My Hockey Alpha

Chapter 309

Bonus 9: A Call

Nina

It was well after the party, and everyone else had gone to sleep. ]

Lori and Jessica took over the guest- room after all due to the fact that Melania, using her magic, conjured up an amazing little hut outside. When we walked into the hut, we were all astonished to see that it was bigger on the inside, although I was more astonished to see the loving look in Luke’s eyes when the attractive witch performed her trick.

The hockey team took up residence on the floor of the living room, and now Enzo and I were lying in our bed, too energized to sleep. We had a movie playing quietly on the television, but neither of us were watching it. We had … more important things to do in bed.

As the credits rolled on the screen,

Enzo and I lay comfortably entwined in the bed, a blanket draped lazily over our nude bodies.

The peaceful silence was broken only by the low hum of the movie soundtrack and our quiet breaths syncing in harmony. It was the calm serenity of shared solitude, a comforting quiet that came with the understanding that it was enough to just be in each other’s presence.

A slow smile was creeping across my face as I traced patterns on Enzo’s chest with my finger.

Suddenly, the shrill ring of my phone pierced the tranquility and caused my smile to fade.

I glanced at the screen, an unknown number flashing brightly. I furrowed my brows, expecting an annoying spam caller at this late hour. With a sigh, I picked up the call, ready to hang up at the first sign of a recorded message.

But the voice that greeted me was tar from mechanical. It was warm, familiar, and it brought a lump to my throat. “Nina?” The voice was shaky, hesitant.

can’t believe it’s you,” I whispered, the surprise and emotion clear in my

it’s been a while,” Taylor replied. “We’ve been really busy, and mom’s phone hasn’t been working properly. I’m sorry that you haven’t heard from us, but we

and watched as he walked over to the bathroom, tugging on

hear the sounds of cars honkingand people talking in the background, but I knew fully well that Taylor didn’t own a cell phone. “Are you at a phone booth?”

thing over here. It’s

laugh. “Yeah,” I

often that he threw it in the street and watched with satisfaction as the school bus ran over

always teased him and said that he should just start using telegrams to communicate with people, and he was open

know why he and my

wanted to say, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.” Listen, Nina… I know you’re getting married soon. But I don’t think

being there on my special day. But understanding and love for my brother quelled the rising storm of sadness within me. He was sick, after all. I swallowed hard, forcing a

murmured. ” I’m just glad you and mom are okay. I’ll come to visit

through the phone. “Good,” he replied quietly. “I promise we’ll see

something almost cryptic about Taylor’s words, but I decided that I was just imagining things,

and, not knowing when I would get a chance to talk to him next, I wanted to make the most of those few

revisiting shared memories, love and longing stitched into every word. Our words, echoing with years of lost

phone call leaving a hollow

on another movie, turned to me, his brows creased with concern at my tear- streaked face.

asked, his voice soft as a whisper,

know why, exactly. I think they’re just too busy, and it’s too far. Taylor is sick,

me tighter, his silence giving me strength. He didn’t need to