I stand there for a moment, rooted in place watching as she heads back toward the ice. I stay for exactly half a second longer before spinning toward the front doors.
Toward Ty.
CHAPTER 30
TY
The elevator ticks down one floor at a time. Fifteen. Fourteen. Thirteen.
I stare at the glowing numbers like I can force the damn thing to move faster with sheer willpower alone, my reflection staring back at me in the brushed steel doors. Hoodie. Ball cap. The kind of exhausted that plants itself behind your eyes no matter how much sleep you get.
My knee bounces once. Then again. I check the time on my phone even though I already know it’s only been one minute since I looked the last time.
But if I leave now, I can make it to the rink before Vivian finishes the workshop with the girls. I can wait outside like some complete psychopath pretending I just happened to be there.
I scrub a hand down my jaw and exhale hard through my nose. This is ridiculous. I’m a grown man. I’ve blocked shots with my face, I’ve fought guys twice my size, and somehow the idea of seeing one woman walk out of a community room has me feeling like I’m about to throw up in the elevator of my own condo building.
Nine.
Eight.
The thing is, I don’t actually know what I’m going to say when I see her.I freaked outfeels too trite, butI’m sorryfeels too late.
The elevator moves lower.
Six.
Five.
I think about the playlist again. About hearing those songs playing over the din in the bar, like they were calling out to me. I know that sounds cheesy, but still…realizing Vivian had basically been talking to me for days without saying a single word out loud. I close my eyes briefly and lean my head back against the wall.
I deserve every second of this torture.
The elevator slows and the doors slide open, depositing me in the lobby.
And there she is.
Walking up the front steps outside the glass entrance of my building like the universe itself got tired of watching me suffer. For one perfect second, she doesn’t see me.
Her hair is long and loose despite the wind coming off the water, and she has one hand curled around her purse, while the other presses the bell on the security panel outside.
My entire chest caves in so fast it almost hurts. I cross the lobby in two big steps, pushing the door open and causing her to jump back in surprise.
I step outside, and the door swings shut behind me with a muted thud. Suddenly the whole street feels suspended in stares and silence.
Her eyes widen ever so slightly. To be fair, mine probably do too, but neither of us moves.
I can hear my own pulse hammering inside me like it’s trying to break free.
She looks beautiful. Not polished-beautiful. Not effort-beautiful. No, Vivian Sullivan is real beautiful. Her cheeks are flushedpink from the heat, but she’s smiling, bright green eyes sparkling in the sunshine.
“Hey.” It’s pathetic, honestly. One tiny word after not talking this past week. After disappearing.
But something in her expression flickers anyway. Relief maybe. Or maybe I’m just desperate enough to imagine it.
“Hey,” she says back.
I drag a hand through my hair, exhale slowly, and step in front of her before I can second-guess it.
