Page 91 of Hockey Halloween
She lets go once we reach the crowd. Ash hands me a guitar, and I step up to the mic. Gunther joins me, and it’s crazy how the world is right when he’s at my side.
“Ready?” I ask.
He nods and, like muscle memory, we fall into rhythm. Brighton hits play on our favorite karaoke duet, and we don’t even glance at the lyrics. We’ve done this a hundred times before.
And then—of course—Gunther goes full drama mode, busting out theatrical moves in his ridiculous Wonder Woman costume. Our friends cheer, laughing as he twirls and sings with all the grace of a drunken Broadway star. He’s endearing, and hilarious, and so damn adorable, it hurts. I can’t help but wonder...Why hasn’t anyone snatched him up yet?
Maybe because he’s been pining for you too, girl.
Honestly, we’re electric together. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing, we’re always in sync. Look at us now, me on guitar and Gunther singing like he was born to. We’re a rhythm, a harmony, something that justworks. And earlier, in that changing room… God. The way he touched me, like his hands had memorized me long before they ever met my skin. If I have anything to say about it, he’ll be touching me like that for the rest of my life.
The room erupts in applause, people dancing, cheering. I spot Melanie and she throws me a wink. And then there's Jaxon. Leaning against the far wall, legs casually crossed, arms folded, eyes locked on me.
We finish the song and the crowd loses it. I set down the guitar, and before I can even blink, Gunther pulls me into his arms, and spins me around like we’ve just won something more than applause.
“Nailed it,” he says, grinning. “Look out, Vermont. Here we come.”
I laugh, but his words hit somewhere deeper.We. Vermont. A future.
He’s ready. And if he’s ready, then it’s time. Time for honesty. Time to stop hiding behind this ruse, and say what I need to say.
“Can we talk?” I ask.
“Yeah, sure.”
We step aside, letting Dani and Conner take the mic. Their voices blend into the background as I pull Gunther toward a quieter corner. He leans against the wall, watching me closely, a flicker of something uncertain in his eyes.
I move in, not just to hear him better, but because I need his nearness. I rest my hand on his arm. He lowers his head, close, so close I think he’s going to kiss me.
His mouth brushes my ear. “What’s up?”
I pull back just enough to meet his gaze, my palm finding his chest. My heart’s beating as I work to formulate my words. I rise onto my toes, just a breath away. “Gunther,” I begin. His name tastes like hope.
But then he says a name that tastes like heartbreak. “Maddy.”
Time halts.
Maddy. The girl he was seeing. The one he said was over.
He isn’t thinking of me in this moment. He’s thinking of her.
And just like that, the air between us isn’t charged…it’s cracked.
“There you are.” I stumble back a step assheappears—Maddy—wedging herself between me and Gunther like she belongs there. She’s wearing his jersey. His number.
What the hell is happening?
Was this all pretend? Was Gunther just humoring me, playing the role I asked for so I could win over my guy. A guy that was never him?
Before I can make sense of it, Maddy throws her arms aroundhim and jumps onto his waist like she’s done it a hundred times. Like she’s the one going home with him tonight.
Glass shatters behind me, a drink hitting the floor. I turn to see Roman accidently slam into Kalen, and everything becomes noise. My pulse pounds in my ears, but through the chaos, my eyes find Jaxon near the door, his brows drawn together in deep concern.
“Jaxon,” I breathe, barely audible over the noise as I hurry to him.
He straightens, instantly alert. “You okay?”
“No. Yes. I…I don’t know.” My voice cracks, and I can feel the tears coming fast, no time to blink them back. “I need to get out of here. Can you give me a ride?”
