Page 91 of Rule 4: Never Get Stranded with a Sports Reporter

I pause and reread it, because he’s still supposed to be suspended.

But it’s true. His name is right there: Jason Larvik, Right Winger, Fourth Line.

Okay, he barely made the roster. But he’s there.

I grin at my phone.

“Your mood has improved,” Tessa says.

“Jason is playing tonight!”

Her eyes narrow, and my smile fades.

“That’s great,” Tessa says, “but isn’t he this bad guy?”

“Uh...”

“Wait.” Her forehead wrinkles. “He’s not the same Jason you kissed back in high school, is he?”

My nerve endings thrum.

No.

I didn’t tell her that.

Did I?

“You look guilty, sweetie.”

“I had a better time with him than I might have expected,” I say finally. “And if it weren’t for him, I would have died on that jet ski.”

Tessa’s face pales. “You came that close? The hotel said it found the jet skis floating with no one on them and said I should brace myself for the fact you probably didn’t make it. And then there was that storm...”

“I’m sorry I worried you.”

“You don’t have to apologize to me. If Jason was nice, that’s great. And I shouldn’t have teased you about having a crush. I would probably have a crush on a hot hockey player who saved my life too.”

I nod, then look away. “Can we watch the game?”

“Sure.”

I click it on, wishing I’d checked the roster earlier. I didn’t think there was any way he would be there.

The first period has already started. Jason isn’t on the ice, but I spot him in the second row. Everything in my body warms, my nerves zing, and the world is weightless and wonderful, until I remember that I’m not sure I’ll ever see him again.

I’d thought about contacting him. I’d even drafted a message in my e-mail: Glad you made it back okay. Hope you’re doing well.

I haven’t sent it.

I don’t have his phone number, and I don’t have his personal e-mail address. I can reach out to his agent like a fanboy or slide into his DMs on Instagram... but I don’t want to.

I don’t want him to feel obligated to me and I don’t want him to feel awkward. He was amazing to me. I never would have made it out of there without him.

I remember my fear when my jet ski stopped working, and I realized I was stranded in the middle of nowhere. I realized I might die.

That a wave might fling me into the ocean, and I’d never come back.

That didn’t happen.