Page 11 of My Athlete Neighbor

Kane was already moving. "What happened?"

"Coach's car... I was just trying to parallel park and..." Ethan's face had gone ghostly pale. "There's this huge scratch and dent in her driver's side door and she has that meeting with management in twenty minutes and—"

"Breathe, kid." Kane grabbed his jacket. "We'll figure it out." He turned to Allison, regret written across his features. "I'm sorry, I have to—"

"Go," she said softly. "Handle it."

Kane hesitated for just a moment, then squeezed her hand before hurrying down the hallway.

Ethan lingered in the doorway, shifting from foot to foot. "Um, Ms. Warrant?" His voice cracked slightly. "You're coming to Friday's game, right? With the puck?" He glanced down the hall where Kane had disappeared. "The whole team's counting on you. We really need this winning streak and..." He trailed off, looking young and vulnerable in his rumpled Charm City Chill hoodie.

Allison's stomach clenched. Just neighbors, she'd told Jenny. But neighbors didn't feel this weight of responsibility, this pressure to be the team's good luck charm. She forced a smile. "Sure, Ethan. Go help Kane with Coach Vicky's car."

As she closed the door, she couldn't tell if the sick feeling in her gut was from Ethan's pleading look or the way Kane had run off to help without hesitation—exactly the kind of caring that made her want to trust him, even with the shadow of Jesse and Vanessa’s wedding looming over her social media feed.

Chapter Five

That Friday, Allison clutched her purse closer as she navigated the crowded arena concourse, her grandfather's puck a weighted presence inside. After last week’s surprise win, the energy in the building was electric. Even the hot dog vendor was wearing a Charm City Chill jersey.

"Allison, over here!"

Pauline waved from the friends and family section, phone already in hand. Her brother Liam's jersey number gleamed on her back, and she'd added blue ribbons to her braids since last week’s game.

"You're just in time," Pauline said as Allison slid into the seat beside her. "Mrs. Peterson just posted the most amazing thing in the group chat."

"The what?"

"The building chat group. We started it after last week. Everyone's in it—well, except you, because we weren't sure if you'd want..." Pauline's voice trailed off as she noticed Allison's expression. "Sorry. Too much?"

"No, it's..." Allison forced a smile. "It's great that everyone's excited."

Pauline's thumbs flew across her phone screen. "Mrs. Peterson knit good luck socks for the whole team. She's working on matching scarves for all the defensemen now. And Mr. Chen set up this whole shrine thing in his apartment with Chill memorabilia. Jenny from 3A is organizing a watch party for the next away game."

She paused in her texting. “Do you have it?” Pauline asked seriously.

Allison knew she was talking about the puck.

“Uh, yeah.” Allison motioned to her purse.

“Can I see it?” She leaned forward eagerly.

“Sure.” Allison took it out and held it in the palm of her hand. The people around them crowded in for a better look.

Pauline took some pictures of it and sent it to the group. Allison’s phone started binging with several notifications. She switched off her phone and put the puck back in her purse when the teams emerged for warmups. Allison's breath caught as Kane led the Chill onto the ice. As if sensing her gaze, he glanced up at their section. Their eyes met briefly before he turned to take a shot on goal.

"Oh my god," Pauline squealed. "Did you see that? He totally looked for you first thing."

"He was probably just scanning the crowd."

"Right. Just like he was 'just being neighborly' when he helped you move in?" Pauline waggled her eyebrows. "The group chat thinks you make a cute couple."

Allison groaned. "Please tell me people aren't discussing my love life in a chat group."

"Fine, I won't tell you." Pauline's grin was wicked. "But Mrs. Peterson is already planning the wedding colors. She thinks navy and silver would be classic."

Before Allison could protest that she and Kane hadn’t even gone out on a date, the teams cleared the ice for final preparations. Coach Vicky paced behind the bench, her forest green blazer standing out among the navy and silver of team personnel. She was speaking intensely to her assistant coaches, gesturing at a tablet in her hands.

The first period started with a burst of energy. Kane's line took the opening faceoff, and immediately Allison was suckedinto the excitement. The Chill was on fire. Passes connected. Plays developed.

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