Page 40 of The Pucks We Freeze
Kade stilled, his entire body tensing in a way I felt before I even saw what he was looking at.
“What?” I asked, voice catching, nerves flaring.
He didn’t answer at first. His eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, slowly reaching toward the center console. There, sitting like it had been placed with care, was a single hockey puck.
No number. Only a folded piece of paper taped to the top.
Kade peeled it off, reading it before glancing around for any sign of who left it.
KEEP PLAYING. STAY QUIET.
My blood ran cold.
Kade didn’t move. Didn’t flinch. He just stared down at the puck like it was a ticking time bomb, the silence stretching so long it became its own kind of noise.
I reached for him, placing my hand gently over his. “What do you think it means?”
His jaw worked as he stared at the windshield, his eyes unreadable. He didn’t look at me. “Someone was in my truck while I was with you.”
My stomach dropped.
He finally met my eyes. “They know I know. They want me to know they’re watching.”
That truth hit me like ice. This wasn’t over, not even close. Somewhere out there, someone was pulling the strings, waiting for their next move. A warning hidden in plain sight.
And at that moment, I realized this was only the beginning.
Chapter Thirteen
Willow
The hours slipped by in quiet pieces. I spent the morning with Dad at the lodge, organizing receipts, folding linens, and helping Mae enter new bookings into the system. It felt good to be useful, to keep my mind busy, until I remembered I was running out of time.
By afternoon, I was folding sweaters into my duffel and staring too long at the hoodie I’d stolen from Kade’s room. His scent still clung to the fabric, and I wasn’t ready to let it go. I pressed it to my chest before tucking it in last.
Even Mae’s goodbye was harder than I expected. She wrapped me in one of those signature rib-crushing hugs and whispered, “Take care of that boy. He’s not as tough as he acts.”
I didn’t ask how she knew.
By the time I got back to the cabin, everything felt… hollow. My things were packed. My plans were made. The bus back to Braysen leaves tomorrow at ten. I’d already said goodbye to everyone, except the one person I wasn’t ready to leave behind.
The bags were by the door, zipped and ready, but I wasn’t. I sat at the edge of the bed, knees tucked to my chest, watching the second hand crawl across the clock face above the dresser like it could slow time if I looked hard enough.
The knock came soft and sure.
My pulse stuttered.
I didn’t even have to look. I already knew it was him.
When I opened the door, Kade stood in the glow of the porch light, hood pulled up, hair damp like he’d just showered but couldn’t wait to come. His eyes were tired but locked on mine, like seeing me was the only thing holding him together.
Neither of us spoke. We didn’t need to.
I stepped back and let him in. The door clicked shut behind him, sealing us off from everything else.
“I know you leave early,” he said quietly, like his voice might disturb the stillness if it got too loud.
I nodded. Not ready to say the words out loud.
