His Regret. I Bit the Hockey Alpha Accidentally

Viola

“He’s going to love it,” the saleswoman said, turning the Rolex toward me.

I smiled as I looked at the watch. I had spent three months saving for it, putting aside a little from every paycheck. Andy Franklin, Manchester Knights star-forward, could afford to buy a dozen of them, but I wanted him to have something from me. Something he would wear when he wasn’t holding a hockey stick.

“Let’s hope so,” I said. “It’s our first anniversary.”

“Oh, congratulations! Married?”

“Since we met.” My cheeks warmed as I glanced at the ring on my finger. “We’re engaged.”

Her eyes dropped to the band in my ring. “Well, he certainly has good taste.”

I laughed, remembering the night he had given it to me with our initials inscribed inside a heart.

The Manchester Knights had just won their first game of the season. I had been standing near the tunnel, waiting to check on a defenseman’s shoulder, when Andy skated toward me.

“Come here, Viola!” he called.

I thought he needed something. As the team’s physical therapist, I was used to players stopping me after games. I stepped onto the rubber mat by the bench, but he took my hand and guided me onto the ice.

“Andy, I’m going to fall,” I whispered, gripping his arm.

“I’ve got you, baby.”

The crowd was still cheering when he dropped to one knee. Someone must have alerted the camera crew because suddenly our faces filled the giant screen above the rink.

“Will you marry me, Viola?”

I covered my mouth. Behind him, his teammates banged their sticks against the ice while the crowd screamed.

Sandra was crying by the bench. My best friend had pressed both hands over her heart, nodding at me as though she had been waiting her entire life for this moment. When I said yes, she squealed so loudly that I heard her over the crowd.

“You deserve this!” she cried afterward, hugging me while I showed her Andy’s ring.

I had never felt so loved.

Only three months ago, Sandra had become Andy’s agent. Andy and I had thrown a huge party for her to welcome her. She managed his schedule wonderfully. 

“Would you like me to include a card?” The saleswoman’s question brought me back to the store. She was arranging the watch inside its box.

“Yes, please.”

I wrote a message, smiling as I pictured Andy reading it: To my favorite star. One year down, forever to go. Love, Viola.

“The watch is beautiful,” she said as she wrapped the box. “You chose well.”

I hoped Andy would think so, too.

Yesterday, I had found a diamond bracelet tucked inside his hockey bag while looking for the wrist support he kept forgetting to wear. I had closed the little box immediately and put it back, giggling.

He had been planning a surprise with a wedding proposal. 

Now he would get one, too.

I tucked the wrapped Rolex into my purse and drove to the arena. The Knights had morning practice, and I wasn’t due in until later, when the players started their recovery sessions. Andy wouldn’t expect me yet.

Inside, the familiar sounds reached me before I saw the rink. Skates scraped across the ice, a whistle blew, and a puck struck the boards with a sharp crack.

Most of the players were running drills. I searched for Andy’s jersey, but he wasn’t among them.

One of the assistant coaches spotted me near the bench. “Looking for Franklin? He stepped off a few minutes ago. Check the locker room.”

“Thanks.”

I headed down the corridor, slipping my hand into my purse to touch the gift. Maybe I could leave it in his stall and wait for him to find it.

The locker room door was slightly open. I reached for it, but a woman’s breathy moan stopped me.

“Oh, Andy. I’ve missed you.”

It was Sandra.

My hand froze. 

“Baby, I’ve missed you, too,” he murmured.

I stepped closer without meaning to. Through the narrow opening, I saw him sitting on the bench with Sandra straddling his thighs, her skirt bunched up on her waist. He was buried deep inside her. 

He fastened a diamond bracelet around her wrist. The one he had bought for me. Or so I thought. 

“Oh, it’s perfect,” she whispered, lifting her hand. “You shouldn’t have.”

“Anything for you, love.”

Love? My fingers slipped from the door. 

“You’re spoiling me,” she said, kissing him. 

He thrust inside her with a groan. “Sandra!” 

For a few moments, all I could hear were their labored breathing. He grunted a few more times. “Fuck, Sandra. I love fucking you!” And then they were both breathless.

I had spent endless days and nights helping injured athletes. Whenever Andy got hurt during a game, I worked with him long after everyone else had gone home. I loved him so much like he had hung stars and moon in the sky for me. He doted on me, openly showing his affection in front of his teammates or public. 

So when did this development take place? I couldn’t believe that my entire engagement had become a sham, a glorious lie within two seconds. 

My mind was reeling so badly that I had to lean against the side wall. I couldn’t hear them moaning while having sex. But the betrayal was so potent in my heart that I had to confront them. How dare he live this lie with me? I needed answers. Why did the two most precious people in my life betray me? 

Tears stung my eyes. I pushed the door open so hard that it struck the wall.

Sandra jerked around and scrambled off Andy’s thighs, pulling her skirt down. “Viola!” she rasped. 

Andy stood and zipped his pants, his face flushed with embarrassment. “Viola? What are you doing here?”

Sandra glanced at me, and a small smirk touched her lips. A moment later, she lowered her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Viola. You shouldn’t have found out like this.”

“How could you backstab me?” My voice shook as I looked at her. “You’re my best friend! I- I trusted you with everything.”

Before she could answer, Andy stepped in front of her, pushing her behind him as if to protect her. “Please don’t blame her. We were both meaning to tell you.”

“When?” I shouted. Tears threatened to spill now, but I blinked them back. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of watching me break. “Before the wedding? After it? How long have you been doing this?”

“Almost three months,” Sandra said from behind him.

My mouth fell open. Three months. Since she had become his agent. Since I had helped throw her that welcome party. I looked at Andy. He seemed troubled, but his hand remained on her arm.

“You’ve been having an affair for three months, and I’m only finding out now?”

My gaze fell to the bracelet on Sandra’s wrist. I had been so happy when I found it yesterday.

Andy looked back at her. She nodded, and he drew a deep breath.

“I’m sorry you had to find out like this, Viola,” he said in a guilty voice. “Let’s- let’s break up.”

I couldn’t speak. My chest hurt so badly that I pressed my hand against it. He had just ended our future while standing in front of the woman he had chosen over me. No apology. No hesitation about letting me go.

I pulled the watch box from my purse and clutched it. I looked at both of them. There was no point in holding this sham of a relationship. 

“Okay,” I managed. I lifted my chin firmly. “Let’s break up.”

His eyebrows lifted. “You’re okay with it, right?”

I wanted to scream. Instead, I nodded. “Yes, I am.”

I just needed to get out before my legs gave way.

Sliding the fourteen-karat gold ring off my finger, I threw it at his feet. It bounced against his shoe.

“Give her this, too. Apparently, she likes everything that is mine.”

His mouth opened, but I was already walking out, still holding the gift I had saved three months to buy him.