Page 43 of Slap Shots & Sweethearts

"I can get you hockey merch if you want, I just don't have any on me today."

Her eyes go big. " Oh no. I don't want any of that. I've been trying to get a hold of you, but I'm just getting bounce backs to your email."

"It's full," I tell her. I have zero interest in any results.

"Well, that makes it hard to get you your results."

I motion to Ivy to get going, but she stays put. So I move to step around the host as I tell her, "I already know. I have no matches."

She puts a hand on my arm to stop me. "Oh, no. A lot of people put you down hoping, but you only put one yes down."

"And she put no." I pull my arm away.

Hannah was already seeing her admirer. I had no chance with her even then.

"She checked yes," the host tells me. "I thought you should know."

It's impossible. The flowers, and all the other gifts. I'm stunned.

The host leaves, and Ivy waves her hand in front of my face.

"If you pass out, I'm not catching you." She jokes. "The shock should wear off eventually."

"She checked yes," I say.

Ivy nods and then states the obvious, "And so did you."

"I'm so confused," I tell her.

She gives me a sad smile that calls me an idiot without saying it out loud. "Then maybe you should talk to her. See if you can get things clarified."

We leave the Pizza Pub and I offer to give Ivy a lift home since she doesn't have her car with her. Her coworker dropped her off at the pub earlier. I lay it all out for Ivy during the short drive. After she calls me an idiot for the fifth time I ask her what I should do.

"Well confronting her at work doesn't sound like a good idea," Ivy says. "Do you know where she lives?"

"Isn't that creepy if I show up this late at night?"

Ivy rolls her eyes. "It's only eight. And if she's half as miserable as you, you need to get this cleared up as soon as possible."

I nod thinking in agreement.

Ivy steps out of my car, but before closing the door she gives me one last piece of advice. "Maybe pick up some flowers before you go to her. Women like flowers."

I'm able to find a florist that is still open, and the the lady working the counter must see the desperation on my face because she immediately reaches for the largest bouquet of red roses in her store. I don't even care how much it costs as I hand over my card to pay.

When I arrive at Hannah's apartment building the lights are on in the parking lot, but more importantly, I see the light is on for her unit. Her building is modest with three stories, and her apartment is on the second floor. Lou and Nate carry her couch out the front door and start maneuvering it down the staircase. My heart sinks as I realize the implications, and I hope they're just helping her junk her perfectly good couch for some perfectly logical reason that isn't that she's leaving.

Nate's truck is parked nearby and I find a spot for my car as fast as I can. I grab the flowers, and rush over to Nate's truck where they are finishing loading. Lou's sweaty as he helps Nate push the couch the last of the way into the truck. There are other items too I realize. Including her plants.

"What's going on?" I ask them, afraid to know the answer.

Nate takes one look at the flowers in my hand, and then smirks over to Lou. "Look who's finally coming to their senses."

Lou's frown deepens into an angry scowl as he looks at me. "About time."

"Seriously, what's going on? Where's Hannah?" I demand, desperation creeping into my voice.

They set the straps for the couch down, and both of them step closer to me. Nate looks between us as if he's gauging if he'll need to break up another fight. The tension in the air is thick and heavy.

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