, you really should take a pregnancy test. This isn’t normal.”
I hesitated, looking away. “I know morning sickness isn’t just in the morning. I’ve taken enough biology classes to know that.” My voice wavered, revealing the unease bubbling beneath my attempt at humor.
Jessica stepped forward, her tone softening. “Look, we’re just worried about you. You can’t keep living in denial.”
The weight of their words sank in. They were right, of course, but the thought of facing the potential reality was daunting. “I just… I’m not ready. Not today. I wanna let Enzo enjoy his last game in peace.”
Lori placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You don’t have to do it alone. We’ll be with you every step of the way.”
Jessica nodded in agreement. “Promise us you’ll take a test tomorrow.”
I met their gaze, both sets of eyes filled with nothing but love and concern. “Okay,” I whispered, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I promise.”
Before I could say anything else, the restroom door swung open, and a pair of excited girls burst in.
They stopped abruptly, eyes widening in recognition. I could tell from the brand new jerseys, fresh from the school store, and the vibrant paint in school colors on their faces that they were bright-eyed freshmen.
“Oh my gosh, you’re Enzo Rivers’ wife!” one of them exclaimed.
The other girl’s gaze darted between Lori, Jessica, and me, her excitement morphing into mischief. ” Wait, were you guys talking about a baby? Is there going to be a little hockey star on the way?”
My heart raced, panic setting in. The last thing I needed was wild rumors circulating throughout the stadium. I had to think fast.
Smiling with as much grace as I could muster, I replied, “It was just a joke between friends. You know, the kind of ‘what if’ conversations you have for fun.”
Lori chimed in, “Exactly. We were just teasing her since Enzo’s been so in the spotlight lately.”
Jessica laughed, giving me a playful nudge. “And you know, imagining a mini Enzo on skates. No truth to it!”
The girls exchanged glances, seemingly satisfied with our explanation. “Well, if it ever does happen, that would be the cutest thing ever!” the first girl gushed.
“Totally!” her friend agreed. “Anyway, we won’t keep you. Good luck with everything!”
As they left, I let out a deep breath, relief washing over me. “Thank you,” I murmured to Lori and Jessica, grateful for their quick thinking.
Jessica rolled her eyes. “Girl, we’ve got your back.
But seriously, you need to take that test. Rumors spread fast, especially juicy ones like this.”
The three of us returned to our seats, the roar of the crowd still echoing in my ears. I tried to shake off the earlier events and focused my attention on the game. Enzo was out there on the ice, gliding effortlessly. His precision and skill were unmatched, and even though my mind was a whirlwind of emotions, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride watching him.
Jessica leaned in, pointing to the rink. “Look at him go! Enzo’s really on fire tonight.”
Lori nodded in agreement. “He always seems to have this natural flair when he’s out there. Makes it look so easy.”
The crowd erupted. The roar was deafening. Enzo’s teammates swarmed him, lifting him onto their shoulders in a triumphant parade around the rink. It was a spectacle, a celebration of skill, teamwork, and sheer willpower. Enzo’s face was alight with joy, but as his gaze met mine, the brilliance of his smile deepened.
Despite the turmoil in my heart, I couldn’t help but smile back, pride and love overwhelming every other emotion. Tonight was his night, his victory.
The looming uncertainties could wait, at least for now.
“He’s unbelievable, isn’t he?” Lori whispered, leaning into me.
“Yes,” I murmured, my eyes still locked with Enzo’s. “He really is.”
Jessica nudged me playfully. “So, you’re just going to let him bask in the glory tonight and drop the bomb tomorrow?”
I exhaled, feeling the weight of the unspoken again. “I promised I’d take the test tomorrow, jess.
And I will. But tonight.. tonight is for him.” Lori raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure, Nina? It’s big news. Don’t you think he should know sooner rather than later?”
“Lori, I’m not even sure if there’s news to share yet,” I responded, a bit defensively. “Let’s not jump to conclusions.”
Jessica interjected, her tone softening. “We just care about you, Nina. And Enzo. We want what’s best for both of you.”
I squeezed her hand gratefully. “I know. And I promise, first thing tomorrow, I’ll find out.”
The crowd’s cheers were beginning to settle down when the stadium’s speakers buzzed to life.
“Hey everyone!” Enzo’s voice boomed, causing a fresh wave of cheers. “I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all. This victory, it isn’t just mine, it’s all of ours.”
There were loud cheers of agreement. He paused for a moment, letting the applause die down.
“But I also have an announcement to make.” He hesitated, just a beat too long, and I felt a flutter of unease in my stomach. He wasn’t…
He continued. “At the end of this semester, I’m leaving Mountainview… for a new opportunity. And tonight was my last game here.”
The crowd gasped, a collective sound of surprise and dismay.
I felt my heart lurch. I hadn’t expected him to announce his departure publicly like this. I had been under the impression that he would leave quietly, or maybe make a social media post announcing Matt as the new captain. Considering how much people loved Enzo here, it was certain to cause outrage. I thought that he wanted to avoid that.
He wasn’t done, though. “I know this might be unexpected for many of you. And trust me, this place, this team, all of you… you hold a special place in my heart. But every end is a new beginning. And speaking of beginnings, I’d like you all to cheer for the new captain of our team, Matt!”
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