ChapterTwenty-Four
Emma setthe cups on the stairs and bent down to pick up the rectangular piece of plastic. She flipped it over. Tyler’s face stared back at her.
She squeezed her eyes shut.That man needed a better wallet.Her eyes popped open and she stared at his black and white GQ photo.
She wanted to buy it for him.She wanted to know the things he needed—she wanted to bring him London Fogs and crullers.
With tears blurring her vision, Emma turned and sat on the stairs, hugging her knees to her chest. She should go home. The snow was probably already coming down, and Tyler was most likely headed to the hospital again.
She had just reached out for the railing and pulled herself up when a low crack pierced the quiet. Emma knew that sound. A puck slamming against the boards.Someone was on the ice.
Her heart fluttered. Sean had said they took the first slot because the other team was out for the week, but that didn’t mean there couldn’t be other players or teams booking ice time.
Emma followed the faint echo down the hall until she saw him. A player in baby blue, no helmet, slapping puck after puck toward the net.
She felt like she was treading water in a rising pool as she opened the door and started down the rink, walking next to the boards. Tyler’s body twisted, swinging his stick and sending each puck whistling toward the net. Just like in a game, his movements were fluid and graceful as he lined up shot after shot.
Emma stopped before the plexiglass rose up from the boards and set the drinks and donuts on the bleachers behind her. When she turned back, Tyler was standing still on his skates, watching her.
Neither of them moved for a long moment, and then Emma held up his licence. Tyler dropped his stick and skated over to her.
“It feels like this is becoming a habit.” Emma set his licence on the boards. Tyler glanced at the Tim Hortons cups on the seat but didn’t comment. Her heart jumped into her throat. “Isn’t practice over?”
Tyler nodded once. Sweat beaded his brow, and his dark hair was damp, curling at the ends.
Emma couldn’t bear the silence. “I heard about Troy. I tried to stop by after the barbecue—”
“I was at the hospital.” Tyler’s voice sent a feeling of fingertips tapping down her spine.
She nodded, wetting her lips. “How is he?”
“As good as can be expected.”
“And you?”
He exhaled. “Fine.”
Emma pursed her lips. “Fine?” Tyler rested his hands on the boards. “Well, that’s good to know.” She clasped her hands in front of her and rocked on her heels, then spun and started back the way she came.
“Emma, wait—”
She whirled. “Don’t tell me to wait unless you’re planning to make it worth my time.”
“Emma,wait!”
She stomped back to stand in front of him. “Why did you leave the hot tub, Tyler? And before you answer, don’t youdaretell me it was because you didn’t think doingthiswas a good idea.” She motioned between the two of them. “That’s such bullshit. I know you didn’t used to work on property, which means there was no reason for us to have to pretend at work. We wouldn’t have had to do anything to prove to Troy that we were dating if you continued to work at home. And then youkissed me—”
Tyler muttered a string of curses and bent over the boards. When he rose, his eyes were wild. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, okay?” His voice boomed across the empty rink. Emma’s mouth snapped closed as he slammed his gloves on the boards. “I left the hot tub because I don’t knowwhat the hell I’m doing.”
“That much is obvious,” Emma muttered, beginning to pace. “But you know what, Tyler?Neither do I.Nobody knows what they’re doing, but at least I had the balls to be honest about it. To tell you how I felt, and then—”
“No, you didn’t.” Tyler shook his head.
“What?” Emma hissed.
“You told me you wondered if this could be real, that wasn’t telling me how you felt!” He scoffed, “But I didn’t need you to, did I? I’d seen it written all over your face. When you saw me at the bar, or when I walked into One Place with Ginger. Even there in the hot tub when we were alone, that look was still plastered on your face.”
“What look?” Emma ran her hands through her hair in exasperation.
