Page 11 of Soulmates and Slapshots (Love in Maple Falls #6)

WESTON

I t’s been quite an evening—more eventful than I expected it would be.

Not only did we kick off the season with a hard-fought win, but afterwards I ended up at The Rustic Slice sharing a pizza with Fiona.

Okay, so maybe she didn’t technically ask me out.

It was more like a spontaneous favor that turned into a meal.

Now I’m sitting across from her, surrounded by the buzz of post-game energy and the scent of garlic.

I don’t think I could imagine a better way to end the night.

The place is packed—clearly half the town had the same idea we did. Jerseys and team colors are everywhere, along with laughter and the occasional cheer when someone replays a highlight on their phone.

“Thanks again for going along with me,” Fiona says, pulling my attention back to her.

“You’re welcome,” I reply, meaning it.

She takes a sip of her soda then sets the glass down with a sigh. “You’re probably wondering why I dragged you into my drama. ”

I give a casual shrug. “Maybe just a little.”

Fiona glances down at her plate, fiddling with the crust of her pizza. “My friend Hayley called tonight. She ran into my ex-boyfriend Joshua, and somehow he convinced her to get me on the phone. He’s been trying to reach me, but I’ve been dodging his calls.”

I nod, trying to keep my expression neutral. “Ah.”

Part of me wants to ask what kind of ex this guy is. Did he break her heart? And if so, why is he reaching out to her now? Either way, it bothers me that he’s calling her, which is ridiculous because it’s none of my business.

“So, I’m guessing he wants to fix things,” I suggest.

She shrugs, leaning back in her seat. “I don’t know. Maybe. He’s not exactly clear about what he wants. A few months ago he told me he needed a break—out of nowhere. No warning, no real explanation. I was completely blindsided.”

“That sucks,” I exclaim. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. Between that situation and everything that was happening with my job, I just knew I needed to hit reset. Get out of New York, clear my head.”

“So that’s when you decided to come here?”

She nods. “Exactly. I guess I was craving fresh air and less chaos. It felt like the right move.”

I glance around the crowded pizzeria, with its worn wooden tables, the handwritten chalkboard menu glowing under twinkle lights.

“And here you are in a new kind of chaos,” I joke. “I bet you didn’t think you’d be surrounded by crazed hockey fans.”

She laughs softly. “I certainly didn’t.”

“Welcome to the world of hockey,” I announce.

She pauses for a few seconds. “I owe you an explanation…Jo shua asked if we could talk tonight. That’s when I saw you. And before I could think it through, I told him I had a date—and you were the lucky winner.”

I smile. “Well, I’m glad I could be there in your time of need.”

Her expression softens as she looks at me. “You’re a good sport. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You don’t have to,” I say, grabbing another slice and placing it on my plate. “Although there is one thing you could do…”

She grins. “What’s that?”

“You can keep coming out to cheer on the Ice Breakers. You might be the lucky charm we need.”

If she is the team’s lucky charm, then she can’t leave. We need her here . I need her here.

Fiona’s face lights up. “It’s a deal. And speaking of games—let’s talk about your big win. You guys were incredible.”

I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. “Yes, it felt good. We needed this to start the season. It always takes time for a new team to acclimate, but we all worked together to accomplish our goal.”

“I could tell. You were completely in your element out there—not that I know anything about hockey. I’m just guessing based off what I saw, plus Aunt Dee’s very detailed commentary.

“Ah, I should’ve guessed.”

“Oh, it’s impressive. She should really consider finding a job within your organization.”

Ha. I’m sure Coach Hauser would love that.

“Well maybe this is your chance to learn more too,” I suggest .

She nods. “Yes. My aunt is ready and willing to teach me everything.”

I cringe slightly. “Not that I don’t trust your aunt to be well versed in the sport, but maybe you should learn from a professional.”

A small grin appears on her face. “And I’m guessing that would be you.”

I shrug nonchalantly. “Would that be okay?”

I’m trying to be as casual as possible. It’s obvious Fiona has been through a lot, and I don’t want to push too hard. But I’d really like the chance to get to know her better. A few casual hockey lessons seem like the perfect way to start.

“I’d like that,” she says softly.

And just like that, I forget all about the ex-boyfriend, the favor, and the crowd around us. It’s just her and me—and honestly, I wouldn’t mind if this pretend date turned into something a little more real.

Apparently, Maple Fest is the biggest event of the year in Maple Falls—bigger than the holidays, homecoming, and possibly even bigger than the Ice Breakers’ opening night.

Although I don’t believe this. The entire town buzzes about it for weeks in advance.

Between our games and this festival, you’d think nothing else existed around here.

From what I’ve gathered, people come from all over to experience the magic of Maple Fest. The center of town is lined with food trucks.

There are classic carnival games, a sprawling corn maze, a pumpkin patch, a haunted house of course, and square dancing.

I’m sure this provides endless entertainment for the onlookers.

After my stint of TikTok dancing, I plan to avoid that dancefloor at all costs.

I’m hanging up my dancing shoes. Skates are more my speed.

Naturally, the Ice Breakers have a front-and-center presence at the event.

We’re hosting a booth for meet-and-greets, photo ops, and autograph sessions.

I even overheard someone call us“the Darlings of Maple Falls.”As much as I like to pretend I don’t care about the praise, it’s honestly nice being welcomed like this.

This isn’t something you take for granted when you’ve bounced around to different cities the way most of us have.

Our fans back in Tennessee were great, but there’s something different about the way Maple Falls has rolled out the red carpet for us.

