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  Falling for Gravity

  An Ice Tigers Hockey Novella

  Isabella Cassazza

  Falling for Gravity © 2020 by Isabella Cassazza

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The author recognizes the trademark names of all the brands used in this book, and in each instance, the brand is used fictitiously.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the authors work.

  Copyright © 2020 by Isabella Cassazza

  Editing: My Brother’s Editor

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Author’s note

  Also by Isabella Cassazza

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Stay connected

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  Chapter 1

  Wioletta

  * * *

  “What do you have there?” Julian molds his body to mine from behind and peeks his head over my shoulder.

  “The most important gift you ever gave me.” I turn in his arms, throw one arm around his neck, and give him a quick kiss on the mouth. “Remember?” I lean back in his embrace and wave the small slip of paper in front of his face.

  He catches the ticket with one hand and stares at it for a second. “The best investment I ever made. Thank you for taking a chance on me.” He looks me deep in the eyes. “I love you.” Then he bends down to kiss me.

  Even after five years, my heart beats faster every time his lips meet mine. Excitement runs through my veins the moment we connect. At the same time, it feels like coming home. We were meant for each other from the very first minute we met.

  I break the contact for a split second. “Love you more.” Then I lift up on my toes, pull his head down with both arms, and kiss him again like there’s no tomorrow. Which there isn’t for us. At least not in Boston.

  “Debatable.” He breaks free and pants against my mouth. Just when he’s about to join our lips again, a knock echoes through the empty room.

  “Uh… sorry guys,” Lily says once I turn my head in her direction. “We’re done with the boxes. And Emilia and Matt are here with the food. So… just join us whenever you’re ready.”

  “We’re coming,” I say, but she’s already abandoned her spot in the doorframe.

  “I wish I was. Deep inside you…” Julian whispers in my ear.

  Goose bumps appear where his hot breath meets my skin. But now is not the time for more. I giggle. “Later. Come on. It’s time to say goodbye.” I take his giant hand in mine and lead him into the living area where our friends are waiting for us.

  “Here they are.” Matt walks over to greet us. “You’ve figured it out. Let others do the work and have a good time yourself.”

  “I’ll miss you and your humor.” I hug him and walk over to greet his wife.

  “I can’t believe this is your last day here. It was bad enough to see Julian in the Ice Tigers’ jersey for the last time. But… can I say I really don’t like my job right now? Whenever I see you, I want to apologize,” Emilia says while we’re still half-hugging each other.

  I squeeze her arm. “Don’t. We’re good. Truly, we are. I’ve said it before. The trade was a shock in the beginning, but you made it very clear that it was a necessary business decision and nothing personal. We both understand.”

  “I couldn’t have said it better.” Julian places his arm around my back and greets his team owner too. “Besides, we’ve already found the perfect house and we can always visit, right?”

  “Anytime. You’ll always be a part of the Ice Tigers family. I’m still sorry. How is the baby doing? How are you feeling?” She points to my growing belly.

  “He or she is doing well. We can’t wait to meet our little miracle. And I’m feeling fantastic. Julian is a little overprotective and wouldn’t let me lift anything heavier than a teacup. But we still managed to pack up everything.” I wink.

  “Are you still sure about not wanting to find out the gender before the birth?” Tyler walks over and hands me a paper plate and a napkin.

  “Yes,” Julian and I say at the same time. All we want is a healthy baby. Whether it’s a boy or a girl isn’t important.

  The others laugh.

  “I had such a fantastic idea to reveal the gender at the baby shower.” Lily pouts.

  “You can always use the idea for your first child then.” I join my best friend at the other end of the room.

  “Who’s hungry?” Danny walks through the door with several pizza boxes before Lily and I can talk more baby stuff. “It’s just like in college. No furniture and pizza. Though this one is a lot better than the cheap stuff that was all I could afford back then.” He grins.

  “You realize you and Emilia are the only ones in this room that have firsthand college experience?” Matt accepts a box from Danny and sits down on the floor. Emilia, Julian, and I follow his example.

  “See, that’s even better. Wioletta and Smithy will learn something new on their last day in Boston.” Danny hands a pizza box to each of us.

  “Will you be okay?” Lily asks and places one hand underneath Tyler’s arm.

  “Let me.” Danny sets his box on the floor before he helps his roommate.

  “Do you need a cushion, old man?” Julian laughs as Tyler lowers his giant frame slowly to the floor with the help of both Lily and Danny. “We can open the boxes and get one for you?”

  “Very funny. I can manage.” Tyler’s face is a mask of pain for a split second, but his features relax once he’s in a sitting position.

  “Good thing you have a physical therapist living with you.” Julian chuckles. “No kidding, man. That hit yesterday looked nasty.”

