He shakes his head. “Not really. Some. Nothing helpful.”
His words tumble out, making him sound more like a lost little boy than the formidable goalie filling the chair in front of my desk.
The urge to hug him overwhelms me, but I fight it off. We don’t need a repeat of that accidental kiss—what I’m choosing to call it—when we’re both feeling so vulnerable.
I take a deep breath and muster the courage to say something he might not like or want to hear. “Would it be the worst thing?”
His gaze locks onto mine like a vice I can’t escape. “What do you mean?”
A wave of sympathy overcomes me for any player who faces him on the ice. The man can be outright intimidating if he wants to be. But I’m not about to back down yet.
“You have a life here. Piper is killing it, playing for the PWHL, and Ellie wants to live and work in LA. Maybe Nana is right about wanting all of you to step into a new chapter in your lives.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret them because the rising color in Wade’s face almost matches the orange chicken.
Maybe he isn’t ready to hear this yet. I can’t bring myself to tell him I called Nana to talk to her myself. I figured I could be a voice of reason, for Wade’s sake. But after hearing her out, I could only support her. She’s not just doing this for herself; she’s doing it for all of them.
A muscle in his jaw pulses. His eyes dart back and forth, as if he’s barely keeping control. “It’s been in our family for three generations.”
The gruff pain in his voice tells me more than his words. But his expression reveals how conflicted he is. Does he want to keep the ranch out of some misguided sense of duty?
“I know, but you’ve never expressed an interest in running the place. And you’re one of the best goalies in the ECHL. Do you really want to give that up?” I know I’m pushing him into uncomfortable territory here, but isn’t that what best friends do for each other?
He pushes up from his chair. “I’m tired. I think I’ll head home.”
“But you haven’t eaten anything?” I blink up at him, bewildered by his sudden desire to leave.
“I’m sure Harper can help you with the leftovers.” He attempts a tight smile. “I’ll talk to you later.”
And then he’s gone. As is my appetite. I dump the rest of my egg roll into the container of orange chicken and plop it on the counter. Guess I should have let him talk more before suggesting he let go of his family home. I should have been more sensitive and less practical, especially considering I went through the same thing. Granted, my parents bought the ranch after I was born, so we didn’t have a generational claim, but still, that was our home. And no place has felt like it since.
Sighing to an empty office, I pack up the containers and load them back into the bag Wade brought. Might as well take it home and eat with Harper while we finalize plans for the event and accommodations for the visiting goalies and their gear.
Before I close my laptop, I update the spreadsheet and check the latest additions for any names I might recognize from other teams. When I near the end of the list, the air in my lungs freezes, sending chills through my body.
Chase Langston.
How is that possible? He plays defense. Did he not read the rules?
I scan the columns populated with his specifics until I reach the additional notes in the last one. My chest grows tight as a very real panic rushes through me.
Recently switched positions to goalie.
He includes his goalie coach’s name and contact information to confirm, as well.
No, no, no… This can’t be happening. Chase can’t come here. I push away from my desk in a near panic. Everything in me wants to pack up Old Blue and hightail it out of town like I did last time, but how can I bail on the people I love working and hanging out with? This is the best job I’ve ever had. And I finally have a group of friends who I can trust to have my back. I’ve made a life for myself here—a good one.
Leave it to Chase to make a mess of things, just like he did in Texas. Will I ever be free of him?
I highlight the row, then hover my finger over the delete button. Can I do this? Make it go away? Zach shares the spreadsheet, but he probably hasn’t seen the latest update. Aside from the fact that it would be wrong, I’d have to notify Chase that his application was turned down, or else he’ll still show up, knowing him.
No matter what I do, I can’t get rid of this creep.
The burn behind my eyes builds until my vision swims with tears. To make matters worse, another thought hits me hard. What will Wade do when he finds out? Should I tell him now so he has time to adjust to the idea, or wait until the day of the event and hope his teammates can keep him from going off the deep end?
If he and Chase wind up on the ice at the same time, which they will, I’m afraid of what Wade will do. He reacted so severely when he found out Chase was my ex. I can’t let Wade risk his career like that, not over me.
I grab my phone and open the chat for the Puck Babes.
Bree: SOS! Houston, we have a problem!
