Page 97 of Icy Pucking Play

Natalia:Dad keeps staring at your lucky pen. The one for important stories. Please come home.

Home…when did the Daniels house become home? The moment I felt all the love there, that’s when.

"Take the rest of the day," Lexi says softly. "Figure out what story you really want to tell."

"And if it's not the revised one?"

"Then make sure it's worth the risk." She pauses. "For what it's worth? The best stories usually are."

I leave her office in a daze, clutching both drafts to my chest.

Brad's waiting at my desk. "So?" he asks. "How bad was it?"

"She told me about how she and Gio got together."

"Ah." He nods sagely. "I’ve heard that one."

"You knew?"

"Everyone knows. It's like, office legend." He steals my coffee. "The hard-hitting reporter who fell for her subject. Who chose love over professional distance."

I look at the drafts again. At my phone full of messages from people who became more than just subjects. Who became family.

"I don't know," I say again.

But maybe I do. Maybe I've known since that first day, when Evan brought me coffee exactly how I liked it. Since Nataliaasked for help with math. Since Julia started saving me a place at family dinners.

Since...since I fell in love with more than just the story.

I stay at my desk, alternating between reviewing the two versions of the feature and staring out the window, lost in thoughts of Evan and the Daniels family. The hours tick by, and I find myself both dreading and anticipating the end of the work day.

As the sun starts to set, casting an orange glow over the city skyline, Brad reappears at my cubicle.

"Still moping?" he asks, leaning against the divider.

I sigh. "I'm not moping."

"Could have fooled me." He narrows his eyes. "You still haven’t heard from Evan?"

I bite my lip, unable to meet his gaze. "It's complicated."

"Complicated, huh?" He pulls up a chair and sits down. "Well, lucky for you, I've got time."

I hesitate, then decide that talking to Brad might actually help. He's been a good friend and confidante throughout this whole mess.

"I just...I thought if I could understand what happened with Evan and Chelsea, I could help him trust me. Trust us," I admit quietly. "I know it was a mistake, but I was hurt and confused and…"

"And you thought Clark Ellis might have the answers," Brad finishes for me.

I nod miserably. "I know it was wrong, but…"

"Hey, I get it." He places a hand on my arm. "You were trying to help. Trying to fix things. I can't fault you for that."

"But?" I can hear the resignation in my own voice.

"But you know as well as I do that Clark Ellis isn't exactly a reliable source. Especially when it comes to the Daniels family."

I sigh heavily. "I know. I just...I wanted to understand, you know? Why Evan is so scared to let anyone in. Why he keeps pushing me away."

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