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There’s only one sound I want to hear. The sound of her voice. Growing closer as she comes to me. Runs to me.
Determination washes over me as the opposing team pours onto the ice, preparing for battle.
That’s all I needed.
Soon enough, players are positioned around the faceoff circle, and I stand at the line for the drop. As soon as it hits the ice, my senses sharpen, adrenaline flows through, and I chase after the one thing I’ll never lose sight of.
The damn puck.
My blades cut through the ice with precision as I capture a swift pass from Reyes, holding my breath as I weave past the defense like it’s not even there, and send the puck soaring into the net at the same time their goalie lunges.
Our home arena erupts into cheers, signs with my name on it soaring into the air. And the nickname I’ll likely never feel without my queen.
By the third period, I’m wiped, but stay relentless as we fight for possession. We’re ahead with only three minutes left, but I’m not letting them have this. Bodies collide and the sound of sticks clashing fills the air. I pass back to a rookie teammate who’s got the better angle, but he doesn’t feel confident enough and tosses it back to me.
He’s going to get shit for that from Coach later if I don’t make this.
I race down the ice at lightning speed, keeping the puck at my side, like it’s all I fucking need in life. And with one powerful flick, I send it flying into the net, sealing our victory seconds before the buzzer sounds.
The arena bursts with cheers as my teammates crowd me. We’ve done it. Against the odds, against the highest in the league in the charts this week. We won.
But I feel like anything but a winner.
Amidst the celebration, I can’t shake the feeling of unease gnawing at me. The same feeling I had before I knew Pepper was gone. I wonder if it’s just something that’s going to come and go until I find her or—
The crowd seems to settle suddenly and heads turn in one direction. I follow it, my heart heavy with inexplicable fear. I toss my gloves down, my helmet beside it and skate across to the other side when I see my woman coming down the steps toward the ice.
She’s in a pink tweed skirt suit. Her hair is straight instead of wavy and her makeup heavier than usual. She’s still gorgeous, but she doesn’t look mine.
Pepper comes toward me, but there’s no smile. In fact, her presence casts more of a shadow than a celebration. I make my way to her, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of my stomach that tells me I’m losing her.
I ignore it and keep moving toward her.
“Pepper,” I exhale when I reach her, swiftly catching her arms over the partition that separates us, its height reaching just below her chest.
She blinks rapidly and inhales. Cameras circle us, a crowd surrounds us. And hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were on display on the screen behind me.
“Are you alright? What happened?”
“Chase,” she starts firmly, then blinks down at her shaky fingers as she pulls off the ring I’d given her. “This…was never meant for me.”
I glare up at her from the rink, but she doesn’t meet my eyes. “Pepper, what are you doing? I’ve been going crazy—”
“Please accept my apology for the last few weeks. I…” Her jaw hardens, and her eyes glimpse to the side. “I had cold feet and lost my way.”
“Pepper, look at me.”
She meets my gaze, and it slices through me. The Pepper I know is quick to burst into tears under pressure. But the woman in front of me is holding strong. Stoic. Cold.
“You didn’t lose your way. You found it. Pepper, you came home. You found me.”
“Please just take the ring,” she whispers harshly.
“Why are you doing this?” I glance around us. “Why here?”
“I’m making it impossible for you to come after me.”
“Don’t be so sure about that.”
