Page 65 of Breakaway to You

Although I’d be right back to the torture as soon as we started getting ready for the new season since I’d heard that the Wolves had offered to extend Zeke’s contract for another year. And I was so happy for him. He deserved to keep his spot on the team, and I knew he was happiest on the ice.

It just stunk for me because I’d have to keep feeling the lingering sting of not being able to be with him. But maybe with some space and an unknown summer ahead, I could get over him.

Doubtful, but one could hope. If this time away from him had proved anything to me, it was that what I felt for Zeke and the brief moments we’d had together were something a person never truly got over. The feelings might dim over time and the possibilities of adding new feelings for someone else might appear, but nothing could ever take away from what I’d had with Zeke.

For a girl who had said she never wanted to fall for a guy again, I sure had skipped right into Zeke’s arms. And not that anything bad had happened between us, but the pain of losing him and losing what we could have been was enough to recommit myself to my anti-relationship status. I was happy to remain single for the foreseeable future.

Despite how hard it was to work at the same place as Zeke, I really did love my job. And I also loved living and hanging out with my sister. So although I was struggling and somewhat miserable at the moment, I had hope that life would be good in the end.

Time heals all wounds, so they said. I wasn’t sure whotheywere, but if the phrase was so popular it had to be true, right? That’s what I told myself, at least.

“Hey, Piper.”

I jumped at the voice, not expecting anyone. Turning, I found Holden standing in the doorway.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” he said with a sheepish grin.

“No, it’s fine.” I waved him off. “I just wasn’t expecting anyone. I thought the team had left. Do you need anything?”

“Uh, no.” He shook his head. “But Coach wanted to talk to you before you left. He’s waiting for you in the arena.”

My eyebrows scrunched together. “Oh, okay.” That was weird. Usually, we talked in his office or here in the therapy room.

I set down the rag and cleaner I’d been using and made my way out of the room.

“Oh, and Piper,” Holden said before I could leave. “I know you and Zeke aren’t together, but for what it’s worth, I’d never seen him as happy as when he was with you. I never thought anyone would break through his hard exterior, but somehow you did.”

His words were both a balm and a jagged sword to my aching heart. Having someone else say that what Zeke and I’d had was real and special was validating in a way I hadn’t known I longed to hear.

“Even though,” he continued, “I did try to convince him that relationships weren’t worth it, even for someone as amazing as you.” He let out a short chuckle as if remembering something. “He all but told me to back off, making it clear he didn’t care what I had to say because what he felt for you wasn’t something he could just walk away from.”

“He said that?” Surprise colored my tone.

“Well, not in so many words. You know Zeke doesn’t like to share his feelings.”

That’s what people said, but Zeke hadn’t been that way with me. He’d seemed willing to talk to me about things, even if it took him a minute to open up.

I nodded. “Thanks, Holden. I’ll see you around.”

I hurried off toward the ice rink, hoping Coach Hill was still there and hadn’t been waiting for me for too long.

When I stepped into the arena, the quiet was a stark contrast from a couple hours ago, when people had filled the seats, music blaring through the speakers, fans screaming for their teams, the buzzer echoing throughout the rink. A few arena crew members worked here and there in the stands, picking up the remaining trash, but other than that, it was practically empty. A lone figure slowly skated on the ice, quickly catching my eye. And it wasn’t because no one was supposed to be on the ice. I’d recognize that dark mess of curls, the chin dimple, those broad shoulders, the graceful way he glided on the ice, anywhere.

I made my way toward the rink. I was used to seeing him in his hockey gear on the ice, but he wore a pair of jeans, with a black hoodie with the Minnesota Wolves logo outlined on the front. And here I’d thought he couldn’t get more attractive. I had clearly been wrong.

I rested my hands on the half wall of the rink where the players usually sat and continued to watch him, but it didn’t take long for him to notice me.

The smile that lit up his face when he saw me sent a swarm of butterflies swooping through my stomach. I tried to not smile back, knowing I shouldn’t even be here watching him like this, that we shouldn’t be alone, but I couldn’t help it. Maybe getting one more goodbye in before the start of the off season would be okay. I couldn’t get in trouble for just talking to him for a couple minutes, right?

Which reminded me—I was supposed to be meeting with Coach Hill. I glanced around the empty arena but didn’t see him anywhere. I must have missed him. I would need to go find him in his office and see if he still wanted to talk to me.

But then Zeke stood in front of me, and I suddenly had no desire to hurry off.

“Hi.” His voice washed over me, quickly dissolving any boundaries I’d put up between us since leaving his apartment all those weeks ago. This was why we couldn’t be just friends. I couldn’t even talk to him without wanting to be more.

“Hi.” I hated how breathless I sounded, but the satisfied look on his face told me he didn’t hate it at all.

“I’m sorry I lured you here under false pretenses,” he said.

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