Page 190 of Ice Mechanic

“No, Chance.”

“No?” His eyebrows fly up.

“I can’t let you do that.”

“April, you’re notlettingme?—”

My phone buzzes.

It’s May.

I updated her and Rebel on dad’s state earlier. May was already on her way to the nursing home when I called. It tooka ton of maneuvering, but I eventually convinced my sister to return to school. Her classes must have ended now.

“Are you with dad?” May asks, sounding breathless. “I called Rebel, but she said you weren’t at the garage and the last time she drove by, you weren’t home yet. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.

“Is he still sleeping? Did the doctors say anything after his checkup?”

“Everything’s fine.”

“That’s a relief. And what about Chance?”

“I’m with him right now,” I answer, glaring at the stubborn hockey player who smiles back at me.

“Speaking of Chance, did you hear? Everyone is saying that he skipped out on his press conference because he’s back in town for good.”

“No, he’s not.”

“But there’s already an article online.”

“Don’t listen to the gossip on the internet. Chanceisgoing back to the league,” I snap.

May goes quiet.

I sigh and squeeze my eyes shut. Regulating my breathing, I finish quietly. “Do you need a ride to the nursing home?”

“No, I just caught the bus. I’ll be there soon.”

“I’ll wait for you.”

I hang up with my sister and stare straight ahead. The sun is low in the sky, sending a burnt-orange halo over the treetops. The sky is so serene, but inside I’m restless.

Chance reaches for me. “Don’t be angry, April.”

“I’m not angry. I’m worried.” I feel my eyebrows tightening. “You’re an amazing hockey player, Chance. I know how much you love the sport. You faked a relationship with a stranger so you could play! Was that all for nothing?”

“Of course not,” he says calmly. “That was all forthismoment.” He sticks his finger down. “So I could fall in love with you for real.”

“Don’t. Don’t try to make this romantic.”

“I’m not,” he says frankly. “It’s just a fact.”

“The fact is you’re being impulsive because things were rocky between us, but they’re fine now. You don’t have to do anything drastic.”

“I’ve thought about it a lot, April. This isn’t an impulse.”

The calmer he is about it, the more unhinged I feel. “What if you look back in twenty years and regret this moment for the rest of your life?”

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