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"You miss a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take."

James Adler

Yes, I’m well aware I’m a little desperate. But ever since I woke up this morning, all I’ve wanted to do was see Elizabeth again.

I loved putting a smile on her face yesterday, and I’m hungry for more. But above all, I want to make sure she’s okay. Rogers did a number on Elizabeth, and I’ll hate his guts for the rest of my life for what he did to her.

Jasper, th e assistant coach, signals us onto the ice for warm-ups.

As always, I’m the first one out, skating around the rink while savoring the reassuring cold that’s hitting my cheeks.

The atmosphere is a repeat of yesterday.

Explosive. I take a shot into the empty net, then scan the glass shielding above the boards in search of Jim, the soon-to-be engaged fan.

There are so many people lined up against the glass, it takes me a minute to locate him.

Finally, I spot him next to his girlfriend, a brunette named Liliana.

I skate toward them, and his face lights up when he sees me.

I stop a few feet away, giving him a small nod, and he turns to his girl while getting down on one knee.

Her eyes widen, and she claps her mouth with her hands.

From the corner of my eye, I spot Elizabeth, Marissa, and Hayley walking down to their seats. They usually wait until the end of the warm-ups since everyone hangs out around the glass.

Tearing my eyes from her, I focus back on the couple-of-the-moment, just in time for them to both look at me.

That’s my cue. I skate closer and wave at Liliana, and her teary eyes widen.

Removing my gloves, I fumble through my inside pocket, retrieve the small box, and pass it to Jim through the camera hole.

By now, we’ve drawn the attention of players and fans alike and have quite an audience.

Jim thanks me as he takes the box , then turns to his girlfriend. She nods vigorously before falling into his arms. Cheers and applause fill the arena, and I find myself wiping a few drops of sweat from my cheeks. What else could it be?

Glancing away, I lock eyes with Elizabeth.

Her grayish eyes are watery, which somehow makes her even more beautiful.

Jim waves at me through the glass, and I smile at the newly engaged couple.

He passes his phone through the camera hole, and I take a selfie of the three of us, Liliana holding her hand up to show off the ring on her finger.

When I glance up at Elizabeth and the girls again, she’s still watching me, her expression unreadable. It only takes Hawthorne bumping into me, telling me we have less than ten minutes of warm-ups left, to finally get me moving.

Beth Bowen

The Raptors seized another win tonight, to the utmost pleasure of the entire arena.

We’re now gathered at the bar, as per our usual post-game ritual, hanging out and chatting about the game.

I won’t stay long, since Celia can’t make it tomorrow and I offered to open.

But I still wanted to spend some time with my friends a nd congratulate the guys.

I haven’t had a chance to talk to James yet—no surprise there. He’s been overwhelmed by beautiful ladies and hasn’t even made it to the backroom yet.

I’m caught between Marissa and Emma, who have been trying to get me into reading for the last twenty minutes.

“You need this hobby,” Marissa says. “It’ll help you grow as a woman.”

“And it’s entertaining,” Emma adds, licking the straw from her drink. “Romance is so fun to read.”

“I don’t know,” I sigh, just like I have a hundred times before. “I’ve tried a few times, but I haven’t really found a book I loved yet. It’s not that I don’t like reading., It just doesn’t captivate me the way a good TV show does.”

“You sound like Auston,” Emma scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Well, I guess he’s more into movies, but TV shows are still a step ahead of books for him.”

“See? He gets me. Maybe I should ask him for recs,” I say, scanning the room to locate him.

Marissa shakes her head. “We’ve lost her for good this time, Emma.”

I spot Auston in the back, talking with Maxime and Hayley, so I walk up to him.

“Elizabeth,” a deep voice rum bles from my right, and I don’t need to turn to know it’s James. He’s the only person who calls me by my full name—or makes my heart rate spike when he says it.

“Hey,” I say, smiling as I turn to him. “Another great game tonight.”

He smirks. “Yep. That’s pretty much the new standard for the Raptors.”

“You know, I never took you for a hopeless romantic.”

His forehead creases, and it takes him a second to understand what I mean. “Oh, the proposal.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, it was fun. Guy needed an assist to score a yes, so I lent him my irresistible charm.”

I roll my eyes before turning away. I hate when he gets all cocky like that. It’s impossible to have a normal conversation with him.

“Wait. I’m kidding. The guy asked me to be a part of it, and I was honored, so I said yes. And yeah, I am a romantic, Elizabeth. In fact, there’s plenty you don’t know about me.”

A smile breaks onto my lips, and I wheel around to face him again. “Is that so?”

His eyes gleam. “Yep. I could take you on a date and show you.”

Here we go again. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Is that a yes?”

I feel the blush scorching my cheeks. “Nope.”

His deep blue eyes trap me. “Oh, come on.”

With some struggle, I look away. “I just broke up with my ex, James. I need time to reflect and heal.”

“Fair enough,” he says, scratching his stubble. “I’ll check back tomorrow.”

“James!” I scold.

“And the day after that. And the one after that.” He winks, making my mouth suddenly run dry. “Until you’re finally ready.”

My cheeks are on fire now. “You never give up, do you?”

“You miss a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take,” he says, his eyes peering right through me.

I scoff. “Very wise. Is that a hockey saying?”

“Hockey quote, actually. From the great Wayne Gretzky. Some people think it’s a Michael Scott quote from The Office , but he totally stole that one.”

I breathe out a laugh. “Sorry, I never went to hockey school.” Something Lucas was always shoving in my face.

“It’s all right.” He winks. “You don’t need a degree in hockey to go out with me.”

I shake my head, but I can feel my blush deepening.

“So, is that a yes?” His glimmering eyes hold me hostage.

I wring my hands in front of me. “No.”

He arches an eyebrow. “But it ’s not a no, either?”

Everything inside of me burns, and I need to quench this inferno, so I say the only thing I know will put an end to this conversation. The only thing I really want to say. “Fine. It’s not a no.”