Page 74 of One More Time

A stark white wad of paper hit the table, and suddenly, all the noises around me became pronounced. The chime of the bell had me looking at the door, as if my father might walk in at any moment. But it was only a group of college kids, their laughter almost mocking my paranoia.

“Do you mind if I read it now? Or are you in a rush?” I asked.

Connor signaled to the passing waitress in place of a response “Hey, can I get the burger with fries, please?”

She blushed, nodding frantically, “Of course, sir.”

I laughed, spinning the papers right side up, and began to read. “You must get that a lot.”

“You will too one day, but just wait until you’re in the leagues. But the last thing we need is a kid with scandals following him around.” I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, knowing that Tyler and I could become the biggest scandal in the history of hockey.

“I know, sir. Hockey first, I promise.” I lied.

Half an hour later, I’d read through every line of the very detailed contract. The money was decent—not NHL money, but enough to survive. I tried not to think of the man I had in my bed that morning and the promise that we would be a team both on and off the ice. My freedom meant his safety, and I had no intention of swaying his future.

The pen felt heavy in my hand, the scratch of my signature like an arrow shot into the air toward my future.

Connor nodded and took the papers from me. “Take it as reassurance, kid; this isn’t selling out. Maintain the level of play you’ve been delivering, demonstrate to the league what they’ve been overlooking, and mark my words— I’ll be dialing you up to announce you’re getting the call-up.”

“Thank you, sir.” I put out my hand, and he just laughed.,

“I’m your agent now, just stick with Connor.”

I rephrased my thank you and watched him leave, the bell of the door signaling the finality of my choice.

My teeth anxiously gnawed on the inside of my gums, and the feeling in my stomach felt far from elation. I closed my eyes tightly, telling myself I just needed to get through to the end of the season. Finishing this college year would be my new beginning—our new beginning.

Chapter forty-one

Tyler

Finally.

Finals were over. I was exhausted, but relieved. It felt like I could finally breathe, and I’d have time to shift my focus entirely on Jamie.

As I stumbled into the dorm, he looked up from his book, offering a nod of acknowledgment. Red-rimmed eyes met me, and the weight of the day laid heavy in the room—it was Mum’s birthday. We had an unspoken agreement not to mention it, and I respected that as I gave him a silent kiss on the forehead before going straight to the kitchen. As I scoured the fridge, a thought crossed my mind to break my diet. Though what I really wanted was a drink.

Dad was always the one who orchestrated week-long celebrations for Mum’s birthday. After he was gone, I kept up the tradition, though it always felt like rubbing salt in the wound. Jamie, never one to fake smiles, made it clear that my efforts were in vain. Now with Mum gone, I wondered how dad would keep her memory alive.

A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. I shot a look at Jamie, who was engrossed in his book. When he looked at me and shrugged, I moved to open it. Then my heart skipped a beat.

Hunter stood there in dark jeans and a hoodie, wearing that brown leather jacket that made his eyes shine.

“Boston,” I sighed. I intended on sounding puzzled, but the smile he gave me swept that right out the window.

“Hey baby,” mischief sparkled in his eyes as he held up a pair of skates. “So, I know a certain special someone in your life had something they never got to check off their bucket list…”

I clenched my teeth as rising tears blurred the image of Hunter in front of me. He remembered. It was one of those mindless conversations we had while cuddled in my bed, but he remembered. I peered over my shoulder to Jamie, who looked at Hunter with glossy eyes.

“Let me get changed.” He shot off his bed and rummaged through his bag before darting into the bathroom.

“Hunter…”

“Don’t thank me, Baby. Just because she isn’t physically here doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate with her. Let’s embrace the life she wanted.”

I launched myself into his arms, the skates clattering to the floor so he could accommodate me. I wondered if this would ever get old, being in his arms—a loud voice in my mind shut that thought down almost as fast as it disappeared.

“Tyler, stop molesting your boyfriend and get changed!” Jamie demanded. “I want to skate!”

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