Page 24 of Snowed In With the PUCK

My chest tightens with emotion—sympathy and caring. Eric’s been carrying this weight for months, and now, more than ever, I feel conflicted. I’m supposed to be keeping tabs on him for Jason, spying on him for the team. But how can I do that when I’m starting to see who he really is?

Chapter eleven

Eric

The airport’s chaos isin full swing as we step out of Jake’s expensive SUV. The pre-holiday rush has brought out the worst in people, making everything feel tenser than it should be. People are hustling everywhere, their arms full of overstuffed bags, kids whining, announcements echoing overhead about delayed flights—it’s like the world is on edge. And now, with Jessica by my side, I’m trying to keep things calm, even if my own nerves are buzzing with an energy I can’t shake.

“Allie and I had a blast this weekend. We have to do it again sometime,” Jake says, clapping me on the back as we stand on the curb. Allie smiles warmly at Jessica, and for a second, the noise around us fades.

The weekend with them was a much-needed escape from the pressures of the season… and my fake relationship with Jessica. I’m glad Jake didn’t ask, and I certainly didn’t tell him anythingabout it. It’s no accident that Allie sent us to the opposite wing of the house from where they stay, letting us choose any room we wanted without them hovering.

I was disappointed when Jessica chose her own room and didn’t offer to bunk in with me, but this isn’t real, even if it feels like it is sometimes.

“I’m glad we did it, man,” I reply, giving him a quick, tight hug. “Thanks again for everything.”

Allie and Jessica exchange hugs, promising to keep in touch, and I notice the way Jessica’s face lights up when she talks to Allie. Despite the whirlwind of this fake relationship, she fits right in with my friends like she’s always been there.

Jake and Allie drive off, leaving us standing at the entrance of the airport. I glance at Jessica, who’s holding her carry-on a little too tightly. She’s quiet, like she has been for most of the ride here. Something’s on her mind she’s keeping from me, but I don’t push. Not yet.

“Ready to face the madness of the airport?” I ask with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood as we walk toward the entrance.

“Do I have a choice?” she replies with a small smile, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

As we weave through the sea of people, the noise and activity only seem to ramp up. We’re almost to the security checkpoint when a group of young guys, maybe in their early twenties, spotme from across the terminal. One of them nudges the others, eyes wide.

“Holy crap! It’s Gator!” one of them shouts, his voice cutting through the clamor of the airport. I groan inwardly. Here we go.

They rush over, all grins and excitement. “Dude, can we get a picture? You’re a beast on the ice, man. That fight on the ice? Epic.”

I smile, even though my stomach clenches. I’ve heard this too many times since the trade. That damn fight. “Yeah, sure,” I say, keeping it casual.

I pose for a few photos, and I try not to let the frustration creep into my expression. The guys are still talking, hyped up on adrenaline.

“You gotta tell us, man. What was going through your head when you took that guy down? Do you like Denver better than Nashville? What are you doing back here, anyway?”

I force a laugh, downplaying the whole thing. “Honestly, it wasn’t a big deal. Just part of the game, you know?”

But the truth is, that fight changed everything. It wasn’t my fault, but it was all anyone wanted to talk about. No matter how hard I tried to leave it behind, it followed me, like a taunting, dark shadow I couldn’t shake.

Jessica is standing off to the side, quiet, watching the whole thing. Her eyes meet mine for a split second, and I can tell she knows how much I hate this. She seems to see me lately for who I am, underneath who I have to pretend to be for my image.

After what feels like an eternity, the guys finally walk away, leaving me feeling a little more drained than I was before. I turn to Jessica, ready to leave the chaos behind. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

We make our way to the private airport lounge, and once we’re inside, the noise of the terminal fades into the background. I can finally breathe again.

Jessica settles into one of the plush chairs, her posture still a little stiff. I take the seat next to her, watching her out of the corner of my eye. She’s been distant since we left Jake’s house, and I can’t ignore it any longer. I can’t because… I care. I care about her.

“What’s going on with you, Sunshine?” I ask, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees with a friendly smile. “You’ve been quiet ever since we left Jake’s.”

She glances at me, then looks away, her fingers fiddling with the strap of her bag. “It’s nothing. Just… a lot on my mind, I guess.”

I don’t push, but I don’t drop it either. “It’s not nothing. I can tell.”

For a moment, she’s silent, like she’s deciding whether to let me in or not. Finally, she sighs, her shoulders dropping slightly. “I don’t know. This whole fake relationship thing… it’s starting to feel like a lot of lies. And that’s not what I pictured for myself when I signed up for it.”

“Lies?”

“Jake and Allie think we’re together. The world thinks we’re together thanks to the news. And the PR lady Allison all but hacked into our social media pages the other day to force us to post about each other.”

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