Page 44 of Forging Legacy

The next morning, I wake up feeling a bit more settled, but the weight of Wyatt's absence still lingers. I know I need to keep moving forward, so I text Thora and suggest we visit the Stags to check on Odin.

At least it will give me something to focus on besides my own heartache. Thora and I head for the Stags’ apartment, a tin of cookies in hand. "I just want to check on him," Thora says, shifting nervously. "And apologize for any bad juju I might have sent his way."

I rub her back soothingly. "It's going to be okay, Thor. He’ll appreciate the gesture."

“I’m still not doing his portion of the project,” she mutters.

I nod, knocking on the door. “That’s fine, babe.” I knock again.

When the door swings open, it's not Stellen or Gunnar standing there. It's Wyatt.

I feel the air leave my lungs in a rush. He looks just as shocked to see me, his eyes widening. But then a slow, warm smile spreads across his face, and my knees go weak.

"Fern. Hi." His voice is soft, almost reverent.

"Hi," I manage, my heart pounding.

Thora groans beside me. “You two are so obvious.” She grabs the cookies from my hand. “Is Odin here? We brought snacks.”

Stellen appears behind Wyatt. “Snacks?”

Thora peers past him. “Yeah. ForOdin.Is he here?”

Stellen winces and looks at Wyatt, who starts scratching at the back of his neck. Wyatt says, “He tore his Achilles.”

I frown. “That doesn’t sound good.”

Stellen shudders. “He had surgery last night. Gonna be months of rehab. He’s still in the hospital for observation. Are those cookies?”

Thora clutches them tighter, and my stomach twists at the thought of Odin’s injury. He’s always so playful, but I know he must be serious about his sport to play at this level.

"I'm heading to the hospital to see him," Stellen says. "Want to come?"

Thora nods, casting me a significant look as she follows him out the door, Gunnar trailing behind. And then it's just me and Wyatt, alone in the apartment.

"I missed you," he says without preamble. "So much. But I was trying to respect your boundaries, give you space ..."

"I missed you, too," I admit, my voice catching. "I can't stop thinking about you, about us."

His eyes search mine, full of longing and hope. "Come sit?"

I nod, letting him lead me to the couch. The apartment is a mess, with half-packed boxes scattered everywhere. “Is someone moving out?"

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. I didn't take much with me to Mexico, so I need to get the rest of my stuff.” He looks at me. “Did you know I went to Mexico?”

I shake my head, then I nod. My mouth is dry, and when I try to talk, no words come out.

Wyatt gestures around the room. “I signed with Guadalajara after the combine. The same day as all that press drama. Hey, Fern, I’m so sorry for any stress I caused you. You shouldn’t have to feel unsafe just knowing me, coming to a sporting event.”

My heart races. I can feel the pulse of it thumping in my ears, which are hot and sweaty all of a sudden. “I …” What am I going to tell him? That I didn’t feel unsafe? That’s not true. But I felt more unsettled when he disappeared, even though I flipping told him to leave me alone.

Wyatt fills the silence. “I, um, have some shit to sort out.” He taps his head. “I’m a little fucked up from what happened with my … with Nick.” My face softens at his admission, and I reach for his hand, squeezing it, relishing the feel of him.

Wyatt swallows. “I actually have a trade in motion. I was going to have my stuff sent to me from the apartment … but I flew home last night when I heard about Odin.” He trails off, the weight of his cousin's shattered dreams hanging in the air.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper, squeezing his hand again.

He grips my fingers, drawing strength. "It's the risk we all take, you know? Every moment on that field is a gift. We never know when it might be our last."

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