Page 43 of Pucking Amazing

“How are you holding up, Syd?” Tyler asks, those piercing blue eyes seeing right through me as usual.

I shrug. “Oh, fine. You know, just living the glamorous life of an underpaid counselor.”

A ghost of a smile flickers across his face, but his eyes stay distant. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, hockey stardom isn’t all it’s cracked up to be either.”

“Really? The fame, the fortune, the women throwing themselves at you...sounds terrible,” I tease gently.

Tyler chuckles before his expression grows serious again. “Sometimes it’s like a huge act. Everyone either wants a piece of me or expects me to be just like my brother. It’s like no one actually sees me.”

My heart stutters in my chest at the confession. I’m honored that he’s opened up to me and swallow hard, not wanting to spook him.

“I know the feeling,” I murmur. “It’s like you’re trapped in a box of other people’s perceptions.”

Tyler nods, reaching out to lay his hand over mine. The familiar electricity zings through me at his touch.

“Exactly. You’re the only one I can really discuss this with, Syd.” He pauses, studying my face, then shakes his head. “I don’t know why you’re so damn easy to talk to.”

He’s leaning closer, those full lips parted slightly, beckoning me.

For a crazy moment, I imagine closing the distance between us, finally giving in to the attraction that’s been bubbling beneath the surface between us for so long.

But then Tyler sits back, his brow furrowing. “There’s something else... It’s DJ. I think—I think I might have feelings for him. Like more-than-teammate feelings.”

He laughs awkwardly, his face flushing.

“God, I sound like a kid. But you know what I mean. I don’t…I don’t know what to do, so I’ve just been avoiding him, but I can’t keep going this way.”

His voice is soft and uncertain, his eyes searching when they meet mine again.

And just like that, reality comes crashing back in. My heart clenches.

As much as it pains me, as much as it causes a flood of jealousy on both ends, I know the best thing I can do is encourage Tyler to explore this, now that he’s finally owning up to it. Saying this out loud—this is big for Tyler, I know it.

I can’t get in the way of this connection.

I squeeze his hand. “Ty, if you like DJ, you owe it to yourself to see where it leads.”

“You really think so? Even if...” He trails off, looking at me searchingly.

“Even if,” I confirm around the lump in my throat, though I’m not entirely sure how he intended to finish the sentence. “You deserve to be happy.”

We continue chatting as we rise and walk out of the break room. The easy rapport is still there, but there’s a new undercurrent charged with all the things we’re leaving unsaid.

When we reach my office door, an awkward silence falls. I fumble for the knob.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you around,” I mumble.

But then Tyler is pulling me into his arms, enveloping me in a hug that makes my treacherous body light up despite my heart continuing to sink lower and lower. He smells like pine and fresh ice.

“Thanks, Syd,” he rumbles near my ear. “For everything.”

And then he’s gone and I’m closing the door, sinking down against it, my heart a riot of confusion.

Oh God. What have I done?

CHAPTER 14

TYLER

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