Page 36 of Goalies Don't Date Ice Princesses

“Who was the one who sat up all night with Adelynn on the first anniversary of your dad’s death?” I asked. I hated the way my voice cracked as I said it, but I couldn’t control it. Not as I remembered the way she’d sobbed all night, only twelve years old and already feeling alone in the world. “Who was the one who hugged her when she cried? Who was the one who listened to her tell stories about him, and made sure nobody ever drove too fast for her comfort in the car, and visited his grave with her every month? Because it sure as hell wasn’tyou!”

Avianna’s eyes welled up with tears, her shoulders slumping under the weight of my accusation. I watched as her facade crumbled, her once fierce demeanor dissolving into vulnerability.

“I... I didn’t know,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I didn’t realize how much you were there for her. How much she needed.”

No matter how much anger had consumed me moments ago, seeing Avianna’s vulnerability now tugged at my heartstrings. She was human too, flawed and burdened by a complicated past. I’d always sympathized with Adelynn over her pain of losing her father so young, but I’d never stopped to think about how her triplets felt too. That was why I’d been so surprised when I saw Archer on the ice that day, hadn’t it? Avianna and Archer both seemed so unshaken by the event that I’d always thought they just didn’t care.

But I’d seen in the last few months how wrong I’d been about Archer. So was it really that far of a stretch to think that maybe I’d been wrong about Avianna too? It struck me then that this trio of siblings, so seemingly detached from one another, held within them a labyrinth of unspoken emotions.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “That wasn’t fair. I went too far.”

Avianna pressed her lips together and shook her head.

“No.” She sighed. “No, you didn’t. You’re right. I have no right to...” She looked up at me again, suddenly looking much younger and much less intimidating than before. “He’s been through so much, Bri. Please don’t be another person who lets him down.”

I took a step closer to Avianna, the weight of her words sinking deep within me. She was right; I couldn’t afford to be another person who let Archer down. The guilt crept into my chest, gnawing at my insides as I realized the impact my presence had on his life.

Avianna’s tears spilled over, tracing the delicate lines of her cheeks. In that moment, all the barriers between us crumbled away, leaving only raw emotion and a shared understanding of our connection to Archer. I realized that her hostility hadn’t come out of a hatred for me, but a deep sense of protection for her brother.

“He means everything to me,” I confessed, my voice barely a whisper. “I never wanted to cause him pain or disrupt his life. I just... I care about him so much.”

“I believe you,” she said. She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “I believe you.”

I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. Even just having one other person know—one other person support us—meant more to me than I ever imagined.

“Avi! Bri!” We both turned at the sound of Adelynn’s eager voice. She was standing at the end of the hall, practically bouncing. “Come on! Archer’s awake! Really awake!”

twenty-three

Avianna and I exchanged glances,our eyes filled with a mix of excitement and relief. Without another word, we followed Adelynn down the brightly lit hallway, our footsteps echoing against the sterile walls of the hospital. As we approached Archer’s room, the anticipation in my chest tightened like a bowstring.

Pushing the door open gently, we entered the room, now filled with light as the curtains had been pushed open. Archer lay in the bed, his eyes fluttering open as if conjured by our presence. His tired gaze met ours, and a soft smile tugged at his lips.

“Hey,” he murmured, his voice raspy yet filled with an underlying strength.

I couldn’t help but feel a surge of tenderness at the sight of him. With his tousled hair and pale complexion, he seemed almost ethereal amidst the pristine white sheets. The air in the room felt charged with emotions—relief, hope, and an unspoken understanding that we had all survived something together. My heart swelled with a renewed sense of determination, knowing that we were now united in our dedication to each other’s well-being.

“Hey yourself,” I replied, my voice soft but laced with an undeniable warmth. Avianna and Adelynn stood beside me, their presence a silent affirmation of the bond we had formed. In that moment, it was clear to me that we were more than just individuals; we were a makeshift family, bound by love and loyalty.

Archer’s lips curved into a genuine smile, and I saw the weight of his previous ordeal momentarily lifted from his shoulders. It was as if my presence, our presence, was enough to chase away the shadows and fill the room with light.

“How are you feeling?” Avianna asked, her voice gentle yet tinged with concern.

Archer shifted in the bed, wincing as he gingerly stretched his arms. “Sore,” he admitted, his eyes flicking around the room.

“You had a pretty nasty fall.” I jumped in surprise at the sound of the voice coming from the side. I glanced over and saw Mr. Jamison leaning against the wall under the TV, his arms crossed and a serious look on his face. I hadn’t seen him standing there but I guess it made sense that he would be here.

“I don’t remember anything,” Archer said. He blinked a few times. “I remember we were going snowboarding but then...”

“The doctor said you might have some memory issues,” Mrs. Rainn said, smiling at him softly. “It’s nothing to worry about. It’s really common.”

“But what happened?” Archer asked.

“You fell off the chair lift,” Mr. Jamison told him. He took a couple steps forward so he was standing at the end of the bed. “We don’t know the exact story yet. They haven’t shown us the incident report yet.”

“But it was probably some sort of emergency stop,” Mrs. Rainn said. “And you fell.”

Archer’s gaze landed on his leg, which was propped up in its horrible cast.

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