Stupid Cupid: An Enemies to Lovers Hockey RomCom by Ellie Hall

Author:Ellie Hall [Hall, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Even if I completely disagree with the outcome of The Romance Match voter choices, it seems Cupid has other plans, namely for Hayden and me to make repeated connections.

JoJo, who is legitimately the sweetest human being I have ever met, insists we all go back onto the ice to smooth things over. She remains by my side while Hayden does drills, racing up and down the rink.

She mutters, “Show off.”

“This is my first time in LA, and I wasn’t expecting to need a winter layer.” I shiver, tugging the hood strings of Greta’s Nebraska Knights sweatshirt tighter.

“The good news is when we’re done on the ice, there’s nothing like stepping outside and feeling the sun on your face. When I skate back home in Green Bay, at least in the winter, I shiver until I turn the heat in the car to molten.”

I laugh.

She tells me about the Savage siblings—they never really knew their biological dad because he split when JoJo was born and diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Their mother remarried a wealthy hedge fund investor here in Los Angeles, and the family splits their time between the city and Green Bay.

Missing home, Hayden threw himself into hockey.

“Somewhere along the way, he learned that skating can be incredibly therapeutic to people with CP. Our mother—well, she has her own story about me, my limitations, and how fragile I am...” JoJo rolls her eyes. “Hayden helped me so much, brought me to life in a lot of ways because, for a long time, I believed Mom. He’s a special guy under all that gruff⁠—”

“Bad boy exterior. Don’t forget that part.” I tell her about how we met and everything since just so I don’t let myself be too touched by his contribution to her story.

Stopping, JoJo grips the low wallboard and casts her brother a concerned glance. “I won’t pretend that I don’t know about his extreme activities on top of hockey, but that’s something for him to disclose. However, we did lose our brother in the line of duty. He was a police officer. They were best friends, practically twins. Both very protective of me. I miss him a lot. Since Connel died last year, Hayden hasn’t been the same. It’s like he needs to remind himself that he’s alive by doing the craziest things.”

This all makes me think that maybe Hayden Savage isn’t just a dumb jock out to get his jollies. Perhaps something deeper is going on because from where I sit, it sounds like if he’s not careful, he’s going to throw it all away.

He speeds up to us, stopping dramatically and sending shavings of ice into the air like a rooster tail. “Talking about me?”

JoJo smiles. “Yep.”

“All good things, I hope.”

“Of course.” She winks, then takes a phone call, exiting the rink, and leaving me with her brother.

“I can’t imagine you’d have anything good to say about me.” His tone is teasing, but I feel a bit chastised, and with good reason. I haven’t entirely given this guy a chance.

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