My Hockey Alpha
Chapter 5: Homecoming

Nina

Just as I thought, Jessica came home an hour later with a frown on her face.

“Where did you go?” she said.

I looked up from my book as I sat on the couch. Thankfully, I had prepared an excuse beforehand.“My stomach started to hurt,” I replied. “Probably from all the alcohol last night. I couldn't getthrough the crowd to make it back to you, so I just decided to come home.”

Jessica let out a sigh and walked over to her door.

“I hope you're feeling better now at least, because there's a party at the fire pit later since we wonthe game. And don't even think about saying no! You have to put on a sexy outfit and show Justinwhat he’s missing.”

With that, Jessica disappeared into her room -- presumably to get ready for the party. I sent Lori aquick text.

“Where u at? U going to that party later?”

A few minutes later, Lori replied: “Yeah. I promised Jess.”

I put my phone away with a sigh and closed my book. It was already seven o'clock, so the partywould probably start in an hour or two. I decided to shower and change.

For some reason, as I got ready, I found myself actually caring about looking good... But not tomake Justin jealous.

I wanted to look good for Enzo.

Jessica, Lori and I made our way to the party around nine o'clock. It was located outside, about amile into the woods behind the school. It was an old campground from the 1970s with several littlecabins, which had been cleaned up and repurposed by the students here for generations to usefor... Well, you know.

At the center of the circle of cabins, there was a large fire pit, where a huge bonfire was alreadyburning and loud music was playing. As we approached, I could see rambunctious boys whoopingand throwing beer cans into the fire and flirting with girls. Alongside the fire, guys and girls dancedand grinded on each other to the music.

“Like a bunch of monkeys,” Lori grumbled. She had her hands stuffed into her pockets and had herhood pulled up. Almost as soon as we arrived, she pulled out a joint and wandered off to go sit andsmoke by herself. Jessica and I had become used to this by now, and didn’t mind our strangefriend's loner nature.

"You look good, by the way," Jessica said, nudging me with her elbow. I had picked out a short blackdress with tights and boots, and wore a leather jacket on top. I still had my hair in braids, but I puton a little eyeliner and lipstick. Hopefully I wouldn't cry tonight.

“Thanks,” I replied. “You too.”

I walked over to a cooler nearby and grabbed a beer while Jessica stopped to flirt with a drunk guy.I took a sip and looked around as I tried to decide whether I wanted to join the dancing or sit bymyself.

As I stood there, trying to decide what to do, I overheard what sounded like angry voices comingfrom inside one of the cabins. I was nothing if not a bit nosy, and nonchalantly walked over to thecabin, pretending to look at my phone while I eavesdropped.

“Listen, I think I made it pretty fucking clear that I was just having fun!”

I recognized that voice immediately: it was Lisa. And with her was none other than...

“I broke up with my girlfriend for you! You said we would get together!”

Justin.

I heard Lisa scoff. “I never said that,” she replied. “Besides, you knew what you were getting into.Why would I make things exclusive with you when I could pick any guy I wanted? Ugh, you'repathetic.”

"Oh yeah? Any guy, huh?” Justin said. “How about Enzo, then? Everyone knows you're still pissedthat he broke up with you. So why don't you go out there and ask him to dance, since you'veapparently got the pick of the litter?”

I heard the sound of stomping across floorboards, and then the door swung open.

Lisa looked down at me from the top of the steps with a smirk.

“If you're gonna eavesdrop, at least don't make it so fucking obvious,” she said, then flipped her hairover her shoulder and jogged down the steps. I followed her with my gaze all the way to the fire pit,where Enzo was standing and drinking while a group of girls -- Jessica included -- fawned over him"Hey Enzo,” Lisa said in a sing-song voice, her ponytail bobbing as she sauntered up to him. Most ofthe other girls at this university wouldn't dare walk up to Enzo so nonchalantly with so many girlsaround him, but seeing as Enzo and Lisa used to date, it wasn't entirely unexpected of her.

“Hey,” Enzo replied. Much to my surprise, his eyes flickered to me briefly over Lisa's shoulder. I feltlike he was looking into my soul again, but it was over quickly when he looked back at Lisa.

Lisa folded her arms across her chest -- no doubt pushing her breasts together -- and rocked backand forth from her heels to her toes. “Wanna dance?” she said. “I haven't had a dance partner yettonight.”

Enzo frowned and took a swig of his beer, looking Lisa up and down. Around them, people beganto watch the scene.

"We broke up ages ago, Lisa,” Enzo said.

Lisa dropped her hands to her sides and balled them up into fists. “Aw, come on!” she said. “Youcan't tell me you don’t miss this.” She gestured to her body, which was still dressed in her tightcheerleader uniform.

Enzo simply shrugged and returned to his conversation with the other girls as though Lisa wasn'teven there. With a huff, Lisa stormed off. When she was gone, however, his gaze traveled over to meonce more and fixed on me. His eyes almost seemed to glow again, and I felt afraid all of a sudden.I involuntarily dropped my beer and quickly walked away, making for a spot behind one of theunoccupied cabins. I just needed a few minutes alone, and then I could return... Hopefully Enzowould have his eyes set on another girl by then

"Hi, Nina."

I practically jumped out of my skin at the sound of Enzo's voice behind me. I whirled around to facehim; blocking the light of the fire with his huge body, he looked somewhat menacing in thedarkness.

Something else occurred to me, though... When we met at the bar, we had never exchanged names.How did he know my name?

Wordlessly, I tried to step around him to go back to the fire as this whole interaction made me feeluneasy. However, Enzo blocked my path and folded his arms.

"Why are you avoiding me?” he said, sounding a little hurt.

I stopped and bit my lip, peering around him to see Jessica dancing by the fire with a new boy.“I'm not avoiding you,” I said.

Enzo sighed and unfolded his arms. “It sure seems like it,” he replied. “You left so abruptly lastnight.”

"What do you want me to say?” I whispered so that no one could hear if they were eavesdropping.“You had your one night stand with me. You never see girls more than once. You should be thankingme, because I'm just making it easy for you.”

“Is that what you really think of me?” Enzo asked. He didn't try to hide his voice at all.

For some reason, I felt more confident confronting him now. “Everyone knows you're a playboy whoonly sleeps with girls once before moving on to the next,” I said, stepping around him. He didn'tblock me this time, but turned and frowned.

“Well, you're different,” he replied.

Was this some sort of prank? The hockey captain, the star of the school and a playboy, thought Iwas “different” enough to keep talking to me after we slept together? I wondered if Lisa or Justinput him up to this to rub it in that I would never replace love.

Enzo stepped closer to me and brushed a bit of hair out of my eyes, finally lowering his voice to awhisper. “I want to have a second time with you.”