Listen to My Heart

The smell of stale popcorn and nacho cheese hung in the air of Mariucci as I rode the escalator up to the main concourse. It was Saturday night and the Gophers were playing the North Dakota Fighting Sioux this weekend. Last night had not turned out in favor for the Gophers, something the boys were not happy about, and they were out for revenge. The team did not want to be swept away in Mariucci like the previous year, and were all focused for the game tonight. I hadn’t even seen Tony yet today because he wanted to be completely focused for the game. I shrugged and did my own thing because Tony was just being Tony like usual. Understanding was the most important quality a girlfriend could possess with an athlete.
 
I reached the concrete floor and stepped off the electric stairs, sliding into the mass of maroon and gold. I walked a few sections over before I reached the section where the Lucia’s usually sat. I walked slowly down the stairs, noticing that none of them were in attendance yet. Joyce had mentioned they would probably be running late due to Mario having a game earlier this evening. I yawned as I settled into my seat, slumping down and resting my feet on the seat in front of me. Mariucci arena was filling quickly due to the large rivalry game about to take place.
 
“Hey.” Kara called from next to me. I smiled at her and sat up, letting her slide past me. “Where are the Lucia’s?”
 
“Mario had a game.” I told her, watching as the boys took the ice, helmets off, game faces on, as the arena roared the rouser. I clapped lazily, not having the energy to stand up. I had been up at 5 AM for the early shift at Starbucks. The only reason I was at the game was because I knew Tony would be upset if I wasn’t.
 
“Mmm, that’s why the Miller’s aren’t here.” Joey’s little brother, Kevin, played with Mario, another reason why the two families were so close.
 
The starting line up for North Dakota was announced. T.J. Oshie and Ryan Duncan highlighted the line, and I couldn’t help but scowl down at the kid with the blonde tips. The green jerseys stuck out on the ice and I wrinkled my nose at the color. I knew from Tony that games between the Sioux and Gophers could turn physical fairly fast. This statement was proven correct when within the first seven seconds, Ryan Duncan checked Jay Barriball into the boards from behind. I gasped and sat forwards quickly, looking to see if Jay was alright. Other than being a little shaken up, he seemed to be fine. Duncan got ejected and the game continued to escalate from there.
 
Tension and anxiety were lodged within my chest the whole game. The score remained zero after the first two periods, and if it hadn’t been for the constant pushing and shoving, the game might have been boring. But of course, rivalries could never lose any of their tension or the physical aspect that made them so intense. The Lucia’s came at the end of the second period, slipping in beside me. Kara went to sit with Joey’s family, so I was left with the Lucia girls. Mario sat a few rows up with a few of his teammates.
 
“Hi honey.” Joyce smiled, pulling me into a hug as she sat down next to me.
 
“Mama Looch.” I grinned at her. One of the benefits about dating your best friend is that there isn’t any awkward first meeting of the mother. But even if Tony and I hadn’t of been such good friends, it’s impossible not to love Joyce Lucia.
 
“How are you?” She wondered, slipping her purse beneath her chair and settling in a bit more.
 
“I’m tired and on edge. This game is very chippy.”
 
“Mmm.” She shook her head with a frown. “And I’m sure my son is running his mouth.”
 
“He better not be.” I insisted, hugging myself as the teams entered the ice for the final period. But both of us knew that it was a way of the game, and how Tony liked to play.
 
The Gophers got on the board first with a snipe from the slot by Ben Gordon. He beat J.P. Lamoureux over the right shoulder sending Mariucci into an absolute frenzy. The rouser was the loudest I had heard it in a long time, and I couldn’t help but feel satisfied as I shook my fist with the rest of the Gopher fans. However, the joy lasted only four minutes before North Dakota tied it up. I huffed in my seat, rolling my eyes at the brave Sioux fans who celebrated. When the third period ended, the score remained at 1-1, sending the game into overtime and making my palms break out into a sweat. I wanted to win so bad, but more than that, I didn’t want the Sioux to sweep us. Any sweep was a disappointment, but to be swept by a rival at home would be a hard lump to swallow.
 
Every time the Sioux possessed the puck in overtime, my heart would pause in my chest. When Tony stepped onto the ice, I sent little prayers up that he would come off the ice unscathed. I noticed that when he was on the ice, the Sioux hit a little harder and I cringed as Tony hit the plexiglass with a hard slap. He shoved at one of the Sioux players, but then skated off before the altercation could turn into anything more. A stoppage came with just five seconds left, outside of the Gopher zone, and I felt the tension melting away. The chances of them scoring from outside the blue line were slim.
 
