Page 12 of Traded

“Okay,” I say carefully. “But you’re kind of scaring me here.”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look like this. He closes his eyes and breathes deeply before he opens them and focuses on me.

There’s no focus like a hockey captain. It’s all consuming. “Is it Boone?”

He doesn’t answer for a moment. He cups my face, and hewatchesme.

It’s the same expression that he wears watching me sleep like a creeper, though he swears we both wake up at the exact same time and he didn’t see a single speck of drool. It’s a cross between wonder and adoration.

I’ve never told him how much I love that look.

But today, it makes me feelcold.

“I love you so much,” he whispers finally. “So much, Rosie.”

“I know you do.” I twist my face to kiss his palm and try not to freak out. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s all…” he closes his eyes again. “Look, I need you to do me a favor.”

“Anything.” I wait. A stone has settled in my stomach. It gets bigger the longer the silence between us stretches out.

“Could you go home?” He rushes out the words, each one tripping over the other.

My chest shrivels, the stone shifting to lodge itself in my ribs. “What?”

Carter swallows. “Look…with Boone here, and everything, I’m not going to be able to focus. It’snothingyou’ve done, Ro. But I’d feel better for today knowing you’re not involved in whatever drama kicks off. Will you?”

I turn to look for Lauren. She’s clearly trying not to watch us, but her posture gives it away. “Carter… I get it. I do. But that’s not the impression I want to make.”

“I know,” he says tightly. “But I’ll explain. It’s opening night, and everyone is gonna be crazy. They’ll get it, I promise. This isn’t on you, it’s me.”

The stone expands, creeping up my chest and winding around my lungs. “What about the game?”

He kisses my forehead. “You’renevermissing a game. Fuck, I can’t function without you, let alone play. We’ll come back later, and I swear I’ll have this straightened out.”

He presses his truck keys into my hand. “Take my truck. We’ll catch a ride home for dinner and pregame, and then we’ll all head back together. And everything is going to be fine, I promise.”

When he steps away, I wobble. “Um. Okay. I guess.”

He nods, relief warring with whatever the hell has him looking like somebody’sdied. “Thank you. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

“I need to head back. I left Benji running warm-ups.” He rubs a hand over his face. “I’ll cover you with…uh, Lauren.”

At my nod, he looks me over one more time before turning away and approaching Lauren. She glances at me once and then nods, waving to me before Carter splits back to the hall and she heads for the stairs to the upper rooms.

Watching them walk away from each other settles my chest, at least a little.

“Okay,” I mutter. “Don’t be weird, Ro.”

Even if everything feels abitweird.

It’s not the worst idea to head home. To our home, and our space, and get my head on straight before the game tonight so I can be there for them.

I grip the keys.

But first, coffee.