Page 109 of Pucking Rebound

It’s New Year’s Eve and game night.

I’m so over this year and ready to welcome the new one come midnight.

Walking next to me, Piper gasps, as she takes in the vast corridor leading to the Eagles’ locker room. “This is so cool.”

“Unlike you.” But she’s right, this place is so cool.

“I’ve never been cool.We’venever been cool,” she corrects herself. “But you have a very cool job.”

“Very. For now.”

“Only a few more months, Lola, and you won’t be Wade’s assistant.” She lowers her voice. “You’ll be his sister.”

Her words make my heart flap about in my chest like a butterfly caught in a whirlwind, fluttering wildly between hope and uncertainty.

“This way.” I turn left to be met by a wall of Eagles’ staff.

Teetering on my tiptoes, I try peeking over the sea of heads.

I’m technically not supposed to be near the locker rooms before a game, but I made the excuse that I needed to speak to Kali, who should be here.

“Lola.” A male voice has me spinning around.

“Mr. Edwards.” I give the owner of the Edmonton Eagles a curt nod.

He’s also the man who was once my father’s business partner.

The man my mother had an affair with.

He’s Wade’s father. A fact Wade doesn’t know because his… sorry… our… mother never told him.

“I’ve been emailing you.” Marcus shifts on his feet, smoothing down his tie.

“I've been busy. I’m sorry.”

“We need to talk, Lola.” His tone is deep and authoritative, but with a degree of concern.

I’ve been putting off the inevitable, but it’s time. “We do.”

I hate how much I like Marcus because I really wanted to dislike him. My dad and him were best friends throughout college, and he liked him enough to go into business with him. Until Marcus screwed everything… including my mother.

I appreciate what he’s covertly done for Wade recently. I’m just not sure if I can ever forgive him and my mother, or my father for that matter, for what they did to Wade and I.

The decision to separate us was a terrible one.

“Can we arrange to meet up, please?” he asks, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

“Yes.” I know my schedule, and Wade’s off the top of my head. “I’m free the morning of the thirteenth.”

“Unlucky number thirteen.” Piper links her arm with mine in solidarity.

I’m not superstitious. “Lucky for some.”

My phone whooshes with a calendar request at the same time as Marcus looks up. “Thank you, Lola. I appreciate your time.”

I nod as emotion tightens my chest. Forgiving what Marcus and my mother did is one thing, forgetting is a different thing entirely.

I push my thumb over my shoulder. “I have to go.”

---