Page 27 of Uniquely in Love

“Drive safe.” She stepped back onto the porch, watching as I opened the door and climbed into my car.

I was surprised my dad hadn’t insisted on driving me up himself to help me move in. I’d found a furnished apartment to rent, so thankfully I didn’t have to buy furniture for now.

All that was left was todrive.

One week later…

I’d never been to the Seals Arena before, though there was a first time for everything. I hadn’t seen Owen since the night of my graduation party, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel seeing him on the ice.

Was coming here tonight a mistake? I hadn’t even beenplanning on coming until I got an advertisement for the game, and less than twenty minutes later, I’d purchased a ticket. Luckily, since it was pre-season, it hadn’t cost me an arm and a leg.

I was content just to see him from afar.

Was he even playing tonight? I had no idea how all of that worked.

Now, standing in the one hundred level, I suddenly couldn’t believe I was here. Part of me wanted to scurry back to my seat. I tugged on the sleeve of my turtleneck. Years ago, there was nowhere I felt more at home than at the rink. The smell of the ice, the slight chill to the air—all of it was second nature.

A wave of panic wove through me. Was I making the right decision? What was I even doing here? I turned to head back up the stairs, but something stopped me.Movement.

The guys were coming out onto the ice, the guy at the front knocking down several dozen pucks across the ice as they each stepped off, peeling out into a circular lap.

Warm-ups had always been my favorite part of hockey games. Maybe it was the figure skater in me, but I loved seeing the guys gliding across the ice, skating backwards and showing off their fancy footwork.

And don’t even get me started on watching them stretch.

I didn’t have to see the number on his sleeve or the name on his back to recognize Owen. My body was so finely tuned to his, and I’d watched so many games of his over the years that I knew the way his body moved.

The worst part was knowing how his body moved over mine. Maybe if we hadn’t had that night together, it would be easier. Because now, all I could think about was his face as he’d driven inside of me. The way he’d sounded when he came. How tenderly he’d held me. The way he’d called meEllie baby.

That was new. I was trying not to look too deeply into it, because I liked it too much.

A little whimper slipped free from my lips, and the woman next to me against the boards looked over at me with concern. “You okay, dear?”

I nodded. “Yeah.” Swallowing, I turned my attention back to the ice. Owen was on the other side, and I was pretty sure he hadn’t seen me yet, which was fine. I was happy just watching him.

A kid next to us banged on the glass as some players passed, and then—oh. He was skating over here, skidding to a stop right before the boards.

The rest of the noise from all the surrounding fans faded away, and it was just the boy I’d loved, staring back at me with those wide, deep brown eyes.

“Ellie?” I could see his lips move, but thanks to the warm-up playlist, I couldn’t hear him.

“Hi,” I said back, reaching my hand out and placing it against the glass.

Owen blinked at me. Like he couldn’t believe I was here. If it wasn’t for the thick slab of plexiglass between us, we’d be only a few inches apart. “You’re here,” he mouthed, his face lighting up in a beautiful smile.

I nodded. What else was there to say?

He looked around, and then shook his head, holding up a gloved hand. Like he was telling me to wait.

I frowned. The entire interaction was brief, but when he spun, heading back down the ice, I found the people surrounding me gaping at me. Even the nice older woman who’d checked on me.

“Youknowhim?” The boy asked, looking shocked. I assumed he was around twelve, and he was wearing a blue home Seals jersey with a C on the chest.

I smiled at him, brushing my sweaty palms down my jeans as I watched Owen from the corner of my eye. He skatedback to the bench, talking to one of the staff and pointing towards me. “Yeah, I do.”

“Wooow,” he said, clearly impressed. His eyes were wide. “That’s so cool. Do you think you can get me a puck?”

I laughed. “I can try, bud. What’s your name?” I resisted reaching out and messing with his hair. He wasn’t my student, even if it was so easy for me to slip into that role.

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