Page 35 of Don't Look Down

Me: Don’t kill me.

Me: I promise I’m not standing you up.

Me: I’m here, but I got a bit held up again…

Me: Good news is you’ll be seeing me sooner than you think.

As soon as the message shows delivered, I lock my phone and shove it in my cubby facedown. Just in case he responds fast like usual. My brain can’t handle a read notification right now. It’ll send me into a deeper spiral.

I can’t take a chance that I’ll see the screen light up and be tempted to read his response. Better to not know for now.

It’s go time.

We make our way out of the locker room, down the hall, and into the tunnel.

Don’t look at him, Landon. Hold it together. Just wait. I never fully look at the crowd before or during warmups. Only after. It’s a habit. I don’t even remember when I started it, but I can’t and won’t change that now. Not for Sky. I have to follow my routine.

I can do this.

The announcer starts yelling about chumming the waters, shark attacks, and blood in the water. Finally, he announces the team one by one.

We skate out onto the ice and work our way through our warmup routine, everyone completing their laps and drills. Taking shots on goal. Stretching and loosening up our legs and hips.

My focus is off.

My head wants to turn, my eyes want to look for him.Iwant to look for him.

I fight hard, harder than I should have to, but I beat the urge. I will not be the reason why our tried-and-true routine isn’t followed. Let’s call a spade a spade. It’s not much in the way of superstitions, but it’s mine. I follow it to the letter. No deviations from me. Deviations only lead to problems.

Our warmups come to an end after what feels like endless hours. However, I’m pleased to say that it went off without a hitch. Like the well-oiled machine we are.

Now we have some time to skate around and interact with the audience. Bouncing pucks on the ends of sticks and tossing them over to the tiniest hockey fans.

It’s still early so the arena isn’t that full.

Lifting my gaze, my eyes track to the section of seats where our friends and families sit. The ones who choose not to sit in our box seating, at least.

Nerves skitter through my veins. I wonder if he’ll catch onto what I’m up to on his own, or if I’ll need to explain. I take a deep breath and skate toward the boards closest to their section.

And holy fuck, there he is.

Just like in his picture.

Black hair, shorter on the sides, longer on top, but styled back and away from his face. That gorgeous tanned skin.

Happiness radiates out of every pore. Smirk on his mouth. That definitely tracks.

He’s wearing a long-sleeved navy, turquoise, grey, and white Bull Sharks official jersey and sitting right next to him is Addy. Addy’s wearing merch, too, so I can’t complain.

Seeing them smiling and laughing together at my game, fills me with warmth. I feel settled. Some restlessness I wasn’t even aware of is soothed just by looking at him. Watching them together. Anyone can see their bond just by observing them.

They’re only three rows back. Immersed in each other. Addy is laughing, while Sky is talking. Then they’re laughing together again, because that’s just who they are. She rests her head on his shoulder. They’re adorable.

Maybe he senses the weight of my gaze on him, because he looks up at that moment. My green eyes meet Sky’s hazels through the acrylic, and my heart skips a beat in my chest before it starts racing completely out of control.

There it is. That connection. It does exist. A zing. Something. It’s alive and coursing inside me. Tethering me to him. Our connection isn’t a fluke.

That gut feeling I’ve had from the first moment we spoke was right.

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