Page 61 of Now That We Don't Talk

Mac claps his hands together. “On that note, shall we go?”

“Let’s do it.” I grab my bag, my pulse kicking up again as I follow him out the door.

I never expected to be here, going on a date with this person—this guy who’s somehow been in my life forever and yet never in this way. But maybe the unexpected turns out to be exactly what I need.

I can’t stop laughing. Mac is in full storyteller mode, entertaining me with tales from his hockey career—wild locker room antics, nail-biting games, and even a few epic on-ice brawls. His enthusiasm is contagious, and I find myself surprisingly captivated by this world.

“It sounds like you are part of an amazing team,” I say, still smiling as I take a sip of my drink.

He nods. “I’m very lucky. I consider my teammates brothers…just like Kyle.”

The mention of Kyle shifts the energy between us.

“I understand,” I tell him. “I’m closer to Katie than I am to my own sister. We’re both lucky to have them in our lives.”

He exhales, his fingers tapping the side of his glass. “Yeah. That’s probably why the conversation with Kyle bothers me so much.”

I purse my lips, unsure of how to respond. Sometimes, words aren’t enough to fix things. I want to remind him that people say things they don’t always mean, and that friendships go through rough patches. Although I don’t want it to sound like a lecture.

“Anyway, enough about that,” he says abruptly. “I want to hear about you. What have you been up to all these years?”

I let out a small laugh. “Oh, you know…nothing as exhilarating as playing professional hockey.”

His eyes stay locked on mine, waiting for me to talk about myself, so I give him the basics. “I’m still working in finance, and I love it. I also do Pilates and spend time with friends…”

As I list the pieces of my life, I realize how boring they sound in comparison to his adrenaline-fueled career. I don’t have any crazy, larger-than-life stories to share.

“Have I put you to sleep yet?” I tease.

Mac shakes his head. “Not at all. Why?”

I shrug my shoulders. “You asked about my life, and…there’s not a lot to tell. I stick to a routine most days.”

“Routines are important,” he says. “I like hearing about your life— Pilates, friends, all of it.”

I snort. “Sure.”

He’s quiet for a few seconds. “Let me ask you something—do you enjoy what you do?”

“Yes.”

“Are you proud of what you’ve accomplished?”

I hesitate for only a second before nodding. “Very.”

“Then that’s what matters.” He leans forward, his gaze intense. “I had a coach who used to always say, ‘When passion meets effort, greatness follows.’ You have passion for what you do, so there’s no need to compare your life to anyone else’s.”

I blink as I take in his point of view. “Have you ever thought about being a motivational speaker?”

He laughs. “Never.”

“You should consider it if the hockey thing doesn’t work out,” I tease.

Mac snorts. “You obviously haven’t seen me play enough. Speaking of which—we really need to work on your hockey knowledge.”

I sigh dramatically. “You’ll be happy to know I actually watched some highlights today.”

His mouth drops open. “Highlights—of my team?”

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