Page 19 of Soulmates and Slapshots (Love in Maple Falls #6)

WESTON

I t’s Halloween in Maple Falls, and it’s clear this town takes the holiday very seriously.

Every storefront is decked out with elaborate decorations, from glowing pumpkins to spooky window displays, and nearly every resident I’ve seen seems to be in a costume or at least a pair of cat ears.

With the crisp autumn air and colorful leaves swirling on the ground, it seems like the perfect Halloween setup pictured in a movie.

But hockey doesn’t stop for Halloween. The Ice Breakers are sticking to business as usual.

We had our usual early practice this morning, pushing through drills and prepping for a tough stretch of upcoming games.

The only unexpected development is the news that Clément is heading back to Paris.

I found him packing up, and admittedly it caught me off guard.

I can’t help but wonder what this means for the team.

We have a new goalie named Lucas who was just traded up from a minor team.

I know exactly how he feels having been in his shoes not long ago.

On top of that, I haven’t seen Fiona in a few days.

She’s been busy helping her aunt get the lodge ready for tonight’s Halloween festivities, or at least that’s what she said.

Part of me worries she might be avoiding me.

But then she invited me to join her tonight.

Of course I said yes. I’ll take any excuse I can to see her.

There was just one catch—she told me I have to wear a costume. So I got creative and dressed up as a hockey player. Original, I know.

When I walk into the lodge, I’m honestly impressed.

The place is completely transformed with all the spooky details.

The main lobby is dimly lit by flickering candlelight, with cobwebs stretched across the chandeliers.

Carved pumpkins are lined up along the rustic staircase, each one more intricate than the last. A group of tables holds a variety of hors d’oeuvres, pumpkin tarts, candied apples, and a wide assortment of other pastries.

In one corner, there’s a fortune teller sitting at a table with a crystal ball and tarot cards.

I will probably avoid that area of the room.

The idea of knowing what my future holds scares me.

I spot Denise right away, and once again her outfit doesn’t disappoint.

This time it’s not a pink ‘80s prom dress. Tonight Fiona’s aunt is going full-on Wizard of Oz , dressed in a very short Dorothy costume—complete with sparkly red heels and a small basket holding a stuffed dog.

She makes a beeline for me as soon as she sees me.

“Weston, there you are,” she says, as if she’s been waiting for me to arrive. “Great costume. Very creative.”

I flash a grin. “Thanks. It took me forever to put it together.”

She hooks her arm through mine before I can respond and pulls me toward the entryway. “I’m glad you’re here. We need to talk, and it’s very important.”

This doesn’t sound good. I’m not sure if she’s being overdramatic or if I should be concerned .

“I think Fiona’s planning to go back to New York soon,” she says in a loud whisper.

Those words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Really? Are you sure?”

She sighs, nodding. “She was on the phone last night and again this morning. I didn’t catch all of it, but I’m pretty sure it was with someone from her publishing company. She was asking a lot of questions. It sounded very official.”

A lump suddenly forms in my throat. Deep down, I knew this might happen. I was just hoping she’d want to stay.

“Has she said anything to you?”

I shake my head. “No. Nothing.”

“I figured,” she says. “Well, we need to do something fast.”

I open my mouth to answer, but then I see Fiona.

She’s standing near the fireplace, wearing a soft white gown with wings on her back and a glittering halo on her head. She’s dressed as an angel, which is the most perfect costume for her.

“She’s over there,” I murmur, motioning toward her.

“Go,” Denise orders. “Go tell her how you feel. She needs to know everything before making any final decisions.”

I feel my face flush. “I’m not going to stop her from going. That’s her choice.”

“You’re right—it is her choice,” she agrees. “But she deserves to have all the facts so she can make that choice.”

Before I can say anything Denise hurries away, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the sound of eerie music drifting through the lodge.

I take a breath and glance back at Fiona. She hasn’t seen me yet .

I’m not sure what I’ll say or if I should say anything at all. I need to wait until she brings it up.

I make my way over to her.

“Hey,” I call.

Her face lights up as soon as our eyes meet. “Hi. Nice costume.”

“Yes, I put a lot of effort into it,” I joke, holding my arms out.

“I can see that.”

“Where’s your costume?” I ask, the corner of my mouth curving up.

“Very funny,” she says, grinning.

“I’m being serious,” I exclaim. “You told me we had to dress up tonight.”

“I’m an angel,” she informs me.

“Yes, you are.”

She moves toward me and wraps her arms around my waist. “You’re sweet.”

“So are you,” I reply, pulling her even closer to me. She rests her head on my chest and tightens her arms around me. As amazing as it feels to have her close to me, I can’t help but wonder if she’s trying to soak up every second because her time here is ending.

“Anyway, we have work to do,” she says pulling away after a few seconds.

“Aww…but it’s Halloween,” I whine.

She laughs. “It’ll be fun. And we’ll be able to spend time together later—after we pass out candy.”

“Okay, fine.”

“Weston, I need you,” Denise calls.

“Ugh. Is your aunt calling me?”

Fiona giggles. “It sounds like it. It’s best not to keep Aunt Dee waiting. ”

I turn to walk toward her, but Fiona grabs my hand to stop me. “Thank you for being here.” She rises on her tiptoes and kisses me on the cheek.

“There’s nowhere else I’d want to be on Halloween,” I admit.

The party turns out to be a huge success.

I spend most of the evening chatting with guests, posing for pictures, and signing everything, including pumpkins.

