Page 125 of Break The Ice

My stomach churns.

Some time in the night, I decided to do something that is really hard for me. I’ve decided to trust Wren. He must have had a good reason. Someone doesn’t spend the time and emotional energy with the pack that he did and walks away from it. He asked for trust.

He loves us. It’s clear as day.

So, why did he leave? Why did he go to her? What did she blackmail him with?

He has to have a reason.

The guy on my right is huge, with an enormous belly and a booming laugh that startles me every time he lets it loose. He keeps making the row of seats shake. He reminds me somewhat of my dad.

I sit back, biting my lip. Raider’s injury has taken the joy out of the game, but while Callan and Kit have rushed off to help Raider, someone needs to stay here for Wren.

I hate us all being separated. It feels wrong.

I shift my gaze to the family in front of me. They remind me so much of my childhood. The mother is laughing and tying a scarf around her partner’s neck. He is smiling and looking at the other man who is leaning forward, pointing at the ice, two children staring at him avidly, hero worship in their eyes.

My chest aches. It’s hard to look away. It could have been us. Dad, Uncle, my mum and I. It was us for many years.

I blink away tears and hear the goal siren.

The lights dim and start to strobe. All around me, the crowd surges to their feet, roaring. The announcer shouts something that I don’t hear, and the crowd screams louder, throwing arms in the air and hollering. The atmosphere is electric, it’s powerful and contagious, but still, a part of me stays apart from everything.

A sudden sense that I’m alone and I will always be alone hits me. I shake my head, trying to dispel the horrid thoughts. Where did that come from?

Anxiety, my mind supplies.

But why am I anxious?

Where are Kit and Callan? What happened to Raider? I look down at the phone in my hands. There are no messages and no calls still. I look up and watch blindly as the game resumes.

I open my messages to Lia. She gave me her number when they visited and said no matter what, I had to call her if I needed anything.

I don’t know what I need.

My thumbs type out the words without much.

I think something bad is going to happen.

I press send.

I stare blindly down at the ice but jump to attention when Wren comes on. He’s not in his right mind. You can see it straight away. He’s distracted, and for the short time that he’s on, he does nothing for the game.

When he gets back to the bench, the coach leans over him and chews him out, but he doesn’t listen, and he’s not watching the game, he’s searching the stands.

I stand up. In a mass of people, my sudden move draws his attention. I can’t see his face clearly, but I can see the way he draws himself up.

He’s seen me.

I’ve seen him.

We’re not alone. We’re still standing.

This isn’t right, something is not right. I sit down and look at my neighbours. I saw the videos Kit was trying to hide. Raider had sex with an actress. It was before us, clearly. Raider would never do that.

I need to trust them.

He wouldn’t have done it in the last week. Still, the timing of that revelation, in the middle of a game, right after he’s been hurt and can’t come out and defend himself, is nothing short of sinister.

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