Page 9 of Ice Melts

“And for every holiday,” Sarah added. “She always said the secret was in the butter.”

Travis laughed. “It wasn’t the butter. It was the way she made us do all the stirring.”

“Oh yeah? You’re gonna take credit for her cookies because of yourstirring?“

“Hey no.” Travis was about to lay into her a little bit. But Tatum jumped in, “And the hot cocoa,” She put a hand on his arm. “Remember how she’d put a pinch of cinnamon in it?”

“And a little salt,” Sarah said, nodding.

They shared stories like that for hours, the memories wrapping around them like a warm blanket. By the time they left the hospital, the heaviness in their chests hadn’t disappeared, but it felt a little more bearable.

As they walked to their cars, Travis glanced at Sarah, his heart squeezing at the sight of her. She caught him looking and smiled, and for a moment, it was like they were kids again, skating on the lake and laughing about nothing.

“Thanks for coming,” he said, his voice low.

“Of course,” she said, her eyes soft. “You know I’m always here for your family.”

And for the first time in a long time, he believed her.

CHAPTER FIVE

The newsroom ofSportsZonewas a chaotic whirlwind of noise, fluorescent lights, and the constant hum of overworked computers. Sarah sat at her desk, staring at the blank document on her screen, the cursor blinking at her like it was taunting her. She tapped her pen against the desk, her mind stuck somewhere between frustration and guilt.

The Top Ten Most Overrated Hockey Players. She had finished the article days ago, but the taste it left in her mouth was bitter. Sure, it would get clicks—people loved drama, especially when it involved their favorite players—but it wasn’t exactly groundbreaking journalism. And to be honest, she didn’t love the critical tone. Her mind drifted to Travis, as it so often did these days. She pictured him reading the headline, the hurt flickering across his face. She hadn’t named him in the article, of course, but even so, it felt personal.

“Earth to Sarah.” Danielle’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Her coworker was perched on the edge of Sarah’s desk, a mug of coffee in one hand and a mischievous smile on her face.

“Hey, sorry,” Sarah said, setting her pen down.

Danielle tilted her head, studying her. “You okay? You look like you just found out your favorite team lost in overtime.”

Sarah forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just... thinking.”

“Uh-huh,” Danielle said, clearly unconvinced. She sipped her coffee, then leaned in conspiratorially. “Well, if you need something to cheer you up, Jess is about to pitch some wild ideas in the meeting. I heard she’s been scouring the tabloids for inspiration.”

Sarah groaned, rubbing her temples. “Great. Just what we need—more trashy stories to add to the pile.”

“Hey, trash sells,” Danielle said with a shrug. “And we need the views. Advertising’s been down, and Jess is panicking.”

Sarah didn’t respond. She already knew the drill. Clicks meant revenue, and revenue kept the lights on. It was a vicious cycle, one that often left her feeling like she was part of the problem rather than the solution.

“Meeting in five,” Jess called out from across the room, her voice cutting through the noise like a whip.

Danielle hopped off Sarah’s desk. “You ready for this?”

“Not even a little,” Sarah muttered, pushing back her chair.

They made their way to the conference room, where Jess was already waiting, her phone in one hand and a stack of printouts in the other. Jess was the kind of boss who thrived on chaos. She wore heels like they were part of her DNA, and her sharp, no-nonsense demeanor could make even the most seasoned reporters squirm.

“Alright, let’s get to it,” Jess said as the team filed in and took their seats. She tossed the printouts onto the table, the headlines bold and sensational:Hollywood Starlet Caught Cheating!NFL Scandal Rocks the League! Hockey’s Hidden Party Scene!

Jess pointed to the hockey headline. “This. This is what we need more of.”

Sarah’s stomach tightened.

Jess leaned forward, her gaze sweeping the room. “We’ve been playing it safe for too long. Our competitors are running circles around us because they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty. If we want to stay relevant, we need to stop tiptoeing around these stories and start digging deeper.”

Danielle raised an eyebrow. “What exactly are you looking for, Jess? More scandals? More drama?”

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