“She’s a little distracted.She’s gone back to her friend’s place.Someone with a kid that’s friends with hers?”
“Barney.”
“I thought her son was Arne.”
“Yeah, Barney is his friend.They think they’re twins because of the names.”
“Wow.I never would have predicted my brother would keep track of someone’s kid’s friends.I hope this works out for you, Jus.I really do.”
“It will.”I would make sure of it.
But that meant leaving, and I had to explain it to my captain.
“What the fuck do you mean?”Cooper wasn’t happy.He’d been counting on me and I didn’t want to let him down, but Mia and Arne were my top priority.“You promised you’d be here—I’m herding cats, trying to keep the team together.”
Guilt made me hesitate.This team had been my family for the last few years, and I owed them.Owed Cooper.I wanted us to win the Cup together.But not at the cost of Mia.I drew in a breath and found the way to make him understand.“If Callie called and needed you, would you hesitate?”
His eyes narrowed.“This is about the woman back in BC?”
I nodded.“Jess phoned—Mia’s life has upended, and I’m going to make sure I’m part of what shakes out.”
He stared at me for several moments.“When will you be back?”
I shrugged.“As soon as I can, but I’m staying as long as she and Arne need me.”
“Arne?”
“Her son.He’s six.Could be a pretty good hockey player.”
“Who are you and what have you done with my linemate?”
My cheeks felt warm.“It’s not that big a deal.”
“JJ, you’re smiling.”
He was right, I was.I was going to see Mia.And if she’d broken with her family… This was my chance.I was going after it with every resource I had.
He sighed.“I won’t try to stop you.But keep me posted, and I hope it goes the way you want.And if you can get back again before the week is over…”
“Coop, if I can work things out with Mia, I’ll be playing better than after any number of training and bonding sessions.No more buried issues to pop up.I might even smile again.”
He rolled his eyes but stepped back to let me go.
The next day, I picked up a rental car at the Vancouver airport, throwing the bag I’d brought from camp into the back seat.It was difficult to keep below the speed limit.I wanted to see Mia and Arne.I wanted to fix whatever had upset her.Every minute she was stressed and worrying was a minute too long.
I soon pulled onto the familiar street.There was no car in the drive and my shoulders sagged.Had Mia left?Maybe she’d returned home.Maybe they’d worked on her, convinced her that whatever had driven her away was something she should give in and put up with.I was too late.
Or, the logical side of my brain noted, maybe Mia was at work and Arne at Barney’s.I needed to chill before I scared them off.
I parked down the street, in case she came back and a car in the drive spooked her.I grabbed my duffel and used my key to enter the house.I went straight upstairs and almost cheered when I saw the clothes and toys in Jess’s old bedroom.They hadn’t left.
It was just after lunch, since the first flight I’d been able to find a seat on left Toronto at ten.I had time to fill and needed something to keep myself busy, so I went to the nearest grocery store, wearing a ball cap and sunglasses as a disguise, and got the ingredients to make lasagna.Everyone liked lasagna, right?It took time to make the sauce, getting the layers of flavor built up.I’d bought stuff to make a salad, and store garlic bread and dessert, since I didn’t have Jess’s talent for baking.
I sent Jess a quick message, telling her that I was here and making dinner, and why hadn’t she left some baking in the freezer?
She sent back a raised middle finger emoji, andgood luck.
It was late, based on my expectations, when I finally heard someone at the door.The lasagna was keeping warm, the salad ready to go, and the garlic bread needed just a few minutes.I drew in a long breath.