He lowered his chin next to her ear. “I’m not going without you.”
Maisie put the tiniest sliver of space between them. “Then let’s go.”
“Can we catch a ride with you? Beats the bus,” Charlie said.
The protocols were a little lax on a night like this. Normally, they’d all leave together and head for the bus or a plane to take them home, but with it being New Year’s Eve, the team’s management made arrangements to make sure the guys could enjoy the last bit of the night.
“That’s perfect. You guys go with Nick and I’ll go with these guys. Meet you there,” Maisie said, pulling back, her hand slipping from his.
“Ride with me,” Nick said in a low voice and a little more urgently than he meant to. Why the hell did she want to ride with her friends? Did she regret telling him she loved him? Fuck. He hadn’t even said it back.
She backed away, smiling a little too wide. “Go with your friends. I’ll see you at the hotel.”
Nick glanced at Ethan and Will, saw them watching him. His jaw tightened but he gave a brief nod. He’d have her to himself soon enough.
“Let’s go then.” The sooner they got to the hotel and he could tell Maisie how he felt, the better. He thought about Ellie, who’d texted a selfie of her and Asher watching the game, and how she kept reminding him that actions showed who a person really was. He leaned in, kissed Maisie’s cheek. “See you soon.”
She nodded and as he pulled back, it looked like her gaze was watery. He hoped it was just the parking lot lights and excitement. He never wanted to do anything to make her cry. Now, if he could just find the words to tell her what he wanted.
But first, it was time to say goodbye to a very big chapter of his life.
Chapter Thirty
SHE WASN’T SPIRALING.HERbrain was simply spinning in circles far too quickly for her to keep up with. They’d arrived at the hotel and were admitted into the private ballroom that was currently hosting what felt like hundreds of people celebrating. Maisie briefly wondered if this was what it was like after every single game but Ethan assured her the festivities were amped up due to the holiday.
She hadn’t spotted Nick yet. Lexi, Will, and Ethan were watching her closely and it made Maisie feel untethered rather than how she usually felt, which was pretty damn put together. While Ethan and Will went to get them drinks, Lexi pulled her into a corner and got in her face. Best-friend close. No avoiding the proximity.
“What is going on?” Lexi’s hands braced on Maisie’s shoulders.
“I told him I love him,” she said, the words rushing out of her.
Lexi’s gaze widened comically. “Shit.”
Maisie nodded emphatically. “Yeah.Shit.”
Both Lexi’s hold and her features softened. “Do you?”
Taking a stilted breath, Maisie nodded slowly. “I really do. Is this how it felt for you?”
Her bestie gave her a slightly victorious grin. “Not so breezy when it’s you, right? You told me to chill out and accept love, that it’d all be okay and being in love was a gift.”
Maisie glared. “I didn’t say all of that, but clearly I had no clue what I was talking about.” She saw Will and Ethan coming toward them. “But luckily for you, it worked out anyway.”
Dropping her arms, Lexi tilted her head. “Why do you feel like it won’t work out for you?”
She shrugged. Such an ineffective way of communicating, but how could she put all her worries into words?
“Hey. I should have gone into hockey,” Ethan said, looking around the room.
“Did you play?” Lexi asked, accepting her glass of wine from Will while Maisie took her beer from Ethan.
“No,” Ethan said, grinning.
“I think you’re in the right place,” Will said, pulling Lexi closer.
Ethan nodded, a smirk on his lips. “I absolutely am. Love you guys but don’t want to kiss any of you at midnight so, if you’ll excuse me.” He lifted his beer in a cheers motion and left them.
Maisie’s laugh sounded empty. It was okay to tell Nick how she felt. It was okay that he didn’t say it back. It was okay that he was leaving tomorrow because, as he’d told her many times, he’d be back. She couldn’t believe he was retiring. What did that mean? For himandfor them?
