Page 56 of Netting the Goalie

“Bliss.What—”

“I just don’t know when I’m going to be free.”She rushed to cut me off.“And I’m not sure—”

“Bliss.Don’t.”

I wouldn’t beg.No fucking way would I beg for her not to do this.

But…

Hell, everything she said was right.I was going to be busy.Making it to the playoffs had to come first.I knew I needed to concentrate on winning the Calder Cup.Hell, I should be thanking her for making this easy on me.

Except, this didn’t feel easy.It felt the exact opposite.

“I’ve had a really great time with you these past few months,” Bliss pushed on like I hadn’t said anything.“But I know your life is going to get crazy and I don’t want to feel like I’m getting in the way.”

“Have I ever said that?Have I ever even mentioned that?”

Another pause and then a deep breath.“We both knew this wasn’t going to last.”

“And what if that’s not what I want?”

Bliss

For a moment,my heart rose into my throat.

An old memory, one from my former relationship rose up.

I’d made the decision to break up with my ex and I’d asked him to meet me at a restaurant to talk.A public space, where there was no way he would do anything…physically to me.

But the look in his eyes when I told him I was leaving him and I never wanted to see him again?That look had made me want to run.It had made every muscle in my body tense, ready to flee.

And I’d felt like I was going to be sick.

Like I felt now.

But now it was the thought that I’d lumped Shane into the same mold as my ex that made me ill.

Shane was nothing like that bastard.He was a decent guy.A great guy, actually.

And you’re just throwing him away.

No.It was better to end this now before either of us really got hurt.

“I know you’re going to have a great run in the playoffs.”

“Wait—”

“And you’ve made a superfan out of Mike.But I really have to go.Good luck.With everything.And…Bye.”

Shane

The line wentdead and I took a second to look at the screen to make sure she’d actually hung up on me.

She had.

What the fuck just happened?

I felt like I’d gotten taken out by Rager Bolden, the league’s biggest linesman.Shaking my head, I reached for my keys but stopped when the front door opened and CJ, Jake and Lad stormed in.

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