My Hockey Alpha



Nina

I stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the straps of my red dress. The fabric hugged my body, accentuating the tiny bump on my belly. I was both nervous and excited about the evening ahead. Enzo and I had needed this, a night to reconnect, especially after the strain of the past few days.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, Enzo was already dressed impeccably in a tight-fitting shirt and a pair of jeans, his hair neatly styled. His eyes lit up as he saw me.

"Wow, Nina, you look incredible," he breathed, his brown eyes scanning me up and down. "You know how much love you in red."

I blushed, feeling a flutter in my stomach. "Thanks, Enzo. You're not looking too bad yourself."

He offered his arm, and I took it, feeling the familiar comfort of his touch. As we walked to the car, Enzo seemed more relaxed than he had been in days, and I hoped the evening would ease some of the tension between us.

*So, where are we going?" I asked as he opened the car door for me.

"It's a surprise," he said with a mysterious smile.

The drive was short, and the city lights twinkled against the night sky. Enzo parked in front of a skyscraper, its glass facade reflecting the colorful neon signs of the bustling city. He led me inside, and we took an elevator that whisked us up to one of the top floors.

The doors opened to reveal a luxurious restaurant with panoramic windows offering a breathtaking view of the city. The ambiance was romantic, with soft candle lighting, quiet classical music, and a gentle hum of conversation.

"Wow," I murmured. "I feel... a little underdressed." I chuckled.

Enzo just smirked. "Well, you don't look it," he said. "And besides, you're a head-turner in every room you walk into, fancy dress or not."

He pulled out a chair for me at a table near the windows, and I couldn't help but be mesmerized by the view. The city spread out below us, looking so endless and so tiny all at once.

*This place is amazing, Enzo," I said, still in awe.

"I figured you would like it," he replied, taking his seat across from me.

A waiter appeared, introducing himself and handing us menus. Enzo ordered a bottle of wine, and since I couldn't drink, I ordered a sparkling juice.

As we waited for our drinks, Enzo reached across the table, taking my hand. "I'm really glad we're doing this, Nina."

"Me too," I replied, squeezing his hand. "We needed it."

Our drinks arrived, and we clinked our glasses. We chatted about everything and nothing-the city, the food, our future. It felt good, and it made me realize that Enzo was right; we hadn't gotten to experience much of this. But maybe it was just the beginning of a new chapter. Perhaps there would be many more nights just like this one. We put in our orders and looked out the window for a few moments while we waited, both lost in the view.

"You know, it's really pretty here," I found myself saying. "Jessica and Lori mentioned today that they could see us living here. Isn't that wild?"

Enzo smirked. "Honestly, it's not entirely impossible," he said, a thoughtful tone to his voice.

I cocked my head. "What do you mean?"

That was when Enzo's face turned serious. "Nina, there's something I need to tell you."

"Oh?"

*Tim came to me today," he began, his eyes searching mine. "He was watching me work with the team and... he wants me to start next month instead of in August."

I felt a jolt of surprise. "Next month?"

He nodded. "Yeah, they're offering to raise my pay and even give me a bonus for the trouble."

I was silent, processing the information. This was big, a significant change to our plans. I knew how important

this job was to Enzo, but the thought of him leaving so soon, of being apart....

The weight of his words hung in the air between us, a cloud of unspoken fears and uncertainties. Enzo was watching me, waiting for my reaction, but I didn't know what to say. How could I express my fears without hurting him, too?

"That's... that's great news, Enzo," I finally managed, my voice a mixture of genuine happiness and secret apprehension. "You must be thrilled."

Enzo's expression was complex. "I am, but..." he trailed off, his gaze meeting mine, searching for something, perhaps reassurance or a sign of approval.

"But it's sooner than we expected," I finished his thought, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Exactly," he said, his hand reaching across the table to grasp mine. "I know this changes things, especially with the baby..."

I squeezed his hand, offering a smile that I hoped was more convincing than it felt. "It's a big opportunity, Enzo. I'm proud of you. Really."

He nodded, but the furrow in his brow told me he was just as unsure of this as I was. "I told Tim I'd need to talk it over with you first. It's not just my decision."

"We should definitely talk about it," I agreed, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me. "But... Maybe not tonight?"

Enzo's face softened, and he gave my hand another reassuring squeeze. "You're right. Tonight is about us. We can talk about it another time."

I smiled, grateful for his understanding. "So, tell me more about your day. How was training the team?"

Enzo's eyes lit up, and he launched into a story about one of the players who had managed a particularly impressive play. His enthusiasm was infectious, and for a moment, it was easy to forget the looming decision that awaited us.

But as he spoke, my mind drifted back to the dream I'd had last night. For some reason, it felt even more threatening now with the thought of Enzo leaving early. The shadow entity, the vision of my baby dying... It had felt so real, so terrifying. I almost told Enzo, wanting to share my fears, but I hesitated.

No, I thought. Not tonight.

Tonight was about us, about being together without shadows or fears hanging over us. I decided to push the memory of the dream to the back of my mind and save it for another time, focusing instead on Enzo's animated recounting of the day's events.

The rest of the dinner passed in a blur of conversation and laughter. Enzo's stories from the rink were a welcome distraction, and I found myself getting caught up in the excitement of his new job.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

As we finished our meal, Enzo suggested we take a walk around the city. "There's a beautiful park the overlooks the ocean nearby. I think you'd love it," he said, his eyes sparkling with the promise of adventure.

"That sounds perfect," I replied, nodding. "I'd like that."

With a warm smile, Enzo stood and held his hand out for me. I took it, and we walked out of the restaurant hand-in -hand, each of us pushing away our own shadows and our own demons for the sake of enjoying just one night together.