Page 106 of Truly, Madly, Deeply

Sam answered on the first ring. “Hey, man. What’s up? I’m heading into a meeting, so I’ve got thirty seconds.”

“What’s it going to take to sign Ross? Bottom line?”

“Are we back to this again? Look, he could play for anyone, right?”

“Yes.”

“But he’s with you right now. Why do you think he’s in fucking Wyoming?”

Jaime got up and paced to the bookcase. “Because of Cole. Because he wants to take a team from the bottom all the way to the playoffs.”

“Come on, man. You’re looking at this all wrong. Ross’s got money, he’s got trophies, he’s got endorsements out the ass. What can Wyoming offer him that no one else can?”

He scrambled to think. “Calamity’s a great place to live.”

“Yeah? How would he know? He’s looking at the rink and the four walls of his hotel. He came out there because all anyone talks about is fucking moose, but he hasn’t seen one. He wants to go fly fishing, board a glacier—though, straight-up, I’ll kick your ass if you get him hurt. He hasn’t even seen a bull. Why the hell haven’t you taken him to a damn rodeo?That’swhy he’s there. Think you can show him a good time?”

The thought of taking Ross snowboarding made him break out in a cold sweat. He hadn’t done anything reckless in ten years.

How badly did he want this goalie, though? He thought about Gracie, how he’d almost missed out on being with her, and about Kinny, how he’d caused her to doubt her self-worth. All because of this damn fear that held him frozen in time.

He was done with that shit.

“Yeah. I can do that.”

ChapterFifteen

Whop whop whop.Over the thump of revolving blades, Jaime high-fived Cole and Declan.

Back together again.

It almost felt surreal. It had been ten years since they’d done anything like this.

Originally, they’d planned on boarding an easier glacier. With the season starting, no one could afford an injury. But they’d seen Ross’s expression, and he wasn’t into it. Turned out, he’d grown up in Michigan and had played as hard as Jaime and his crew ever did.

He wanted a good time, and who better to offer it than the three of them?

So, they’d rerouted to the Red Sentinel Couloir, a massive, steep, avalanche path. Now, they hovered over it while the pilot cleaned snow off a peak. Once he finished, they’d each take turns jumping off the chopper.

Ross went first. He landed on the peak, then reached back into the helicopter for his board.

Jaime shot a look to his friends. A lifetime of adventures, of shared experiences had solidified their ability to communicate without words.

This is risky.

We shouldn’t be doing this.

But then, Declan broke into a grin.We got this.

Cole followed.This’ll be fun.

He needed that. Needed the muscle memory of not just his body but the positive, powerful energy they created as a unit. A smile broke through, flooding him with happiness. He laughed. He wanted this. He wanted it so fucking badly.

He’dmissedthis. Fuck the fear, the nightmares, the ravaging guilt.

“Let’s carve some tracks, boys.” He was the next to jump out of the helicopter.

After his friends jumped out and joined him and they’d all gotten their boards, Jaime gave the pilot a thumbs-up. Despite the icy air and the snow kicked up by the blades, he felt hot, excited, and ready to go.

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