Page 40 of Check & Chase
He nods, reaching for his crutches. “Looking forward to it.”
The session ends on a strained note. I watch Chase leave, noting the tension in his shoulders.
Once he’s gone, I turn to the flowers, anger replacing my initial dismay. There’s no card, but I don’t need one. Tyler’s parting comment echoes in my mind: “Think about what I said, Em.”
I grab the vase and march to the nearest waste disposal room, dumping the entire arrangement into the trash with enough force to shatter the glass. The crash is satisfying.
As I stand there, breathing hard, a memory surfaces—five years ago, walking into the apartment after being gone for two weeks. The sound of laughter from the bedroom. The door opening to reveal Tyler and a woman I’d never seen before, tangled in sheets that still smelled of my perfume.
The flowers he’d sent the next day, red roses and white lilies, with a card that read “I can explain.”
I’d burned the card and left the flowers to rot on the doorstep.
Now, staring at the broken vase, I feel the same cold fury. Tyler hasn’t changed, still using the same tactics. And worse, he’s made Chase think the flowers are from someone I’d welcome attention from, creating tension where there was finally some trust building between us.
I take a deep breath, clenching and unclenching my fists. I won’t let Tyler get to me. Not again. And I won’t let him interfere with my professional relationship with Chase.
But as I clean up the mess I’ve made, I can’t help wondering if it’s already too late for that.
Chase
Chapter Eight
“Mandatory team appearance” has to be my least favorite phrase in the English language, narrowly beating “alcohol-free beer.” Especially when said appearance involves standing around for hours in a stuffy ballroom making small talk with sponsors while my knee throbs like it’s got its own heartbeat.
But here I am anyway, leaning heavily on one crutch while clutching a club soda in my free hand, smiling through gritted teeth as Mr. Henderson from Henderson Financial explains hockey to me. Yes, me. The guy who’s played professionally for eight years.
“The thing about the power play,” he says, taking a swig of his whiskey, “is that you really need to capitalize on those opportunities. That’s how you win games.”
“Fascinating insight,” I reply, searching the room for any possible escape route. “I’ll be sure to mention that to Coach.”
October in Pinewood means the annual Bears Foundation Gala—a black-tie fundraiser where players mingle with sponsors and anyone willing to drop five hundred dollars on a ticket to support youth hockey programs. Usually, I enjoy these events. Tonight, I’d rather be anywhere else.
My knee has been acting up all day, punishment for pushing too hard during the PT session the other day. I haven’t told Emma, of course. She’d give me that look. The one that’s half concern, half “I told you so.”
Things have been weird between us since those flowers appeared in her office. Something shifted. We used to laugh. Now she barely looks at me unless it’s to give instructions. The walls are back, and I don’t know how to get through them.
It bothers me more than it should.
“Mitchell!” Donovan appears at my side, a welcome interruption. “Sorry to steal him, but the team photographer needs some shots of the leadership group.”
I’ve never been more grateful for a photo op in my life.
As soon as we’re out of earshot, I sigh in relief. “You’re a fucking lifesaver, Donny.”
“You looked like you were contemplating jabbing that crutch through your eye just to escape.” He grins, guiding me toward the photographer. “How’s the knee?”
“Fine,” I lie, shifting to take some weight off it.
“Bullshit, but I’ll pretend to believe you.” Donovan’s gaze sweeps the room. “Heads up. Your favorite people just arrived.”
I follow his line of sight and feel my mood plummet further. Tyler West stands at the entrance, Carina on his arm. She’s wearing a red dress that’s practically painted on.
“Perfect,” I mutter. “Just what this night needed.”
“Want me to spill something on them? I’m the captain now. I can get away with it.”
I laugh. “Tempting, but no. I’m over both of them.”
