Page 24 of My Athlete Neighbor

"Want me to read you a bedtime story? I've been practicing my voices."

And just like that, the knot in his chest loosened. Because yeah, he was a professional athlete with responsibilities and expectations. But he was also just a guy who liked a girl who read stories with different voices and understood that sometimes losing a game didn't mean you were losing yourself.

"Kane?" Her voice was soft again. "For what it's worth, I think you play better when you're not trying to prove anything. To me, to the team, to anyone."

He thought about the game, about all the moments he'd been in his head instead of in the play. About how their best gameshad come when he wasn't thinking about luck or superstition, but just playing hockey while Allison happened to be there, being herself.

"Yeah," he said finally. "I'm starting to figure that out."

They talked until his game-tired body started to drift, her voice washing over him like ice after a long shift. And for the first time since the final buzzer, Kane felt like maybe tomorrow would be better.

Because some things were worth more than winning streaks and lucky pucks.

Some things were worth figuring out how to be both a captain and a man who was falling harder than any board check could match.

"Allison?"

"Mm?"

"Next away game, will you come? Not for luck or superstition or anything. Just because I play better when I'm not missing you."

Her smile was audible. "I'll think about it. Get some sleep, Captain."

He did, still holding the phone, still wearing his post-game compression gear, still aching from the loss but somehow hurting less.

In the morning, there'd be game tape to review and teammates to rally and a coach to face. But for now, he let himself drift off thinking about librarians who understood hockey hearts, and how sometimes the best plays were the ones you never saw coming.

Chapter Ten

Allison hadn't meant to eavesdrop. She'd only come to the arena to watch the team practice. But voices carried in the concrete hallway outside the locker room, and her feet stopped moving before her brain could tell them it was wrong to linger here where she didn’t belong.

"—incredible turnaround," a reporter was saying. "Some are calling it the 'Warrant Effect.' Care to comment on how your lucky charm has changed the team's fortunes?"

"We're playing good hockey," Kane's voice replied, professional and measured. "The whole team's clicking."

"Come on, Cap." That was Oliver, teasing. "No shame in using every advantage. Everyone knows we started winning when Allison showed up with that puck and if she’s at our games, we keep winning.."

"The timing was... fortunate."

Something cold settled in Allison's stomach. It wasn't what Kane said—it was the pause before he said it. The careful way he chose his words.

"But is it more than timing?" The reporter pressed. "Sources say you've been spending a lot of time with Michael Warrant's granddaughter. Some suggesting that's not a coincidence, given the upcoming playoffs."

"I don't discuss my personal life." Kane's tone had an edge now. "We're focused on hockey."

"Smart play," another voice chimed in—sounded like a different reporter. "Keep the luck flowing however you can, right? Teams have done crazier things for playoff success."

The cold feeling spread through Allison's chest. She knew she should leave, should pretend she hadn't heard any of this. But her feet still wouldn't move.

"Look," Kane said, "what matters is we're playing our system, supporting each other, making smart decisions. Everything else is just—"

"Superstition?" The first reporter's voice dripped skepticism. "Tell that to your fan base."

"No comment on superstitions or personal relationships." Coach Vicky's voice cut through the chatter. "If you want to talk hockey, we can talk hockey. Otherwise, we're done here."

Allison finally managed to make her feet work, hurrying back down the hallway before anyone could spot her. Her heart pounded with a rhythm that felt too much like doubt.

The timing was fortunate. ... I don’t discuss my personal life.

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