Page 119 of My Best Bet

She held my chin and looked in my eyes. “Are you concussed? Because you’re talking out of your mind, Son. I’m concerned.”

I laughed. “No, I’m good. It’ll all be okay.”

She shook her head in disappointment. “I’m worried. Afterwards, you were so broken up. You were about to leave the NHL for her, honey.” She started tearing up, which shocked me. I’d only seen my mom cry a handful of times.

“No, Mom, don’t be upset. Things are different now. We’re not kids anymore. Please just try to be happy for us, okay? If you really got to know her, I think you’d like her.”

She waved me off. “Sorry, this is all just a bit of a shock. Can you blame me? You’re my baby. I just don’t want you to have to go through that again.”

No, I didn't blame her. She was scared of relationships because of the shitstorm she was still dealing with when it came to my father.

“It’ll be okay, Mom. Just give Mer a chance, alright?”

She nodded and steeled her spine. “You’re right. She deserves a chance. I will try.”

“Thank you.” I pulled her in for a bone-crushing hug, making her laugh in surprise.

“Only doing it for you, my darling boy,” she said, patting my chest before wiping her eyes.

I grinned. It didn’t matter why, just that she’d try.

She frowned again. “I should probably apologize to her. I was a little stern at Lucy’s birthday party, but I just wanted to make sure she was here for the right reasons.”

“She is, Mom. And I think that’d be a good start.”

37.Mer - Happy Bubble

Sitting in the locker room listening to Piper while unlacing my skates for our lunch break, it occurred to me that I could live like this forever.

When I first arrived in Chicago, I was a nervous mess, just hoping not to be alone anymore. Now it felt like I belonged to a family. This version of after was better than I could’ve ever dreamed it to be. I just wanted to stay in this happy bubble for the rest of my life.

“Ooh, wait, better option– how about we get that sandwich shop down the road, yeah?” Piper asked. “I’m craving their chocolate chip cookies. They heat ‘em up and make them all gooey in the center.God,Ineedone.”

I laughed. “Okay, let’s do it. You mind if I sneak over to the back rink and ask Colt and the guys if they want anything?”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever, if we’re doing a whole catering service, make sure you ask Hans, too.”

I grinned as I popped up from the bench and headed to the lobby.

I couldn't get over how quickly things changed– how I went from debating leaving Chicago because Colt skated here, to now loving that he practiced in the same building as me. Being able to swing by and watch him skate with his team, seeing him watching me coach from the stands, and stealing kisses in the locker room hallways made it feel like we somehow transported back to Centre Ice, back to the best time in my life, except this was better, because we were the ones in charge around this rink.

As soon as I swung around the corner of the pro-shop, I pulled back swiftly to avoid colliding with someone and my knee screamed in protest of the sharp movement.

“Sorry about that, I didn’t see–” The rest of the sentence died in my throat as I took in the face in front of me.

“Ah,” his deep chuckle filled the cool air, “I was wondering when we were going to bump into each other.”

Dread sliced through me, paralyzing me on the spot.

He came close, way too close, and whispered, “Aren’t you happy to see me?”

My muscles went taut with panicked tension.

He clucked his tongue. “Your poor neck.” He lifted a finger like he was going to touch me and that finally jolted my body into action to move.

“Don’t touch me.”

His deep chuckle filled the air as he looked me up and down with disdain. "Wouldn't want to.”

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