Page 47 of Lucky Hit

"Are you okay?"

"He's not usually like that. I'm sorry," Ava sighs, staring at the pictures and prize ribbons hanging on her wall. "I don't know what his deal is."

"Don't apologize. I'm a big boy. I can deal with it. It wasn't that bad."

A few moments of silence pass between us before Ava speaks again. "Do you think what he said will happen?"

My mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water as I try to respond. The last thing I want is for Ava to start doubting this—to start doubting us.

"What do you mean?"

"You're going to be gone most of the time and I'm just going to be.. well here. Hockey is the only thing keeping you in Vancouver. What happens when you aren't here anymore?" she mumbles, her voice barely audible.

"Come here," I plead gently, my arm held outstretched. Slowly, she sits up and comes to sit beside me. She tucks her face into the side of my neck and wraps her arms tightly around me. "You're insane if you think hockey is the only thing I have here."

She draws in a shaky breath and nods her head as she leans into me, sighing. I rub my arm up and down her back and clear my throat.

"Besides, the odds of me being drafted at the end of this season are extremely slim. I'll most likely be here for another year. There's no use in worrying about it now."

Ava nods her head again, and we just sit together in silence, both of us wishing that my words were true.

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