Page 84 of Playing for Keeps

“Always,” I replied, pulling my shirt on, feeling her eyes on me the whole time. Then I kissed her again, quick and soft, the kind of kiss that said see you soon.

I stepped outside. Cold air stung, but I barely felt it. My muscles ached, but in a good way. I’d spent nights with other people, sure, but none had felt like this one.

Practice was brutal. Coach had us running neutral zone drills one after another, whistle screeching every time someone screwed up. My lungs burned, sweat stung my eyes, and every stop was half a second too slow. By the time it was over, my legs felt like they’d been replaced by concrete.

I dropped onto the bench, still half in my gear, rubbing my face like that’d somehow wake me up. Most of the team had already bailed for the showers. It was just me, Will, and Lewis hanging around. Lewis was half-dressed, towel over his shoulder, humming something that sounded suspiciously like ‘Wonderwall’. He was taping his stick for no reason. Will kept fussing with his laces.

“You good?” Lewis asked, looking up. “You’ve been quiet since we hit the ice. Even quieter than your usual brooding self.”

“I don’t brood,” I said, focusing way too hard on unlacing my skates.

Will snorted. “Right. You just stare off into space like you’re weighing the fate of the universe every time a drill goes wrong.”

“Maybe I’m just thinking about how not to murder you,” I said, deadpan.

He grinned, totally unbothered. “So… Emma?”

I looked up, sharp. “What about her?”

“Nothing,” Will said, quickly. “Just – Lewis thinks you’ve been lighter lately. Happier. I think you’ve been distracted as hell. So, we’re trying to figure out if you’re in love or in trouble.”

Lewis nodded, all serious. “Or both.”

I rolled my eyes, but I caught myself almost smiling. “You two are idiots.”

“Yeah,” Will said, “but we’re your idiots.”

Couldn’t help it – I laughed. I slumped back on the bench, gear still half on, rubbing my face. “It’s just… different with her,” I said before I could stop myself. “I keep thinking I’m gonna screw it up.”

Lewis stopped humming. He looked over. “You won’t. You’re better with her, man. Calmer. You used to come in here like you had a fight to pick with gravity. Now you just look… settled.”

Will grinned, grabbing his towel. “Settled. Big word for you, Lou.”

Lewis chucked a roll of tape at him, which Will dodged expertly.

“Anyway,” Will said, heading for the showers, “don’t overthink it, Finn. Just show up for her the way you do here. That’s the whole game.”

He was gone before I could answer. Lewis followed him a minute later.

The room got quiet again. Just the clink of skates somewhere down the hall, the buzz of the lights, and my shoulders aching. I sat there a while, staring at the scuffed-up floor, thinking about what Will had said.

Just show up for her the way you do here.

Simple. It stuck with me. I grabbed my phone and sent Emma a text.

You still up for dinner later? I’ll bring dessert.

I stared at the message for a second before hitting send.

39

EMMA

We were in this little café on Queen Street, the kind of place that always smells of coffee, sugar, and rain-soaked wool. The bell over the door kept jingling every time someone walked in, but it didn’t bother me. The whole place hummed, warm and alive. Max sat across from me, cap pulled down low, holding a mug far too small for his hands. He looked so comfortable, belonging to this city in a way I still didn’t.

Outside, the snow started up again – heavy, soft flakes that made everything look kinder than it really was. I had my laptop open, papers scattered everywhere, trying to mark while pretending not to notice him watching me.

“You’re muttering again,” he said, grinning.