  “I’m not getting any younger.” Tyler sighs.

  “None of us are,” Matt chimes in.

  “So, let’s enjoy our food while we still can.” Emilia laughs. So do the others.

  “Enjoy your last meal in Boston,” Matt adds.

  We dig into our food and a comfortable silence fills the room. I wish I could imprint every little detail of this moment in my brain forever. I don’t mind change. It can be exciting. But… I’m also intimidated.

  I’ll live alone in a new city while Julian will join his new team on long road trips. I’ll make new friends eventually. But nothing will ever come close to the Ice Tigers family.

  Who knows when we’ll see the Boston group the next time and if it’ll ever be this perfect again? Wonderful food and our favorite people around us. It’s heaven on earth.

  “What do you have there?” Lily asks when only crumbs remain in the boxes.

  I place my paper plate on the floor and only then realize that I carried the plane ticket with me into the living room.


  “This is the reason we’re here today.” I grab the small slip of paper again and smooth out the edges.

  “I don’t understand.” Lily frowns.

  “Julian bought me this plane ticket shortly after we met. Have we ever told you the story?” I look from left to right. Our friends shake their heads.

  “You’re telling it,” I say to Julian.

  My husband shrugs. “It’s actually your fault.” He turns to Tyler.

  “My fault?” His eyebrows shoot up so high they nearly meet his hairline.

  “Kind of.” Julian chuckles.

  I smile and lean against him. “Destiny might have had something to do with it too.” I give him a quick kiss on his bearded cheek while a slow smile spreads over my face. Thinking of our meet-cute always makes me happy.

  “Let’s hear it then.” Tyler pulls Lily closer to his side and leans against her.

  A quick glance at my watch confirms that we have half an hour left until the movers will arrive to collect our stuff. I snuggle my head against Julian’s shoulder and close my eyes.

  He clears his throat. “Well….”

  Chapter 2

  Julian

  * * *

  Four years earlier

  Prague, Czech Republic

  A harsh knock on my door, followed by a loud voice calling my name, interrupts my dreamless sleep.

  “Hey, Smithy! We’re going out to explore the city. Are you coming?” One of my teammates, I think it’s Nessy, yells a second time before I have time to force my heavy eyelids open.

  “Nah, I’m good,” I holler back as loud as my hoarse voice allows. Jet lag is a bitch. I have no idea how the others cope so easily with the time difference. My body has a hard time adjusting to switching day with nighttime.

  While my teammates are active in their free time, I use every minute I’m not practicing or working out to compensate for the lack of sleep during the nights. Coach Benning already let me know that I didn’t live up to his expectations in the first game of the season. How could I when my body was in sleep mode instead of beast mode?

  We arrived five days ago in Finland, played the first game of the season in Helsinki, and lost. I should watch film and prepare mentally for the second game here in Prague. Instead, I want to bury my head underneath a blanket and hide from the bright sunlight.

  I curse whoever thought it was a good idea to fly overseas for just a few games right at the beginning of the long hockey season. Some players love the experience and enjoy the trip. I’m not one of them.

  My muscles feel sore from spending too much time on planes over the last few days and the lack of sleep during the nights. Even the obligatory morning skate today couldn’t relax my legs. I should have joined my teammates to explore the city. At least a walk would have helped to get rid of the stiffness in my body.

  I wish I could roll over and fall asleep again, but my bladder chooses that moment to remind me I have more basic needs other than sleep and food.

  After a quick trip to the bathroom, I’m wide awake. Fucking great since my teammates already left.

  I don’t want to spend all day inside, so I throw my coat over one arm and grab my room key. In the hallway I hear a commotion going on inside what I think is one of my linemate’s rooms.

  I haven’t spoken much to Tyler yet. We understand each other on the ice without words. But he doesn’t talk a lot in the locker room. I know little about him other than he’s a highly talented center. This might be an excellent opportunity to get to know him better and bond.

  “Tyler.” I knock on his door.

  “Yeah.” He opens it after a few seconds.

  “I wasn’t quite awake when the others left. But… I could use some fresh air. Do you want to join me?”

  He shakes his head. “I’m going to watch some film. See you at team dinner.” The door falls shut in front of my face again.

  Cool. See you later then, I say in my head.

  Tyler’s super dedicated and unstoppable on the ice. But other than that, I have no idea what kind of person he is. The guy doesn’t like to socialize. That much is clear.

  I leave the hotel with no clue where to go or what to explore. I guess I could always Google the famous sites in Prague. But I’m in the mood to just roam around without aim. Tomorrow, I need to build up what I like to call my laser-focused mindset during the day to be ready for the game. Today, I’d like to relax.

