Page 136 of Falling

She looks up at me, tears lining her eyes, but she doesn’t let them fall. She opens her mouth, but no words come out. Instead, she kisses my cheek. “Thank you,” she whispers.

The host’s voice pulls me back to the present as he announces the next award. The spotlight shifts, and there he is—Josh Raymond—walking up to the stage to present the award. He looks just as cool and composed as ever, a testament to his years of experience under the spotlight.

The award is for one of the star players this season, and even though we might not have won just yet, I’m not surprised that Xavierwins. He works harder than most people on the team, and granting him captaincy instead of me was the best decision Coach Tucker ever made. He deserves this, and I’m so proud of him.

My mind starts to spin with a million thoughts when he steps down and Josh returns to the corner he was in.

What do I say to him? Should I mention that game-winning goal he scored against Denver? Or maybe talk about the time he single-handedly turned around a losing streak for the Grizzlies? I don’t want to come off as too intense, but I also don’t want to miss this chance to connect with him.

The ceremony continues, but my focus is split. Half of me is trying to pay attention to the awards being handed out, while the other half is rehearsing lines in my head. By the time the final award is announced, I’m a bundle of nerves.

Wren leans in, her breath warm against my ear. “Relax. You’re going to do great.”

I nod, taking another deep breath. The lights come back up, and people start milling around, chatting and congratulating each other. This is it. My chance.

“Do you want to come with me?” I ask Wren, itching to get out of my seat.

“Sure. But you’ve got to promise not to freak out,” she says, grabbing both sides of my face and shaking me. “You’ve got this, Milesy.”

The moment we approach Josh, my heart feels like it’s about to burst out of my chest. He’s engaged in conversation with a couple of other athletes, but when he sees us, he smiles and extends his hand. “Hey, I’m Josh Raymond. Nice to meet you.”

I grasp his hand, hoping mine isn’t too sweaty. “Miles Davis. It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve been a fan of yours since your college days.”

Josh’s smile widens. “Thanks, man. That means a lot. You play hockey here, right?”

I nod, trying to keep my voice steady. “Yeah, I’m a forward for the Bears.”

He nods appreciatively. “That’s great. I’ve heard good things about the team this year. Keep working hard, and who knows where it’ll take you.”

I glance at Wren, feeling the need to introduce her. “This is my girlfriend, Wren. She’s the captain of the figure skating team.”

Wren smiles warmly and shakes his hand. “Nice to meet you, Josh. We’re both big fans.”

Josh nods at her. “Likewise. I’ve heard a lot about the figure skating team’s achievements. You guys are killing it.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, I take a deep breath and dive into the topic that’s been on my mind. “Josh, I wanted to ask... how do you keep pushing forward after losing someone close to you? My best friend, Carter Reyes, passed away at the end of last season. He was a huge fan of yours too.”

Josh’s expression softens, and he nods slowly. “I’m really sorry to hear about Carter. Losing someone you care about is never easy. When I lost a teammate back in college, it hit me hard. What helped me was remembering why I started playing in the first place and honoring his memory by giving my best every time I hit the ice. It’s about channeling that grief into something positive, something that keeps their memory alive.”

I swallow hard, feeling a lump in my throat. “Carter was my rock. He believed in me more than I did myself sometimes. I just... I don’t want to let him down.”

Josh places a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You won’t. Just keep playing with your heart, and you’ll make him proud. And don’t be afraid to lean on the people around you. It’s okay to let them help you through it.”

We talk for a few more minutes, with Josh offering advice on improving my game and sharing some stories from his own career. By the end of the conversation, I feel a mix of exhilaration and relief. I did it. I met Josh Raymond, and I didn’t make a complete fool of myself.

As Wren and I walk away, she grins up at me. “See? I told you you’d be fine.”

I smile back. “Yeah. Thanks for believing in me.”

She squeezes my hand. “Always. And Miles, Carter would be so proud of you.”

Her words bring a tear to my eye, but I blink it away, nodding. “Yeah. I hope so.”

The remainder of the night goes by perfectly, and I couldn’t be happier to be spending time with my teammates, my girl, and her friends. Everything about just being here with them feels natural and like it’s always supposed to be like this. I just wish there was one other person I could share it with.

44

WREN/MILES

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