Page 44 of Slap Shots & Sweethearts

"Why should I tell you?" Lou asks me, his tone leaving no doubt that if I say the wrong thing I'm done.

"Because I'm in love with your sister." I blurt out, the words tumbling from my mouth before I can think about it. Then, when I realize what I've said, I repeat it more to myself than them. "I'm in love with Hannah."

Lou's frown is quickly replaced by a smile. "Finally. She's been miserable for the last couple of weeks."

"Why didn't you talk to me?" I ask.

Nate slaps the back of my head so quickly, I don't even see it coming.

Lou shakes his head. "She was fired, you idiot. She's been wallowing in my apartment ever since."

I'm in shock. "Fired?"

Nate sighs and looks at me with a mix of pity and long-suffering. "Someone put two and two together and reported she was dating you. Stuart fired her before the first period ended."

"That's why she didn't take Noah to the Zamboni." I mutter, the pieces clicking together.

Lou's gaze shifts to the flowers in my hand. "Those are a good start, but what else do you got?"

"What do you mean?" I ask, still processing that she's been fired because of me.

"My sister has been crying herself to sleep every night as she stares at that charm bracelet. If you think some flowers are going to fix this, I must have hit you harder than I thought."

I glance around, taking in the reality of the situation. My efforts to save her job prolonged our misery, and not only did she lose her job, she's losing her apartment too.

"I'm not leaving until I fix this," I tell them. "Where is she?"

"Upstairs finishing packing," Lou says.

I'm running for her door, not caring that my legs are protesting by the time I reach the top of her stairs. Coach had me doing ladders earlier, and my legs are not letting me forget it.

Holding the flowers higher, I knock at her open door.

The living room is full of half-packed boxes, and the countertops of her kitchen are cluttered with packaging tape and things that still need to be packed.

"Lou if you broke my couch." Hannah says from her bedroom. Her voice getting closer, until she suddenly appears. "Matt."

She's in black leggings and a big blue sweater with a stain on the front. Her blond curls hang free around her face, and there's not a sign of any makeup on her beautiful face.

The words I'd planned to say all evaporate, as does the room around us. I put the flowers on top of one of the boxes and then I'm moving towards her with only one thought on my mind. My hands are free, and I'm lifting them up to either side of her face and when my fingers have found their way into her hair, I lean forward to kiss her.

Chapter 14

Hannah

He's kissing me, and it's everything I've ever thought it would be, but like all good things with me and Matt, it has to come to an end. I keep my eyes closed for a little bit longer, to savor the moment. Much like I would a dream I'm not ready to wake from.

But reality doesn't wait, and my brother could walk through that door at any moment.

Reluctantly, I bring my hands up to his, and with a gentle squeeze, start to pull them away from my face. His fingers linger for a breath longer on my skin, and then slowly he lowers them. I move to let go of his hands, but he threads his fingers through mine, holding on as we face each other. I open my eyes and look up at him.

"Hannah." My name sounds like a plea on his lips. There’s a vulnerability to it that makes my heart ache even more. "I didn't know."

"Know what?" I ask.

"About your job. If I'd known the bracelet would get you fired, I never would have sent it I promise." Sincerity is etched on his face.

The bracelet is currently sitting on my wrist, the charms glinting in the evening light. For two weeks, it's sat there as a reminder of missed opportunities. Each charm reminding me of a moment I should have taken a chance with him. "It's not your fault Matt. I made so many mistakes. But the biggest was hurting you."

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