Taming the Ice #21 Ace Andrews

Chapter 6-Bad Choices

Ari

Pete: s**t babe. Hudson wants us to go over a few drills tonight to get ready for this weekend's game. Wait up for me? I will grab something for dinner on the way home.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes in annoyance. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. All damn day he has been talking about taking me out and making this work. How he was going to be the “best boyfriend” ever now. Yeah, that lasted a whole six hours…

Not like I even wanted to go out with him anyways. Truthfully, I was afraid to face Pete again. What if he pulls me back in somehow like he did before and I end up forgiving his stupid ass? I don’t know what type of hold he has on me…but I decided to break it tonight.

Putting my phone down, I glanced up into the mirror to check my makeup one last time.

Yeah, I’m not going to lie. I look hot.

I had my curly hair pulled up in a tight bun with loose strands framing my heart shaped face. My lips were covered in light pink lipgloss with a matching shade of eyeshadow to go along with it.

For my outfit I picked a shimmering pink mini skirt that was paired with a halter top that showed off my full chest rather tastefully. Even my heels were pink, giving my 5’6” frame a few more inches making me look even taller.

I haven’t dressed up like this in a long time. I used to love fashion. I would even sketch my own designs when I was younger. I wanted to be a fashion designer but somewhere along the way, that dream seemed to get further and further out of my reach.

Maybe it had to do with the fact that the school I wanted to go to cost a hell of a lot more than the scholarship I earned. And after Mom got her hands on the money that Dad left me when he passed, I knew I had to give up on that dream. Grandma Georgia had done so much for me…I couldn’t ask her for any more. And with her living in the assisted facility now, she could hardly afford it. That’s why I try to help out as much as I can.

So after the whole Ace incident at the cafe, I decided to go a completely different direction…and that meant getting shitfaced drunk and finding some random guy at a club to hookup with. I mean, I am 21 now, so there’s no reason why I can’t act impulsively even if it feels like I’m doing something wrong. Pete was the one who started this, not me.

I know it might be insane to go out alone…but how else am I supposed to start this? I considered joining a dating app but I don’t exactly want to broadcast the fact that I’m actively looking for someone to hook up with. Especially when most of the hockey team are probably on those apps. Hell, I wouldn’t put it past Pete to have a profile too.

I let out a deep breath, my eyes darting back to my phone as I felt that anger boiling inside of me. Let’s see how Pete likes this. Since he’s probably already started practice, Pete won’t even see the picture until he’s done. And when he does, I won’t be here.

Adrenaline rushed through me as I lifted the phone and switched on the camera, taking a picture of my reflection in the mirror. The look in my eyes was fierce and full of determination as I felt like for the first time in my life, I was taking back control.

I wasn’t going to let Pete walk all over me. Not like everyone else has my entire life. I’m tired of being used and feeling unwanted. I was never enough and maybe I never will be, but right now, I feel the closest I’ve ever had to being whole. Maybe that’s because what’s filling me is bitterness and rage but I know what I wanted…and that was to make Pete feel just as low as I do.

Who knows, maybe he won’t even give a s**t. Maybe all of this was what he wanted from the start, but I have a feeling when he talked about an open relationship, he wasn’t suggesting I have one too.

I sent the picture before writing out a message.

Me: Hope you have fun at practice. I’m going to head out with a few friends, don’t wait up, not sure when I’ll be back. We’ll have to reschedule dinner for another time. Xo

Of course the friend’s part was a lie…I didn’t plan on bringing anyone with me to witness this. I was embarrassed enough as is that my relationship has gotten to this point.

After ordering an Uber, I decided to silence my phone and turn off all notifications just in case Pete read the message earlier than expected.

Luckily the Uber didn’t take long to get here and before I knew it, I was walking through the club doors. Loud music pulsed around me as my eyes scanned the surprisingly full dance floor. It’s a Monday night…why the hell were so many people here?

Looking around, I felt my nerves start to kick in as all of that determination began to evaporate, leaving me with the reality that I had just gone to a club…alone.

It’s fine. People do this all the time, right? Oh god, I think I might’ve officially gone insane. Pete has made me lose my damn mind.

