Page 25 of Icebreaker

"You," Axel whispered the three-letter word. "I don't want to lose you. That can't happen."

My voice trembled slightly when I answered. "You won't, but you must trust me and us. We won't let Dante's shadow shade what we have."

A moment of silence passed between us. All that I heard was the distant sound of city traffic. Axel's breathing was slow and measured. "Thank you. I agree."

After another minute of quiet, Axel chuckled. "You know, sometimes I think I should pay you. You're better than any therapist, for me, at least."

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. "I assure you I'm not that, but maybe we both could use one."

"Yeah, maybe." Axel's tone was lighter, and the painful tension in my chest eased. "For now, can we talk? I've missed sharing."

Although it was the wee hours of the morning, we talked for the next few hours. We shared some of our fears and worries, and then Axel lightened the mood.

He told me about a disastrous dinner he tried to cook for Sven. "I thought I'd mastered the art of searing a steak." A wave of infectious, self-deprecating laughter followed before he added, "Turns out charred to a crisp is not a suggested culinary outcome."

"Sounds like we need to put you back on pasta duty for a while."

I heard more gentle laughter before his tone turned serious again. "I've been thinking about what's next for us—both of us. The team's settling into a positive groove, and I've thought about ways to help support younger players."

Hearing his thoughts about something beyond the current moment with Dante warmed my heart. "That's great. You've been a great mentor to me. Are you thinking about even younger…youth players, perhaps?"

"Yeah, that's what I mean. Do you think I'd be good at that?"

"Fantastic at it. I'm sure you can try things out and see if you like working with the kids." I sighed happily. "Talk to the team's PR people. They can probably hook you up."

"And you, Quinn. What do you see in your future?"

I paused, thinking about my answer. "I want to keep advancing my skills, and maybe I can even be team captain someday. Of course, the most important thing is where thefuture will go between us. Hopefully, we'll figure that out together."

With another moment of silence between us, I heard the distant chirp of birds saluting a new morning. "I'd like that, too," Axel whispered. "Maybe we can even get a place together…someday."

A single tear ran down my cheek, and I wiped it away with my free hand. "Yeah…someday. That sounds…perfect."

The sun's first rays crept through my blinds, bathing the room in a soft glow. "It's getting late." I stifled a yawn and stretched one arm overhead. "Or early, depending on the way you see things."

"I guess it's time to get some sleep. Do you want to get some coffee in a couple of hours?

I knew I'd still be exhausted, but I couldn't let the opportunity for one-on-one time with Axel go by. He was still my man, who'd captured my heart with strength, passion, and unwavering loyalty. He was fighting a tough battle against the demons of his past, and I needed to show that I could stand firm by his side.

We agreed to meet in three hours at our favorite coffee shop.

I arrived first and sat by the windows, looking out onto the street. I ordered a cappuccino and watched the barista swirl the frothy milk into a delicate leaf pattern. After a server delivered it to my table, I tapped my fingers against the side of the mug.

A few minutes later, the door swung open, and Axel stepped inside. I immediately spotted the dark circles under his eyes and the slump of his shoulders. When he found me, he stood up straighter and flashed a gentle smile.

I rose and wrapped him in a heartfelt hug. "So good to see you."

Axel slid into the seat across from me and ordered black coffee. For a few seconds, he scanned the room until he finally settled on looking at me.

"How are you?" I asked.

He exhaled slowly, and he fidgeted with his napkin. "I've had a rough go. There's a lot on my mind, and it's been hard to connect…with anyone."

I reached across the table and took his hand in mine. "It's okay. You're here with me now, and we can discuss it."

Axel gripped my hand tightly. "Yeah, I know, and I get it. It's just hard…trying to sort everything with…you know." His shoulders slumped again.

I nodded, and my heart ached for my man. "I get it, but your past doesn't define your future. Look at what you've already accomplished here in Portland. You're a valued leader and mentor for rookies like me. You make a difference every time you step onto the ice."

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