Page 4 of Puck Princess

“And you’re right. I wouldn’t be where I am—in a nice apartment with everything I need to raise your nephew. You helped me and Nicky. You even helped Callie, no matter how much it doesn’t feel like it.”

“And Mom?” Tears sting my eyes.

“You did what you could.”

I swallow. That’s not a good enough answer.

“Take a breath, Owen. Sit on the sidelines for five minutes. You’ve been going nonstop for too long. It’s okay to give yourself a break.”

We end the call, and I drive home in silence.

When I get there, I take the elevator because I’m drained. Even pushing the button takes more energy than I have at this point. I’m not just physically beat, I’m mentally depleted. Emotionally ragged.

Maybe Summer had a point about taking a breather.

Summer doesn’t want any more of my help.

If Callie did, she probably would’ve answered my calls.

At some point, I’m killing myself for people who aren’t interested. I’m not even sure how much I have left to give.

I drop my stuff by the door and head for the shower. I catch my reflection in the mirror and wince.

Jesus, I’m a mess.

My eyes—swollen and bloodshot—are empty. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. Hockey used to mean everything to me, but I just got my ass tossed from a game, and I don’t even care.

I pull my jersey off as the room fills with steam. Just as I’m about to drop trou, I hear a blood curdling scream from next door.

It’s Callie.

Suddenly, nothing else matters.

2

CALLIE

Pregnant women should not shimmy over balcony railings three stories in the air, which is why, to bring things full circle, I’m breaking into Owen’s apartment with the spare key he “hides” in the plant down the hall. I told him a million times that it was a terrible hiding spot, but tonight, I’m grateful it’s right where I left it.

It’s the only thing that has gone my way in the last couple weeks.

To recap: dumped, assaulted, fired.

Every part of my life is in tatters, so I’m here to grab the last few things I left in Owen’s apartment before I tuck tail and go hide in my apartment across town.

I thought it would be enough to wait until I know he’s at a game so I could do this without having to see him, but as soon as I walk in, I smell him.

The woodsy, spiced scene of him hits my chest like a ton of bricks. I have to hold my breath like the air is poison while I dash to the kitchen island where there’s a box labeled “Callie’s,” justlike Owen told Kennedy he’d leave for her to grab. I tuck it under my arm and swap it with the bundle of Owen’s things I still have—like a hoodie and two hockey jerseys.

Well… one jersey. I can’t seem to part with the other one, no matter how much it hurts to look at.

Everything about being here hurts. Ever since Owen walked out on me at the hospital, there's been this gaping hole in the center of me. And that was before everything happened with Summer and me and Miles at the arena.

Owen found me crying and broken. He held me, which was as wonderful as it was excruciating, which only made it more excruciating. And then, just when I thought I couldn’t sink lower, I saw him.

Spencer.

At first, I thought he was stalking me again.

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