Page 71 of The Hockey Pact

Positioning myself near the security exit where arriving passengers emerged, I scanned the crowd with growing intensity. Every passing minute increased my anxiety that I'd somehow missed her or that she'd taken another exit to avoid potential media attention.

Then suddenly, there she was—weaving through the crowd with a carry-on bag slung over her shoulder, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, wearing the oversized Boston College sweatshirt she favored for travel. Even exhausted from her flight, she was the most beautiful sight I'd seen in weeks.

I stood frozen, suddenly unsure of my reception, watching as she checked her phone and adjusted her bag, completely unaware of my presence. Then, as if sensing my gaze, she looked up, her eyes widening with recognition. The world narrowed to just us as our eyes locked across the terminal.

Chapter 23: Riley

I stepped off the plane at Logan Airport, exhaustion weighing on me after the short but turbulent flight from New York. My body ached from standing in competition kitchens for days on end, but a restless energy kept me moving through the terminal, fueled by anticipation of seeing Caleb again.

During the flight, I'd mentally composed and discarded countless versions of what to say when I eventually saw him. The formulations ranged from casual"Hey, just thought I'd come back early"to brutally honest"I couldn't focus on cooking because I couldn't stop thinking about you".

None seemed adequate to express the realization that had hit me midway through the semifinal round, as I'd carefully plated a dish inspired by New England flavors: I was in love with Caleb Matthews, and no professional accomplishment would feel complete without him to share it with.

My phone buzzed as I made my way through the terminal. Zoe's name flashed on the screen, and I answered while navigating around slower travelers.

"You're not still competing, are you?" she said immediately. "Because if you're calling from the middle of a timed challenge, I'm hanging up on you."

Zoe had stayed behind this time to runHat Trick—and couldn’t be with me for the competition.

I laughed, the sound strange after days of tense concentration. "I'm at Logan. Just landed."

"Wait, seriously? You're back in Boston? What about the finals?"

"I withdrew," I admitted, still not entirely believing I'd made such a momentous professional decision. "Chef Martin's going to take my place."

"Holy shit, Riley." Zoe's shock was palpable even through the phone. "Are you okay? Did something happen?"

"Nothing happened," I assured her. "I just realized I needed to be here more than I needed to be there."

There was a pause, then Zoe's voice softened with understanding. "This is about Caleb, isn't it?"

"Partly," I acknowledged, moving aside to let a family pass. "But it's about me too. About figuring out what I really want."

"Well, I have some news that might interest you," Zoe said, her tone shifting to something I couldn't quite identify. "Max and I are officially dating."

I came to a halt, surprised. “Seriously?”

She laughed softly. “Yes, and he asked me to move in with him.”

"And?" I prompted.

"And I said I'd think about it," she replied, though I could hear the smile in her voice. "Can't make it too easy for him."

"Oh my god," I laughed, resuming my walk toward baggage claim. "I leave town for a week and you're domesticating a professional hockey player. What is happening?"

"I know, right? If you'd told me six months ago that I'd be seriously considering living with Max Ferguson, I would have checked you for a concussion." Her voice grew more serious. "But seeing him these past months—how he is with you andCaleb, how he stepped up when the restaurant needed help—he's not who I thought he was."

"Life's funny sometimes," I murmured, more to myself than to Zoe.

"Speaking of funny," she continued, "have you told Caleb you're coming back early?"

"Not yet," I admitted. "I'm going to get settled at the apartment first, then call him. He has enough on his plate with the game tonight."

"Ah, about that..." Zoe hesitated. "He took a pretty hard hit. Looked bad, even to my untrained eye."

My heart constricted with concern. "Is he okay?"

"Max says he finished the game, but they were taking him for medical checks afterward. Shoulder injury, maybe."

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