Page 33 of Heartbreaker

My life was my guitar, my band, the rush of a new melody, the roar of the crowd when I hit the solo just right.

The play quickly turns and suddenly, the Vipers are on defense, Banks and company skating hard back to their zone, doing their best to contain the offensive prowess of the Sierra’s top line.

Fucking Lake Jordan, man.

I’m so glad I don’t have to play against him out there.

He skates the puck in, but Banks gets a good stick on him, knocking the puck away, giving the Vipers’ goalie the opportunity to corral it for a whistle and stoppage in play.

As the two teams skate off the ice, swapping lines and players, I’m distracted by movement to my right.

And so is Frankie.

I realize why a second later, my heart threatening to crawl up the back of my throat.

The suite next to us had been empty.

And now?—

“It’s Jade!” Frankie exclaims, her hand grabbing my bad one. It’s instinct to slip it free, to wrap my other hand around hers as she jumps up and down. “Uncle Royal, Jade is next to us! Can we say hi, can we, can we, can we?”

My lungs are going tight.

My pulse is pounding.

The promise of seeing her, talking to her,touchingher?—

I want it so badly that I know I can’t fucking allow this to happen.

“Ah, Tater Tot,” I begin. “I’m sure Jade just wants to relax with her friends and have a quiet night.”

Frankie’s face kills me.

The disappointment.

Christ, I can’t stand it.

“But she’s all alone,” Frankie says. “She doesn’t have any friends with her, just some men in suits.”

The way my niece says that last part sends a blip of guilt through me.

Because she’s parroting something she’s heard me say far too often.

But I don’t comment on it…because my gaze is sliding to the side, seeing Jade at the front of the suite next to us.

And sheissurrounded by a bunch of fucking guys in suits.

Fuck.

“And don’t you know her?” she asks. “You guys made that song together. I’m sure she likes you and wants to talk and stuff.”

That almost makes me smile.

Frankie is cute as shit.

But she’s also not getting me anywhere near that fucking suite.

That night is far too fresh. The pictures in the media far too prevalent. The fucking interview with the celebrity magazine published far too recently.

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