Page 82 of Expose on the Ice

"Yeah, but?—

"No buts," she interrupts. "They protected you because they love you. And they’d do it all again. We might one day, as well, for our children…"

The thought fills me with joy, and I look down at our intertwined fingers, marveling at how right it feels. We stand there in comfortable silence for a while, watching the sun dip below the horizon. As the first stars appear, a thought strikes me, and I can’t help but chuckle.

Lily looks up at me, curiosity in her eyes. "What’s so funny?"

I grin. "I was just thinking… my family’s going to love you."

LILY

Carter’s heartfelt words cause a flutter in my stomach. The implication that I’d be meeting his family, that we’re getting serious enough for that step, and that he thinks I’d be a smash hit with them both thrills and terrifies me.

I try to keep my voice steady as I reply, "You think so?"

Carter’s arm tightens around me, and I can hear the smile in his voice. "I know so. My mom’s going to adore you. And my dad… if he gets out, once I face the music… will like you as well."

I swallow hard, the weight of everything suddenly pressing down on me. "Carter, I… that’s a lot to take in."

He turns to face me, his expression softening. "Hey, I’m not trying to freak you out. We can take things as slow as you want. I just… I want you to know how important you are to me."

I nod, trying to sort through the whirlwind of emotions. "I know. And you’re important to me too. It’s just… everything’s changing so fast."

"Speaking of changes," Carter says, his tone gentle, "what’s next for you now that the whole Frank situation is dealt with?"

I sigh, leaning into him as we watch the sun dip lower on the horizon. "I have no idea. I’ve wanted to be a journalist for so long, but after everything that’s happened…"

"You’re having second thoughts?"

"Yeah," I admit. "I mean, I love the job, but the way Frank operated, the cutthroat nature of it all… I don’t know if I want to be part of that world anymore."

Carter is quiet for a moment, his fingers tracing patterns on my arm. "You know, whatever you decide, I’ve got your back, right?"

I tilt my head up to look at him, warmth spreading through my chest at the sincerity in his eyes. "I know."

As the last rays of sunlight disappear, leaving us in the soft glow of twilight, I snuggle closer to Carter. The future is uncertain, my career path now a big question mark. But here, at this moment, with Carter’s arms around me and the gentle lapping of the lake in the background, I feel a sense of peace.

"You know," I murmur, "I’m fine with not having everything figured out."

"Yeah." Carter presses a kiss to the top of my head. "Me too."

CHAPTER 33

CARTER

Gripping my stick like it’s a weapon, I step on the ice, my skates cutting through the fresh surface with a satisfying crunch. The roar of the crowd fades into a distant hum as I focus on the task at hand, going into battle with my teammates.

This isn’t just another game, it’s our first without Tank, and the team is still reeling from the revelation of his betrayal and about my past. But as I take my position, waiting for the puck to drop, I feel a calm settle over me.

One I haven’t experienced in years.

Lily’s face flashes in my mind, her green eyes filled with determination and love. For the first time in my career, I’m not just playing for myself or the team. I’m playing for us, for the future we’re building together.

The referee’s whistle pierces the air, and suddenly, everything is in motion. We win the face-off, but the puck spills loose, so I dart forward, my stick connecting with the puck in a clean pass to Echo. The game is on, and I’m in the zone.

"Nice move, Knox!" Coach Carson bellows from the bench.

I allow myself a small grin as I continue with the play. Every move feels natural, like my body is finally in sync with my mind.I anticipate my teammates’ positions without even looking, sending the puck exactly where it needs to be.

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