Page 92 of From Ice to Grace
“Your brother just decked the new guy,” I say, unable to stop from laughing. “Can you believe it?”
Shock moves across her features. “What?” she asks, fumbling for her own phone.
“Maybe I rubbed off on him. Or do you think he’s still angry about us getting married and now he’s taking it out on the PTO?” I’m only half-joking, wondering what got into EJ, but at the same time feeling good about the fact that the PTO got a warm welcome from the rest of the guys on my team. “Lindgren said he just walked into practice and dropped him cold on the ice.”
Her phone vibrates in her hand.
“It can’t be…” she murmurs, the blood draining from her face as she looks at the screen in her hand.
“What?” I ask, stepping closer, wondering what on earth has her looking like a ghost.
Tears fill her blue eyes as she looks at me, a small broken laugh escapes her which quickly turns into something akin to a sob.
I freeze. I’ve taken elbows to the jaw, fists to the eye, pucks to the ribs…but nothing has left me this helpless. Sure she cried last night, but now it looks like she’s about to break down.
“Snowflake?” I ask, carefully. “Everything alright?”
She shakes her head, her hand immediately covering her mouth as tears now freely spill from her eyes.
I want to help, I want to fix this, but I don’t know what to do.
“What do you need?” I ask, falling back on the lifeline our little agreement is handing me.
She takes a small step in my direction and I immediately meet her, pulling her into my chest. If I can hold her together, then that’s what I’ll do.
“It’s Axel,” she says against my chest.
“What?”
She looks up at me, and I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Your PTO,” she says, something like fear playing in her eyes. “My ex-fiancé, Axel, is the new PTO.”
How did this happen? How is the guy that hurt my wife so badly, also the guy gunning for my position?
“Are you sure?” I ask. She nods, pulling out her phone and handing it to me.
EJ Johansson: Heads up lillasyster. The guy trying out for the team is none other than Axel Boqvist. At least I got to do my brotherly duty this time.
No matter how long I stare at the phone, the text still says the same thing. My grip on the phone tightens, like I could crush it in my hand. A hint of fear settles low in my stomach. If he’s here…it’s not just about the PTO. He could’ve gone after any team in the league, but he chose the New York Rangers.
So not only does he want my place on the team, but he wants her.
“I think I’m going to lay down for a bit,” Avah says, pulling away from me before picking up her bag and heading to the stairs.
It takes a minute for me to snap back to reality. “Are you alright?” I ask watching her go up the stairs.
“I just need some time to think,” she says, giving me a small smile before heading to her room.
I can’t do anything but nod as the feeling of losing control settles inside of me. I thought marrying Avah would quiet it, like it would fix some of the major cracks I have inside of me. Now I realize I’m an idiot for thinking it works that way.
I was born with anger, with a family who’s broken, with a lack of control, with the fear of losing everything and everyone.
I should’ve known marrying someone as amazing as Avah wouldn’t change the things that are fundamentally wrong in my life.
No, there’s no one who can fix me.
My gaze lifts to the second floor, where she disappeared. She’s probably up there crying.
