The nickname made my next breath lodge in my chest.
“Hello,” I managed, and then Shane made the decision for both of us. He opened his arms — carefree and unassuming, like it wasn’t a big deal — and I stepped into them before I could overthink it.
It was a simple hug, but the moment his arms wrapped around me, the years between us collapsed like dominoes.
His scent hit me first — that clean, familiar blend of mint, eucalyptus, and iron, like the rink itself had seeped into his skin. His chest rose against mine, steady and warm, and for a heartbeat, it was 2006 again. The way he squeezed me, the way a contented sigh washed against my neck the moment I was fully in his embrace…
It was only a second, but it felt like time had slowed just for us.
I wondered for that brief lag in time what it could have been like, if would have’s and should have’s mattered.
And then, as quickly as it began, it ended. We both stepped back with casual, professional smiles and distance — as if the air between us hadn’t just charged with an electric current strong enough to power a city.
“So,” he said, clearing his throat and gesturing to the table, “looks like I’m late to the brainstorm.” He checked his watch. “The meetingdidstart at eleven, right?”
Grace laughed. “That’s what you get for assumingon timeisn’tlateto women like us, Coach. We were all here at ten thirty.”
“Of course you were,” he answered with a grin.
Grace picked up her smoothie and took a long pull before tilting it Maven’s way. “Speaking of which, we need to get going. Our plan was just to get the ball rolling here and pass things off to your very capable hands.” She looked at me. “I’ll be at the next meeting, Ariana — maybe by then we’ll have a venue locked in for this gala you’ve inspired.”
“Count on me for calls and coordination,” Maven added, gathering her notes. “I’ll be more of a behind-the-scenes girl until the event itself, but you know I’ll be there day-of, doing whatever needs to get done.”
“Or…you could actually hand this off the way you planned and go spend time with that sweet baby girl of yours,” Grace challenged.
“Andyoucould set a date for your wedding.”
Grace stuck out her tongue.
“Ariana, would you like to join us for a girls’ night soon?” Maven said when they reached the door. “We have a little group that likes to get together for crafting—”
“Someof us craft. Others just drink and tell hilarious stories.” Grace winked and pointed her thumb into her chest.
“We’d love to have you,” Maven said with a chuckle, ignoring her friend. “If you’d be interested?”
My heart surged in my chest at the thought of making friends, which was a foreign concept to me these days. I used to have them — some from undergrad, some from grad school, many from when I worked at the youth outreach program in Boston before I met Nathan.
But that was the keyword —before. It had been a long time since I’d had close friends, or even distant ones.
“Sure,” I said, my skin warm. “I’d love that.”
I thought I saw something knowing in Maven’s gaze as she tilted her head at me, but she just smiled and nodded before I could read it. “Great. I have your number, so I’ll text you next time we have a date.”
“Should we add her to the group chat?” Grace asked.
“Easy, killer. We don’t want to scare her off before we have the chance to charm her.” Maven hit me with one last wink, and then they were gone.
And it was just me and Shane.
The air in the room thickened, heating enough to make me tug at the collar of my blouse for a little relief.
We hadn’t been alone in nearly two decades, and I felt every single one of those years like little zaps of electricity now.
Shane rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, eyes flicking to the empty chairs before finding mine again. Then, wordlessly, he reached for the berry smoothie and offered it to me.
“Thank you,” I muttered, taking it with unsure hands.
“My pleasure,” he said. His eyes searched mine a moment before he inhaled deep and rubbed his hands together. “All right. Catch me up.”
