Page 38 of Ice Melts

Travis felt a surge of relief, but it was bittersweet. They were risking everything, but at least they were doing it with integrity.

“I’ll handle it,” Coach added, his voice resolute. “The guys will face the consequences.”

Travis nodded, standing up. “Thanks, Coach.”

As he walked out of the office, Travis felt the weight of the decision settle on his shoulders. The road ahead wasn’t going to be easy, but at least he knew they were on the right path.

And now, all he could do was hope that Sarah’s trust in him would be matched by his trust in her.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The fluorescent lights of the newsroom buzzed faintly overhead as Sarah stepped through the glass doors, the familiar scent of coffee, printer ink, and the faintest trace of stress filling the air. She tugged her coat tighter around her, not because she was cold, but because she was bracing herself.

It had been a week—a whole week—since she’d set foot in this building, since she’d answered any emails, texts, or calls. The snowstorm had given her the perfect excuse to unplug, but deep down, she knew it wasn’t just the weather that had kept her away.

It was Travis.

And everything they’d shared at the lake house.

She could still feel his warmth, hear the echoes of his laughter in the quiet moments of the morning, and recall the way his hands had felt tangled in hers. But reality was waiting—in the form of Jess, her ever-demanding boss, and Danielle, her equally curious coworker.

As she made her way to her desk, she could feel the eyes following her—some subtle, some not-so-subtle. She kept hergaze forward, her posture confident, even though her heart was pounding.

Before she could even drop her bag onto her chair, Danielle appeared out of nowhere, coffee in hand, eyes wide with curiosity.

“Where. Have. You. Been?” Danielle demanded, her voice low but urgent, like they were conspiring.

Sarah forced a casual shrug, hoping it was convincing. “Snowed in.”

Danielle raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “For a week? No calls? No texts?” She leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing. “Who were you snowed inwith?”

Sarah busied herself with booting up her computer, ignoring the heat rising in her cheeks. “Nobody. Just me. And a lot of snow.”

Danielle wasn’t buying it, but before she could press further, the sharp click of heels echoed through the office.

Sarah didn’t have to look up to know who it was.

Jess.

Her boss’s perfectly tailored blazer, impeccable makeup, and deadly stare were unmistakable. She stopped at the edge of Sarah’s desk, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

“Well,” Jess said, her voice cool and clipped, “look who decided to grace us with her presence.”

Sarah swallowed, keeping her tone even. “I emailed you the stories this morning.”

Jess’s eyes flicked, sharp and calculating. “Oh, I saw the timestamps, sweetheart. But that’s not what I’m talking about.”

The newsroom fell silent around them, the tension thick and heavy.

Sarah met Jess’s gaze, steady. “I had a situation. But I handled it. You’ve got your stories.”

Jess’s eyes narrowed, but after a beat, she nodded, her lips curling into a tight smile. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

And with that, she turned on her heel and disappeared into her office, the door clicking shut behind her.

Sarah let out a breath in one long, slow exhale. Danielle leaned closer, whispering, “Dang. You’ve got guts, Cooper.”

Sarah managed a small smile, but inside, her heart was racing. She wasn’t just back at work. She was about to blow up her whole career.

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