Page 128 of Rule 1: Never Accidentally Marry Your Teammate

I leave Coach’s office, unsure of the meeting’s success. Nervousness movesthrough me.

I enter the massage room and try to not remember the time when Noah and I snuck in here. Memories of Noah are in every part of this building.

I lie down for a massage and ache for Noah’s touch.

This will work. It has to work.

I miss him so much.

I leave the massage room, and almost run into Noah. My eyes imbibe him. His skin pinkens.

“How are you?” I ask.

He grits his teeth, and his gaze bounces everywhere that wasn’t me. “Fine.”

I blink.

This isn’t exactly amazing conversation.

At the game the other night it felt like we’d shared a moment after his winning goal. But now he doesn’t meet my eyes, and his jaw is set, as if to restrain his anger.

Not good.

I’d imagined the first time we spoke would be different. Conversations, not clipped words. I’d imagined there would be shy smiles and rosy blushes and green eyes peering at me through long upturned eyelashes.

But Noah isn’t smiling, isn’t blushing, and he seems to do everything he can not to look at me.

Maybe Coach was right.

Maybe proceeding with tonight’s plan would be a horrible mistake.

But when Noah enters the massage room, and I am alone in the hallway, I press my hand against the tiny velvet box tucked in my pocket.

Trying is the right thing to do. I am utterly, desperately in love with Noah.

I only hope that tonight my heart is not broken forever.

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

Noah

My heart beats uncomfortably in Finn’s presence. It’s all I can do to not pull him into the massage room, pull him into the supply closet, kiss him in the fucking open.

There was a time I didn’t know how to skate. My body will learn how to ignore Finn. The words feel like a lie even though I’ve only uttered them in my own head. A day in which I forget about Finn, when his presence no longer ignites my cells and mitochondria and soul, seems like the most terrible of days.

The day inches forward, but finally, we’re on the ice.

Luke and Finn both score goals. Even though Luke has become a friend, I vow to not show up at the bar tonight. I want Finn to celebrate the win.

The intercom crackles, then the announcer says, “Please stay seated for a final event after this song.”

Murmurings sound. This event was not planned. I frown. Is there some celebrity here? A politician?

“What’s happening?” I ask Luke.

“I’m not sure.”

I wriggle my legs impatiently. I want to leave. Just as I contemplate whether I can do this, Finn gets up. Is he leaving?