Page 33 of Say It Isn't Snow
I slide my lips together to keep myself from crying, touched and clinging to the raw emotions he’s stirred up in me. I feel a little silly to get so choked up over him being nice to me, yet he’s met a need I wasn’t aware I direly craved.
“You okay? You went quiet on me,” he murmurs.
“Yeah.” I sniffle, hoping he thinks my nose is running from the icy temperature.
“The Caleb express is leaving the station. Everyone keep your arms and legs safely tucked against the vehicle at all times. Groping is encouraged,” he jokes.
I hide a husky laugh in his neck. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, sugar. Anything for you.”
Unlike the whirlwind summer we spent sneaking around years ago…I do believe him this time.
He’s different now. Still a charismatic flirt with a laid-back personality, yet he’s grown into himself. He’s more mature and someone I could easily fall for again.
The real reason I’m afraid of these reawakening feelings for Caleb is because I don’t want to be hurt like I was in the past.
I was more invested in us than he was, so when I overheard his coach warning him about focusing on his athletics I pushed away first so I could protect my heart. It still broke anyway when he didn’t chase after me.
If I fall for him a second time, I could be left behind again when he returns to his life as a hockey star.
Yet I can’t help it. It’s too late. He’s already slipping past my defenses and finding his way back into my heart.
There’s no way to get him out of it. And for the first time since we’ve been stuck together…I don’t think I want to.
CHAPTER 12
CALEB
Tomorrow marksa week since we’ve been snowed in. With one week left until Christmas, I don’t know how much longer I have to win Holly’s heart before the roads are cleared. I thought I came close the few times when we’ve almost kissed, but she’s holding back.
I’m not afraid to work for it. She’s worth it in every way.
My skates carve smoothly through the ice on the frozen pond. I found one of my old sticks in the storage shed and a game puck I’d forgotten was in my equipment bag. Muscle memory takes over as I circle the makeshift rink.
My lips tug into a wry smirk when I consider the state of the art arena I was skating in last week. Instead of the sick twist of my stomach, I’m relaxed. It’s nice to just skate for once. I can’t remember the last time I just chilled like this.
Once my legs are warmed up, I flick a wrister to an imaginary goal. It’s a beauty, lighting the lamp in my head when it soars into the net. I retrieve the puck and line up another shot on my makeshift goal line.
The whoop I let out echoes off the treetops. I forgot this freedom that made me fall in love with the game in the first place.
The reason I’m in such good spirits has a lot to do with news I got from my agent early this morning while I was cooking something special for my girl before she woke up.
Trevon was surprised I answered the phone. I took his ball busting and pressed him about the teams he’s been talking to. I nearly dropped the cranberry cornbread skillet I was putting in the oven when he grimly said the Metropolitan and Atlantic Division teams were lowballing offers. He put me out of my misery as he continued, letting me know he got a surprising call from an old teammate of his who wants a meeting.
It’s not officially announced yet, but there’s a new team being developed to join the NHL based in Massachusetts. And they’re interested in me.
Sports news has been speculating about a league expansion with an increase in teams over the next few years. Me and a lot of the guys I know in the league have been following the possibility with interest.
Trevon wouldn’t tell me any more than the bare bones, but he’s hooked my curiosity. As soon as the roads on the mountain are open, I’ll be ready to set up a meeting.
I speed up, driving the puck down the side of the pond. In my head, I’m in a brand new jersey with a second chance at glory. An unseen crowd cheers as I close in on the net and slam the puck in with a slap shot.
There’s no doubt in my mind. I’ve got more to give. To the game. To myself. To the people most important to me in my life.
I’m feeling good about what lies ahead for me. Much better than I was boarding the flight from Seattle believing I was abruptly leaving my professional hockey career behind, cut off on a sour note that tarnished everything I poured into it.
Except there’s something I want more than getting back on NHL ice.
