“And, Ash?” she adds.
 
 “Yeah?”
 
 “I also think you should give Colt a chance to explain himself for whatever lie he might’ve told you.”
 
 “Yeah, yeah,” I deflect.
 
 “I’m serious,” she returns. “Colt seems like a good guy. I don’t want your shitty past with Logan to taint what you could have with Colt if you gave him a real shot.”
 
 Then, she heads toward her room, and I’m too dumbfounded to stop her.
 
 38
 
 COLT
 
 Every muscle in my body aches as I trudge up the steps and knock on Ash’s door.
 
 When it opens, she frowns, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
 
 “You invited me,” I remind her.
 
 “Right.” With a weak smile, she glances over my shoulder and scans the sidewalk while opening the door the rest of the way. “Come on in.”
 
 “Everything all right?” I ask as she folds her arms, rubbing her hands up and down them.
 
 Looking small.
 
 Fragile.
 
 “Uh, yeah,” she lies.
 
 Snaking my hand around her waist, I bring her closer and kiss her softly, melting a bit of the iciness between us.
 
 “Missed you,” I murmur against her lips.
 
 She closes her eyes and sighs. “Missed you too.”
 
 There’s resignation in her words though.
 
 I pause, pull away, and look down at her. “What’s wrong?”
 
 “Nothing.”
 
 “Talk to me, Sunshine.”
 
 “It’s nothing,” she repeats, avoiding my gaze.
 
 “Ash,” I warn.
 
 “I…” She sighs and folds her arms again, putting some distance between us. “Can we talk?”
 
 “About what?”
 
 “About hockey?” she suggests.
 
 I shake my head, ignoring the ball of lead in the pit of my stomach. “What about it?”
 
 “Why didn’t you tell me you’re on the team?”