She sinks onto the bed, her body folding in on itself, and presses her face into the pillow. The tears she’s been holding back slip free, soaking into the fabric like ink into paper—proof of all the things she can’t bring herself to say out loud.
CHAPTER 43
NATALIE
“Pass the spicy tuna.”
The apartment is in that strange in-between state, no longer a home but not quite empty either. Moving boxes are stacked against the walls, some taped shut, others half-filled with the remnants of Jesse’s life this season.
They’re eating sushi off paper plates, the low coffee table between them a chaotic mess of chopsticks, soy sauce packets, and crumpled napkins. The room is warm with laughter, the easy kind that comes from people who know each other well. Mila is in the middle of an animated story, waving a piece of tempura in the air as she talks. Pavel is leaning back against the couch, nodding along. Carter and Tristan are locked in a debate about who had better stats this season, their voices rising with each argument. Theo, in his usual quiet corner, is pretending not to stare at Mila while absolutely staring at Mila.
Natalie watches them, letting the noise wash over her. They’re all in good spirits, but Jesse is quieter than usual. He’s been like this all night—present, but not really. He’s eating without enthusiasm, picking at his food instead of inhaling it like he normally would. He smiles at the right moments but doesn’t add much to the conversation.
“You good?” she asks him under her breath.
Jesse glances at her, then shrugs. “Yeah. Just tired.”
It’s the same excuse she’s been using for days, but she doesn’t call him out on it. Instead, she nods, letting it go.
Tomorrow they will head back home to Port Perry. Jesse has two months to kill in the off-season. He’ll spend them working out, catching up with old friends, and golfing with Tristan. He’s already talked Natalie’s ear off about his grand plan to “up his protein intake” and “finally balance his macros,” whatever that was supposed to mean.
The Coyotes game hums in the background, the flicker of the TV casting soft blue light across the room. Neither she nor Jesse had turned it on—someone else must have grabbed the remote—but now that it’s playing, she can’t stop sneaking glances. Every time the camera lands on Jake, something inside her tightens. He moves like he was made for this, throwing bone-rattling hits, charging down the ice with single-minded focus. He’s incredible.
She watches as he leans over on the bench, talking to a younger player and gesturing with his hands. He may not have asked for it, but leadership has settled on his shoulders like it was always meant to be there. Like it’s as natural to him as breathing.
Mila elbows Jesse. “Looking forward to spending time with your Auntie Millie?”
Jesse musters a half-smile. “Yeah. Can’t wait.”
Natalie sees right through it. He’s usually the one making sarcastic comments, teasing her about how she’s going to get sick of him within a week, but tonight, he doesn’t even have the energy for that. She doesn’t know why, and he won’t say.
On the screen, the game heads to overtime, the Coyotes having tied it in the dying seconds of the third period. The group watches anxiously, tense with anticipation of sudden-death overtime.
“Get it out!” Theo roars, causing Mila to jump.
“Wheel! Wheel!” Tristan is shouting.
“Fuck,” Pavel grumbles, as the Coyotes draw a penalty.
As the players change lines for a penalty kill, Natalie sees Jake come over the boards. He looks ready to murder someone.
She can’t look away as the puck drops, and Jake explodes forward,slicing past a defender. His skates carve sharp lines into the ice as he hunts down the puck, closing the gap. He drives an opponent into the boards with bone-jarring force. She can hear the collision reverberating through the arena through the television feed. The puck pops free, and in one fluid motion, Jake snags it with his stick, threading a pass between two defenders like he’s pulling off a magic trick. A heartbeat later, his teammate rips a shot into the net, and the apartment erupts in raucous cheers.
“That was insane!” Pavel shouts, throwing his hands in the air.
“Damn right, Mac!” Tristan adds, grinning.
Natalie’s heart is pounding as she watches the celebration on the ice. Jake’s teammates stream towards him, thumping him on the back. She sees him grin, and her heart swells. He worked so hard for this.
She glances at Jesse, expecting him to react, but he watches the screen, quiet.
“Dude,” Theo says, nudging him. “You okay?”
Jesse blinks, like he hadn’t realized how zoned out he was.
“Yeah. Just—” He shakes his head, forcing a smile. “Just a lot on my mind.”
“Turn it up, they’re gonna interview Mac,” Pavel says, gesturing frantically at the remote.
