“I know.”
“And I’ve been talking to you every day. Playing with you. Trusting you on the ice.” My voice cracks. “And you just - let me?”
“What was I supposed to do?” Her eyes are wet now, tears spilling over despite her trying to hold them back. “Tell you? Risk everything? The team is finally winning. The scouts saw you tonight because we’re winning. If you knew - if anyone knew-”
“Stop.” I hold up a hand. “Don’t make this about the team.”
“Itisabout the team. It’s always been about the team. About hockey.” She wipes at her face with the back of her hand. “Zane, there’s no women’s team here. There’s nowhere for me to play. This was my only chance.”
“So you lied.”
“Yes.”
“For weeks.”
“Yes.”
“To everyone.”
“Yes.”
I shake my head. Run my hands through my hair again. Pace the small room because standing still feels impossible.
“I’m just supposed to be okay with this?”
“No.” She’s crying harder now. “I don’t expect you to be okay. I just - I need you to understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That I didn’t do this to hurt you.” She meets my eyes. Holds them. “I did it because I love this game more than anything.”
The words hang in the air between us.
I stare at her. This girl who set me up for goals. Who dancedwith me in the dark and left before morning.
Who trusted me enough to come to my apartment but not enough to stay.
Who trusted me enough to be on my line, but not enough to tell me the truth.
“I need-” I pause. “I need to think.”
She doesn’t move. Just watches me with those eyes - full of tears and of something I can’t name.
I turn toward the door.
“Zane.”
Her voice makes me pause.
But I don’t turn around.
I walk out.
LEONORA
The door closes.
I’m alone.
