My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 404

Enzo

I lay there in the darkness, watching Nina sleep peacefully beside me.

She looked like an angel. There was a serene expression on her face, and her chest was rising and falling gently.

The faint moonlight streaming in through the large window illuminated her face, accentuating the gentle glow of pregnancy.

I reached over and lightly touched her waist, feeling the warmth of her skin and the newfound roundness of her belly. She nuzzled up against me in her sleep, a soft sigh escaping her lips. In that moment, she was perfect, peaceful, and utterly unaware of the turmoil swirling inside of me.

Sleep was elusive that night. With the upcoming trip to the city to talk to Tim, it was no wonder. Time didn’t even know that I was coming; it was all a surprise. And not the fun kind of surprise.

I let out a slight sigh as I laid there. At least Nina was happy and healthy, and that was all that mattered. Aside from whoever or whatever this yellow-eyed wolf was, everything was calm here in Mountainview.

But then, as I laid there, a sudden chill ran through me.

I shuddered.

It was an inexplicable sense of foreboding that something bad might happen while I was gone. It was just a fleeting moment, a shadow of doubt, but it made me shiver. I swallowed, glancing down at Nina again; she was still sleeping peacefully, even snoring softly now.

I decided to quickly dismiss whatever that was, and just try to go to sleep. I was just tired and worried, imagining things. After all, I would only be gone for 24 hours. There was no reason to get myself worked up about what-ifs.

Right?

I pulled into the airport parking lot just before the sun was getting ready to rise, casting the surroundings in a pale blue glow.

It was still chilly here in the mornings, and it would stay like that until July. I was wearing a warm flannel to ward off the chill, and Nina was sitting beside me, bundled up in a sweatshirt and leggings.

When I put the truck into park, we both just sat there quietly for a few moments. I reached over and held her hand, feeling how small it seemed in my palm as I gently ran my thumb over her knuckles.

“Ouch, Enzo,” she winced, the sudden sound of her voice pulling me back to the present.

My eyes widened, and I looked down to see that I had been squeezing her hand hard. Too hard.

“Sorry,” I apologized quickly, loosening my grip and kissing her fingers to make up for it. “I guess I’m just… nervous.”

She looked at me, her brown eyes filled with concern.” Do you have a plan for what you’ll say to Tim?”

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “I’m going to tell him the truth. That Mila tried to kiss me, and when I pushed her away, she hit her head. She grabbed my wrist, threatened to ruin me if I said anything.”

“And what do you think Tim will say?” she asked, her voice soft.

I shrugged. There was a weight in my chest that had been constant ever since the incident.

“Tim seems like a decent guy, so maybe he’ll understand,” I said quietly. “But Mila has also been working with him for years, and he might believe her over ‘ a new guy like me.”

I paused, the reality of my situation sinking in for what felt like the millionth time. “Before you ask, I’m prepared to lose this job, Nina. Maybe even face a lawsuit if Mila claims I assaulted her. I have no tangible proof, just my word.”

Nina squeezed my hand, her voice firm yet reassuring. “It will turn out alright, Enzo.”

I smiled at her optimism. “You’re right,” I said, although the words sounded hollow even to my own ears.

We got out of the truck and walked into the airport, our steps in sync. At the departure gate, I turned toward her, pulling her close. She looked up at me, and her eyes were already glistening with tears.

“Nina,” I murmured gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, “don’t cry. It’s only one day.”

She sighed. “I know. I just…” Her voice trailed off then, and she didn’t finish. For a moment, my mind drifted back to that sudden chill I had felt the night before, laying in bed beside her. Did she feel the same way, and she just wasn’t saying?

“Just promise you’ll keep me updated, that’s all,” she said, managing a smile despite the way her voice caught in her throat.

“I promise.” I pulled her closer, realizing that now wasn’t the time to be thinking about unreasonable premonitions and bad feelings. I’d be home in a day. Just one day. “And I’ll be thinking about that favorite meal you’re planning to cook.”

She smiled, quickly reaching up to stop a tear from rolling down her cheek, as if I wouldn’t notice. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I whispered. I placed my hand under her chin and tilted her face up to look at me, kissing first the freckles on her cheeks, then the tip of her button nose, and finally her soft lips.

As I walked through the gates, I turned to wave at her one last time. She stood there, instinctively holding her belly. She blew me a kiss, and I pretended to catch it, tucking it into my pocket.

Her giggle echoed in my ears as I turned away and continued inside.

The airport was bustling, the cacophony of voices and announcements filling the air. It was a welcome distraction from the unease in my mind, and as I made my way through security and into the waiting area, I occupied myself with people watching.

Nearby, an older couple sat alongside one another, hand-in-hand, dressed in their vacation clothes. Off to the side, a businessman tapped furiously on his laptop.

And by the window, two young parents held their toddler up to see the airplanes out on the tarmac.

At least l’d have family to distract me while Enzo was gone.

My brother poked his head out the front door as I walked up to the porch.

“There she is,” Tyler said, stepping out completely to shoot me a confused look. “You’re out early.”

I punched Tyler in the arm as I passed, a childhood habit that had never faded. He used to get mad at me over it back when he was sick, but now he just rubbed his arm in mock pain.

“I just took Enzo to the airport,” I said.

Tyler furrowed his brow. “The airport?”

“Business stuff,” I replied vaguely. “He’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Honey, where’s your pancake mix?” I heard my mom call out from the kitchen. “I can’t seem to find it.”

I let out a soft chuckle and rounded the corner to the kitchen, where I leaned down and pulled the box of mix out of a low cupboard. If you are not reading this novel on Jobni b.com, some sentences are incomplete.My mom, still dressed in her robe, already had the counter covered in bowls, syrup, and butter, and the smell of bacon cooking filled the room.

“Man, it sure is nice having someone to cook breakfast for me,” I teased as I slid up onto one of the stools and leaned on the counter.”

My mom smirked. “Don’t get too used to it.”

“Too late.”

The three of us sat in silence for a bit, but my mind was anything but silent. I kept thinking back to Enzo, back to the sense of dread that had made its home in my stomach since last night. My mom pressed a cup of steaming tea into my hands, bringing me back to the present.

“How are you feeling, Nina? You look tired, sweetie.” I managed a weak smile, wrapping both hands around the warm cup. “I didn’t sleep much. Just worried about Enzo.”

“I thought the trip was routine business?” Tyler asked innocently. “Should we be concerned?”

I stared into my tea, watching the chamomile flowers slowly spin. Sighing, I finally shrugged and offered my mom and my brother a stiff smile. “No. There’s no reason’ to be concerned.”

A whine of annoyance escaped my brother’s throat at my vagueness, but he didn’t push. Neither did my mom, although I think she already knew what was going on. But it wasn’t my place to tell everyone about what had really happened, about why Enzo had to go there in person. It was his battle; I was just here for support on the sidelines.

We were finally sitting down to enjoy the pancakes and bacon my mom had made when something happened.

We all jumped as a sudden crackle of electricity filled the room, and then a swirling portal opened right in front of us. Jumping up from my seat, I gasped as a hulking figure emerged from a portal of blinding light in our living room.