Page 45 of Hard Check

"Of course it is," I snapped. "You think I don't know what happens to guys like me in this league? We fade out. Our bodies give out before our hearts are ready to quit. Every morning brings a new ache, and the pain settles deeper into our bones. Everyone forgets about us. And the only thing worse than that is turning into the guy who tried to take someone else down with him."

"That's not what you're doing."

"Isn't it?" My voice cracked. I cleared my throat, trying to recapture my resolve. "You deserve your shot, Pike. A real one, without complications."

"Don't patronize me. I'm not some kid who needs protection from his own decisions."

"Maybe not, but I've seen how this works." I leaned toward him, and he didn't back away. "Best case scenario? You get your call-up, and whatever this is becomes a distraction you don't need. Worst case? Someone finds out, and suddenly, you're not the golden boy anymore. They see you as a potential problem."

"It's not your call to make."

"It is when I'm afraid I'm the guy that will hold you back!"

Silence fell. Pike stared at me, his expression unreadable for perhaps the first time since I'd known him.

The silence stretched long enough that I wondered if he'd simply walk away. I almost hoped he would. It would be easier than whatever came next.

But the easy thing never happened to me.

His expression shifted, determination replacing the hurt I'd seen earlier. He moved deliberately, each step measured as he closed the distance between us.

I backed up instinctively until my shoulders ran into the wall. Pike entered my personal space.

His voice was low and steady. "Let me be clear: you don't get to decide what I need." Hepausedjustlongenoughfortheweightofittoland, and then he pulled out the love story from the season before. "Dane and Leo didn't hide when it got complicated. Look how that turned out."

Then, he kissed me.

He was a quick learner. This one was intentional and confident, as if he'd made a decision and was now executing it with the same precision he had brought to a penalty shot.

His hands came up to my chest, palm flat against my pecs. They anchored us in the moment. He splayed his fingers.

I remained frozen until something inside me unraveled. I reached out for his waist, drawing him closer, surrendering to the inevitable.

When we broke apart, he didn't retreat. His face hovered inches from mine, close enough that I could count individual eyelashes and see the flecks of amber in his otherwise hazel eyes.

He whispered, "Don't decide what's best for me."

The confidence in his voice stunned me more than the kiss. At twenty-three, I'd been all bravado and bluster, using volume and aggression to cover the fact that I was navigating blind. Pike, though... he was already a man on a mission.

"I'm not..." I started, then tried again. "This isn't simple."

"Did I say I wanted simple?" He pulled back slightly, studying my face. "Look, I get that you're scared. So am I. But I'm not afraid of this. I'm afraid of walking away from it without even trying."

"The scout—" I began.

"Is one of the dozens who might come looking for me. My career's important to me. You know that, but it's not the only thing that matters."

I searched his face for any signs of doubt. Instead, I found clarity that made my own fears seem weak and flimsy.

I sighed. "You make everything sound so simple."

A small smile played at the corner of his mouth. "It's not, but some things are worth figuring out, even when they're complicated."

He finally retreated half a step. "Think about it." He pulled his hands back. "But don't think too long."

I watched him turn back toward the exit. He glanced at me over his shoulder. "By the way, that scout? He told Coach he was impressed by our chemistry on the ice. Said we brought out the best in each other." A gentle version of the sunshine smile returned. "Funny how that works."

Then, he was gone.

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