Me:
just figured I’d let you know, in case I go missing in the woods
Golden Boy:
maybe you should send me your location then
Me:
that’s not what I meant
Still, my thumb hovers over the map app longer than it should. It feels reckless. Too personal. No one besides my team, Chloe, and my parents knows where I am. I chew on the inside of my cheek and count to ten. When I still haven’t talked myself out of it, I copy my location and drop the pin into the chat.
Me:
there. don’t make me regret it
Golden Boy:
never. your secret is safe with me
My skin heats, a pleasant rush of energy swimming in my veins. I put my phone down on the couch and shove it along the cushion, pushing it away. Just to stop myself from making stupid decisions.
Because sending Logan my location was not my smartest move.
By 10 a.m.the next morning, I’ve laced up my boots so I can take a short walk around the property. To breathe fresh air, to enjoy the view, and simply listen to the quiet. Snow crunches underfoot as I move away from the cabin. The cold wind bites my cheeks, but it only makes me smile wider. This is exactly why I came here. Time away is what I need to restart my brain. To erase all the worries and thoughts about unresolved issues that still plague me.
The scenery reminds me of winter days when I was a child. How my friends and I would go to the school’s stadium to sled down the hill, build snowmen, and have snow battles. Once, aclassmate hit my best friend Karina in the face with a snowball and ended up giving her a mild concussion.
We promised each other we’d never play with boys again…only to forget about it the next winter.
Those days were happy and so fulfilling. I didn’t have the money I have now. I wasn’t a world-famous tennis star. I was simply Yana, and life was a thousand times easier.
After lunch, I drive to the closest town. It’s beautiful. Snow everywhere, all wooden storefronts and small cafés, and Christmas lights strung across Main Street.
I’m tossing things into a basket when a familiar voice says, “Didn’t think you’d actually share your location.”
Stomach lurching, I whirl around, coming face-to-face with Logan. All messy blond hair and an easy grin, he stands in front of me in dark blue jeans, a white hoodie, and a dark blue bomber jacket with the Thunders logo on it. His posture is relaxed, as if driving four hours into the mountains on a whim is the most natural thing to do.
Another man wanders up behind him, and when his identity registers, my heart goes into overdrive, hammering against my rib cage. It’s that asshole from the restaurant—Camden Hayes, the Thunders’ goalie. Yeah, I googled him. I did it because I wanted to know the name of my enemy. Too bad it’s hard to despise a man so handsome.
When his eyes fix on mine, my whole body freezes. A heartbeat later, when his piercing blue eyes take me in from head to toe, I heat from the inside out.
His cheeks are red from the cold, and his jet-black hair is messy on top. He’s watching me, his arms crossed, dressed in black jeans, a dark blue hoodie, and a leather jacket. His jaw tightens as he takes me in, as if I’m an inconvenience.
Thank God he has no control over his emotions. Like a cold shower, his scowl instantly douses the intrigue that ignited the moment I realized who he was.
“Erm, we had practice this morning,” Logan says, his voice snapping me out of my runaway thoughts. “Figured we’d take a drive after. See how you’re settling in.”
I frown. “That’s not?—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” He smiles cheekily. “We stopped here to pick up food and drinks on our way to your cabin, but here you are.” He steps closer to me and ducks his head a little. “We have four days off, so I can drive back tonight or tomorrow morning, but I wanted to see you.”
Hayes scoffs under his breath, his gaze lingering on me. With a jerk of his head, he looks away, tapping his foot, annoyed.
He isn’t the only one. What the hell was Logan thinking driving here without checking with me first? And does he really think I’ll let him stay? The worst offense of all is bringing his asshole friend with him. The man who’s glaring at me as if he wishes I’d disappear into the floor.
“Logan, I came here alone for a reason,” I grit through my teeth. “I only sent you my location in case of an emergency. Not so you’d show up unannounced.”
