Page 49 of Falling for the Hockey Superstar

“No.” She cuts me off, her tone gentler now. “You love him, don’t you?”

My throat tightens. “I… I think I do.”

“Then don’t let fear make you lose him.” Quinn’s eyes soften, but there’s an edge of urgency in her voice. “Beck’s not the kind of guy who runs. But if you keep putting up walls… he might not stick around to keep climbing them.”

I blink back the sting in my eyes.

“Abs.” Quinn’s voice is softer now; her hands still dusted with flour as she reaches across the table to squeeze mine. “You’ve already lost so much. Don’t let fear make you lose this too.”

Her words hit harder than I expect, and I swallow hard.

“I’m just… scared,” I whisper.

“Of course, you are.” Quinn’s expression softens. “But sometimes, the scariest things… they’re worth it.”

***

The breaking point comes later that night. Beck is here to hang out and watch some television.

Jake’s fast asleep, Spotty’s curled up on the rug, and Beck’s beside me on thesofa, his gaze focused on the flickering flames in the fireplace.

But he’s a million miles away.

“Beck.”

He doesn’t respond at first.

“Beck.” My voice is softer now, but insistent.

Finally, he turns to me, and the vulnerability in his eyes nearly undoes me.

“Talk to me,” I whisper, my hand reaching for his.

For a moment, he looks like he might pull away. But then… his fingers tighten around mine.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

My heart pounds so loudly I’m surprised he can’t hear it.

“What is it?”

Beck’s jaw clenches, his eyes clouding with something I can’t quite read.

“My agent…” His voice is barely above a whisper, and when he finally meets my gaze, the weight in his eyes steals the breath from my lungs.

“There’s… been an offer.”

My heart drops. “An offer?”

Beck swallows hard. “From another team.”

Oh. OH!

“Beck…” My voice cracks, but I force the words out. “Are you… are you leaving?”

The silence that follows is deafening.

Chapter seventeen

---