Page 41 of The Icing on the Cake
He pauses, searching for words. “This doesn’t feel like practice anymore.”
My heart does a little flip. “No?”
“It feels like…”
He’s about to say something when a group of rowdy kids push past us in line, breaking the moment. Without thinking, I step closer to Lucian’s side, feeling the warmth of his body pressed against mine. His arm comes up instinctively on the small of my back, and I don’t move away. I tell myself it’s just because it’s crowded, and we’re supposed to be showing everyone I’m over Nate.
But the truth is being close to Lucian feels like coming home after being lost for the last year.
With Nate, I was always second-guessing myself, wondering if I was too much or not enough. But with Lucian, I feel like I can justbe. He looks at me like I’m the only person in his world.
“What were you saying?” I ask.
“Who’s next?” the lady at the cider booth calls out.
His mouth opens, but I can see the moment has passed. Whatever he was about to tell me is lost now, tucked behind that careful grin.
He turns and steps to the counter to buy two ciders while I wrap my arms around my waist suddenly missing his warmth. What would this be like if it weren’t just practice? The thought is both scary and exhilarating—like standing at the edge of a cliff, knowing that jumping might be the most wonderful mistake I could make.
“So,” he says casually, handing me my steaming cider, “think you might need more practice after this? Because this was the easy lesson, where I don’t do any coaching, just let you get comfortable.”
I hide a smile behind the cup. “The easy lesson, huh? Does that mean I passed?”
“With flying colors. But I’m thinking we might need a few more lessons…forthoroughness.”
“Thoroughness?” I look at him skeptically, trying to ignore the way my pulse speeds up. “That sounds somewhat suspicious, especially since you’re supposed to be helping me practice forotherpeople.”
“Maybe I’m not being entirely selfless here,” he admits, his mouth curving up on one side. “The truth is, I don’t want you practicing for anyone else. Maybe I only want you practicing with me.”
He flashes that easy smile, sending my heart into a tailspin. That’s when I remember I haven’t used the escape clause tonight—and I don’t even want to.
CHAPTER 12
LUCIAN
Maple Fest was the best night of my life—even better than the winning streak I’ve had with my new team. After only a month together, we’re finally starting to gel as a team, learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and building the kind of chemistry that wins games. Our season opener couldn’t have gone better: a 3–0 shutout against the Great Lakes Vikings that had the home crowd on their feet. Clément earned player of the game for keeping every shot out of the net, living up to his reputation as one of the best goalies in the league. Asher scored our first goal and immediately looked up into the stands to point to Mabel, who was cheering louder than anyone. It was great seeing the locals fully embrace the team, but every time I scanned the crowd, I found myself looking for one face that wasn’t there.
Neesha’s absence shouldn’t have affected me this much, since she doesn’t even know what I do for a living. But I can’t deny that something shifted between us that night at Maple Fest.
She never once used the escape clause, and for the first time since moving to Maple Falls, I’d felt like I belonged somewhere—not because of hockey, but because of her.
But since then, there’s been this constant knot in my stomach.It’s the worry ofwhen—notif—I’ll have to confess that I’m a hockey player. She still thinks I’m just the handyman helping with Mimi’s house, which I technically am. But that’s not the whole truth, and the longer I wait to tell her, the worse it will get.
I keep telling myself that I’ll know when the time is right, but after watching Neesha let her guard down on our practice date, I can’t bear the thought of those walls slamming back up. I’d rather be the one who fixes things in her life than the guy who triggers everything that broke her heart.
Which is why I can barely focus as I lace up my skates in the locker room tonight. We’re facing one of our toughest competitors—the San Diego Barracudas—but all I can think about is how I’m going to tell Neesha the truth without losing her.
The arena is buzzing with energy as we take the ice for warm-ups, but my shoulders feel tight with tension. That’s when I catch Nate looking at me from across the rink, and I know he’s put the pieces together. Too many people saw us together at Maple Fest, and from the look on his face, I’m running out of time to tell her myself.
Jamie and Cade skate over when they see Nate staring me down.
“Keep your head in the game,” Jamie warns. “I know Neesha has a history with Simpson, but we need you focused.”
“I haven’t had any problems with him yet.”
“I overheard him say in the locker room that he saw you and Neesha together,” Jamie says.
“What were you thinking, strolling around Maple Fest with her?” Cade asks. “It only takes one person to spill your secret, Lowe.One.”
