“Tonight’s game puck is going to number seventy-two, our beloved Jake Spencer.”
The team stomps their feet on the carpeted floor as they cheer for him. Jake takes a step into the room and accepts the puck, smiling at Connor.
“Thanks, Cap.” He takes a moment to breathe before he continues. “Tonight, this team was electric. It felt incredible to skate with you all, and the chemistry we have is undeniable. I’m proud to be a Blaze, and I can’t wait to see what the season brings.”
“How are you feeling, buddy? You took a pretty hard hit at the end,” Beckett asks, concern evident in his tone.
“Good as new. It’s as if nothing happened.”
There are murmurs of chatter among everyone as they all gather their things to leave for the night.
“All right, let’s get our stuff so we can get home. I’d like to shower and sleep at some point,” Brandon says as he walks over to his locker to finish changing.
I walk out of the room as the guys all finish changing and grabbing their stuff. And then I follow my brothers out of the arena.
The boys drop me off at my apartment, leaving me in peace to shower and relax after a long and exhausting day.
I finish making a cup of lavender tea and make my way to my couch, nestling into my blanket and pulling out myKindle to get some reading done. I’m currently in the middle of a spicy cowboy romance that has me giggling and smiling. Add in an ex’s dad and have them snowed in, and I’m hooked.
I don’t realize how long I’ve been sitting on the couch, engrossed in this book, when I look at the clock and see that it’s just past two in the morning. I close my Kindle, wash my cup, and make my way to bed and get settled in for the night.
I’m just getting snuggled under the covers when I hear my phone buzz on my night stand. I turn over and grab it to see a text from an unknown number.
Unknown Number:
Hey, it’s Jake. I know I haven’t texted you in a long time, but I just wanted to say thank you for taking care of me tonight.
My heart races at reading his name.
He’s actually texting me!
Of course, I’m just glad it wasn’t anything more serious.
I see the bubbles pop up and disappear a few times, before they disappear altogether. I’m slightly disappointed he didn’t reply, but I’m also grateful he texted at all, and the hope in my chest sparks to life once again. I’m about to turn my phone off and roll over when another pingcomes through.
Jake:
I don’t really know what I’m doing here.
Neither do I, honestly.
Jake:
All I really know is that I miss you.
My heart stutters at this admission. He can’t really mean what he’s saying, right? It’s just the headache talking and he’ll go back to ignoring me tomorrow.
Jake:
I’m tired of being angry and sad. But I also don’t know how to move forward.
Jake…
Jake:
I need you to know that I don’t hate you, even after everything that happened.
I just really miss you.