  The sun is shining and even though it’s already fall, I carry my coat instead of putting it on. A shirt, jeans, and sneakers are enough clothes to warm me on this beautiful day.

  Rather than following the signs to the city center, I head in the opposite direction. On my way to wherever I’ll end up, I pass ornate buildings and several churches. After that, I come across what must be one of the old city gates. Prague is a beautiful city. I should count myself lucky to explore it.

  The longer I walk, the fewer people I encounter. So far nobody has noticed me. It’s nice for a change to not have to wear a baseball cap and keep my head down. From what we’ve been told in preparation for this game, hockey is popular in the Czech Republic. But they have their own league. And while the Czech hockey fans are excited to watch us play, they don’t necessarily follow the NHL. Still, we were told to expect a loud and electric atmosphere in the arena tomorrow.

  An hour later, my legs are loosened up and for the first time in two days, I feel like myself again. So does my stomach. A loud growl hits my ears. Team dinner is only a few hours away. But I don’t want to wait that long. I’m a big guy and could eat constantly during the day.

  I pause. I spotted a few nice-looking restaurants on my way here. Should I turn back around or explore the neighborhood a little more? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of tourists in this part of the city. I learned from previous travels that’s where you can usually find better and cheaper food than in the crowded areas. Instead of heading back in the direction of the team hotel, I walk on.

  After two more corners, I stumble upon what looks like a beer garden, hidden behind huge trees on a backstreet. The smell of roasted meat wafts in my direction. My stomach rumbles again. I spot an empty table in the corner and snatch the seat before anyone else can.

  My butt is barely in contact with the chair when a young waitress heads over to greet me.

  “Ahoj!”

  “Uh… do you speak English?” Shit, it didn’t cross my mind that there could be a language barrier.

  A warm smile spreads over her beautiful face. “Yes, I speak English. Hello, again. What can I get you?” she asks me with a cheerful voice.

  Thank God she understands me. I blink. “Just water, please.” A quick look at the tables near mine confirms that most people here drink beer, but with the upcoming game, it’s better to skip the alcohol. When I turn my head again, the waitress has already vanished through an archway to what must be the restaurant.

  I lean back in my chair and close my eyes. A light breeze rustles the golden leaves on the ground. I congratulate myself on having found such a peaceful place in the middle of a buzzing city.

  “Here you go.” Only a minute later, the girl places my water in front of me.

  “Here is the menu. I’m afraid it’s only in Czech, but I can translate and explain the dishes if you want me to?” She places a leather-bound booklet on the table.

  “Yeah, that would be great.” I meet her eyes for the first time. Damn, the girl’s pretty. She has full hazel eyes with sweeping lashes that sparkle whenever she smiles. And her honey-blonde hair is pulled into a loose ponytail. I want to trail my fingers through the shiny mass. Would it feel as silky as it looks?

  “Would you like to order a main dish or just an appetizer?”

  My stomach chooses that moment to rumble so loud it must sound like I haven’t eaten in days.

  “A main dish it is, right?” She laughs.

  Heat creeps up my neck. “Yes, please.”

  She winks. “Don’t worry. Our portions are b
ig.”

  I can’t take my eyes off her stunning face while she speaks. What the hell is happening here? I swallow. “What’s your specialty?”

  Her nose crinkles a little. God, she’s cute. “Do you like meat?”

  “Of course I do.” This is my time to wink.

  She laughs again. “This restaurant is well known for its Uzene. That’s smoked beef with vegetables. It’s tasty, and the portion is… how do you say that? Gigantic?”

  I join in with her laughter. “Yeah. Gigantic, sounds great. I’ll take it.”

  “Perfect.” Her genuine smile lights up her eyes again before she turns to leave my table.

  “What’s your name?”

  She pauses mid-motion. “I’m Wioletta.”

  “Thanks for your help, Wioletta.” My stomach rumbles again. She winks and another wide smile spreads over her face before she vanishes inside the building. My heart flutters in my chest. Interesting. It’s been a while since I was drawn to a girl instantly.

  While I wait for my food to arrive, I watch Wioletta balance plates overflowing with food and trays with huge beer glasses. She’s carrying more than her small frame should be able to handle. And yet Wioletta moves with such an elegance and grace that my eyes follow her whenever she appears in the archway.

  The autumn sun plays with her blonde hair and especially with the one curl that has escaped out of her ponytail. My fingers itch to put that curl back behind her ear. What is wrong with me? It must be the lack of sleep… or Wioletta.

  I wish I’d met her in a bar in Boston. I don’t know what it is about her. But the flutters in my stomach tell me that this girl would be worth abandoning my bachelor lifestyle. If only she didn’t live an ocean away from me.