Page 76 of Check & Chase (Breakaway #1)
“Penny for your thoughts.” Mom appears beside me, elegant in a simple black dress, champagne in hand. “You look happy.”
“I am,” I realize, the truth of it warming me from within. “Really happy, actually. Despite the chaos, despite Chase’s knee, despite everything. ”
She smiles, the expression softening the lines around her eyes. “That’s how it should be.”
We watch in comfortable silence as Chase maneuvers himself into a photo with a few teammates.
“Your father would have liked him,” she mentions unexpectedly. “Chase. He would have approved.”
The statement catches me off guard, emotion tightening my throat. “Yeah?”
“Absolutely. Strong, kind, determined, a bit stubborn.” She smiles at some private memory. “Very much like your dad in those ways.”
It’s the highest praise she could offer, and I find myself blinking back sudden tears.
“Thank you for saying that, Mom.”
I’m still processing the moment when Maya appears at my elbow, looking uncharacteristically tense. “We have a situation,” she whispers. “Carina just tried to come in.”
“What?” The name of Chase’s ex sends a jolt of adrenaline through me. “How did she even know about tonight?”
“Social media, probably,” Maya shrugs. “The bouncer stopped her at the door, but she’s causing a scene in the lobby. Demanding to speak to Chase.”
I glance toward where Chase sits, blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding. The last thing he needs tonight is an emotional confrontation with his toxic ex.
“I’ll handle it,” I decide, setting down my drink. “Where’s Jackson?”
“Already on it.” Maya nods toward the entrance where my brother has stationed himself, arms crossed in his most intimidating captain’s stance.
By the time we reach the lobby, he has the situation well in hand.
“I just want to congratulate him,” she’s saying, words slightly slurred suggesting she’s already been drinking elsewhere. “Five minutes of his time, that’s all I’m asking.”
“Not happening,” Jackson replies firmly, voice calm but authoritative. “Private event. Invitation only. It’s time to leave. ”
“I just wanted to wish the happy couple well.”
“Like you wished me well when you filed those complaints?” I snap, moving to stand beside my brother. “Or when you tried to get me fired? That kind of well-wishing?”
Her eyes narrow when she spots me. “The blushing bride herself. Enjoying your victory lap?”
“It’s not a competition, Carina,” I reply, keeping my voice level. “We’re getting married on Sunday. Whatever you think you had with him is long over. Please respect that and leave.”
“You stole him,” she accuses, voice rising. “You and your perfect little figure skating bullshit.”
The words are designed to hurt. A year ago, they might have landed. Now they slide off like water, unable to penetrate the certainty I feel about Chase and myself.
“Nobody stole anyone,” I say calmly. “Chase made his choice. I made mine. We’re happy. That’s all that matters now.”
“That’s enough.” Jackson’s voice cuts through her tirade. “Security is already on the way. You can leave on your own, or be escorted out. Your choice.”
Something in his expression must convince her, because she steps back. “Fine. Enjoy your perfect little wedding.”
With that parting shot, she turns and storms toward the exit—but halfway there, she stops.
“You know what, Emma?” She whirls around. “You’re nothing but a whoring little bitch.”
Maya doesn’t hesitate. One second she’s beside me, the next she’s moving. She grabs a handful of Carina’s hair and yanks her backward.
She yelps, stumbling, arms flailing as her heels skid across the floor. She barely has time to react before Maya’s dragging her straight toward the doors.
“You want to run your mouth?” Maya snaps. “You can do it outside. ”
Carina thrashes, trying to break free, but Maya doesn’t so much as flinch. With a final shove, she throws her through the open doors, and she hits the pavement with a loud, graceless thud.
“The only whore here, Carina, is you. Throwing yourself at a man who couldn’t care less. It’s pathetic.”
She dusts off her hands, turns on her heel, and walks back inside like she just took out the trash.
Jackson is standing there, mouth open, eyes wide, completely stunned.
Maya saunters past him, then pauses. She reaches up and gently pushes his jaw shut with one finger.
“Careful, Jackson. You’ll catch flies.”
Then she strolls over to me like none of it ever happened.
“Well, that was thoroughly unpleasant,” she remarks. “You okay, Em?”
“You’re amazing, you know that, right?”
“I know.” She winks.
We return to the party to find Chase in conversation with Tyler of all people. The sight would have been unimaginable a few months ago.
I join them, sliding onto the stool beside Chase, his arm automatically wrapping around my waist. “Everything okay?” he asks, clearly sensing something in my expression.
“Minor venue issue,” I dismiss, unwilling to taint the evening with Carina’s drama. “All resolved. What are you two conspiring about?”
Tyler and Chase exchange glances that immediately raise my suspicion.
“Wedding present discussions,” Chase admits with a grin. “Top secret. No brides allowed.”
“Terrifying,” I observe, though I’m pleased to see them getting along. “Should I be concerned?”
“Always,” Tyler chuckles. “But not about this. I promise it’s nothing that will aggravate his knee or delay recovery. ”
I raise an eyebrow and fold my arms. “Uh huh. Okay then, you guys have your secrets.” But I’m smiling as I say it, and I can feel myself relaxing.
The party continues into the night, a perfect blend of celebration and restraint. By the time we begin saying goodbyes around midnight, I’m pleasantly tired rather than exhausted, content rather than overwhelmed.
“It’s crazy to think the next time I see you, it’ll be at the altar,” I murmur, hugging him tight beside the car waiting to take him to his parents.
“Or technically, the lakeside arch, but you know what I mean.”
“Two days,” I whisper against his shoulder.
Chase pulls back just enough to check his phone, then smirks. “Technically one day, since it’s already after midnight.”
I swat his chest lightly. “Trust you to ruin the romance with a technicality.”
“Not a technicality,” he teases. “A countdown.”
“Yeah, well, try not to fall over during the vows,” I tease. “I know how weak your knees get around me.”
“Original,” he groans, but he’s smiling. “One knee is plenty weak already, thank you very much.”
I rise on my tiptoes to kiss him. “I love you.”
“I love you too. More than hockey, more than the Cup, more than—”
“If you say ‘life itself,’ I’m calling off the wedding,” I warn. “No clichés allowed in this marriage.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Anderson.” He kisses me once more before reluctantly releasing me. “See you at the lake house. I’ll be the one sweating in a suit and trying not to cry when I see you.”
“I’ll be the one in white, and definitely crying when I see you,” I counter, stepping back to let him into the car. “Rest that knee. Two more sleeps ‘til showtime. ”
I watch until the taillights disappear around the corner, then turn to find my mom waiting patiently beside our own taxi, a knowing smile on her face.
“I’m so proud of you,” she says softly, linking her arm through mine.
I’m weirdly proud of me too.