And there was Mac.
He stopped dead when he saw her, his hockey bag dropping from his shoulder. His hair was still damp from the shower, his face flushed from exertion and the heat of the locker room. His green eyes were wide with surprise and something else Rachel couldn't name.
"Rachel."
"Hi," she managed. "I came to watch the game. Sophie and Ellie invited me. You were good. Amazing, actually. I didn't know, I've never seen you play before."
Mac was staring at her like she might disappear if he blinked. "You came to my game."
"I did. I know I said I needed time and well but—" Rachel's words tangled together. "Can we talk? Somewhere private?"
Mac looked at Cole, who nodded once, some silent communication passing between them. "The rink. We can go back inside. It'll be empty now."
The ice arena was eerily quiet without the crowd, just the hum of the cooling system and the echo of their footsteps. Mac led her to the stands, and they sat in the same section where Rachel had been watching, surrounded by empty seats and discarded popcorn bags.
"You played well tonight," Rachel said finally.
"Thanks." Mac's voice was careful, guarded in a way it had never been with her before. "I didn't know you were here. I wouldn't have seen you anyway, I don't usually look up during games. Too focused."
"You've been distracted at practice this week, I heard."
"Yeah. I have been." Mac looked at her directly for the first time. "But I figured tonight I should probably focus on hockey since that's apparently what I'm good at. Being intense. Being too much."
Rachel flinched. "Mac—"
"I'm not trying to make you feel guilty," Mac interrupted quietly. "You were right. I am intense. I do feel things… bigger, and I show it. That's how I'm built. And if that's too much for you, then—" He stopped, teeth grinding. "Then that's okay. I get it."
"You're wrong."
Mac blinked. "What?"
"I wasn't right. You were." Rachel forced herself to meet his eyes. "Watching you tonight, seeing you out there, that intensity isn't too much. It's who you are. And it's... it's beautiful."
Mac's expression shifted, softening. "Rachel—"
"My ex kept me at a distance. Made me feel like an accessory." The words came faster now, easier. "You did the opposite. You introduced me to everyone important to you immediately. Made me feel like I mattered. And that terrified me because it meant this was real."
"So you pushed me away before I could hurt you."
"Yes." Her voice cracked. "Except I hurt you instead."
Mac was quiet for a long moment. "I missed you. These past four days. I'd pick up my phone to text you about stupid things and then remember I couldn't."
"I missed you too."
"So where does that leave us?"
Rachel took a shaky breath. "I want to try again. But I need to actually let you in this time…."
"I can be patient. I won’t hurt you, you know."
"You can't promise you won't hurt me," Rachel interrupted gently. "Nobody can promise that. But I think you're worth the risk."
Mac's eyes were bright. "Are you sure? Because if you're not ready."
"I'm not ready. But I don't want fear to stop me from something good." She reached for his hand.
Mac took her hand immediately, lacing their fingers together. "So we try again?"
