Page 31 of One Last Puck

My eyes flew to the ice. The anticipation of seeing him again after four months crippled me.

I’d thought about reaching out to give him a heads up but decided against it. I had convinced myself I could slip in and out without him seeing me. They said to get footage. They didn’t say I had to talk to him, right? My eyes scanned the team for forty-two as the players took to the ice. He wasn’t there. I scanned again, blowing out a deep breath.

“Which one is he?” my mom asked, patting my arm.

“He isn’t out there.”

“Huh? Don’t all the players usually participate in warmups?”

“Mmhmm. They do. Maybe something happened?” I shrugged, feeling a pang of concern.

Was he not playing today? I took out my phone and searched his name on the internet to see if there was any clue as to why he was missing. Nothing. Surely, they hadn’t sent me to film a game he wasn’t playing in.

“Let’s go, Penguins!”

His voice echoed through the stadium, and my eyes darted to the Jumbotron. The pre-show trailer had started. I settled into my seat and pulled out my camera. I was here to do a job.

“Hey, everyone! It’s Lafayette Porter fromThe Porter Report. It’s game day, and GZN Sports has flown me all the way to Richmond to catch the Penguins first game of the season. I’m here at the rink and can’t wait to see Jaxton Saint take the ice tonight. It’s going to be an amazing game. Let’s go, Penguins!”

I finished recording just as the lights dimmed.

“Give it up for your Richmond Penguins!” the announcer shouted over the speakers, and the players skated onto the ice one by one.

That nervous feeling returned as I scanned every player for him. Then I spotted him—Jaxton Saint. He skated onto the ice with his hands up in the air, waving at fans.

“There he is,” I whispered under my breath.

I turned my camera to focus on him as he skated out. Laughter and pure joy spilled from him. He looked so comfortable and happy, and I missed him, but how could one miss what they never had? Our whirlwind romance had been over before it even began. I captured some footage, framing my shots as he greeted his teammates.

“Are you okay, baby?” My mom leaned in as I stared at Jax.

“I’m fine.” I nodded, breathing deeply.

I’d dealt with my feelings for Jax and the whole betting on me thing in therapy, but for some reason, I was unsteady. After grabbing a few more shots, I tucked my camera away and settled back into my seat to enjoy the game. The game started, and I kept my eyes glued on the action—on Jax. I watched the players dart across the ice. Each moved with ease.

“This is exciting, baby,” my mom acknowledged just as a puck flew toward the glass in front of me and hit it with a loud bang.

“Shit!”

My hand flew to my chest, and my eyes closed. When I popped them back open, he was skating up the side of the glass with his eyes glued on me. My breath hitched, and in the blink of an eye, all the walls I’d built came crashing down. Everything I felt for Jax, including the anger, came flooding back, and I couldn’t take it. Without muttering a word, I took off up the stairs. I needed to get out of here.

“Fayette!” my mom yelled as I walked down the hallway and headed toward the exit.

I couldn’t do this. I shouldn’t have come.

“Faye, wait!” Jax’s voice froze me in place, and I quickly turned to see him marching toward me in full uniform—skates, helmet, and all.

“Did you just walk out on the game?” My mouth dropped open in shock.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, taking off his helmet.

“Work… Getting footage for GZN Sports.” I flashed him the press badge around my neck.

His eyes lit up with pride. “That’s huge. Congratulations,” he said, closing the gap between us.

My mouth was still on the ground because he just bolted midgame.

“Jax, what are you doing? You can’t be out here like this.”

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