Page 173 of Ice Mechanic

Something cold slips down the back of my neck and I go into full emergency mode. “April, if this is about me taking so long to respond to you, I was busy. It’s not like it was intentional.”

“I know, Chance.” She sounds resigned. Exhausted.

And it scares me.

I start pacing around the granite island countertop that I never use. “There isnothingthat I would like more than to pack up and run to you every time you call. My entire heart, my entire being is with you in Lucky Falls. I would give anything to hold you right now.”

“Anything?”

“Yeah, anything.”

“Anything but hockey,” she says.

My entire body freezes. I grip the phone tighter. “What does that mean, April?”

“Nothing. I’m just clarifying your statement.”

“That’s not fair. I’m not asking you to leave your friends, your family, and your garage behind to be with me. I know how much they mean to you and you know how much hockey means to me. This is our reality.”

“I can tell what reality is. And I didn’t ask you to give up hockey either.”

“Then what was—” I bite my tongue because my voice is rising.

The urge to get defensive and fight builds in my chest, but I tamp it down. We’re both, obviously, tired and one of us has to be level-headed.

“I know this is difficult, April, but we agreed that, for the time being, we’ll have to make some sacrifices. There isn’t a better alternative right now.”

There’s silence again.

My heart climbs like a monkey to my throat. “Let me see you. Let’s video chat.”

I half expect her to disagree but she turns her camera on and I hold up the phone so I can see her properly.

April’s sitting in her couch. The lighting isn’t the greatest, but she seems extra-tired. Her hair is pulled back into a messy bun and there are dark circles under her eyes. I wasn’t lying when I said I wish I could hold her. Right now, the urge is multiplying in strength.

“Are you okay?” I ask. “Did something happen?”

She looks down. “No, I’ve been resting since I came back from the hospital.”

“Did you just say the hospital? Why were you at the hospital?”

“May sent you a bunch of texts. And I tried calling too.”

“Did you? I didn’t see any texts on my phone.” My heart is like a puck throwing itself against my ribs repeatedly. I rush through my text messages and call logs to confirm. “I swear to you, April. I had no idea. I can show you my screen right now. I didn’t get any of your messages. Were you sick? What happened?”

“It’s nothing. I’m fine now.”

“Then why were you in the hospital?” I yell.

She sighs heavily. “Chance, whether you knew or not, I don’t think anything would have changed.”

“I would have flown back to Lucky Falls. I would have made sure you were okay. There’s no way I would have filmed that commercial yesterday or gone to training this morning if I’d known.”

“Then that’s even worse. You can’t come running over every time something happens to me.”

“I don’t think that’s the full truth, April. Isn’t that why you’re angry?” I point out. “Because I didn’t run over?”

Her mouth tightens and she gives me a stiff look. “I didn’t expect that, Chance. But yes, I did expect you to at least call and check up on me.”

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