Page 6 of Seal the Deal

Maybe it’s because she was the first person who saw me beyond hockey, who made me feel like I mattered just as I was. But it’s pointless to think about it now. We haven't seen each other since then, and she probably has a life a thousand miles away from anything to do with me.

I try to shake the memories away. The season has just started, and there’s no room for distractions. For now, it’s about the game, the team, and proving that I still belong. Still, as I head out of the locker room, the feeling lingers like a whisper in the back of my mind.

Maybe this season isn’t just going to be about hockey. Maybe there’s something else in store, something I’m not quite ready to face yet.

Chapter two

Dark and bitter, like my soul

Charlie

Mwaaaarp, mwaaaarp.

God, it’s already 6:30am. I swing my hand out to grab my phone and turn off the most annoying alarm sound ever to exist, chosen specifically by me last night to ensure I wouldn’t sleep through it.

Jet lag’s a bitch, even after a full week here. In fact, it feels like it’s getting worse instead of better. But I’ve got no time to dwell on that right now.

This is day one of a new chapter, a fresh start for me and the kids. But instead of the excitement I expected, there’s an uneasy knot in my chest, tightening with every passing minute. I sit up in bed, kicking off the swathes of cloudy bedding and linen and take a deep breath.

I glance at the clock, realizing I’ve got just enough time to get myself and the kids ready before Zoe arrives. Rolling out of bed, I tiptoe into the hallway and head toward the kids’ rooms.

Meadow is still fast asleep in her room, her little face peaceful with all her covers bunched up on one side of the bed. In the next room,I peek through the door to see Noah sprawled out with one arm hanging off his bed. They look so small in this big, new house.

Thishouse. It’s still so surreal being here, in a home to call our own, where we can finally breathe. Zoe found us a rental that’s somehow both cozy and airy. It’s a Craftsman-style with warm wood accents, loads of natural light, and a sprawling porch with a swing for watching the kids play in the yard.

The kitchen is a dream. Spacious, with a large island perfect for the kids to sit at to have breakfast. Or for me to bake at. Zoe even stocked the pantry with some essentials, knowing how much I love to stress bake.

I quietly make my way downstairs to start the coffee. The house is still, the only sounds coming from the gentle hum of the refrigerator and the birds chirping outside. I savor the calm, knowing it won’t last long. Today is going to be a whirlwind, and I need to be ready.

As I sip my coffee, familiar doubts creep in. The agency back home was smaller, more personal. But here, Pulse Creative is a different level altogether. It’s bigger, faster-paced, more corporate. They headhunted me, and they expect big things. And as much as I remind myself I’ve earned this, Alex’s voice echoes in the back of my mind.

You can’t make a career out of words and pictures, Lottie. That’s not a real job.Running away from your problems won’t fix them. Zoe must have had to pull a decent favor to land you this job.

His tone and that dismissive scoff prickles over my skin, dragging up memories I wish I’d left behind.

My grip tightens on the mug. Even miles away, his words have a way of creeping in, clawing through my confidence. But that’s why I’m here. To silence his voice for good, to prove that I’m more than he ever believed.

I shake my head, pushing his words aside.

I’m here, and I’ve got this.

“Mum?” Noah’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I turn to see him standing at the top of the stairs in his pajamas, rubbing his eyes.

“Morning, buddy.” I force a smile. “You ready for your first day with your sitter?”

He nods, though I can see the uncertainty in his eyes. “Is Jade nice?”

I chuckle, remembering how Zoe described her cousin that has offered to babysit today—young, energetic, and eager to help out. “She’s very nice. You’ll like her, Ipromise.”

“Okay,” he says, though he doesn’t look entirely convinced. “What about school? When do I start?”

I walk over and ruffle his hair as he walks down the stairs, jumping off the final step. “Soon, big guy. We’re giving you a little time to settle in first. But don’t worry, you’re going to make lots of new friends.”

He nods again but the uncertainty doesn’t leave his face. His expression mirrors my own worries, and I pull him into a hug, wishing I could take away all his fears as easily as I wipe crumbs off his face.

After I get the kids sorted with breakfast, I head back to my room to get ready. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Freckle-speckled skin, dark auburn hair in need of taming, green eyes that can’t hide the strain of the past few years. I’ll need every bit of my concealer and coffee arsenal today.

I get to work, choosing an outfit that feels corporate but creative—essential in this industry—and fussing with my hair, determined to look professional. Zoe would scold me for overthinking this, but she doesn’t have a decade of Alex’s voice under her skin.

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