Page 156 of Check & Chase
“I saw you during the third period. In the stands.”
She looks away, keys clutched tightly. “I just came to watch one last game before I leave.”
“Leave. For Hartford?”
She nods, still not meeting my eyes. “I start with the Wolves on Monday.”
“Don’t go,” I blurt before I can stop myself.
Now she does look at me, green eyes wide with surprise. “What?”
“Don’t go to Hartford. Stay in Pinewood. Stay with the Bears.”
“Chase,” she murmurs, my name half sigh, half warning. “We’ve been through this. You made your decision. You decided breaking up was the best solution.”
“I was wrong. So wrong, Emma. I thought I was protecting you, your career, but all I did was hurt us both.”
She crosses her arms, defensive posture at odds with the vulnerability in her eyes. “That doesn’t change anything. I’ve accepted the Wolves position. Signed the contract, packed my things.”
“Contracts can be broken. Nothing’s irreversible if you still feel anything for me.”
“That’s not fair,” she whispers, pain flashing across her face. “You don’t get to say that after what you did.”
She’s right. “You’re right. It’s not fair. But I need you to know the truth before you decide anything.” I take a deep breath. “I love you, Emma. I never stopped. Breaking up with you was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.”
Her eyes glisten, tears threatening but held back by sheer willpower. “You hurt me. You made a decision about our relationship without even asking what I wanted.”
“I know. I was trying to fix everything myself, to protect you from the fallout. But I’ve learned my lesson the hard way.” I step closer, careful not to crowd her. “I don’t want to make decisions for you. I want to make them with you.”
“It’s not that simple. You can’t just say you’re sorry and expect everything to go back to the way it was.”
“I don’t expect that. I know we’d have to rebuild, earn back trust, figure out how to be together in a way that works for both of us. I’m just asking for a chance to try.”
She shakes her head, conflict written across her face. “You don’t understand what these past weeks have been like for me, Chase. I’ve been barely functioning. I cried myself to sleep for days. And just when I finally find a way forward, you show up and ask me to stay?”
“I understand more than you think. I’ve been a mess too. Couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t even play hockey right. My teammates were ready to strangle me.”
A small, reluctant smile tugs at her lips. “I noticed. I also noticed that your knee was bothering you during the game.”
“You could tell that from the stands?”
“From my couch. But only because I spent months rehabbing that knee. I know exactly how it moves when it’s hurting.”
The admission hangs between us, proof that she still cares. “Running away won’t fix what’s broken between us. And leaving won’t make you stop loving me.”
Her sharp intake of breath tells me I’ve hit a nerve. “You don’t know how I feel.”
“I saw your face during the game. When I scored. You still care, Emma. And if there’s even a chance for us, I have to take it.”
For a long moment, she stares at me, the war within her visible in every nuance of her expression. I hold my breath, knowing whatever she says next could determine everything.
“I’m still leaving for Hartford tomorrow,” she finally declares, and my heart plummets until she continues. “But I’m not taking all my things yet. Just what I need for a few weeks while I figure things out. The rest stays in storage here.”
Hope flares, fragile but persistent. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I need time, Chase. I need to think about what I want, what’s best for me professionally and personally. The Wolves job is a huge opportunity.”
“Of course. Take all the time you need. I’ll wait.”
