Page 54 of Snowed In With the PUCK

I stare at him, my irritation rising. “Do you not know me at all? Geez! Eric! I’m not taking it because I don’twantit! Just because it’s flashy and high-profile doesn’t mean it’s what I want for my life. Not everyone’s chasing after the next big thing.”

His eyes darken a little, and I can see something shift in him. “At least you’ve got someone offering you something like that,” he says quietly. “At least you’ve got someone looking out for you. You have family.”

His words hit me like a slap, and I realize what he’s getting at. He’s talking about his mom, about the fact that she’s been outof his life for so long. About how he doesn’t have anyone pulling strings for him or offering him opportunities. He’s out here on his own, fighting for everything he’s got.

“That’s not fair,” I say, my voice rising. “You think it’s easy having my dad push me into something I don’t want? Just because he’s offering me something doesn’t mean he’s really looking out for me.”

Eric shakes his head, his frustration clear. “At least he’sthere, Jess. My family… I don’t have that. I don’t have anyone.”

I feel something snap inside me, my patience wearing thin. “You could go talk to her, you know,” I say, my voice sharp. “Your mom’s out there. She’s not that far away. Go out to Las Vegas and see her. Go to the shelter and talk to her.”

Eric flinches, his expression hardening. “It’s not that easy.”

I scoff, unable to hold back. “Oh, please. You’re just afraid. Afraid of what she’ll say, afraid of what you’ll feel if you actually face her. You think my life’s perfect just because my dad’s around? Guess what, Eric—family dynamics suck, no matter what. We all have our shit to deal with.”

The words hang in the air between us, both of us breathing hard, glaring at each other. I can feel the tension crackling, and for a second, I wonder if we’ve just become enemies.

Eric’s face softens, just a little. “You’re right,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “I know you’re right. It’s just… hard.”

I let out a frustrated breath, my anger still simmering. “Yeah, well, facing my dad in the present is hard, too. You don’t get a free pass just because your mom’s been out of your life.”

We stand there, staring at each other, the weight of everything we just said pressing down on us.

Before either of us can say anything else, our phones buzz at the same time. We both glance down at our screens, and I feel my stomach drop when I see the text.

It’s from Allison, the PR lady for the Avalanche.

Allison:Hey, we need you guys at another charity event this weekend. It’s the last big holiday thing, and the team wants to make a good impression. You’ll need to go as a couple.

I look up at Eric, and he’s staring at his phone too, his expression unreadable.

We just look at each other, both of us too lost in our own separate feelings to even argue. The idea of putting on the act again, pretending everything’s perfect when it’s anything but… it feels like the worst timing for that.

“I don’t know if I can even do this,” I groan dramatically, more to myself than to him.

Eric looks up at me, his face amused but tired. “Yeah,” he says quietly. “Pretending you’re not a pain in my ass for a whole evening at an event?”

I laugh, the tension broken.

He winks at me. “That would be almost impossible.”

We both know we’re going to do the event anyway. Because that’s what we signed up for. The fake relationship, the pretending, the charade. And if I’m being honest, I am not sorry for pushing Eric tonight about seeing his mom. His heart needs it, and so does his mind. The sooner he learns the truth, whatever it is, the better.

Chapter twenty-seven

Eric

I’m sprawled out onthe couch, flipping through channels aimlessly. Nothing holds my attention for more than a minute, but I’m not really looking to watch anything, anyway. It’s one of those rare, quiet moments where I’m not at the rink or being pulled in a hundred different directions by the team or PR. We’ve got three days off for the New Year, and all I want to do is relax. Jessica’s in the kitchen, making what smells like an incredible pot roast, and the warmth of the house feels like a cocoon. It’s peaceful. For once, things feel… settled.

My phone buzzes, pulling me out of my haze. I glance at the screen and see Jake’s name. I swipe to answer, bringing the phone to my ear.

“Hey, man,” I say, leaning back against the couch cushions. “What’s up?”

“Not much,” Jake replies, his voice bright. “Just checking in. How’s it going over there? How was Christmas with the Stantons? Heard you had a full house.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, it was… something. It was good, though. A lot better than I expected, to be honest.”

Jake laughs. “Yeah, I figured it would be. Glad you weren’t alone, Gator.”

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