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My Hockey Alpha chapter 342

Nina

The ache of Enzo’s ultimatum sat like a knot in my stomach, tightening every time I replayed our last conversation. It was as if a chasm had opened between us, one that neither of us knew how to bridge. We had spent the night on opposite sides of the bed, each of us too angry to move closer to one another.

Now, confused and frustrated, I found myself in Lori and Jessica’s apartment the next morning, sitting on their plush cream-colored couch. They had only moved here a couple of months ago from the dorms, but it was already a long-term home for them, and it showed.

I glanced at Lori, who was sipping her herbal tea, and then at Jessica, who was perusing a magazine.

My voice wavered as I broke the silence. “Guys, I need to talk to you.”

Lori put her tea down, her eyes meeting mine. ” What’s going on, Nina?”

“It’s Enzo. He…

” I hesitated, trying to find the

words. “He gave me an ultimatum. He wants me to go stay with my parents in the werewolf realm while I’m pregnant, or else he’ll quit his job.”

Both of them looked at me, concern coloring their faces. “An ultimatum?” Jessica repeated, putting the magazine down. “That doesn’t sound like Enzo.”

I sighed, clutching a throw pillow to my chest. ” You’re right: it’s not. He said I have to make the choice within 48 hours, otherwise he’ll make it for me. He’ll quit his job and stay here to keep an eye on me.”

Lori’s eyes softened. “Nina, you know that Enzo never wants to do anything to upset you. Surely he has his reasons.”

“But I should be able to make my own decisions, shouldn’t I?” I retorted, a bit of fire entering my voice. “I mean, it’s my life, my body. I should have a say in this.”

“Of course you should,” Jessica agreed. “But this isn’t just about you, Nina. This is about your family- both you and the baby. And Enzo too. He’s going to be a dad, remember? Maybe you should consider his feelings as well.”

I shook my head, feeling a little cornered once again. Was I really so damaged that even my own friends didn’t trust me to take care of myself? “I understand that, Jess, but it’s just not fair. I know I haven’t exactly been… at my best, mentally or physically speaking, but I still want my independence.”

Lori looked thoughtful, her gaze distant as if seeing something I couldn’t. “You wouldn’t be losing your independence.”

“But I would!” I exclaimed. “If I live with my parents, they’ll be fawning over me constantly. I’ll have a guard following me around, watching my every move in case… in case…

My voice trailed off as memories of the shadow entity flooded back in, and I shuddered. Lori and Jessica shot me a concerned look, but said nothing.

“Listen,” Jessica finally said softly, reaching out to take my hand. “I know how it feels. But at least try to see Enzo’s point of view. He’s just worried about his wife and his future child.Some paragraphs are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jobnib.com. Visit Jobnib.com to read the complete chapters for free. Maybe his actions are a little misguided sometimes, but his intentions are always genuine. And besides, it doesn’t sound like it would be permanent.”

I sat there, absorbing their words. They were right; they usually were. My own emotional chaos had blinded me to the simple facts of the matter: Enzo was scared.

Scared for me, for our baby, for the life we were building together. Maybe I had been too quick to see his ultimatum as an assault on my independence, too caught up in my own pride and fear to see it for what it really was — an act of love, however flawed.

I sighed, my fingers playing with the tasseled edges of the throw pillow. “Maybe you’re right.

Maybe I overreacted. God knows I;m not thinking clearly these days.”

Lori reached over, placing her hand over mine. “No one is blaming you, Nina. Pregnancy messes with your hormones, your emotions. It’s okay to feel a little lost, you know?”

“Yeah,” Jessica chimed in, “but that’s why you have us, and Enzo, and your parents. We’re your safety net, Nina. Let us catch you.”

I felt a small smile tug at the corners of my lips, grateful for their unwavering support. But even as I nodded, agreeing with them, the weight of Enzo’s words lingered, an unsettled question in the air between us.

Maybe they were right. Maybe Enzo was right. But I still couldn’t be satisfied just yet, especially not after how he had left this morning. He had just walked out, telling me he was headed to campus, without even a kiss. The door had slammed in his wake, and I was left feeling even angrier than before.

“I think I need to talk to him,” I said with a sigh, sinking a little lower into the chair. “We’ll work something out.”

“You will,” Jessica said. “Don’t worry. And you can always visit Mountainview. Lori and I aren’t going anywhere.”

“But what if the pregnancy messes with my ability to use the portals?” I asked, genuinely concerned. ” Even yesterday, I felt a lot more drained than usual after using one.”

Jessica chuckled. “Look, I can’t claim to be an expert in werewolf pregnancies and portal physics, but whatever happens, we’ll figure it out. You’re not getting rid of us that easily.”

“Totally,” Lori added. “We fully intend to be the world’s best aunties to that baby, portal or no portal.”

Hearing them say that lifted a weight off my shoulders. I leaned over and hugged them tightly, my eyes getting misty. “You guys are the best. I couldn’t ask for better friends.”

As we pulled apart, Jessica and Lori exchanged glances, grinning from ear to ear. “So, speaking of big life changes and emotional moments,” Lori started.

“Yeah, we have something to tell you too,” Jessica said. “But promise you’ll keep it a secret for now?”

My heart fluttered with anticipation. “Of course!

Spill it!”

They looked at each other, and then Lori took a deep breath. “We’re getting married!”

My eyes widened, and I squealed, throwing my arms around them again. “Oh my god! This is amazing! I’m so happy for you both!” Tears welled in my eyes, but they were tears of pure joy.

Jessica laughed. “We’re thrilled, too! And instead of rings, we’re thinking of doing matching necklaces. A bit unconventional, but then again, so are we.”

“That sounds perfect for you two,” I said, still floating on a cloud of happiness. “Really, I’m so happy for you.”

Lori’s face took on a slightly more serious look. ” And there’s something else. We’d really love it if you’d be our maid of honor.”

The room swayed for a moment, and I was overwhelmed with emotion. “Of course,” I said, wiping my tears from my eyes with my index finger.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“We figured you wouldn’t,” Jessica quipped, winking at me.

Lori nodded. “Even my parents are on board. I mean, they weren’t thrilled at first about me being in a gay relationship, but they’ve come around. And they’re really excited about the wedding.”

“I can’t even put into words how happy I am for you both,” I said, my voice choked with emotion. ” Love always finds a way, doesn’t it?”

“Exactly,” Lori agreed, squeezing my hand. “And that’s something to hold onto, no matter what else is going on.”

We sat there for a moment, basking in the joy of the news, letting it wash over us like a cleansing wave. Eventually, though, we had to say our goodbyes. As I left Lori and Jessica’s apartment, I felt a newfound lightness in my heart.

Driving toward the campus, I realized the decision I had to make about Enzo seemed less daunting now.

The conversation with Lori and Jessica had not only put me at ease but also clarified things in a way that I hadn’t expected. Their love and commitment to each other, despite the hurdles and the judgments, made me think about my own love for Enzo. It made me realize that, no matter what, we had to make our decisions as a team.

I wasn’t ready to make my decision yet, but I was ready to have that discussion with Enzo; to have an open dialogue, to be upfront and honest with our expectations for each other. No restrictions, no judgment, and certainly no ultimatums.


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