Page 113 of Goalie's Obsession

Then behind me, two families huddle near the concession stand, decked out in Icehawks jerseys and scarves despite the off-season. A little girl in pigtails clutches what looks like a ticket stub while her dad squints at his phone's map.

They seem as confused by their presence here as I am by mine.

“Okay,” I mutter. “What the hell is going on—”

“Surprise!”

I nearly jump out of my skin as Emma barrels into view from around the corner, juggling two boxes and wearing a grin. She smiles at me just as Logan appears right behind her, holding three more boxes that are stacked like a Jenga tower.

He gives me a curt nod and looks about as thrilled as I am to be here.

“Why are you—what—how are you here?” I ask, blinking as Emma drops the boxes on a nearby bench.

“Packaging drop,” she says, as if that clearsanythingup. “Well, slash official invite. Slash life-changing business deal. Slash—Logan made me do it.”

Logan grunts, shifting the top box and giving me a pointed look.

“Your friend has no idea how to price wholesale.”

Emma ignores him, then turns to me with a proud little flourish.

“He’s been helping me… likeactuallyhelping me. Despite the scowl that says otherwise. Said my blends deserved more than being stuck in a quiet corner of town. So I got them properly packaged—sealed sachets, branding, the works.”

She digs into a box and extracts a gorgeously designed rosy packet with delicate buttery script running along the edge:

Unicorn Mocha Deluxe – Roasted and Packaged by Chapter & Grind.

My jaw drops.

"Connor's favorite."

Emma glows at the design, but my smile falters at Connor's name, my stomach doing that weird swooping thing it always does when someone mentions him.

Two days.

Two whole days of dodging his texts, of taking the long way around town to avoid running into him or Ethan. They wanted to handle this mess themselves? Fine. I've given them exactly what they asked for - complete radio silence.

Even if it's killing me inside.

I clear my throat, forcing myself to focus on Emma's excitement.

"These look amazing. The packaging is perfect." I run my finger over the raised script, admiring the detail. "But I still don't understand why we're here. At the arena. With boxes of coffee sachets."

“Well tonight, they’re going on sale for the very first time at the—”

Before she can finish, Logan slaps her ass like they’re in a locker room and she’s just scored a goal.

Emma jolts, cheeks flushing instantly as she swats at him with the back of her hand.

“Logan!” she hisses, like she wasn’t expecting it—but also like this maybeisn’tthe first time it’s happened.

He just glares at her like she was about to reveal some kind of big secret.

“Shut.Up.”

I blink. Slowly. Because this is weird.

Emma straightens, smoothing her shirt with one hand while sneaking a sideways glance at me—like she’s hoping I didn’t just witness whateverthatwas.

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