And he didn’t.
We’re up by one,third period, crowd on their feet.
And I should be focused on the puck.
Not on Shaw.
Not on the tight line of his shoulders or the way his jaw clenches when he misses a pass. Not on the fact that we haven’t said a word to each other since Friday night. Since the stairwell. Since I told him to go—and he did.
As though it didn’t mean anything.
AndIdidn’t mean anything.
I shouldn’t be pissed. I was the one who slammed the door shut. But now I’m the one choking on the silence I asked for.
And Todd’s skating like he wants to punish something. Or someone.
When one of their forwards cuts across the blue line, Todd sees red and steps up with a hit that comeswaytoo late. The puck’s long gone, and the guy crashes into the boards with a grunt, drawing an immediate whistle.
Interference.
The ref raises his arm, and Todd doesn’t even argue. Just turns and heads for the box.
I shift on my skates.
Ishouldstay calm.Shouldbe the level head.
But I’m not feeling level-headed.
I’m feeling like the last forty-eight hours have been stuck in a loop of everything I can’t have.
So when their winger chirps something about our Captain as he glides past, I snap.
I drop my stick, grab his jersey, and give him a shove. It’s not enough for a fight—but enough to get the ref’s attention.
Two minutes, roughing.
I skate straight to the box, heart pounding, and pull the door open.
Todd doesn’t even glance at me.
He’s sitting in the corner, helmet still on, arms crossed tight over his chest like he’s barricading himself from the entire damn world—including me.
I drop onto the bench beside him, every inch of my body buzzing. Not from the hit. Not from the penalty.
Fromhim.
The silence between us stretches like a tripwire.
Finally, I can’t take it. “Nice hit,” I mutter.
He snorts. “Least I actually hit someone with a puck.”
I blink. “Excuse me?”
“That wasn’t even about the game,” he says, still not looking at me. “That was aboutme.”
“You think I got a penalty just to sit here with you?” I ask, heat rising. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