My teammates and I are working the booth in shifts, which leaves me some free time to explore the festival.

As much as I want to try Shirley May’s caramel corn, I’m more excited about running into Fiona.

Ever since our impromptu pizza night, she’s been on my mind more than I care to admit.

This is something I haven’t felt in a long time.

Being back and forth between the minors and the Wolves didn’t allow much time for relationships, at least for me.

I’ve spent the last few years investing in my career, and I think it’s finally starting to pay off.

Anyway, I know Fiona was going through something the other night.

She needed a friend, someone to be there at that exact minute.

I’m glad I could be that person. But part of me wonders if maybe, she’s been thinking about that night too.

The idea of asking her on an actual date has crossed my mind more than once, but I don’t want to put her in a difficult position.

She’s still healing from the past, and her time in Maple Falls has an expiration date.

I know she will return to her life in New York and probably never look back at Maple Falls. Still…that doesn't stop me from hoping.

When I arrive at Maple Fest, the breezy autumn air is filled with laughter, the scent of cinnamon and woodsmoke swirling through the streets.

I weave through crowds of families, kids carrying caramel apples, and couples walking together, until I spot our table just past the town square.

You can’t miss it with our banner hanging behind the table and our team logo everywhere.

Coach is already there with his clipboard in hand, and a few of my teammates are hanging around looking bored.

I raise my phone and snap a quick photo of the setup to send to Cooper. Whether he admits it or not, I’m sure this scene will bring back a few good memories for him, especially if Maple Fest is as popular as I’ve heard.

I type a quick message and hit send. Don’t you miss it?

“Smith reporting for duty,” I call as I approach the table. “What’s my assignment, Coach?”

He glances up from the clipboard and hands me a schedule. “Photo ops for the first shift. Then you're off the hook for a bit. Just remember, you’re still expected to mingle and take pictures if anyone asks.”

“Got it,” I reply, already scanning the crowd, hoping to spot Fiona.

But no sign of her so far. There’s no way she would skip her first Maple Fest, right?

My phone buzzes as soon as I sit down behind the table. It’s a message from Cooper.

Maple Fest. Good food.

I smirk. Cooper is truly a man of many words.

“Hey, Smith,” my teammate Nate calls out with a smirk. “Who was that woman you left with after the game the other night? She’s kind of hot. ”

Hearing him talk about Fiona bothers me. “Are you stalking me now, Simpson? Why so concerned about who I spend time with?”

He snorts. “Ha. You wish. I’m just curious.”

“She’s a new friend,” I say, keeping my tone casual.

“Good for you,” he replies, elbowing me lightly. “Way to get acquainted with the locals.”

“She’s not a local,” I correct him. “She’s here visiting family.”

He winces. “Ah. That’s a bummer.”

“Yeah,” I say softly. Tell me about it.

More teammates arrive, and we begin settling in for a full day of smiling for photos, shaking hands, and signing jerseys for excited fans. I usually enjoy this stuff, but today I’m mostly thinking about seeing Fiona.

Carson, Nate, and I are working the first shift, and it doesn’t take long for a line to form.

Before we know it, we’ve been greeting and chatting with residents and guests for over an hour.

They just keep coming, each one more complimentary than the last. Everyone is so warm and friendly, it’s easy to forget there’s someone out there threatening to take over the town.

As soon as there’s a break in the line, I lean back in my chair and stretch my arms over my head. I haven’t seen Fiona, and I’m growing anxious wondering if she’s skipping the event.

“Hello, Ice Breakers,” a voice sings. I turn to see Fiona’s aunt dressed in a denim dress with pink cowboy boots and a glittery pink cowboy hat. I have a feeling she never does anything halfway.

“It looks like I missed the rush. Perfect timing,” she says. She starts by getting her picture with Nate and then Carson, by the time she gets to me, I’m ready to talk to her .

“How are you, Denise?” I ask warmly.

“I’m wonderful. It’s the best day of the year in Maple Falls,” she says. “Maple Fest is what we’re known for.”

“I can see that. Is Fiona here with you?” I ask, making every effort to sound nonchalant.

She flashes me a mischievous grin. “Not yet. But she should be here any minute.”

I grin. “Okay.”

“You know, I wish I could somehow convince her to stay in Maple Falls,” she says thoughtfully.

Me too.

“She’s just being stubborn, which is a quality that runs in our family. We’re all headstrong and don’t like to be told what to do.”

“None of us do,” I say.

She shakes her head. “It’s time for Fiona to move on from New York, but I know she needs to decide for herself.”

“Well, I know from experience that it can be difficult to leave a place you’ve called home for a long time,” I tell her, “I’ve been there a few times in my life.”

She shakes her head. “Nah. There’s nothing in that city for her anymore, and I think she knows that. She just needs a little nudge.”

Denise gives me an innocent look which is clearly implying she thinks I should be the person to do this nudging.

“Anyway, I’ll let Fiona know you were asking about her,” she says with a sly grin. “Should I send her over here when I see her?”

Oh, this woman is good.

“Maybe you can give her a little nudge ,” I suggest.

“I will certainly do that,” she says before scurrying over to Coach Hauser.

It takes her only a few seconds to begin her diabolical flirting, and it’s fascinating to watch her in action.

Although truthfully, she’s given me a lot to think about.

I wonder if Fiona has thought about leaving New York permanently.

And maybe I can somehow let her know that I wouldn’t mind if she extended her stay in Maple Falls.