Page 72 of Off the Ice

That caught him off guard. “Excuse me?”

I sat down for the first time, “McKay is done. He never served me well, clearly. If I'm going to be working directly with HQ, I don't need an agent, my lawyer will suffice.”

Patrick studied me for a moment, like he was recalibrating. “That’s… doable.”

I nodded. “Then send me the contract. I’ll have my lawyer look at it.”

His eyes flickered with approval. “Smart.”

I pushed my chair back and stood. “You already knew I’d say yes.”

He tilted his head. “I was reasonably sure.”

I scoffed. “The only way out is through, right?”

Patrick smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Something like that.”

I turned to leave, but before I reached the door, his voice stopped me.

“One more thing, Bennett.”

I glanced back.

Patrick’s expression had shifted—still composed, still carefully neutral, but something in his eyes was sharper now. A warning.

“Be careful who you trust.”

A cold feeling crept up my spine, but I didn’t let it show. I just gave him a slow nod before walking out of the room.

The second I stepped into the elevator, I pulled out my phone.

I hesitated for half a second—thinking about Ava, about the way I had pushed her away—but then I pressed her name and brought the phone to my ear.

She picked up after two rings. “Logan?”

I exhaled. “I need to see you.”

A pause. “Are you okay?”

No.

Not even close.

But I just said, “I don’t know.”

Another pause, then, softer: “Where are you?”

“New York,” I muttered. “But I’ll be back tonight.”

She exhaled, like she was considering something. “Come over when you land.”

I closed my eyes. “Yeah.”

The line went quiet for a beat. Then, before I could overthink it, I said, “Ava?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry.”

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