Page 83 of Lost on Ice
Why should I wait until tomorrow to go home? Standing in the middle of the hotel lobby, while my teammates mill around, talking about how they're going to get shitfaced tonight with tits in their, I decide to just leave.
The game’s over. It’s not like I have to stay for any reason. If I head straight to the airport, maybe I can catch an earlier flight home.
Then I can tell Abbie how I feel. Hopefully, after fucking her until she’s screaming my name.
But I want her. I want to be a family with her and Lilah. I don’t care if Lilah isn’t mine biologically—I want to be in her life. I want to watch her grow up with Abbie by my side.
Turning, I make my way back out of the hotel and order a car to the airport.
When I get there, I head for the nearest check-in counter.
“Good evening, sir,” the attendant says as I approach. “How can I help you?”
“Do you have a flight to Boston tonight yet?” I ask, my heart racing with anxiety.
She looks down at her computer and types on the keyboard for a few moments before nodding.
“We have a flight leaving for Boston in forty-two minutes,” she tells me.
“Great! I’ll take any seat available on it.”
She books me on the flight and hands me my boarding pass and I turn to hurry through security and find my gate. By the time I get there, they’re starting to board. It’s all such a whirlwind of activity that I don’t have a chance to text Abbie until I’m actually seated on the plane.
Pulling out my phone, I type her a quick message to let her know I’m on my way.
Jake: Hey, Abbie. I’m coming home tonight, and I want to talk. I’ll see you soon.
I send the message and put my phone on airplane mode, then I sit back and try to relax, though I’m certain that’s going to be impossible—not until I’ve got Abbie in my arms again.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
ABBIE
EARLIER THAT SAME DAY
Lilah letsout a shriek of delight as Dad chases her through the park while I sit on a bench nearby, watching them play. It’s a gorgeous day — especially considering the time of year — and you could almost pretend to feel warm in this sun, until you remember you’re wearing a winter coat and gloves. Lilah’s cheeks are bright red, but she’s grinning wide and having the time of her life in the snow.
I’m smiling, though there’s a part of me that wishes Jake was here to watch her play too. When did I start wanting him to be around her more? When did the idea stop terrifying me?
His second away game is later this evening, and he’ll be back tomorrow, but I can hardly wait and want him back home now.
As I’m sitting, contemplating my switch in perspective, my phone starts to ring. When I pull it out of my pocket and see it’s Detective Peterson, my stomach twists and my heart leaps into my throat. I quickly answer it.
“Hello? Detective?”
“Hi, Abbie,” he says. “How are you?”
“Well, I suppose that’ll depend on what you’re calling for.”
He gives a dry chuckle. “I suppose that’s fair. I’ve got some good news. We have the man who Jake named as a potential suspect in custody. Stuart. He’s actually got a warrant for a misdemeanor, so we can keep him for the time being.”
“Really?” I let out a breath of relief. “Well, that gives me a little peace of mind. Thank you for letting me know that.”
“You’re welcome. Now, that doesn’t mean we’ve proven he’s your stalker, so you should still remain vigilant, but given everything we know about him, I think you can relax a bit.”
“All right,” I say. “Thanks again.”
I hang up and slump back against the bench, gazing out at Dad and Lilah. I should be more relieved—Jake’s so certain my patient is the stalker. However, there’s a part of me that’s still uncertain. It doesn’t feel right, but it makes sense when I think about it objectively. I just… I’m not convinced. This doesn’t feel right. I still don’t feel safe.
