Cade cackles from the bench. "She's hoarding your treasures, man!"
Willa’s mouth twitches. "And the good news… Medically, you’re cleared. You're available for full team selection. I'll let Coach know you can resume full contact."
Cleared.Full contact. My career finally snapping back into place.
The words should feel like a victory. Like a fucking parade.
This is what I’ve been working for since I woke up in that hospital bed with Zoey’s pretty face slowly swimming into focus.
I look up automatically, to the section where Zoey and Morgan sat at the game. To where Morgan stood on her seat, her tiny hands waving that damn foam finger that was bigger than her head. I chuckle to myself, remembering when Zoey reached over in the third period and threaded her fingers through mine like it was the easiest thing in the world.
The seats are empty now. Just purple upholstery and the ever-present lingering smell of popcorn.
“Dude, you okay?” Cade skates up beside me, bumping my shoulder. “I'm sure you can buy another lip balm.”
"What?" I shake my head, forcing a grin. “I'm fine. Just… taking it in.”
“Taking in the fact that you’re about to get your ass kicked in drills again?” Gabe rumbles from my other side, a rare smirk on his face. “Welcome back, pretty boy.”
I laugh, but my eyes drift up again, drawn like a magnet to the executive box now. Because there she is.
Zoey is waving down at me from behind the glass, standing with Delaney and Big Mike. She’s waving and smiling, but there's a weird expression on her face.
What the hell is she doing here?!
My chest squeezes tight.
Willa finishes tapping at her tablet, then smiles up at me and pats my arm. “Go hit the showers, Lane. I'll tidy up the paperwork. Well done. You earned this.”
“Thanks, Willa. For everything.”
I lean in and pull her into a quick, hard hug. She chuckles, pats my back, and then she slips away toward the tunnel.
I look back up to Zoey and lift a hand, my smile feeling more real now. Zoey waves back, her smile widening, but still… itdoesn’t reach her eyes. There’s a weird tension in her shoulders, a look on her face I can’t quite read.
I hope everything is okay.
I left in such a rush this morning, when I woke up and she was still beside me…
I didn't have time to leave a note. All I could think about was getting to the bakery and helping out without waking her.
Maybe I could have texted her?
Shit.
I spin on the ice and head for the locker room, but I’m about halfway to the showers while rehearsing my apology, when Delaney appears at the end of the corridor, practically sprinting in heels.
Her cheeks are flushed, her icy blue eyes bright with excitement. “Colt! Oh my God, there you are.”
“Delaney.” I brace myself while wondering how the hell she got down here so quick. “What’s on fire? And why isZoeyhere?!”
“Nothing’s on fire. Everything’s perfect. Better than perfect, actually.” She grabs my arm, her claw-like fingernails digging in. “The voting closed. The twists won. By alandslide.”
A grin spreads across my face, genuine this time. “No shit?”
“No shit! And Big Mike is upstairs with Zoey right now. He showed her the prototype packaging. It’s gorgeous, Colt. It looks like a fucking Tiffany’s box for pastries.”
I start picturing Zoey's face when she saw it. That look of stunned wonder, those warm caramel eyes wide. She would have been speechless for once, her mind already racing with possibilities.