Page 56 of Falling for the Hockey Superstar

“Because…” I swallow hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “What if I tell him I’m willing to uproot everything for him… and he still leaves on his own?”

The weight of that fear presses down on me, making it hard to breathe.

“Abs,” Quinn murmurs, her hand resting gently on my arm. “You’re forgetting something.”

I glance at her; my eyes filled with uncertainty. “What?”

She offers a small, knowing smile. “You’re not the only one making a sacrifice here.”

I’ve spent the better part of the morning lost in thought, pacing the length of Beck’s living room while Spotty snoozes on the rug and the cats all eye me like I’m a crazy woman.

“Okay, Quinn.” I mutter under my breath, stopping mid-step and rubbing my temples. “Pros and cons. It’s time.”

I grab a notebook from my bag and settle onto the couch, determined to figure this out.

Pro:I can work from anywhere.Freelance writing gives me the flexibility to move wherever I need to be. Sports and travel articles don’t tie me to Irondale. I’ve built a solid career doing what I love—and that part won’t change, no matter where we end up.

Con:Jake’s stability.Irondale is home. It’s where Jake’s friends are, where his school is, where he’s finally started to feel safe and secure again after everything we’ve been through. My heart aches at the thought of pulling him away from that.

“Mom?”

Jake’s voice startles me, and I look up to see him standing in the doorway, his hair damp with sweat and a smile plastered across his face.

“Hey, bud.” I tuck the notebook under a pillow, not ready for him to see my scribbled mess. “How was practice?”

“Awesome!” He bounces onto the couch beside me, Spotty instantly lifting his head and plopping into Jake’s lap. “Beck says I’m getting better at my wrist shots!”

The pride in his voice makes my heart swell.

“Of course you are,” I murmur, gently using my thumb to wipe away some of the dirt on his chin.

Jake leans back against the cushions, a contented sigh escaping his lips as Spotty licks his cheek.

“Mom?” Jake’s voice is quieter now, thoughtful.

“Yeah?”

“If Beck goes…” His eyes meet mine, filled with a vulnerability that squeezes my chest. “Will we go too?” My throat tightens, and I force a smile I don’t quite feel. I wasn’t expecting that particular question.

“I don’t know yet, buddy,” I whisper, brushing his hair back gently. “But no matter what happens… I promise we’ll figure it out.”

Jake nods, but I can see the uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

And it kills me that I don’t have the answers he needs.

I spend the afternoon helping Quinn and Beck finish the food for tonight’s BBQ over at my house. There’ll be quite a crowd packed into my backyard, but I want to host tonight to take some of the pressure off Beck. We each have a lot on our mind, but I know Beck is really struggling.

***

We’re back at my place later that evening, and first to arrive just after five are his folks and Quinn. Of course, they come early to be useful and to help finish last-minute things. I adore his parents, especially the way they have taken Jake in and treat him like a true grandson. It’s something that Jake has never had, so I really treasure that they want to do things with him, take him places, and even teach him to fish.

I’m surprised that Wes shows up early. That’s definitely not his style. The mischievous glint in his eyes screams at me to not trust him one bit with my sister, but I’m afraid she has a different point of view.

“Okay, so what are we doing? What do you need?” Quinn asks, her arms crossed as she eyes Wes suspiciously.

“Cornhole,” he says casually, setting up the boards in my backyard like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“Cornhole?” Quinn arches an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

---