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“Hi there,” I answer, trying to keep my tone light. We haven’t spoken since our awkward evening in Lake Placid, but I’m really hoping she meant what she said about us still being friends. “You’ll never guess where I am right now.”

She laughs, and the sound is comforting. “Not Detroit, then?”

“Nope. Toronto. I’m taking a coaching job.”

“Really? That’s great, Jamie. I’m so proud of you. Glad you went with your gut.”

My heart swells a little. Everyone likes to hear they’ve done well. “Thanks. It’s going to be an adjustment. Canadian money is funny looking.”

Holly giggles. “Why Toronto? Are you going to tell me about your mystery woman?”

“Um…”Ouch. “Not sure if that’s going to work out. And I’m not too happy about it.”

“Oh honey.” There’s genuine sympathy in her voice. “I’m sorry. Why not?”

The waitress drops off my food, and I take a moment to thank her. “So,” I say, glancing over my shoulder. I’m alone and outside, which is why I answered my phone in the first place. “Here’s something that will crack you right up.” I need to tell someone. And Holly will keep my secret. She’s a good friend.

“What?”

“My mystery woman? There isn’t one. I was seeing a guy.”

There is deep silence for a moment. “Really?” She sounds incredulous.

“Really. Apparently I’m, um…” I’ve never said it out loud before. “Bisexual.” There. That really wasn’t so hard.

“I’m… Wow,” Holly says. “I didn’t see that coming.”

“Me neither.” I laugh. “It’s been a really interesting summer.”

“Who is he? Wait—that friend from the hotel! And the rink in Lake Placid! Ryan somebody.”

Well, fuck. I forgot that women are so weirdly intuitive. “Holly, you can’t tell anyone. It doesn’t matter so much to me, but it could really hurt him.”

Her sigh is loud in my ear. “I won’t tell a soul. But…hedumpedyou? I’ll kill him.”

Now she has me smiling. “You are the best. Have I ever told you that?”

“Eh,” she sighs. “I have my moments. Hey, now I can stop trying to figure out what sort of girl you’d fallen for. Wondering what she had that I don’t was really taking up a lot of my free time. Now at least I know the answer—a dick.”

I burst out laughing. “Damn, Holly. It’s good to talk to you.”

“Likewise.”

When we hang up, there’s still a smile on my face. I eat my lunch thinking of all the crazy things I’ve done these past six weeks.

And one memory in particular solves the problem of finding Wes.

I flag down the waitress and pull out my phone. I have an app to download.

THIRTY-SEVEN

WES

My first practice is brutal, but that’s how I like it. Coach Harvey starts us off with a crossover drill designed to strengthen our ability to accelerate on curves, and it only takes five seconds for me to fully grasp that I’m in the big leagues now.Nope, you’re not in college anymore, Dorothy.

This is a whole new level of intensity, and I’m sweating my balls off as I weave in and out of traffic, changing directions on Coach’s whim. Pushing myself to keep up with players who’ve trained together for much longer than the five minutes I’ve been with them.

And it just picks up in intensity from there, but I’m cool with that. This is all I have. This is the choice I’ve made. Playing the best hockey I can will be the focus of my life for the next several years.