Page 134 of Get Me to the Starting Line

“It’s okay, I got him. Go,” she says with a jerk of her head towards where Leah shot off.

“Thanks,” I say sincerely, placing a kiss on Levi’s head. He’s already distracted by the cheap Canada Day necklace Paige is sporting.

I cut through the house, making my way to the front door, knowing she wouldn’t leave but is probably hiding out somewhere.

“Leah?” I call into the empty house.

Or at least I thought it was empty.

Adam’s dad, Thomas, lifts his head from the couch, almost giving me a heart attack.

“She’s in the driveway,” he says, face hard.

“Thanks.”

I’m almost to the door when he stops me.

“Don’t hurt her.” His voice is cold, and not for a minute do I think the words are anything but a threat.

I don’t answer him as I wrench the door open and run down the steps. There are a bunch of cars in the driveway, but I find her hiding behind Paige’s Jeep.

“Leah.”

Her head snaps up, tears making tracks down her cheeks. She’s so beautiful. Even though her eyes are a little puffy, they shine, glittering at me. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the way she takes my breath away.

She wipes her tears quickly, probably thinking that’ll help hide them from me.

“Hey. Hi,” she says, flitting her hands around like she doesn’t know what to do with them.

“Hi.”

The silence stretches between us. She narrows her eyes when I don’t say anything else. I can’t. The words are stuck.

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?” She throws her hands in the air, all the nervousness gone. “Ugh, you are so frustrating. Just say it. Say you’re leaving. It’s okay, honestly, I understand. Your dad is in Montreal and it’s time for you to go home. I get it. It’s just—” Her tears begin to flow again but she doesn’t wipe them away. I watch her, enchanted.

“It’s Levi ...” Her voice breaks and I take a step towards her, but she retreats. “Levi, he loves you and I ...” Her chest heaves and she doesn’t finish the sentence.

I desperately want her to finish the sentence.

“Leah.” I take another step and this time she stays where she is. “I’ve been a goalie for the last sixteen years, and sixteen years before that I worked towards being a goalie in the NHL. This is the life I have always wanted.”

Her eyes close and I take a deep breath, closing more of the distance between us.

“I’m scared because I don’t know what comes next. I don’t know what I would do without the NHL. I can’t give it up, not yet.”

As I watch her, I see a quick flash of emotion before she locks down her expression, face carefully blank. It kills me. The fresh tears in her eyes give her away. Shit, I’m doing this all wrong.

I step right into her space, wrapping her in my arms, where she should be. Where hopefully, she’ll always stay.

“I told Whyatt if he doesn’t extend my contract, I’m retiring.”

Her features turn from blank to confused, and her lips part slightly. So tempting, those lips.

“What are you saying?” Her skepticism is so endearing—she has no idea how much she means to me.

“I’ve been a goalie in the NHL and have four Stanley Cup wins. Three Olympic golds, one silver. I’ve been at the top of my game. The best. I’ve lived the life I wanted. Now, I want to live the life I’ve dreamed of. With you. With Levi.”

The tears fall freely from her eyes and I’m already there, catching them with my thumb and wiping them away.

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