Page 21 of Soulmates and Slapshots (Love in Maple Falls #6)

WESTON

W e’re finally back in Maple Falls after a brutal game on the road, and I’m exhausted. That’s typical when it comes to away games, but this time sits differently. I haven’t been sleeping much, and it’s not just the schedule. Fiona’s move has me in knots.

The idea of her leaving Maple Falls is really hitting hard. I’m trying to be logical about it, but I’ve never felt like this before. Knowing she won’t be here every day is really affecting me, and I’m not sure what to do.

I sent Mac a text asking him to call me when he has a minute. The Wolves have been on the road too, so we haven’t been able to connect. I could use someone to talk to right now.

Fiona and I exchanged a few messages while I was away, but it was all small talk.

Neither of us brought up our situation. Honestly, avoiding the topic feels easier.

And probably because deep down I know she’s leaving.

As much as I hate saying it out loud, it’s the right move for her.

Maple Falls can’t give her what she needs professionally, and if I hadn’t been traded, I wouldn’t be here either.

I’d be chasing my career wherever it led me, just like she needs to.

I keep telling myself that if we’re meant to find our way back to each other, we will. Someday things might line up differently. Until then, I need to trust that letting her go is part of the path we’re meant to take.

In the meantime, we have another game in less than twenty-four hours against Toronto, so I’m doing my best to stay focused on that.

I played fine on the road, but I haven’t been able to find the same intensity I had against the Warriors.

I need to get my head right, especially with how competitive things are right now.

I’m glad to be home in time to reset and hopefully get some rest before I’m back in the rink tomorrow.

My condo feels quieter than usual. Clément wasn’t here long, but I got used to having him around constantly muttering things in French.

After tossing a load of laundry into the machine, I sit down and send Fiona a quick text.

We’re finally back. How are you?

I barely have a second to breathe before my phone buzzes. My heart skips thinking it might be her. But it’s Mac.

“Well, well, well—if it isn’t the star of the league,” I answer.

He laughs. “How about those stats?”

Mac is having an amazing season, putting him right where he likes to be— in the spotlight.

“Very impressive,” I admit.

“They sure are,” he says, not even attempting to be humble.

I quickly get right to the point. “Anyway, I need some advice, man.”

“I got you. Let’s hear it. ”

I fill him in on Fiona and all that’s happened between us.

He cuts me off mid story. “Hold on—what are you doing? Why haven’t you told her you want her to stay?”

“I told you I don’t want to pressure her.”

“Fine, no pressure,” he exclaims. “But at least let her know you want her there. You need to tell her you care about her. Don’t make her guess.”

“She knows,” I tell him.

“Does she?”

“Yes,” I insist. At least I think she does.

I’ve been upfront about my feelings. Haven’t I?

Back when she first told me she only wanted to be friends, I didn’t hide how I felt. Not completely, anyway.

“I think you need to come right out and tell her,” Mac says. “No more dancing around it. Don’t let her wonder.”

Crap. Is that what I’ve been doing this whole time?

Have I been hoping she'd read between the lines by trying to give her space?

“What’s the deal with that town anyway?” he asks suddenly.

I frown. “What do you mean?”

He chuckles. “Well, Cooper Montgomery found a wife there. And you might be next. There must be something pumped into the air.”

I laugh nervously. “I don’t know about that.”

“Things happen when you least expect it. Trust me.”

I sigh, running my hand through my hair. “Maybe. Anyway, thanks for listening. I’ve really been struggling.”

“Talk to her. And keep me posted,” he demands.

“Will do.”

His words play on a loop through my head after the call ends. Fiona knows how I feel. But even if she does, maybe that’s not enough. Maybe she needs to hear it from me. Before I lose the chance.

I'm just stepping out of the shower when my phone buzzes. It’s Fiona.

“Hey,” I answer. “Perfect timing.”

“Oh good,” she says. Her voice sounds a little too cheerful. “I wanted to give you time to get settled after your trip.”

“I’m settled,” I reply, stretching out on the bed. “How are you?”

“I’m alright,” she says, but her tone tells me different.

I sit up. “Are you sure about that?”

She exhales deeply. “I got an offer, from AirWinds Publishing.”

My heart sinks even though I was expecting this. “Is it what you were hoping for?”

“It’s a really good offer.”

I drag a hand down my face, trying to fight the ache in my chest. I should be excited for her, and I want to be. But right now, all I can feel is the panic building within me.

“That’s great,” I manage, my voice rough.

She’s leaving Maple Falls. And I’m one step closer to losing her.

“I have a call with them in the morning,” she tells me. “Just to go over a few questions. Nothing’s final, yet.”

Maybe there’s still hope? Now is my chance to talk to her and tell her how I’m feeling. I’d rather do it in person, but the clock is ticking.

“I was talking to my friend Mac earlier,” I start slowly, the words catching in my throat. “He gave me some advice and said I shouldn’t wait any longer to do something.”

