Each player on the team was going to have an unforgettable night, while it was basically just an everyday dinner for Eden.
“I suppose Eden will still enjoy the banquet regardless. It’s always a fun time to celebrate with the team, even if it’s at a familiar place for him,” she tried to reassure me. “And who knows? Maybe Grey Davis will say something that’ll make it more special for Eden.”
Like what?
Seriously, what could he possibly say that he hadn’t already told him?
Whatever, there was no use getting upset about it now.
As the team bus finally pulled up to the arena, my heart raced, and my stomach dropped.
I was excited to see Eden but so afraid that I couldn’t cheer him up at all. There had never been any too awkward silences between us before, and what if this loss was going to changethat? I still had no idea what I was going to say to him once he stepped out of that bus.
I scanned the crowd of exhausted and disappointed players exiting the bus, searching for a glimpse of Eden. When he finally stepped off, his normally bright eyes were clouded with a mix of frustration and exhaustion. He barely looked in my direction as he trudgedpastme, his shoulders slumped.
My heart instantly dropped at the sight of him. His gaze was on the floor in front of him, refusing to look up. He didn’t smile, which was to be expected, yet it was still unusual. He appeared so upset that even I could feel it in my body.
All I wanted to do was run up to him, wrap my arms around him, and tell himanythingthat could’ve possibly cheered him up even a little bit. But there was nothing to say. It was his last ever Frozen Four game. It was his very last game with his college team—and perhaps even his last gameever. That was if he really wasn’t going to pursue an NHL career.
Louisa gave me an apologetic smile before hurrying to catch up with her boyfriend.
I stood frozen in place, unsure of how to approach Eden. Did he even see me? He’d never ignored my presence before.
What if he just wanted to be alone tonight?
To my surprise, Eden paused about ten feet away and turned back to look at me. His expression softened ever so slightly, and he motioned for me to follow him.
I was quick to catch up with him, falling into step beside him as we walked toward the parking lot. Maybe he spotted my car when the bus got here.
We hadn’t exchanged a single word the entire way over to my car, but as soon as we reached it, Eden leaned against it, his gaze fixed on the ground for barely a second before his eyes moved up my body to meet mine.
“Hey,” he finally spoke. “Sorry I’m not more… talkative right now. It’s been a long day.”
I nodded understandingly, not wanting to push him to talk if he didn’t feel like it. I was about to unlock my car, ready to head inside when Eden reached for my wrist and pulled me closer to him.
“I appreciate you being here,” he said softly, the look on his face making me melt on the inside. “Today was really tough, but having you here means a lot to me.”
My heart skipped a beat at his words, a rush of warmth flooding through my body. I reached up to place my hand on the middle of his chest, patting the spot a couple of times, then wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug, feeling his tense muscles relax against me.
“I thought you wouldn’t want to be alone tonight… but I can just drop you off at home and leave if you want.”
Eden hugged me back tightly and a part of me wanted to laugh when his embrace tightened even more. It was so strange to be able to feel the weight of his exhaustion and disappointment in the way he held onto me. But it was also such a unique feeling. He must’ve really trusted me in order for me to feel his emotions through a hug.
“No, I need you,” he spoke against my hair, softly and sincere.
I leaned back slightly to look up at him, noticing a vulnerability in his eyes that I’d never seen before. “Okay. Then let’s get you and your stuff inside the car and go home, shall we?”
For just a second, he looked at his bag, then rolled his eyes. “I have to put my stuff back.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t take my hockey bag back home. God, I must’ve been so out of it to forget to take it inside.”
I shrugged. “No problem. We’ll take it back inside and then we’ll go home.”
A small, grateful smile tugged at the corners of his lips before he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Yourhome or mine?”
“Where would you rather be?”
