Page 45 of Fate on the Ice

Shaking my head, I close my eyes slowly, then reopen them, finding her gaze with my own. “If I go through with it, I will do nothing but ruin Otto’s life. I have to walk away so that doesn’t happen. I can’t let it happen.”

Brooklynn’s brows snap together, and she takes a step toward me, then another, continuing until she’s directly in front of me. Her fingers curl around my shoulder.

“How could you think that you would ruin Otto’s life? That man is the most even-keeled, calm, and levelheaded person I know. If he asked you to marry him, it’s because he knows that you’re the one for him.”

Biting the inside of my cheek, I try not to let her words sink in. I already know all of that. Otto is calm and kind. He’s the best person I know. Which is why I know that I don’t deserve him and that I can’t ruin his life.

“It’s not him. It’s my connection to the team. It’s my father. Otto said he’d be willing to be traded to another team, and I can’t let that happen. Those men, this place, this is his life. I cannot be the cause of turning his life upside down and ruining everything he loves.”

“Shit,” Brooklynn hisses. “Don’t go. He’s out for a while, right? I bet everything will work out the way it’s supposed to. I believe in things happening for a reason and falling into place. I mean, look at June and Lorelai. Those men moved in across the street, and their love stories began. They’ve all turned out to be amazing.”

“I can’t take that chance, not when it comes to Otto’s future,” I argue.

My decision has been made. My life was forever changed by him, but I cannot stand by and allow his life to be ruined by me. So, I know that I need to leave, and that is exactly what I do.

There’s no waiting.

There’s no plan made.

I step back from Brooklynn and walk upstairs to my room. I hear her call out my name, but if I stand around and talk about the situation, then I’m going to be talked into staying. It’s not like it would take much to talk me into that. I’m teetering on the fence as it is.

My brain is telling me to leave, but my heart and body are begging me to stay.

OTTO

My cheek aches, but I don’t reach for the painkillers. I need to stop using them, or I’m going to want them, and that’s the last thing I need to happen. Sitting up, I throw my legs over the side of the bed, blinking a few times as I scan the room for Grace.

I’m alone. I stand and make my way into the bathroom. Once I’ve taken care of business, I take a chance at my reflection in the mirror. Hissing at the sight of my appearance, I let out a grunt.

I look rough as fuck. I’m glad I shaved my beard when I did, though. Otherwise, I would have had a bigger mess on my hands. The good thing about this scar placement is that I'll be able to grow my beard back out again, and it won’t be very noticeable.

Ignoring my desire for the painkillers, I make my way downstairs and go in search of Grace and food. The house is quiet. The guys are probably all at practice or lessons. Checking around the downstairs, I frown. Once I realize that I’m completely alone, I start to wonder where Grace has gone.

I move toward the window to look out at the house across the street. Her car isn’t there.

Maybe she went to the store…

The thought trails off as I grip my cell phone in my palm. I look down at the device. No new notifications. The phone unlocks at the sight of my face, and I find Grace’s name in the messages app.

There aren’t any new texts or calls. There is nothing. I decide to send her a text.

ARE YOU AT THE STORE?

I stare at the screen, hoping to see those three little bubbles that will notify me she’s responding. But there is nothing. So, after about two minutes of staring, which feels like an hour, I send her another message.

ARE YOU OKAY?

Once again, I stare for what feels like a lifetime, but is probably only a solid minute. She doesn’t respond, which worries me. Instead of sitting around and waiting for her to answer me, I decide to walk across the street and find out if she’s home.

I’m sure that my face is going to scare the shit out of whoever answers the door, but I don’t care. I’m too concerned with where Grace is to care if I traumatize anyone. I start to knock when the door flies open.

Brooklynn stands in front of me. I do not like the wild expression she’s wearing on her face. I open my mouth to demand to know where Grace is when she steps to the side and asks me to come in. Her voice isn’t nearly as cheerful and bubbly as it normally is.

I only step into the foyer, stopping as she closes the front door behind me. Turning to face her, I arch a brow and wait for her to tell me where Grace is. Because I know she realizes that’s why I’m here.

“I tried to stop her,” Brooklynn whispers.

“Stop her?” I ask.

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