Page 155 of Penalty to the Heart

“Yes, you do.” She grins, her crystal-blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Don’t worry. I can keep a secret. Your man down there? Not so much.”

“What do you mean by that?” I ask nervously, feeling my cheeks heat up.

But before she’s able to answer me, the loud horn announces the start of the game, pulling her focus off me and onto the rink.

And sure enough, after a while, all my focus is pulled towards it, too.

I try to keep my expression as blank as possible. Still, it’s a challenging feat to accomplish when my heart is pounding in my chest as I watch Caleb standing strong in front of the net as the opposing team charges towards him.

The crowd roars as he dives to block a shot, his body stretching out in a perfect arc. My hands clasp together, almost in prayer, as I hold my breath, willing the puck to stay out of the net. When the puck ricochets off his pads and flies away from the goal, I let out a loud cheer, gaining another amused look from Piper. But I don’t care. I am bursting with too much pride to not show it.

And with each successful save he makes, the more I’m unable to contain my excitement.

I start jumping up and down, cheering at the top of my lungs, feeling exhilarated when Piper, Charlotte, and Becca start cheering with me.

As the game progresses, Caleb continues to make incredible saves, his focus unwavering and his reflexes sharp. Each time the puck comes towards him, my heart skips a beat, but each time he stops it, the strong feelings I have for him only seem to deepen.

When the final buzzer sounds, ending the game and announcing the Guardians as the victors, the whole crowd erupts in loud cheers.

I’ve never been a sports nut. But watching Caleb in his element, dominating the ice like he does, might make me a convert.

I’ve attended every match like a true hockey fan for the last eight weeks, wearing the number one white and green jersey. Caleb has been instrumental to the Guardians’ victories left and right. And now that we’ve come to the last match, I feel like I’m more nervous than he is.

“How are you so calm right now? Aren’t you the least bit nervous about tomorrow?” I ask, drawing circles on his bare chest with my finger.

“Not really,” he responds while running his fingers through my hair.

“You’re that confident that you will win?”

“No. I’m not confident at all. But I know the guys and I will do our very best tomorrow. That’s all I can hope for.”

I lift my head off his chest and look him in the eye.

“I’m surprised that you’re so calm about it,” I whisper in awe.

“It’s just a game, love. Nothing more,” he confides, his green eyes soft and inviting.

“But you love it.”

“You’re right. I do.”

“Then how can you be so nonchalant about it?” I ask, genuinely baffled by his calm demeanor.

“Do you want an honest answer?”

I nod.

“Okay. It took me a while, but I think I finally understand what Jack was always trying to tell me. Yes, I love playing for the Guardians, but hockey can’t be my only source of happiness. Life shouldn’t be about winning trophies. Life needs real moments. Sooner or later, the applause and cheers from the fans will fade, and if you don’t have something in your life that lifts you up in the same way, then you’re as good as screwed. A man needs meaning in his life. Purpose. Something tangible and real. Jack found his purpose with Erin and his girls. And that’s all he wanted for me, too. To find that thing that would bring permanent joy and light to my life.”

“And one day, you’ll find it too,” I say with conviction.

“That’s the thing, love. I already have. I found you,” he says, looking deep into my eyes. “I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention or not, but I love you, Roxie. Everything else is just noise. You’re the only thing that matters. Loving you is what I was meant to do.”

I open my mouth to say something in response, but he just shakes his head to silence me.

“It’s okay, Roxie. I know you can’t say it yet. Maybe you never will. I’ve made my peace with that. If half of your heart is all I’m entitled to, it’s enough. It’s… fucking everything.”

Sorrow and sadness wash over me at his words.

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