I walked towards the bar. The dark atmosphere made everything that much more intense as strobe lights flashed from the dance floor.

“Hey beautiful, can I buy you a drink?” Someone yelled from behind me, making my eyes widen as I turned to look at the source. Well that was fast.

My gaze landed on a guy that had to be three times the size of Pete…I’m talking huge; muscles for days. He had to be a body builder or something. The way his brown eyes looked up and down my body had my stomach twisting into knots as I swallowed down the lump that was forming in my throat.

I think I might be chickening out already and I haven’t even been here for a total of five minutes. I thought I would have some type of liquid courage in my veins before someone approached me at least.

“Damn, you look hot as f**k. Are you here alone?”

“No, I’m actually waiting for my friend. She just went to the bathroom.” I lied, feeling way too intimidated by this guy. He was too big, too intense, and way too cocky for my liking. I think he was even cockier than Ace. But then again, Ace had a different type of confidence. He knew exactly what he was doing and did it pretty damn well.

Wait, why am I thinking about Ace Andrews right now? What the hell is wrong with me?

“Why don’t I keep you company until they get back.” The guy smirked, making me blink my eyes rapidly as I felt caught, like a deer in headlights.

“Hey girl!” Someone yelled beside me before two arms wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me into a hug. The action caught me off guard as I peered up at a pink haired girl with a pixie cut and so much body glitter that she looked like she just walked straight off the set of Twilight.

“Um, hey,” I mumbled in confusion, wondering if I knew her from school. We were further out in the city, so I was hoping I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew, especially since it was a Monday night.

“You can leave now, asshole! She’s not interested in getting a drink from you!” The girl shouted, saying it loud enough for the guy behind me to hear.

Glancing over my shoulder, I watched just as the guy turned on his heel before pushing his way towards the dance floor. The pissed off look on his face didn't go unnoticed as relief flooded through me.

“I hate when they get so damn pushy,” She mumbled.

“Thanks. I didn’t exactly know how to handle that.” I admitted, feeling my shoulders start to relax.

“I’m Lexi by the way.” She introduced herself, her small hand coming out to shake mine as I took it happily.

“Ari.”

“God you’re so f*****g pretty. Do you live around here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before. I’m a bartender here on weekends.” She rushed, her eyes looking me up and down excitedly. I couldn’t help but blush. The compliment she gave me caused heat to creep up my neck as I nervously brushed a strand of hair away from my face.

“No, I go to MU and live close to campus. This is my first time coming here.”

I actually heard about the place from a group of girls that came into the cafe last week. They were talking non stop about the new club they went to and how many hot guys they saw. So after making my decision on what to do, I looked it up and decided I would try it out.

“Oh, you go to MU? My brother goes there too. He’s actually on the hockey team.”

Oh s**t…

“Really? What’s his name?” Please be someone that I don’t know.

“Ace.”

My eyes widened as I almost started to choke on the gasp I just inhaled.

“Ace? As in Ace Andrews?!” I sputtered. No way, there is no freaking way in hell this girl is Ace’s sister…the universe can’t be that cruel.

“Yeah! That’s him!” She smiled brightly, and that’s when I looked at her a little closer. Gray eyes…olive skin…dark roots on top of that pink hair. I could see it.

“Oh…” I mumbled, feeling myself shrink back a little.

That’s when the girl started to look at me a little more intently. “What did you say your name was again?”

“Ari.” She wouldn’t know who I am, would she? I guess she could be close to Pete considering Ace has known him since childhood.

“Wait. You're the Ari that’s dating Pete the cheat then?!” Lexi rushed before turning to the bar. “Toby! We are going to need some shots over here,” she yelled to the bartender, making him nod before turning back and grabbing a bottle of tequila.

Pete the cheat…did she really just call him Pete the cheat?! Apparently everyone knew about Pete’s reputation but me. How wonderful.

“There is no f*****g way that asshole could pull someone like you. I don’t know how my brother is still friends with that jerk. No offense…” She began while scooting closer to me on her stool. “But you do know how much of an asshole your boyfriend is, don’t you?”

Well, this is a pleasant turn of events. It seems Lexi knows Pete pretty damn well.

“Oh god, where do I even begin…”