Emma’s lip trembled. “I—”
“Get out!” Lindsey threw up her hands, and Emma jumped.
She clutched her purse to her chest and strode toward the door. “I love you, you know that?”
“We know,” Vaughn murmured, already bent down over the bowl of nuts.
* * *
Emma's heart raced as she sprinted through the dimly lit parking lot, the wind howling around her. She looked up and saw someone ducking into a car that looked oddly like André, but with the haze and sputtering snow, she couldn’t be sure.Why would he be leaving practice early?
The two London Fogs warmed her hands, though she had to get creative not to drop the crullers as she burst through the arena doors. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she scanned the foyer for any signs of life.
“Emma?” Sean leaned against the wall next to the closed ticket window.
“Why aren’t you on the ice? Isn’t practice till eight-thirty?”
Sean frowned. “Practice was at five-thirty tonight.”
Emma’s stomach swooped out from under her. “What? Why?”
Sean blinked. “Because the team that normally practises before us is out this week. We took the earlier slot.”
Emma pressed her fingers to her temples. “Don’t people have work? Day jobs?”
“Yes, but—”
“Why would you change practice times without telling me?” Her breath came in short bursts and her hands started to tingle. “And why are you juststanding here?”
“Umm, okay, Emma. My car’s in the shop and I’m waiting for Kelty. She hates driving in the snow, and since when have you wanted to know what time we—?”
“Is Tyler still here?” Emma ran to the railing to look down the stairs.
“Tyler? Did you bring him food?”
Emma turned, her eyes flashing. “Yes, Sean. Is he still here?”
Sean must have seen the fire in her expression because he only shook his head. “I didn’t see him, but you could check the—”
Emma felt like a ball of yarn beginning to unravel.He had to be here.She’d already been to his apartment twice and found it empty. Emma bolted around the railing and started down the stairs.
Sean called something after her, but she couldn’t answer. It felt like an eternity before she reached the bottom of the stairs and ran down the hall to the locker room. She didn’t even think to knock before she set the cups and bag on the concrete floor, flung the door open, and dashed inside.
Steam billowed around her.Was the water running?
"Whoa!" Fly yelped and grabbed a towel to wrap around his waist with impressive speed. "I thought everyone was gone!"
"Sorry!" Emma squeaked, heat flooding her cheeks. "I didn't mean to—” She spun and rushed back out into the hall. Fly was the only player in there, wasn’t he? She hadn’t seen any other backsides glistening in the steam.
Emma groaned and leaned against the cool wall.He was gone.Tyler had already left for the night, and even though she’d rushed over, she’d missed him. Adrenaline made her shaky as she picked up the cups and bag, then trudged back to the stairs.
Maybe it was a sign. She should’ve just texted him in the first place and set up a time to meet and talk. But if he didn’t text back? She didn’t want to give him the chance of ignoring her—of shutting her out like he had in Canmore.
Tyler had kissed her. He’d started showing up in person the same time she’d started work there. She wasn’t misinterpreting this, which meant there had to be some other reason why he’d bolted from the hot tub the other night, and she needed to know what it was.
Emma turned and started up the stairs when something caught her eye. A card. Kicked up against the edge of the stairs.
A driver’s licence.
