Page 10 of Soulmates and Slapshots (Love in Maple Falls #6)

And just like that, the game begins. Wow, it’s aggressive.

Bodies are slamming into boards, skates are slashing through the ice, and the puck zips from player to player in a blur.

It’s all happening so quickly I’m not sure where to look.

This game feels different than any sporting event I’ve ever been to, and I’m already completely hooked after a few minutes.

Every move, every pass, every near miss has me on the edge of my seat.

Naturally, my eyes keep finding Weston. I cheer when he blocks a shot and feel my pulse quicken when he’s near the puck. I’m more invested than I expected, and not just because of him…though that doesn’t hurt. Plus the image of him standing in a soaking wet T-shirt is still engraved in my brain .

Whatever happens tonight, I already know I’ll never forget this. The noise, the energy, the team, the thrill—this vacation might just turn me into a hockey fan.

The first goal is scored by Asher Tremblay, and the crowd erupts like a firework show as soon as the puck hits the net.

I watch in awe as the players swarm around him, a huddle of sticks and skates and joy.

Asher grins, lifts his gloved hand into the air, and points into the stands with purpose.

So that’s the Asher, the one Mabel mentioned.

“Yes, Asher!” Aunt Dee shouts, as if she’s been his number-one fan since the day he laced up his first pair of skates.

“Asher is a breakout star from the Renegades. We’re lucky to have him,” she tells me.

I nod like I know what she’s talking about.

“Oh, and the goalie is from France. Wait until you hear that accent. Plus he’s so good, he never lets anything pass into that net.”

I laugh. “How long did you spend researching this team?”

She shrugs, completely unapologetic. “Not long. I mean, I don’t know everything , but I know enough to keep up.”

Ha. There’s no way I believe that. I guarantee she knows more than most of the people in these stands.

After the electric energy of the first period, I take a quick break and head for the restroom. On my way back, weaving through the crowd buzzing with chatter and the smell of hot pretzels, I spot two familiar faces near the concession stand.

“Hi, Mabel,” I call out with a wave.

She turns, her smile wide. “Hey, Fiona! What do you think of your first Ice Breakers game?”

“It’s incredible,” I gush. “I don’t think I’ve ever been to a sporting event quite like this. I’m completely hooked. ”

Her friend Willa is standing beside her holding a cup of hot cocoa. “The Ice Breakers have that effect. Are you enjoying Maple Falls?”

“I love it,” I admit without hesitation. “Just don’t tell my aunt. She’ll start plotting ways to make me stay permanently.”

“Oh, that sounds exactly like Denise,” Mabel says with a laugh. “If it were my mom, she’d already be house hunting for me.”

Willa leans in slightly, her eyes twinkling. “Did you catch Asher pointing toward Mabel after he scored?”

I look at Mabel, eyebrows raised. “Ahh … so that’s what he was doing. Aunt Dee called him a breakout star. Honestly, I’m a little worried about how much insider knowledge she has on these players.”

They both laugh.

“And the goalie is from France,” I add, feeling a little too proud that I know something. “I’ve clearly become an Ice Breakers trivia expert thanks to my aunt.”

Willa laughs. “This team is exploding with talent. It’s going to be an excellent season. My husband says there are a few players on the rise—Asher and Weston Smith.”

Hearing her mention Weston causes a stir in my gut.

Mabel nods solemnly. “Now we just have to make sure they can stay in Maple Falls. Everything feels so uncertain right now.”

There’s a heaviness in her voice that settles between us.

We linger in the hallway a few more minutes, but the sound of the buzzer overhead signals the end of the break, and it’s time for the game to resume.

I give Mabel's hand a quick squeeze before hurrying back to my seat. I don’t want to miss a thing.

When I return, I find Aunt Dee still on her feet, clapping in time with the music blaring through the arena.

Her eyes are glued to the ice, and she’s completely immersed in the moment.

This makes me realize I am too. Somewhere between the roaring crowd and the electric energy of the rink, I’ve let myself get swept away.

The second period kicks off with the same intensity as the first. Every slap of the puck, crash against the boards, and every near miss has me on the edge of my seat. The excitement is contagious as the final minutes in the game countdown.

When the final buzzer sounds, the entire arena erupts. The Ice Breakers have won, 3 to 0.

A wave of cheers echoes through the crowd, and I find myself shouting right along with them. There’s this surge of joy and feeling of connection with everyone sitting around us. It’s not just about the win—it’s the sense of unity. The kind of feeling I didn’t know I was missing until right now.

The team takes a celebratory lap around the rink, waving to their fans.

Then Weston skates into view, his face lit up with pure joy.

Our eyes meet, and even from a distance, I can see the grin that spreads across his face.

It’s the kind of smile that could make any woman weak in the knees.

A flutter stirs in my chest, and without thinking, I lift my hand to wave to him.

“You should go give Weston a hug to congratulate him on his first win,” Aunt Dee says innocently. “I happen to know exactly where the players come out from the locker room.”

I snort. “Of course you do.”

She beams and grabs my hand without waiting for a reply. “Come on. Let’s go.”

I could protest, but what’s the point? Arguing with Aunt Dee won’t get me anywhere. So I let her lead the way .

Admittedly, I’m excited to chat with Weston again. Does this mean I have a tiny crush on a hockey player? Ugh. This is probably the worst thing that could happen in my life right now.

Is this what being a superfan feels like?

Loitering outside the locker rooms like some starry-eyed teenager hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite athlete.

Honestly, the only thing I’m missing is a permanent marker for autographs.

I shift my weight from one foot to the other, trying not to look like a total stalker, but there’s no denying how ridiculous I must seem.