The puck was dropped and was won back to the Sioux defensemen who passed it to T.J. Oshie. Oshie had the puck picked away by R.J. Anderson who held it for the final moments. Right as the last second was ticking down, Oshie cross-checked Anderson into the ice.
 
“Shit.” I muttered.
 
The fireworks flew immediately and I couldn’t breathe as I saw Tony jump immediately into the action. Gloves, sticks, and helmets were flying into the air, and I grasped the arms of my chair, watching as Tony and the Sioux player began to pound the shit out of each other. This was different than any other college fight I had ever seen. The refs were trying to pull other members of the teams apart, and leaving Tony and the other player to beat each other up.
 
“Tony, stop!” I exclaimed, hiding my face but still watching through the cracks in between my fingers. He didn’t do as I was told as him and the Sioux player, which I could now see was Zajac, slid down the boards. Tony was on the bottom and I couldn’t see him anymore until he popped back up, jersey resting at his elbows as he flipped Zajac onto his back and began to punch him.
 
“Oh my god.” Joyce murmured, shaking her head and glancing at the bench where Don was watching, holding the rest of the team back from going on the ice. The players all watched with amused faces as I was shaking with terror that Tony would get a broke nose or smack his unprotected head on the ice. But I could tell that he was dominating the fight and gasped in relief when the refs finally realized they needed to pull the two off of each other.
 
The ref pushed Tony against the glass on the right side of his body and then Zajac on the left side of his body. Since the whole fight had been on our side of the ice, I could see Tony and his mouth moving.
 
“Fuck you!” He yelled at Zajac, making his mother scowl down at him. He was right in front of a little boy, but I doubt he really cared at the moment. Zajac yelled some choice words back to Tony, and he rolled his eyes and laughed at him before he was pushed and then escorted towards the Gopher bench. He went to the locker room with the thundering applause of the remaining fans. They liked the fight and the way Tony defended R.J. after his cheap shot. I watched as Tony walked down the tunnel before he disappeared from my view. I felt like stalking down there and checking every part of his body to make sure he was alright. The good thing was that I didn’t see any blood dripping from him when he skated off.
 
The players finally lined up for the handshake, but the tension wasn’t over. Joe Finley yanked Blake Wheeler out of line by the collar of his jersey, edging for a fight. Blake refused to give in, but the other hot heads on the two teams began to go at each other. I frowned deeply and watched as Don Lucia walked out on the ice. I could hear him from my spot in the stands yelling at the players to get off the ice. He broke up a few fights himself, not caring that punches were being thrown or that skates were flying about.
 
“This is ridiculous.” Joyce shook her head. I nodded in agreement and watched as the two coaches ushered their players off the ice before they went to the refs, demanding to be heard. The fans filed out of Mariucci, riled up, the tie completely gone from their minds.  The Lucia family and I stayed sitting long after the arena had filled out, until Kara came bopping down the steps, a tentative smile on her face.
 
“How hot was it watching your man fight?” She asked sarcastically. She knew as well as I did that watching the boys fight was terrifying.
 
“Horrible. That wasn’t even a hockey fight; it was some sort of wrestling match.” I furrowed my brows as we moved up the stairs. Tony was probably just finishing up, but chances were high that Don wasn’t even close to done. He had to stay and figure out what disciplinary action was going to be asserted.
 
“He was pissed.” Kara chuckled, “but he was defending R.J. and you can’t blame him for that.”
 
“I’m not, but I thought I was going to die from lack of oxygen. I don’t think I breathed that whole time he was fighting. All I could see was punches hitting his face and breaking his nose.” I shuddered.
 
“He wouldn’t be as beautiful.” Kara joked with a laugh. We reached the family waiting area and sat down on the benches. Several hockey players were already lounging about or leaving, but Tony had yet to enter the area along with Ryan Flynn, who was also a part of the fight. I bit my lip, hoping Tony wasn’t getting yelled at by his dad.
 
Anxiety pulled at my heart and mind as I kept glancing at the door of the locker room each time it swung open. But each time it was a different one of Tony’s teammates. The lounge was clearing out until it was only the Flynn family, Miller family, Lucia family, and the Anderson family. I sat with Kara as the siblings and parents discussed. My heart pounded irregularly in my chest as I stood and began to pace slightly against the wall. The door opened behind me and I turned to see Tony and Flynn coming out together. I booked it over to him, throwing my arms around his shoulders and hugging him tightly.
 
