Page 76 of The Spice Play

Oh, God. He’d said that before, back when we went to the aquarium, told me that’s what Seb said his mom was doing. And Seb had the same when he told me about how Taryn had left him and Matty behind to go on some guru, self-love expedition.

Matty was worried I was doing the same thing.

Matty was terrified that I’d come and go just like she had.

“No,” I said, reaching further back and unbuckling the car seat for him. “No, bud, I’m not on a journey of self-discovery. Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere, okay? And if you’re ever worried about that, you can talk to me about it. You can ask me upfront and I’ll tell you the honest truth.”

He watched me warily, his little blue eyes hiding fartoo much behind them, but the tiny grin that broke out across his lips told me he was okay. “Promise?”

“Pinky promise.” I held out my pinky, and he took it immediately, biting down on his thumb to seal the deal. I scrambled out of the driver's seat and leaned over the center console enough that I could bring my mouth to my thumb, too, and bite it.

I didn’t plan on leaving. Not when things were going as well as they were, not when I was falling head over fucking heels for his dad, not when I was starting to feel okay about that and was able to admit it to myself. He was someone I could love easily, in fact, if I let myself, and I had a sinking feeling that’s exactly what I was falling into.

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A familiar head of brown hair with blue streaks found me and Matty as we entered the arena, his skates in one hand and his duffel bag in the other. In the handful of times I’d met Luke, he’d been nothing but nice to me, and I knew from what Seb had told me that they were close. So, when he offered to take Matty in to see the guys for me, I hadn’t been surprised — but I’d been confused.

“Where’s Seb?”

“Not entirely sure,” he chuckled. “Somewhere here. I saw him when I got to the locker room about an hour ago. I was hopingyoucould go find him so that Coach doesn’t get on my ass about being late.”

“Me?” I blinked at him, confusion settling into me. “I’veonly ever been to the family room. I don’t know my way around the back areas.”

“There’s signposts, it’s easy.” He brushed me off with no problem as he bent down to Matty’s height. “Hey, squirt. Wanna come watch me make snow?”

“Yes!” Matty shrieked.

He scooped Matty up into his arm before I could even protest.

“Don’t—ugh, don’t let him on the ice again, okay?” I grumbled. “I didn’t bring his skates and Seb lost his mind last time he was out there.”

Luke stepped back, carrying Matty just as easily as Seb did, and grinned at me. “Oh, believe me, I remember. He chewed me out, too. Little guy’s feet will stay firmly planted on non-slippery, non-frozen ground.”

He turned and pushed open the door that led through to the rink, and I called out to him before he could disappear completely. “Wait! How do I get into the back area?”

He pointed nonchalantly toward an unmarked set of double doors with his skates as the door closed behind him.

So much for signposts.

I sighed and slipped my phone from my pocket as I pushed through the double doors on the opposite side of the hall. Behind them, grey, undecorated walls lined the bare space, and three options greeted me: left hall, right hall, or straight down the middle. There wasn’t a signpost in sight.

I texted Seb.

Me:Luke’s sent me on a wild goose chase to find you and has stolen your son.

Me:Any chance you can help me out here? If I shout Marco loud enough, will you say Polo?

I stared at the screen, waiting for the three little dots tobounce and show me he was typing. But they didn’t come.Goddammit.

Left, right, straight.

Without a helpful, promised signpost, I did what any normal, sane person would do in this scenario.

I closed my eyes, held out a single finger, spun three times, and opened my eyes again.Guess we’re going left.

Regaining my balance after the dizzying, ridiculous stunt, I started down the hallway to my left, passing unmarked doors and propped-open ones that smelled of chemicals. My sneakers squeaked on the polished floors, announcing my presence far before I could appear anywhere, but when I caught a light on under a door, I took my chances.

I pushed it open, hopeful that maybe I’d stumbled upon a locker room or a storage room that Seb was in, but all I found was a lengthy, well-lit room with a janitor inside. He had his back to me, a set of headphones over his ears, and he mopped the floor meticulously beside what looked like an old, discarded Zamboni machine.

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