To make matters worse, Aunt Dee has vanished into the crowd, chatting with friends about the game.

The last I saw of her, she was waving at someone across the concourse.

She told me she’d be right back, but I haven’t seen her yet.

So here I am, awkwardly lingering like some obsessed groupie waiting for Weston Smith to walk out of the locker room.

I could just leave. But despite my better judgment, I want to see him and congratulate him. Plus I need to tell him he was right about hockey and after tonight I’m hooked. And let’s be honest, a five-minute break from Aunt Dee isn’t the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.

My phone buzzes from inside my bag. I reach for it expecting a text or call from Aunt Dee, but instead I see a video call from Hayley.

My stomach dips. Hayley never video calls.

I scramble to a quieter corner behind a concession stand to answer it. Her face pops up on the screen, and it looks like she’s in a restaurant.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, skipping the polite greeting.

She flashes an innocent smile that doesn’t fool me for a second. “Nothing’s wrong. Why?”

“Well, you never video call me unless there’s a crisis or worse,” I point out.

She shrugs, trying to play it cool, but I can see the flicker of nerves in her eyes. Before she can answer, a group of rowdy fans pass behind me loudly chanting “Let’s go, Ice Breakers!”

“Where are you?” she asks, clearly thrown off.

“At a hockey game,” I reply, glancing toward the hallway that leads to the locker rooms.

Her eyebrows shoot up. “They have hockey there ?”

I snort. “Yes, Hayley. Believe it or not, I’m not staying in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere. They have a brand-new NHL team. It’s a big deal in Maple Falls.”

“Huh. That’s wild.”

“And they have electricity too, in case you’re wondering,” I tease.

“Very funny,” she says scowling.

“Anyway,” I say, getting back to the reason we’re talking ‘face to face.’ “What’s up?”

Her smile fades a bit. “Okay, just…promise you won’t be mad at me.”

My heart drops. That sentence never bodes well.

“That depends on what you did that might cause me to get mad at you,” I say slowly.

“Well, I ran into someone who really wanted to say hi.”

Before I can ask who, the screen shifts and suddenly… he’s there. My ex, Joshua .

His face appears so suddenly that I feel my entire body lock up.

“Hey, Fiona,” he says softly.

I blink, struggling to process the moment. “Joshua.”

“Don’t be mad at Hayley,” he says quickly, like he knows exactly how furious I’m about to be. “We just bumped into each other, and I told her I’ve been trying to get in touch with you. I begged her to call so I could talk to you.”

Oh, Hayley. We will be having words later. This explains why she asked me not to be mad. Although she knows better.

I take a breath, trying to keep my voice calm. “What do you want, Joshua?”

“Just a few minutes of your time. Can I call you back when I’m in a quiet spot? I just want to explain?—”

Suddenly I catch a glimpse of Weston coming out of the locker room. He’s talking with another player, a duffle bag slung over his shoulder, and his damp hair curling slightly at the edges like he just stepped out of the shower. My heart speeds up because he’s walking right toward me.

And that’s when the most ridiculous idea pops into my head.

Without thinking it through, I frantically wave Weston over like we’ve known each other for years. His brows pull together as he notices me, clearly confused but curious enough to approach.

“Sorry. I have plans tonight,” I say into the phone, louder now. “Plus I really don’t think we have much to discuss.”

“Fiona, please—just ten minutes,” Joshua pleads, desperation creeping into his voice.

Weston stops in front of me, eyes flicking between me and the phone.

“I can’t,” I say again, heart pounding. “I have a date. ”

Weston blinks. “What?”

I shoot him a desperate look, silently begging him to just go with it. Please, please go with it.

Joshua frowns. “A date ?”

“What date?” Hayley’s voice shrieks from the background.

And then without any hesitation, Weston takes the phone from my hand.

“A date with me,” he says flashing a smile at the screen. His dimples are on point tonight. “We’re celebrating our first win of the season.”

My heart is beating so fast I’m surprised he can’t hear it.

“This is Weston Smith,” I say, leaning in, like this is all totally normal. “The Ice Breakers just won their first game. It was amazing.”

The silence on the other end of the call is deafening. Joshua looks stunned, and Hayley looks confused, probably because I haven’t mentioned anything about dating someone. It serves her right because she’s on my list right now.

I give Weston a grateful look as he hands the phone back. He smirks like he’s enjoying this far more than he should be.

Hayley finally speaks again. “Wait, why didn’t you tell me about this?”

I flash a wide smile at her. “I haven’t had a chance until now. ”

Her expression is a mix of surprise and curiosity. There’s also a chance she might not be falling for this sham, but I’ll deal with that later.

“Anyway, we have to go,” I say. “Team celebration.”

I end the call before either of them can respond. As soon as they’re gone, I let out an overwhelming sigh. It feels like that call just took seconds off my life .

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I gush. “I owe you. Let me buy you a drink or something.”

Weston grins slightly. “Well, you did just ask me on a date.”

I purse my lips. “I guess I did.”

“And I could use some food after racing across the ice for three periods,” he adds.

I laugh. “You deserve it. You guys were awesome tonight.”

“Did you enjoy the game?” he asks.

“Yes,” I shout louder that I intend.

He chuckles. “I told you.”

“You were right,” I agree. “So where should we go?”

Honestly, I feel like I’m outside of my body right now.

What just happened? My phone is buzzing repeatedly, and I have no doubt it’s Hayley.

I think I’ll make her wait for a day or two before I respond.

She needs time to reflect, and I need time to come up with a good story as to why I’m going on dates with hockey players instead of going home to New York.

Regardless, I know I can’t put off my return much longer.

Running away isn’t going to change anything. But tonight…I guess I have a date.