I'm genuinely surprised by how many people bring up my performance in the game against the Warriors. Hearing their excitement as they recount the moment really hits me in a way I didn’t expect.

I’m used to being part of the action but not the one who makes the big plays.

It feels good to stand out. The only bummer is I haven’t had more than five minutes with Fiona all night.

Once the last guests filter out and the music dies down, Fiona and I finally sneak away from the noise and hockey fans.

We slip out onto the terrace, where string lights are draped overhead casting a soft, golden hue over the stone patio.

The trees beyond are dark silhouettes against the night sky, the dipping temperatures hinting at the next season.

We settle into a cushioned lounge chair overlooking the river. I grab a heavy knit blanket draped over the armrest and pull it over us. Fiona nestles closer, and for a moment, everything feels perfect, like we’re the only two people in the world.

“You were quite the hit tonight,” she says with a grin. “I think people were more excited to talk to an Ice Breaker than do any of the Halloween activities.”

I chuckle, leaning my head back against the cushion. “You think?”

“Oh, absolutely. I don’t think you realize how impressive you are.”

I shrug, unsure of how to respond.

She studies me for a second then shifts her tone. “How’s everything going with the team?”

“It’s good,” I tell her. “We’ve got a tough stretch of games coming up, but I think we’re ready. I feel like we’ve finally come together as a team.”

She nods slowly, but something flickers behind her eyes. I can tell she has something else on her mind.

“Is everything okay with you?” I ask, turning slightly to face her.

She hesitates then looks out toward the river and line of trees. “I had a call with my boss back in New York this morning.”

And there it is. My stomach tightens, but I try not to show my disappointment. Whatever choice she makes, I’ll support her. I care about her too much not to.

“How did it go?” I ask, my voice cracking slightly.

“It went well,” she says. “The merger’s still uncertain, but he seems confident there’ll be opportunities for everyone.”

I nod, forcing a smile. “That’s good news.”

She turns to face me. “There’s also another opportunity…with a different publishing house.”

“In New York?”

She nods again, more slowly this time. “Yes.”

I exhale, long and slow. “So you’ll be leaving?”

She chews on her lower lip. “I haven’t decided anything. I’m waiting to see if they make an offer and what it looks like. It sounds promising though, and they are a good company with a lot of benefits.”

I rub my hands over my face, wishing I could say the one thing I want to. But it wouldn’t be fair to give up her career or a new opportunity for a quiet life. Not to mention that traveling is a part of my job. What about when I’m on the road?

“I’m really struggling with what I should do,” she admits softly. “The idea of going back…it feels surreal. Like I’m not the same person I was before coming to Maple Falls. I feel like I’ve grown in so many ways.”

She gestures toward the landscape. “I love it here, more than I ever thought I would. And…” She stops talking then looks at me. “There are a few other reasons I’d hate to leave.”

I smile, my pulse picking up speed. “Anything…or anyone in particular?”

She gives me a soft, thoughtful look. “Yeah.”

I slide my arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. “You know, I’m not sure what it’s going to be like looking up into the stands and not seeing you there. I feel like I play better when I know you’re watching.”

She places her hand gently on my cheek.

“You really don’t give yourself enough credit,” she says. “You’re not good just because someone’s cheering for you. You’re good because you’ve worked hard to get to this point. You’re good because you have heart, talent, and focus. Don’t ever diminish that.”

I lean into her touch, closing my eyes for a second. I don’t want this to end before it’s had the chance to become something even more real.

But for now, I need to let her explore the opportunities waiting for her.

As much as it hurts, I know deep down that letting Fiona make this decision for herself is what’s best in the long run.

If I tried to convince her to stay and things didn’t work out, I’d feel responsible.

I’d never forgive myself for standing in the way of something incredible just because I was afraid of losing her.

And the fear is there that she may leave and never come back.

But beneath that fear is something stronger. A belief that Fiona and I are meant to be. That even if she leaves, she’ll come back. Maybe this isn’t the end for us. We don’t know what the future holds, and maybe we could get back to each other someday.

“Weston are you okay?” she asks softly, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts.

I nod, forcing a small smile. “Yeah…I was just thinking.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, her eyes filling with tears.

“Don’t be,” I say gently. “You need to make the choice that’s right for you. No matter what, I want that for you.”

She hesitates then bites her lip. “Well, there’s still one thing we haven’t talked about,” she says. “I spent eight thousand dollars for a date with you.”

I wince. That still catches me off guard. The idea that someone would do that for me hasn’t fully sunk in. I know it was for Maple Falls, but still…she could’ve let someone else win.

“I still can’t believe you actually did that,” I admit, shaking my head. “But I know your heart was in the right place. You care about this town.”

“I do,” she admits. “Helping Maple Falls was important to me…” She trails off, her gaze locking with mine. “But honestly, I couldn’t stand the thought of someone else winning that date. Especially one of the girls from Seattle. ”

I smile at that. “Ah, yes. My teammates had a lot to say about them.”

She shrugs. “Anyway, I did what I had to do. For the town—and for myself.”

“I’m glad you did,” I tell her.

Neither of us says anything for a few seconds. The weight of her impending departure is heavy, and it takes everything in me not to drop to my knees and beg her to stay. But I don’t. Because I care too much to hold her back.

Instead, I lean in and press my lips to hers. The kiss begins softly, but it deepens fast, charged with everything we’re too scared to say. I won’t ask her to stay. But maybe she’ll feel it anyway by the way I hold her and kiss her, like this could be the last time.