“Called up . . . that’s good, right? To an NHL team?”
He nodded. “It would probably be Indy, but it could be Chicago. They’re looking for a winger and my parents know that.”
“And they live right there, so that would be good.”
He glanced over. “It would be if you’d come with me.”
Oh. She’d said us because she assumed we’d all be moving if Bennett got called up. My stomach rolled with nervous realization.
“I can see by your face that wasn’t what you were thinking,” he said, his disappointment clear.
“Well, I . . . I mean, there’s my job and my apartment, and I just . . . that would be a huge thing. I don’t think I could just leave my life behind like that. Couldn’t you . . . I guess not.”
“What?”
“I guess I assumed you’d still live in Fenway but travel with the new team, but that’s stupid, isn’t it?”
“No, not at all. It’s just that the hockey off-season is so short that I’d only be there for a couple months before camp started.”
“Right.” The sick feeling was getting stronger. I leaned my head back against the car seat.
“Relax, babe. I haven’t gotten called up and the season’s almost over. If we win tomorrow night, we clinch a playoff spot.”
“That’s exciting,” I said weakly.
All I could think about was Bennett leaving. He’d become so important to me. I loved him. And his professional success would mean the end of our relationship.
He squeezed my knee. “If we make the playoffs I’ll be crazy busy for the next few weeks. But after that, I’ll be all yours. No more traveling until next season starts. I can pick up a gig at the local lumberyard and work days or evenings.”
I swallowed against the tightness in my throat. “That sounds perfect. Right when the baby is d
ue.”
“I’ll always be there for you, Char. Let’s not worry about something that may never even happen, okay?”
I took a deep breath. “You’re right. Okay.” I cleared my mind of the worry that was gripping me. “Are you nervous about the game tomorrow night?”
His eyes lit up. “Not nervous. Excited. It’s a pretty kick-ass time to be the new team captain. We’ve got something to prove. It’s been too long since our team’s had our shit together enough to be in contention for the playoffs. Eight years since we’ve made it. Sid and Orion put us there, and we’re not letting this season end now.”
“I can’t wait,” I said, feeling the excitement myself. I’d picked up a men’s 2X hoodie in Flyers blue to wear. It was the only size I could fit over my belly.
Whether I was watching Bennett’s games in person or on my computer, I always hoped for him to play his best. I wanted his dream of playing in the NHL to come true. But now that I knew that meant he’d be leaving me, it was hard to want it. I wasn’t the sort of woman to let go of the life I’d built so I could follow a man. But in this moment, with the glow of meeting Bennett’s family still warm inside me, I kind of wished I was.
Bennett
There was fire running through my veins as I waited for the puck drop. This was it—make it or break it, and we had to make it. Every bruised rib and sleepless night away from Charlotte had brought me here and I wasn’t squandering it.
Killian was watching from the owner’s box. He’d given me a salute when I glanced up there. The only thing that was missing from this night was him, but I was proud of him for moving up to Indy. It meant a lot that he was here, even if he was off the ice.
As soon as the puck was dropped, we came out hitting hard. I’d given the guys a pre-game locker room talk about having no regrets. Tonight was about giving our all plus a little more, so we’d know at the end that there was nothing to wish we’d done better.
I could hardly hear Orion’s yelling over the roar of the crowd. And damn, was that nice. These fans deserved a win tonight for sticking with us.
In the dreams I’d been having about this game, it lasted forever. I played for hours and hours with no line changes until I collapsed on the ice and the other team skated around my limp body to score.
But in reality, it flew past me. I was so busy trying to be everywhere, see everything, and keep all the guys fired up that the clock got away from me. We had less than a minute left and were up 3–2, and all I could think about was securing a win with one more goal.
They got in a strong final shot and Shuck dove to the ice, deflecting the puck. I cried out and pumped my fist in the air.