Page 121 of The Puck Stops Here

‘Like forcing me to explain Leo to you.’

‘Why would he have to force you to explain Leo?’

‘Because he knows I wouldn’t tell you about him.’

‘Why?’

‘Because it’s personal and private and he’s just a kid! Will you quit with the questions!’

Astrid flinched. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘No, I’m… I’m sorry. I’m just…’ He fell silent, his jaw twitching for several strained seconds until, ‘He’s a fan, okay?’

‘A fan you’ve been teaching to skate?’

‘Yes.’

‘And his mother?’

‘Also a fan. Why?’ He searched her gaze, the intensity of his blue eyes making her lean back as her body urged her to do the opposite. ‘Did you think she was something more?’

‘Huh?’ she practically squeaked.

‘Did you think she was an ex?’

She coloured. ‘I didn’t know what to think.’

‘Of course you did. Bad Boy Blake. Bound to have left a trail of kids in his wake?’ The bitterness in his voice was laced with something else. A sadness. A self-loathing. A wish for something different, whileshewished she’d kept her suspicions better hidden.

He moved to lean back against the boards, his head turned away, his sigh heavy and weighing her down with it.

‘Blake, I’m sorry. I didn’t…’

‘I met Chantelle at a homeless shelter two years ago,’ he said quietly, surprising her with the soft admission. ‘When Leo was five. I recognised her from the occasional game. She was in a bad way after her parents had kicked her out. Her father was much like mine. Her mother wasn’t much better than him. And I wanted to help.’

Astrid eased closer, hooked on all he was telling her.

‘I wanted to do something more than the usual – clothing, food, a roof over their head. I wanted to give them something to truly smile about. And they loved the game. But time on the ice doesn’t come cheap and I thought… I thought if I can make him into a player, I’d give him the drive and the determination to make something of himself and then one day he could help his mother too.’

‘Just like you and your brother helped your mum?’

He flicked her the briefest look. ‘Yeah.’

‘So you started to bring him here on your own time?’

He nodded. ‘It’s tough during the season but I try to get him here once a week. And I know it’s just one kid among millions but…’

She blinked back tears. ‘I think it’s amazing.’

‘He’samazing. He works hard and he deserves to get there.’

‘Andyoudeserve to be praised for it, Blake. Don’t you see that?’ She padded onto the ice so she could face him. ‘This is why your brother brought Leo to the photoshoot, isn’t it?’

‘Aiden claims he just ran into them.’

‘But you don’t believe him?’

‘No.’

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