“Is this where you live now?” she asks.
“I still live in St. Paul, but I’m here as often as I can be, until I’m able to make the move.”
I don’t tell her the move will happen once I retire from the NHL, which won’t be that long from now. I haven’t announced that news publicly yet, and she is dating the competition, I remind myself.
We reach the resort entrance and I turn, wishing for once that it wasn’t so close. I pull into a parking space. The engine idles, filling the space between us with a low, steady vibration.
She doesn’t reach for the door handle.
“Where have you been all this time?” I ask.
“New York.”
I glance at her briefly. “Yeah?”
She nods, turning to meet my eyes. “Well, for almost three years now. Before that, Nantucket.”
“Not Dallas then.”
“No, not Dallas.”
That makes me feel only slightly better. It’s not like Patrick can be in Dallas all the time anyway, since he’s on the road as much as I am.
I try to picture her in New York.
“New York suits you,” I say.
Her mouth curves faintly. “Does it?”
“You always wanted somewhere with more noise.”
“You’d be surprised how much you miss the quiet when the noise never stops.” Her fingers twist together. “How’s your family?”
“They’re great. It’s been nice having everyone in one place. My dad just finished chemo, and we’re hopeful for a full recovery, but everyone wants to stick close to home now.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. And it’s understandable that you’d all want to be near him.”
“Thanks. Yeah. It’s been scary. I hope we’re on the other side of it. My brother Noah and his son Grayson are moving into their temporary condo next weekend, and then I’ll be the only one who’s not in Windy Harbor.”
“You’ve got a nephew?” She smiles.
That brings a smile to my face too. “He’s the best.”
“How’s your career going?” Then she laughs softly, shaking her head. “That’s a stupid question. Of course it’s going great. I know that much.”
I huff a quiet breath. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. And I’m really proud of you,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
The corner of my mouth lifts. “Thank you.”
“I never doubted you would do amazing,” she says, quick and certain.
Something tight in my chest shifts. “I didn’t realize you were so into hockey. You weren’t when we were together.”
She makes a face. “I seem to keep finding myself surrounded by all things hockey.”
“And you said you weren’t a puck bunny.”
