“What happens tomorrow?”I asked.
“I call Vane and tell him I’ll reconsider next year.On my terms.”He opened his eyes.“And I tell Harper I’m staying.And then…”
“Then?”
“Then we get breakfast at Harbor Commons, hold hands in public, and make everyone jealous.And tomorrow we look at that apartment on Elm Street.”He squeezed my leg.“If you still want to.”
“I still want to.”
“Where to?”I asked, putting it in gear.
Luke looked at me, his eyes heavy with exhaustion but clear for the first time in weeks.
“Maya’s,” I said.“I need to move my stuff back.”
I smiled, putting the truck in drive.
Chapter 37
Final Score
Luke
Two weeks later, the hallway outside the rink smelled like damp tape and the distinct, stale air of the end of a season.
We’d lost in the conference semifinals—a double-overtime heartbreaker that still stung—but the locker room didn’t feel heavy.It felt finished.
I slung my gear bag over my good shoulder—a solid zero on the pain scale for three days running—and pushed through the double doors into the lobby.
Coach Harper was waiting by the trophy case, arms folded, jacket draped over one arm.
I stopped.“Coach.”
She lifted her chin.“Got a minute, Carter?”
“Sure.”I set the bag down.
Her expression stayed even.“Exit interviews start Monday, but I didn’t want this to sit.You came here to keep pucks out and steady the room.You did both.”
She jerked her head toward the rink.“That net’s yours to lose next fall.”
The words settled behind my sternum, warm and heavy.“Thank you, Coach.”
“Don’t make me regret the marker color,” she said, almost smiling.“Grades solid?”
“Everything’s As and Bs this semester… despite all the drama.”
“Miracles happen.”She offered her hand; I shook it, grip firm.“Enjoy the off-season, Carter.You earned it.”
She walked off.I stood there for a second, listening to the silence of the rink.I hadn’t signed with Minnesota.I hadn’t gone to the development camp.But I had the net, I had the grades, and I had a summer in Cold Harbor that belonged entirely to me.
Footsteps clattered behind me.Ryan jogged up, winter coat flapping.“Coach give you the speech?”
“Short version.”
He grinned and flicked my ear.“You still owe me fries for making you less of a robot.”
“Joint account handles debts now.”
