Page 74 of Rival Season
“Don’t call my girlfriend ‘babe,” I say through gritted teeth before I can stop myself. “She’s not your babe…she’s not youranything.”
Chadwick takes in the look on my face, clocks the obvious jealousy there, and his expression morphs into a self-satisfied smile. He knows he’s got me.
I mentally kick myself for being so stupid as to let him get under my skin.
“Matthews,” Chadwick exclaims like he’s just spotted me standing here. “My bad. Old habits die hard. Hazel and I were together for so long, and with all the history between our families…” He smiles, all teeth, and I want to knock every single one of those pearly whites out of his thick skull. “Oh, speaking of history, I spoke to Bethany last night, Hazel.”
Who the hell’s Bethany?
Hazel’s eyebrows narrow on him. “You did?”
“Sure. She called me when I was driving back from my team meeting in Sacramento.” Chadwick leans against the table andhelps himself to a banana slice from her bowl. Hazel glares at him pointedly.
“Why would my mom call you?”
I knew Chadwick’s and Hazel’s parents were friends, but my stomach turns at the realization that Hazel’s ex is on a first name basis with her mom, while I didn’t know her mom’s name. In fact, all I know about her mom is how much she disapproves of me.
Chad-dick chews loudly, smirking. “We still like to catch up. Check in from time to time. She was telling me how Cory recently got that promotion your dad put him forward for—he’ll be an amazing executive assistant.”
Hazel blinks. “Yeah, I’m proud of him.”
“Who’s Cory?” I demand, looking at Hazel.
Before she can answer me, Chadwick bursts into laughter.
“Are you telling me you don’t even know Hazel’s brother’s name, Matthews?” He hoots, looking absolutely delighted. “That’s kind of pathetic. How long have you guys been dating for, like over a month? At least make an effort to ask a question or two about your supposedserious girlfriend’sfamily.”
“I guess we’re too busy getting to know each other on an intimate level to talk about her brother much,” I say quickly, but Chadwick’s smirk tells me he knows as well as I do that it’s a piss-poor attempt on my part to gain some ground in this conversation.
She’s never once mentioned her brother to me. I didn’t even know she had one.
Chadwick raises his brows smugly. “I guess I wanted to know Hazel on a deeper level than just physically.”
“Our families already knew each other,” Hazel groans. She looks pissed, but I’m not sure if she’s pissed with Chadwick for all his bullshit, or with me for being a terrible fake boyfriend by not knowing her brother’s name and then insinuating I’mjust here for the physical stuff and not for getting to know the intimate areas of her life.
Which is totally not even close to true—and was obviously the wrong thing to say.
My chest clenches with the realization that maybe this just illustrates how I’m not cut out for a real relationship…that in important moments where I should know what to say or do for the people that matter to me, I still go and do the opposite.
Chadwick reaches for another banana slice but this time Hazel slaps his hand away.
“We’d like to have our breakfast uninterrupted, please.”
Chadwick snorts a laugh. “Okay, well, don’t let me spoil your little romantic breakfast date—sounds like you guys havea lotto talk about. Right, Matthews?”
I don’t bother responding. Because maybe this chump has an actual point.
“Bye, Chadwick,” Hazel says in annoyance.
He yanks another slice of fruit from her bowl before she can stop him again, then winks at me—he might be the one leaving, but he knows he’s won this round. “Have fun, you two. Maybe after you tell him about Cory, Haze, Matthews can tell you all about his family. I’m sure there are plenty ofwholesomestories he’s dying to share about the things he and his dad used to get up to. I know a few myself, actually?—”
“Hazel asked you to leave,” I cut him off, my heart pounding in my chest. I know he’s talking about that one story in particular that I’m not ready to talk to her about yet. I should tell Hazel everything about my dad, but I’ve been putting it off for the sole fact that I don’t want her to look at me differently after she hears it.
“And leave I will. Guess I’ll see you on the ice next week in Sacramento, Matthews.”
I almost forgot we were playing the Fire Cats at their home arena next week—I hadn’t been expecting Chadwick to be playing again.
“I’ll be ready,” I respond evenly.
