Page 68 of North

I trail off, suddenly aware of how much I’ve been talking, and press my lips together. “Wow. I really went off the deep end there, huh?”

North’s grin only widens, his eyes soft as they lock onto mine. “Not at all. That was amazing. I’ve never seen you more passionate about anything—except…” His eyes crinkle and he waggles his brows. “Except when you’re in bed with me.”

I bark out a laugh. “I can be passionate about more than just you, you know.”

His hands go up in mock surrender, but the warmthin his gaze lingers. “I’m just saying, you clearly love this. You should chase it.”

For the first time, the idea doesn’t feel completely out of reach. And that realization both terrifies and exhilarates me.

He leans forward, his interest genuine. “My only question is… why aren’t you pursuing it?”

I shrug, staring at the frigid ripples of the river. “I don’t know. I guess I got too lazy. The reasons I had for not going to college… I’m not sure they exist anymore.”

“What were those reasons?” he asks.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say quickly, brushing it off.

He doesn’t push, but his eyes stay on me, filled with curiosity and something else—something that feels a lot like pride.

“Farren,” he says after a moment, softer now, as if he knows the weight of his words. “Just think about it. You’re young and all your dreams are within reach.”

His words settle within me. No one’s ever said anything like that to me before, not in a way that felt this authentic. His eyes are steady, no teasing, but no hard-core pushing. No control. Just him seeing me for exactly who I am and guiding me to be more—not for him, not for anyone else, but for me.

The thought makes my stomach flutter, part excitement, part fear. He’s not demanding anything, not trying to force me into something I don’t want. He’s justholding a mirror up to the pieces of myself I’ve tried to ignore for years. And somehow, that feels more terrifying than any lecture or expectation ever has.

“I’ve never told anyone this,” I admit, the words coming out before I can stop them. “Not Rafferty. Not my parents. No one.” I pause, swallowing hard. “This is the first time I’ve said those dreams out loud.”

North’s expression doesn’t change. He doesn’t gape or fumble for words. He just nods, like it’s the most natural thing in the world for me to open up to him. “Why now?” he asks.

I shrug, my voice small. “I don’t know. Maybe because you asked. And you didn’t make me feel like it was stupid or impossible. Not that my family would, but I’ve disappointed them for a long time. It seems a little late to have ambition.”

His lips curve into a smile, one that sends warmth spreading through me. “It’s not stupid, and it’s definitely not impossible. I know you, Farren. If this is what you want, you’ll find a way.”

His confidence in me is almost unbearable. I’ve spent so long convincing myself that I couldn’t have things like this—dreams, plans, a future that didn’t feel aimless. And now here he is, casually believing in me like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

“Okay,” I say finally, the word trembling on the edge of something bigger. It’s not just a promise to him, it’s apromise to myself. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good,” he says, his grin morphing into something that feels more like relief than victory.

I nudge him, needing to break the intensity of the moment before I drown in it. “Can we get out of the cold now?”

North’s eyes roam my face and he brushes a lock of hair behind my ear. The intimate gesture makes me shiver and that has nothing to do with the temperature. “I suppose you’ve been a good girl. Let’s go grocery shopping. I’ll cook for you tonight.”

“Deal,” I reply, pushing up from the bench and holding my hand out to him. It’s the first time I’ve initiated any form of PDA. “Although… calling me a good girl has me thinking of other things you could do for me.”

North laughs and tugs me down the path back toward the arena. “You’re incorrigible and that’s not something I would ever change about you.”

Something has shifted inside me. For the first time in years, I don’t feel like I’m running on empty. I feel steady, like maybe, just maybe, I’m finally ready to stop being afraid.

As we head back to the truck, he mentions the next two home games. They’ve got back-to-backs starting tomorrow with the LA Demons, followed by the Carolina Cold Fury.

Listening to him, I can’t help but feel a little of that excitement too. For the first time in a long time, I wonder if maybe I could feel that way about something again. Maybe it’s time to start figuring out what that something might be.

CHAPTER 23

North

Ireally lovecoming to Mario’s and if we’re here, it means we won. If we lose, we’re licking our wounds, usually at home.

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