Page 96 of One More Time

Yep—that Merrimack made it to the finals.

I beelined toward the lifts that led to our hotel room. I didn’t need to look behind me to see if Hunter would follow—I knew he would. Part of me hoped he’d stay behind to spend some time with the team. I didn’t want him to miss his last few moments with them because I was a little sad. Besides, we’d all meet at the hotel restaurant to share our last meal as a team. Next year, a whole new batch of players would replace the seniors heading off to the big scary world.

After another careful shower with my injury in mind, I got dressed once more.

I found myself feeling somewhat guilty as I made my way downstairs. The team scattered about the restaurant, spirits still soaring from the win. Hunter draped his arm over my shoulder. To everyone else, it seemed like nothing more than a friendly move, but I welcomed that physical connection.

“Alright, boys, take a seat,” Coach boomed, and we all did. I sat between Hunter and Jarman, facing Mouse and Amon. Coach headed to one end of the table while Colton took the other and the rest of the team found their places.

“First, Captain, we thank you for all your work this year. This is one of our best seasons yet. I have been proud to have such a great bunch who have worked hard for the stats that they have. I’ll give you the floor to say a few things.”

Coach sat down, and I watched as Colton stood and adjusted his tie. “Well team, we did it! I have no doubt we’ll crush Merrimack tomorrow—again. We know this team is scrappy, but we have the skill to put them in their place. It has been a great pleasure being captain, especially in our best season yet.”

Hunter’s hand squeezed my knee under the table, seemingly aware that despite everything, the tension between me and our captain was palpable. He didn’t like me—that much was clear.

The coach took the spotlight once more. “Thank you, Colton. Well, I want to say it really has been a momentous year. I know quite a few of you are hoping for a contract—and I do not doubt that you’ll get it. But I want to highlight someone: Tyler Riley. You were a bit quiet coming in, but since you’ve shown remarkable skills on the ice despite everything working against you. The way you jumped in headfirst, helping your teammates and proving your dedication to this team is commendable. I know we have one more game to play, but we’ve all voted. Tyler Riley—you’re our player of the year.”

My cheeks were on fire as Coach handed over a small medal. Whether it was from the praise or the dozen pairs of eyes on me, I wasn’t sure—but I deflected anyway. “Thank you, everyone. Really, it was all you. It’s been an amazing opportunity to play with such a talented group. Hockey is a high-stakes world where I come from, and you’ve helped me become a better player. So, yeah, I am just grateful. No matter the outcome of my hockey career, whether that is going back home or playing here, I am happy for this experience.” Hunter’s grip turned punishing at the mention of me moving back to Australia.

“Pfft, if any of us is making it to the big leagues Aus, it’s you,” Mouse called. “You’ve carried this team.” Mouse continued despite the glare I was trying to send him across the table. If Colton fumed any harder, his head would explode.

The chorus of agreements should have warmed my heart, but I was stuck on the hurdles in my way—the NHL had never seemed so far out of reach.

Luckily, the rest of the dinner went by peacefully. I listened to Mouse ramble on and on and despite the dark cloud that was surrounding me, I couldn’t help but smile. The guy could talk the ass off a donkey, but his energy was infectious.

I spun when a strange hand tapped my shoulder.

“Surprise,” Cal said with spirit fingers. He stood there in his suit with an ear-to-ear grin. A gold metal hung around his neck. I already knew he’d won his competition—he updated me the second it happened—but typical Cal, he wore that medal with pride.

Good for him.

“I’m the reason you were late yesterday so I thought the least I could do is support you at your final game. Besides, I won’t be able to soon. You’re looking at a signed figure skater who’s moving to Canada!”

My nails dug into my palm, the prospect of everything I was about to lose looming over me like a tidal wave. Without my crew around me when Mum died, I doubt I’d have made it through. They were my rock, keeping me focused on the goal and preventing me from wallowing in self-pity. This was what Mum always wanted for me—to play hockey with the best, to make friends outside of that small town I grew up in. But now, everyone was moving on with their lives—and I was getting left behind.

I bit the inside of my cheek, the pain distracting me long enough to put my game face on. I shot to my feet and excused myself from the table, racing upstairs to my room. My hands shook and my thoughts raced so fast it made me dizzy. I collapsed against the bed, sliding down to the floor, and dropping my head between my knees. My temples pounded, and I gripped my hair to distract myself from how it once again protested the thoughts in my mind. The overwhelming sense of being alone, of saying goodbye over and over and over again, swallowed me whole.

“I can’t do this.” The words hurt my throat, and I couldn’t figure out why. The world was spinning beneath me with no way for me to stop it.

“Yes, you can, baby,” Hunter whispered, crowding my space. “You have been doing this for a year. You’ve got this.” I felt the words against my neck, and the restraints around me tightened. However, instead of feeling suffocated, it felt like they held me together.

“I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.” The words came out short and sharp as I tried to catch my breath.

“Baby…” Hunter’s voice broke.

“Everyone is leaving, and I’ll be alone. I just can’t say goodbye, Hunter, I can’t!” I tried to wiggle out of his grip, but his strong arms didn’t let me. The words hurt too much. It would be selfish to ask him to stay.

“I was stupid, so stupid. I never thought about what it would mean to lose you.”

“Baby,” he said again as if he were at a loss for words. He gripped me tighter, his lips brushing against the side of my head.

That bubble grew in my chest until it burst and a sob broke free. My eyes hurt and my throat burned. I berated myself for getting into this mess. I berated Hunter for not giving me a reason to hate him. I should have resisted the pull. Yet, as he held me tighter amid my sobs, I acknowledged there was no chance I could have refused him. Initially, he was broody, sarcastic, a lone wolf. But I’d let myself fall for the man who whispered sweet nothings to me as I drifted off to sleep, the man who’d become my family. He infused my life with so much joy that I found myself crumpled on the ground, weeping for just one more day, one more month… one more anything with him.

Because he was the one. The one for me. I’d known it from that first “one more time.” The weight of it all poured out of me, and instead of pushing him away, I found myself clinging to him for dear life.

“It’s not going to be the same without you,” I sobbed. “I don’t know how I am going to do this, Hunt. I don’t know. I’m scared.”

Rough hands maneuvered me, and I let him move me where he wanted until I straddled his lap. His hands cradled my face, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at him—that would be letting him see right into my feelings.

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