Page 153 of Penalty to the Heart

“I’m not sure what you want me to say.”

“Nothing. Don’t say anything. Knowing that I love you is enough.”

When I see a sad glint in her eyes, my heart breaks.

She can’t say it back.

Not yet.

Not when there is still a room in her house paying homage to the last man she loved.

Chapter 28

Roxanne

I’m not a nervous person, per se.

I’m usually quite composed when facing stressful circumstances.

So, can someone please explain to me why coming to watch a simple hockey game fills me with so much dread that my palms won’t stop sweating?

As I step into the VIP room where all the major big wigs of the Boston Guardians come to attend games, I can’t help but feel like I’m a fish out of water.

No. That’s not the real reason for my anxiety.

I’m afraid that just by being here, I’m putting my whole livelihood in danger.

That somehow, someway, someone will look at my face and read all the secrets that I’ve been trying to keep hidden—the main one being my true feelings for the player wearing the number one on his jersey.

But I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t show up for Caleb’s first game back on the Guardians.

He worked so hard to earn his place on the team. So very hard.

I needed him to know that I’d be here, cheering him on every step of the way.

And if, by chance, that means someone will eventually connect the dots that our relationship is far more personal than professional, then so be it.

In fact, if I didn’t think Trent would retaliate and kick Caleb off the team again, I would have marched into his office and told him myself.

That’s the only reason why I haven’t come clean to Trent yet.

But once the Stanley Cup is won, I’ll put on my big girl pants and confess what’s been happening under his nose all along. Trent won’t like that I deceived him, but hopefully, he’ll show me mercy and only fire me.

“Roxanne! Over here!” Piper waves me over, my apprehension easing somewhat when I see a familiar face within the crowd.

But hers isn’t the only one I recognize.

Nate’s wife, Charlotte, is far too memorable to forget. Looking like she just stepped out of a pin-up magazine, Charlotte is all smiles and happy to see me here.

However, it’s the fidgeting redhead standing behind Charlotte that grabs my attention. She looks like how I feel—nervous to the very core.

“Hi, Roxanne!” Piper says, offering me a surprising hug. “I’m so glad to see you here. Our boys need all the support they can get today.” she smiles. “You know Charlotte, right?”

“Yes, we’ve met. How are you?” I smile at the raven-haired beauty.

“Oh, as well as can be expected before any big game,” she jokes nervously. “Ask me again when the game ends.”

“I’m sure I’ll be too much of a nervous wreck myself to even remember to ask,” I laugh before placing my attention on the other woman in the trio.

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