His handsome face breaks into a smile at the sight of me and it cracks my heart right in two. Because I know what I have to do. And God do I wish I didn't have to.
Tate glances over his shoulder, before swooping down and pulling me into him and kissing me. It's over before it's started, enough to leave me wanting more. More of everything.
“Hey,” Tate grins. I try to match the smile but must not be very convincing. His face falls as his eyes flick between mine. “What’s the matter, Darlin’?”
“I just... Oh, goodness.” I look up to the ceiling trying to fight the tears already trying to well up in my eyes. Whenever I’m around him, all my walls drop. Tate drops his stick onto the floor, his gloves quickly following and then he’s holding my face in both hands. His thumbs softly slide back and forth over my cheeks.
“Alli baby, you’re killing me. Talk to me.”
“I had a meeting with Andrew today.” I take in a shuttering breath, trying to center myself so I can speak about this like an adult. Like I have some semblance of control over this situation and my feelings for this man. “Someone put a file on his desk. It had pictures of us… Together.”
“Okay. And what did Andrew say about it?” His face shifts from concern to carefully blank, his hands slide from my face to my shoulder affectionately.
“That even though it wasnt a direct violation, it was a risk. Ultimately up to the CCO to decide if I’m still the best person for the job. Jameson isn’t known for his…understanding.” I try my best to keep my composure, but my lip still quivers. Tate’s eyes catch it and his thumb brushes over my lower lip.
“So, what are you sayin’, Alli?”
“I-I can’t risk it. This job is my only way to provide for Hudson. His dad...” I shake my head trying not to get off track with everything wrong in my life. It’s not his job to fix my life. “I have to put this first. I can’t have anything that puts that at jeopardy.”
Tates hands fall away as he takes a single step back. I miss his warmth immediately. His face shifts from concern to carefully blank. I reach for his hand, gripping it tightly. He brings it up tohis lips and places a soft kiss on my knuckles. Then, ever so gently, let me go.
“Just do it, Darlin’.” His voice low and rough, looking somewhere over my shoulder. My heart shatters.
“I need to take a step back from this… from us.” I hate the way my voice breaks on the last word, how the tears start to fall down my face, how Tate doesn’t tuck me under his arm the way he always does.
Instead, he gives me a single nod. His lips roll in and his eyebrows pinch together, processing the words. Tate’s eyes meet mine one last time before he turns towards the rink.
“Take care of yourself, Allison.”
I watch his back until he turns right, into the tunnel. I stand alone in the empty hallway, just staring at where the number 24 jersey disappeared. My arms wrap around myself, trying to keep from breaking.
Chapter 31 -Tate
I’m skating like shit. I know it. Coach Randall knows it. Hell, the whole team can see it. My mind has been off somewhere else for the past couple weeks, wherever Allison is. I see her golden hair flash by the entrance to the tunnel, but when I fully turn to look it’s not her.
I hit my stick against the ice in frustration and return to the drill. Ihadher. She was real and she was right there. The woman of my dreams. I could never hold Alli back from the life she wants. I just wanted to be a part of it.
I know I’ve been standing around in my head again because a cold splattering of ice hits me in the face.
“Snap out of it, man.” Ripley nudges me with his shoulder pads. I hadn’t even realized that the morning skate had ended. My body had moved toward the boards like everyone else, but I wasn't really there.
“Damn. Sorry.”
“Come on. I got some time before I gotta get back to Rosie. Let’s go eat.”
I give Cap a nod and follow him off the ice. The locker room is way too rowdy for a weekday morning.
“Ow, move your knee off my back, asshole.” Fitz grounds out, red faced. Ronan has half the team in a cheerleading pyramid. “Why the hell am I on the bottom?”
“Because you’re as big as a bridge.” Ronan says as he steps on Ryan’s shoulder to climb up to the top.
“What’s going on in here?” Ripley calls out, chuckling at their antics.
“Oh hey cap. It’s for TikTok. Can you hit record?”
“Sure. Hey, we were gonna go for lunch at Luca’s Cantina. Anyone else wanna go?” Ripley offers just as I’m pulling on my sneakers.
“Fuck it. I’m in.” Fitz grunts from his position in the center.
