Faking It With The Hockey Captain

I was the biggest fool to ever exist. That is what kept running through my mind as I stood at the entrance of Finn's apartment. I clutched my pouch so hard I almost tore through the leather. Standing there and watching Finn, my boyfriend, propose to another woman, I felt stupid. I had wanted to surprise him. That was the plan…show up and celebrate this milestone with him. Then I would watch his face when I told him I'd landed a job at North Wolves, his new hockey club. I had been rehearsing his reaction the entire drive over. The way he'd grab me, filled with excitement and say “ I knew you'd get it.” Instead I was the one getting surprised. Finn had always wanted to join the North Wolves since college. However, he did not get shortlisted. After three years of playing with Black steel, he eventually got poached for a post at North wolves after a player resigned. He was over the moon when he got the news. After signing the contract, he told me he wanted to throw a party to celebrate with his friends. I was happy for him but now standing there, I didn't know how to feel. I could not help but let out a self mocking laughter. "Think about it, Marion. Being his personal nurse will earn you more than you can as an assistant nurse to the club." Three hours ago, I turned down a once in a lifetime opportunity because I didn't want to hurt Finn. Coach Williams of North Wolves had pitched a deal to me… Be Chase Hudson’s personal nurse and help him recover in exchange for a double salary alongside other benefits. But you see, Chase and Finn have always been mortal enemies. So, I had said no. I had said no because of the man currently sliding a diamond ring onto another woman's finger. Because Finn's jaw always went tight when Chase Hudson's name came up and I didn't want to cause him any discomfort. I considered his feelings but what did I get in return? Betrayal. The room was still cheering when Finn looked up and saw me. I expected to see surprise, then something like guilt. I got none. He looked like he had specifically arranged the scene for me, like I was meant to see him proposing to another woman and not me. He crossed the room and approached me, a smile that looked everything like smugness painted on his lips. “ You are here?” He asked, stopping a step away from me. Now, everyone had turned to look at us. “ What's the meaning of this?” I asked,trying to control my voice. “ Marion, don't make a scene here. Don't you see what's happening?” He asked, followed by a scoff. I could not help but laugh at that reply. "Is that what you think I am doing? Making a scene? What about you Finn, what do you think you are doing proposing to another woman." I snapped, hands clenched tightly. Before he could say anything, the lady whom I recognized as Brenda, our by then college belle appeared by his side. She wrapped her hands around his arm, making sure the reflection of the diamond ring didn't go unnoticed by me. “ Marion, I am not just another woman. I am Finn’s woman.” She declared with a smirk. “ Then what am I? The other woman?” I asked, eyes trained on Finn, a bitter smile hanging on my lips. Finn had the decency to look away, embarrassed. Brenda however seemed like she was not done with me. “ The other woman? Do you even qualify for such a side title?” She scoffed, eyes sizing me up disdainfully. Someone let out a sneer. Another one giggled. They were clearly mocking me. I ignored them and focused on Finn, waiting for him to say something. He didn't and that stung. “ You are just a place holder that Finn needed while waiting for me. You have served your purpose so know your place and scram.” Brenda added disdainfully. A placeholder? That's what I was to Finn? She had once rejected him back in the days when he was not famous and successful enough to be with her. Finn was so heartbroken so I swooped in and gave him a shoulder to cry on. I became his support system, his cheerleader. I attended every one of his hockey games, encouraged him when he missed a spot at North Wolves. A month after college, Finn asked me to be his girlfriend. Thinking that he had eventually fallen for me, I'd said yes. Looking back, I could only pity myself. It seemed like his proposal wasn't out of love but because I was the available emotional support system while he worked hard to win his love back. “ Finn, is that true?” I didn't even know why I bothered to ask when I could already predict the answer. Maybe because I wanted closure or I was simply a masochist who enjoyed self Inflicted torture. "You are just a nurse at a downtown clinic, am I supposed to stick to your classless ass?" He spewed. “ I can't bear to introduce you to my new club members or I will be embarrassed.” He added, the words cutting deeper. I let out a humourless laughter, my tears pricking my eyes but I blinked them back. “ When you played for a small club, you were fine being with me but now I am suddenly an embarrassment to you?” Bitterness crawled through every word. “ Can you blame him? Finn needs someone who can match his class.” One of his friends sneered. I didn't turn around to see who said that. I didn't need to because they were irrelevant. “ You are right.” I agreed, a smile plastered on my face. “You need someone who can match your class. A b***h and a bastard fit so well together.” I declared, turned around and walked away with my head held high. ***** “You did what?” Mabel shouted, jumping up from the couch. Disapproval flooded her face. “Keep it down,” I muttered, rubbing my temples. The migraine was already starting. After leaving Finn’s house with a shattered heart and bruised ego, I’d come straight to my best friend’s place. I needed to talk before I did something stupid. The betrayal stung, but being called an embarrassment after everything I’d done for him hurt worse. “Don’t ask me to keep it down,” Mabel snapped. “I can accept you ending things with Finn. That bastard never deserved you. What I can’t accept is you turning down a good offer because of that ungrateful bitch.” I shook my head. “I’m heartbroken and all you care about is the deal I refused?” “I have ways to comfort you that involve chopping off Finn’s balls and feeding them to crocodiles,” she shot back. “What I can’t get past is you refusing easy money.” “Easy money? Dealing with Chase Hudson’s annoying ass every day?” Mabel opened her mouth, then closed it. “See? Even you know he’s insufferable.” “In my defense, the man is filthy rich.” “He’s also a bully.” “That’s Finn’s version,” she said, giving me a pointed look. “You can’t judge someone from one-sided stories.” I started to argue and stopped. She wasn’t wrong. I’d borrowed Finn’s hatred and made it mine. Chase had been arrogant in college, sure, but he’d never actually been disciplined for anything. “Even if he’s the devil, you’d only be his nurse,” Mabel pressed. “Show up, do the job, collect double salary, go home. How is that complicated?” “It’s not that simple.” “Or do you think playing house with Chase is part of the job?” “Mabel—” “Marion.” She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, eyes serious. “I watched you pour everything into Finn for three years. Every game. Every setback. Every mood swing. You rearranged your whole life around him, and tonight he stood in front of his friends and called you classless. You turned down a career-defining opportunity for a man who was already planning a proposal to someone else while you were driving to his house.” The words landed hard. “The reason you said no is gone,” she said quietly. “And we both know you desperately need the money.” I said nothing. She was right. “I’m not dismissing how much this hurts. Finn was your person and he turned out to be someone else. That’s going to hurt for a while. But don’t let his choices cost you anything else. He’s already taken enough.” I exhaled. “He’s going to make every day difficult.” “Probably,” Mabel agreed. “But this isn’t about Chase. It’s about you. And that difficulty pays double.” She bumped my shoulder. “Bonus point—Chase Hudson is f*****g handsome. Half the women in this city would kill to look at him all day.” I rolled my eyes just as my phone buzzed. Lisa. My stomach dropped. She never called this late unless something was wrong. Mabel’s hand covered mine and squeezed. I answered the call. “He is here.” When the call ended I sat frozen until Mabel’s voice cut through. “Accept the offer. Now.” I didn’t need to be told twice. I found the coach’s number, pressed call with trembling fingers, and waited.