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Rolling my eyes, I let out a dramatic sigh. "You're not helping!"
My phone pings, and I check the screen quickly.
You know what else isn't helping? My grandmother not answering her texts.
It's been a full day or so since I've talked to Nonna Chiara, and that was a phone call that lasted less than three minutes. She'd been in the middle of something, promised to call back later...and didn't.
I've tried calling her periodically since then and have gotten nothing but radio silence. It's making me nervous as hell.
"You know she could just be busy," Lexi says, probably sensing my tension.
"I know, I know. She's probably just out having fun with her friends."
Lexi raises an eyebrow at me. "Fun? You mean like clubbing or something?"
"No, no! Nonna doesn't do that kind of stuff." I pause. "Well, not in the last six months or so."
"Ah, yes. The infamous flashing incident." Lexi shakes her head. "I still can't believe she got arrested for showing that guy on the streets her breasts. I mean, for an eighty-something-year-old, she's got some moves."
I groan, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Can we not talk about that please?"
"Fine, fine. But seriously, Nonna will be back soon. She always stays in touch." Lexi pats my hand reassuringly.
I nod, trying to push away the nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. The queen of her own domain and pasta sauce empire to boot, Nonna has always been a free spirit and prone to spontaneous adventures, but something just feels off this time.
As if on cue, the buzzer signaling the onset of the game goes off.
I turn to see Jacob ending his warm-up on the ice, and to my surprise, he's staring right at me. His intense blue eyes are locked on me like I'm the only person in the entire arena. My heart skips a beat, but I quickly look away, trying to act like nothing's out of the ordinary.
Lexi nudges me with her elbow. "Uh, Gabs? Did you notice that Jacob is totally staring at you?" I shoot her a quick glare, hoping to shut down the topic, but she just smirks. "Seriously, though, do you think Gio suspects anything is going on between you two?"
"No way. Gio's always been oblivious to stuff like that when it comes to me."
Lexi doesn't look convinced. "I don't know, Gabi. Jacob keeps glancing up at you. It's like he's worried Gio might catch on."
I swallow hard, glancing down at the ice where Gio, my overprotective big brother, is currently chatting with the coach. His expression is intense, and I can't shake the feeling that he's starting to pick up on the tension between Jacob and me.
And then the game clock ticks down, and Game Three of the Chicago Blades-Seattle Sparks series officially starts. The crowd roars, and I force myself to focus on the game, not on the butterflies wreaking havoc on my stomach.
The game progresses and the tension climbs like a thermometer in the desert at noon. Jacob's normally fluid, effortless skating is stiffer, almost aggressive, while Gio plays with a ferocity that would make a grizzly bear think twice.
Every time their paths intersect on the ice, it's like a scene from an over-the-top sports drama.
"Are you seeing this, Lex?" I whisper-shout, gripping her arm. She just nods, eyes glued to the rink.
It's halfway through the second period when it happens.
Jacob and Gio are both chasing the puck, their skates cutting through the ice with machine-like precision.
Jacob gets there first, but Gio isn't willing to give up. Instead of backing off, he clashes with Jacob, slashing at the puck and nearly knocking Jacob off his skates.
My heart stops.
The two best friends, playing like they're on opposite sides of a battlefield instead of the same team. The crowd roars, just happy to see action on the ice, but I know something is terribly wrong.
Lexi grabs my hand, squeezing until my knuckles are almost white. "Gabi, I think Gio knows."
I swallow hard, the weight of her words sinking in.