“I’m okay.” He murmured, kissing my cheek as he lifted me a foot off the ground. I blushed, slightly aware at the people staring at us, but I was too relieved that he seemed to be okay- minus the ice bag tapped to his wrist.
 
“I was so scared.” I whispered to him as I pulled away to look at his face. My hands greedily moved over his beautiful features, seeing no marks against his skin. I breathed a sigh of relief as he grinned at me. “Still handsome.” I joked as his grin slid into a cocky shade. I rolled my eyes as he set me back down. He pulled me into his side, kissing the top of my head as we walked over to his family.
 
“Well, it’s good to see you’re alright… for the most part.” His mom murmured, hugging him gently.
 
“It’s fine.”
 
“Is your dad coming soon?” She asked, crossing her arms over her Gopher sweatshirt.
 
“Yeah. He said he would be right out.” Tony dropped his arm from around my shoulder and took my hand instead, sitting down on the bench and pulling me next to him. When he was being hockey player Tony, his PDA level plummeted.

Don Lucia walked through the maroon doors with the gold M on them moments later. He had a discouraged look on his face as he smiled at the Flynns and then pulled Ryan aside. Ryan nodded in understanding as Don talked, moving his hands a few times before he said goodbye again and headed towards us. His face looked like bad news.
 
“They suspended me, right?” Tony asked with a deep sigh.
 
“Just for one game.” Don shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. I was surprised that he didn’t seem irritated at Tony for starting such a large fight, but then again, I think he was more proud of the way Tony had come to R.J.’s defense, not that he would ever admit that out loud.

“What about him?” Tony asked. A scowl twisted his lips and his gaze darkened a bit. “That shi- stuff was uncalled for.” He caught himself, already seeing the look his mother was giving him.
 
“He got a game as well.” Don informed him.
 
“You beat the crap out of him.” Mario grinned at his older brother, slapping hands with him. Tony gave him a discreet smile that made me lock the corners of my mouth to keep from laughing. It was obvious that Tony was proud of his performance.
 
“Well, are you hungry?” His mom asked.
 
“Not really. I’m pretty beat.” I reared my head to look at him and he chuckled gently. “I mean I’m tired, Bri.” He tightened his grip around my shoulders, shaking me a bit as he pulled me in closer. I frowned gently and wrinkled my nose at him.
 
“Alright.” His mom sighed. I could tell she was reluctant to leave Tony, but she hugged and kissed him before her and the rest of the Lucia family headed to their cars. Tony and I were left to walk to his Volvo, hand in hand.
 
“Are you staying with me tonight?” Tony asked as he pulled out of his parking spot, heading towards Dinkytown.
 
“Is there a party going on?” I wondered through a yawn.
 
“Most likely.” Tony sighed. For once I could tell he wasn’t into the idea of drinking and being up well past 2 AM.
 
“Do you want to come over to my house?” I ran my fingers through the side of his hair. He leaned into my hand, taking one of his off the wheel and bringing my palm to his lips. The feel of his lips tickling my palm made my insides turn into applesauce.
 
“If you’re up to it.” He shrugged his shoulders as I started to laugh at what he was insinuating.
 
“Sex or bust?”
 
“Yes.” He grinned at me. His twinkling green eyes told me he was joking, but that he would most definitely be ready for anything I wanted.
 
“We’ll see.” I told him, shifting in my seat and leaning my head back.
 
“That usually means no. Don’t think I don’t know that about you.” Tony stuck his tongue out at me.
 
“What happened to you being beat?” I asked him when his hand started to dance along my inner thigh.
 
“That was a show for my mom. I’m never too tired for you.” I laughed and looked over at him. He was looking at the road, a grin on his face as his thumb brushed over my jeans. I slid my hand under his and laced our fingers together as a feeling of euphoria wrapped around my heart. I had never felt this happy before. Who would have thought; the same person who tore happiness away from me just a few months ago was now lighting my life up like the sun. “What?” Tony asked when he noticed me staring at him.
 
“Just thinking.” I shrugged as he turned onto my street.
 
“About what?”
 
“How much I love you.” I leaned over the console and kissed his cheek. I waited before he threw the car in park before I turned his face and placed my lips passionately over his. I could feel his mouth tightening into a smile below my lips.
 
“Change your mind?”
 
“You’ve been a very bad boy, Tony Lucia.” I told him in a low voice, my lashes fluttering suggestively as I talked.
 
“Yes, and I need to be punished.” He panted as I pulled him towards me with his tie.
 
“I know just the punishment.” I winked at him as he leaned down and kissed the breath from my lungs in just the way he was good at.