Page 76 of Pucking Fate

I look down at our hands, feeling the warmth of his palm against mine. “Me too.”

“I’m going to be a part of Finley’s life no matter what happens between us,” Christian says, his voice steady. “I want to be there for him. I missed so much already, and I don’t want to miss another second of his life. I hate living so far away.”

I look up at him and all I see is sincerity, along with a deep longing that mirrors my own. He’s not the same man he was when he up and left me, and maybe—just maybe—I’m not the same timid woman I was, either. We’ve both changed, and that change has brought us back to this moment, this possibility of something real.

His expression softens, and he leans in closer. “Whatever you or Finley need, I’m here for it. You’re only a few hours away.”

I swallow hard, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. “Right now, I just need you to be patient with me. I can’t move to Greensboro. I know that’s what you want, but it has to be my decision this time. And I also need to know that you’re really in this for the long haul, even if we’re not always here with you.”

“I am,” he says firmly, his grip on my hand tightening slightly. “I’m in this, Maya. For you. For Finley. For us.”

There’s something about the way he says it, so sure, so confident, that makes me want to believe him. And maybe I do. Maybe, for the first time in a long time, I’m starting to believe that we could actually make this work.

“I hope we can do this,” I whisper, my voice trembling slightly. “I really do.”

Christian smiles a slow, genuine smile that lights up his whole face. “Me too. All we can do is try. Both of us.”

For the rest of the evening, the tension between us melts away, replaced by something lighter and hopeful. We talk quietly, our conversation flowing naturally, the way it used to when we first met and were inseparable. Christian tells me about his week of training, how he’s ready to get back out on the ice, and about some of the guys on the team—Luke, his wild best friend and the team’s tough guy, Tyler, his shadow, a shy rookie forward, Connor, the goofy, funny guy who never sits still, and Jason, the veteran goalie who’s been like a big brother to him, a part of the team for the past six years.

I find myself laughing at his stories, feeling more relaxed than I have in weeks. It’s easy to get caught up in the way he talks and the way his eyes light up when he’s passionate about something. This is the Christian I fell in love with—the onewho’s funny and thoughtful, who knows how to make me feel like I’m the only person in the world when he’s with me. The man he was before he became a famous hockey star.

When dessert arrives, a rich chocolate cake that we share, I finally feel like I can breathe again. The weight of our past and the unfortunate physical distance between us is still there, but it doesn’t feel as heavy anymore. It feels like something we can work through together.

As we finish our meal, Christian leans back in his chair, his eyes soft as they meet mine. “I’ve been thinking,” he says, his voice thoughtful. “We should definitely do this more often.”

“Go on a date?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Spend time together, just the two of us,” he clarifies. “Like we used to. Don’t get me wrong. I adore my time with Finley, but I love being alone with you, too.”

I smile, the thought of spending more time with him warming something inside me. “I’d like that. I love him so much, but it’s nice to have a short break from being a worried mom for a few hours.”

“I’m glad you get it.”

It’s a simple moment, but it feels significant—like we’re finally moving toward something real, something lasting. And for the first time in a long time, I feel a flicker of hope.

When we leave the restaurant, Christian wraps his arm around my waist as we walk to the car. The night air is warm, but I still lean into him, savoring the warmth of his body next to mine. It feels right—like we belong here, together.

As we drive back to Preston’s apartment, the conversation is light, and the heavy emotions of earlier are now behind us. It feels good to be with him like this, without the weight of the past hanging over our heads.

When we pull up in the parking lot, I hesitate for a moment, unsure of what to say. Christian must sense my hesitation because he turns to me, his expression soft.

“I had a great time tonight,” he says quietly.

“Me too,” I say, smiling at him.

There’s a beat of silence, and then he leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. It’s a gentle, lingering kiss, one that sends a warm shiver down my spine.

“That was my goodnight for you. Can I come in? Just to see Finley, I mean?” he asks, his voice hopeful.

“Yes, of course,” I whisper, my heart fluttering in my chest. “I wish you could stay the night…”

“No, I get it. This is Preston’s place. Maybe you and Finley can stay with me one night this weekend?”

“That would be great,” I agree.

Later that night, after Christian and I put Finley to bed in Preston’s guest room, he leaves. Preston and Elle have gone to bed too, so I sit on the couch in the dark, my phone in my hand. I scroll through Christian's recent messages, short and sweet updates about his workouts, practices, and asking how Finley is doing, to tell him he said hello. It’s nothing fancy, nothing dramatic, but the messages are there. They’re consistent.

I hesitate, my finger hovering over the keyboard. Should I text him to say goodnight again? Should I bring up the idea of visiting him on the road? Or would that make me seem… desperate? Or worse, remind him that I still don’t trust him?

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