Page 13 of Soulmates and Slapshots (Love in Maple Falls #6)

WESTON

A fter my shift is over, Fiona and I set out to explore the festival.

Of course, every second we spend together only makes me want to spend more time with her.

Unfortunately, in the back of my mind, I know she will be leaving Maple Falls soon.

This reminds me of what her aunt said—does she need a nudge to stay?

After I get some food, we find an empty table near the haunted house.

“Ohh, I want to go in there,” Fiona exclaims pointing to the dark building. “You in?”

“Uh, sure. I’m not scared at all,” I say, my voice cracking slightly.

This is a total lie because I’m a big baby when it comes to anything scary.

She gives me a skeptical look obviously not believing me.

“Okay, so maybe I’m a little scared,” I admit.

She giggles. “Don’t worry. I’ve seen a lot of little kids coming out of there, and they seem alright.”

This doesn’t make me feel better. Maybe those kids are braver than me .

Just then I hear a few screams coming from inside the house. I have zero desire to go in that building, but I can do it for Fiona.

“Well, I definitely think Maple Fest lives up to its reputation,” Fiona says, holding her arms out wide. “I love all of it.”

“I agree,” I say. “You’ll have to come back for next year’s event.”

She nods, her smile fading. “I will.”

“Have you decided when you’re leaving?” I ask. There’s no reason to tiptoe around the subject.

“Not yet.” She pauses for a few seconds. “Honestly I’m not ready to go back.”

This could be the perfect opportunity for me to convince her to stay.

“Maybe you could extend your trip for a while?” I suggest.

She sighs. “I’ve already stayed longer than I was planning.”

“I’m glad you did,” I admit.

Our eyes lock for a few seconds, and I’m instantly reminded of the first time I saw her not too far from where we are right now.

“Anyway, enough about that. It’s time for you to go in the haunted house with me,” she announces.

I cringe. I was hoping she’d forget about it.

“Okay. Let’s go,” I say before I lose my nerve and try to make a break for it.

“I promise I’ll be right there with you,” she says. “It’ll be fun.”

Fun? Sure.

We make our way to the entrance of the old general store that’s been transformed into a haunted house. At least I think it’s been transformed. I haven’t studied up on Maple Falls lore, so I don’t know if it really is haunted or not. Either way it’s creepy.

We head into the dark building, and I’m immediately startled by the screams coming from somewhere inside.

As we walk down the spooky corridor, I feel someone grab my hand.

Thankfully it’s Fiona. She tightens her grip as we move, and I follow her lead.

I don’t know if I’m more freaked out about this haunted house or my growing feelings for this woman who isn’t staying in Maple Falls.

By the end of the terrifying experience, my arms have moved around Fiona, my face hidden in her hair. This is extra funny since she’s about five inches shorter than me. She smells amazingly sweet, which makes this whole experience worth it.

We manage to make it out safely but not without some embarrassing screams and a bit of panic from me. I hope none of my teammates were around to witness it.

Fiona can’t stop laughing as I fall to the ground and kiss the sidewalk upon our exit.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“I think so,” I exclaim clutching my chest dramatically.

“It’s funny that you have no problem being thrown into glass boards and getting hit with hockey sticks for an extended period of time, but you can’t walk through a five-minute haunted house.”

“We all have our irrational fears,” I retort. “And that was scary for a small-town festival. I’ll be lucky if I can sleep tonight.”

“Well, I’m glad I could be there to help you through it.”

The sun has begun to set, casting an array of colors over the festival. We chat as we walk, our conversation never lulling. This would be the perfect time for me to ask her out, except it will be a real date this time.

“So…I have a question,” I blurt out.

“And I have an answer.”

“I know you’ve been through a lot, and I don’t want to pressure you…but I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner again.”

Her face lights up. “I’d like that.”

“We have a game tomorrow, but what about the next day?” I ask.

“Sounds perfect.”

It takes all my effort to contain my excitement.

“So are you ready for the game?” she asks.

I sigh. “I think so, but the Barracudas are tough.”

“And the Ice Breakers are tougher,” she replies.

“I like how you think,” I say, grinning.

“What can I say? I’m turning into a hockey fan,” she replies.

Something stirs in my chest. I didn’t think she could get any more perfect. Now if only she would stay in Maple Falls.

The Barracudas are as brutal as I expected. They’ve been going hard all night, relentless in both their hits and their mind games. I know it’s part of the sport, but tonight it feels especially intense. I hear Fiona’s words echoing in my mind like a chant meant to keep me grounded.

The Ice Breakers are tougher.

I want to focus on that, but in this moment I’m not so sure.

Lucian slams into the boards and hits the ice with a loud thud. I cringe, expecting him to stay down, but he shakes it off and pushes himself to his feet, jaw set, eyes fierce. I hold out my glove, and he bumps it without hesitation.

“Let’s do this,” I call, voice tight with urgency.

The score is 2–2. There’s still time on the clock—just enough to tip this game in our favor. The energy on the ice is electric, and every player out here can feel it. It’s not just about skill anymore. It’s about grit.

The next minute is a blur. Sticks clash, skates carve hard lines into the ice, bodies crash into the glass. Neither team is backing down, and with every second, the tension thickens. We’re locked in a standoff, fighting to take control of the game.

I see an opening and go for it, stealing the puck. Almost instantly, two Barracudas close in on me, so I make a snap pass to Lucian. He barely catches it but keeps it moving, shifting it to Jamie in one smooth motion.

Jamie takes a shot, but it’s blocked.

The Barracudas manage to take control of the puck. The crowd holds its breath as they streak toward our goal, but Clément is ready.

Everything is moving in slow motion.

The puck sails through the air and glides past his glove hitting the back of the net.

The score changes 3–2.

The buzzer sounds. And the game is over.

My heart drops, and then the rink goes eerily quiet for a split second before the Barracudas erupt into cheers. I glance toward Clément, who’s on the ice. I skate over and pat him on the back without saying a word. We fought hard.

And no matter how many games I play, losing never gets easier .

I take a moment to breathe then look up into the stands.

My eyes find Fiona almost instantly. She’s standing next to her aunt, bundled in a coat, waving gently.

Her expression is encouraging but tinged with sadness.

Her reassuring smile makes me feel a tiny bit better, and then I remember that she won’t be in the stands much longer.

At some point she’s leaving Maple Falls and won’t be here for the losses or the wins.

This game was a loss for the team. But the impending loss of Fiona feels even worse.

This is just another reminder that having someone in your corner through the ups and downs of life is the ultimate end goal.

After seeing what Cooper has with Blair and what Mac shares with Vivian, I finally understand, and I want the same thing.