Page 7 of Off Season

I narrow my eyes.

“Nobody’s heard from him,” Blaine replies, ignoring Alex’s teasing tone. “He’d usually be in our group chat sending motivational texts, but there’s been nothing… It’s like he’s?—”

“Disappeared,” Zach adds.

“Maybe he’s just taking some time to process? I always need a bit of downtime to gather my emotions after a big loss,” Carter suggests with a small shrug of his wide-set shoulders.

I eye him warily out of the corner of my eye. I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to be bigger than Zach, but wow, Carter is huge. Between the two of them, they make the large sectional look tiny.

“No, I don’t think that’s it.” Elliot shakes his head, bringing my attention back to him. “As much as he’s a grumpy, grizzly bear, he wouldn’t just go off the radar, especially after a loss like this. He’s our support beacon. He’s the glue that keeps us all strong.”

My chest constricts as worry pools in my stomach. Is Ethan alone? Or hurt? He’s a natural caregiver, always wanting to protect those he cares about and make sure they’re okay, so knowing he hasn’t even reached out to his teammates makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

This isn’t like him.

“Maybe you could go and check on him.” Alex nudges my thigh with his socked feet. “He likes you, and it might do him some good to see someone outside of hockey.”

I scoff, trying to hide how much I like the idea. “Why would he want to see me?”

“Why wouldn’t he?” he retorts.

Because while I would love to see him, what if he turns me away?

I know my crush on him is completely inconvenient, especially since we have a business agreement, but I don’t know if I could handle any form of rejection from him. I’m already annoyed at myself for having a crush on a hockey player, of all people.

“That’s a good idea, actually.” Zach nods in agreement.

Blaine lifts his head, his eyes sparkling with mischief as a wide smile spreads across his face.

“No,” I say, pointing my finger at him before he can speak.

“What? I didn’t say anything!” He feigns innocence.

I glare at him. “You didn’t need to; your face said it all, and whatever you’re thinking—no.”

“Stop winding him up about it! That’s my job.” Alex swats his chest with the back of his hand.

Blaine idly rubs the spot over his chest, his mouth curving into a grin. “It’s nothing, I just had an idea. Nothing to worry about.”

With Blaine, that means I definitely need to worry.

Chapter Three

Ethan

“I’ve already told you—I’ll look at flights when I’m done with team stuff,” I grumble. I’m trying not to lose my patience because it’s not my mom’s fault I’m dragging my feet over booking my flights to England.

Every time I tried to sort it out, I ended up balking and slamming my laptop closed. I want to go because it’s been nearly six months since I’ve seen my mom, but I know the second the airplane lands in Heathrow, my stomach is going to be churning at the thought of seeinghim,and nobody likes nausea.

“Ethan, stop being such an idiot and just book them already. You’re coming to Samantha’s wedding whether you come on your own or I have to fly to Chicago and drag you by the hair,” she threatens in her stern mother tone, like I’m a petulant child instead of an adult nearing their forties. “Iknow you don’t want to see him, sweetie, but it’s been ten years. You should count yourself lucky you’ve not bumped into him before now.”

Fuck. I know she’s right, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Every time I allow myself to think about it, my blood boils with anger.

Am I over Ian? Yeah, a million percent, but I never had closure. I don’t knowwhyhe left so abruptly, without rhyme or reason, and that’s what makes me so fucking mad. It’s like a wound that hasn’t fully healed, which also pisses me off.

Taking a sip of my coffee, I kick my feet up against the opposite chair and gaze at the lake from my balcony. The sun bounces off the water, causing it to sparkle like glass. It’s calm. Tranquil. The polar opposite of how my muscles are currently vibrating from the anger bubbling away in my veins, like they do every time he crosses my mind. I fucking hate it.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath through my nose, focusing on the summer sun warming my skin and soothing away the tension.

---