“Okay…”

“I don’t want you to leave Maple Falls,” I blurt out, the words flowing faster than I intended. “I know it’s selfish, and I didn’t say anything before because I didn’t want to make your decision harder. But I had to at least tell you how I feel.”

“I don’t want to leave either…” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

I swallow hard. “But you have to, and I know that.”

She clears her throat. “Yes, I’ve been working toward an opportunity like this for years. I can’t just walk away now, even if part of me wants to.”

“I get it,” I assure her. “I really do. Every time I put on my skates, I feel like I’m still proving I deserve to be out there. I understand what it means to chase something. More than you’ll ever know.”

There’s a long pause.

“But I was thinking,” she says finally, “I could come back to visit in a few months?”

“I was hoping you would,” I say softly. “And I love New York—so I’d like to visit you, too.”

She doesn’t respond, but I hear her sniffling. This sound makes my stomach churn.

“Fiona…it’s okay.”

“I know,” she wails. “I’m just really going to miss everything about Maple Falls. But especially you.”

This might be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

“I’m so glad you came here,” I say. “And we still have one last date to go on before you leave. You did win me in an auction.”

She laughs. “Yes, I did. And I want to catch a few more Ice Breakers games before I leave.”

“Yes, please. I seem to play better when you’re there…” I trail off.

“Don’t sell yourself short,” she says. “Go out there and show everyone, including yourself, how amazing you are. You don’t need me to prove that.”

Hearing her say those words means everything to me. Fiona Hale has made such a lasting impression on me, I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.

“Smith, you look tired,” Coach Hauser calls out the second I show up for morning drills.

“Yeah, I didn’t get the best night’s sleep, but I’m fine,” I reply, trying my best to assure him. I leave out the part about staying up late talking to Fiona or how I couldn’t stop thinking about her once the call ended.

Coach frowns. “Well, snap out of it. We need you at your best tonight.”

“Of course,” I say with more conviction than I feel. I go through the motions of getting ready, tying my skates, stretching, strapping on my helmet. But it feels like I’m moving in slow motion.

“Hey, Weston—are you okay?” Carson asks, patting me on the shoulder as he passes. I guess it’s more obvious than I thought.

“Yeah,” I lie, forcing a weak smile. I don’t have the energy to explain how bad I feel or the way my thoughts keep circling back to Fiona. She’s leaving. And I’m trying to figure out how to deal with it.

I skate out onto the ice in a daze, going through drills like a robot. I follow every one of Coach’s instructions, but my mind is a million miles away—specifically in the direction of a woman who’s made more of an impact than I ever saw coming.

Before I know it, it’s game time. “Ice Ice Baby” blasts from the loudspeakers, and the energy in the arena shifts instantly. We head out onto the ice, and for the first time all day, I feel present.

I glance up into the stands and spot Fiona right away sitting next to her aunt. Seeing her instantly makes me feel better. She raises her hand, giving a wave.

She’s still here. For now. And I’m going to make every second count.

She gives me a thumbs-up, like she believes in me more than I believe in myself. And this brings a feeling of urgency—not to win the game, but to show her what I can do. She might not care about hockey, but I care what she thinks.

The puck drops, and we’re ready.

The Ice Breakers take control early, moving together like we’ve been a team longer than we have. I’m sharper than I’ve felt in weeks. A couple of solid assists and a near goal later, I finally feel like I’m doing what I was meant to do. After three long periods, we run away with a 4–0 win.

The energy in the locker room is electric. There are high fives flying, laughter, and an energy that only happens with a win like tonight’s. I can’t stop smiling, and for the first time in a while, I feel a little lighter.

Coach Hauser steps into the middle of the locker room, clapping his hands trying to get the attention of a team who just had their best game of the season so far.

“Quiet down,” he calls, firm but energized. “Listen up. This is important.”

The noise fades as we all try to contain our excitement.

“I’ve been waiting for tonight,” he exclaims, his voice full of emotion. A grin lighting up his face. “Lennox, Tremblay, Smith—every one of you showed up tonight. This is the team I knew we could be. This is the heart of the Ice Breakers.”

A roar erupts followed by cheering, fist bumps, even a helmet tossed in the air. I let the feeling wash over me, my pulse still pounding. We needed this win. I needed this win.

But more than the result on the scoreboard—I needed to remember why I’m here. And that I earned this spot. I feel like I finally did that tonight.

Coach’s voice cuts through the noise again, louder this time. “If we can carry this same fire through the rest of the season, nothing can stop us. I’m proud to be your coach. And proud of all of you and how you came together as a team.

His words repeat in my mind over and over. For the first time in a while, there’s a sense of peace. I know it’s only one game and we still have many more ahead. But this win is the kind that shifts everything. It quiets the doubts and lights the fire that’s been dwindling.

Later, as I leave the locker room, Fiona is waiting in the hallway, exactly where I hoped she’d be. She beams the moment she sees me, her smile wide.

“How about that game?” I say, unable to stop the grin stretching across my face.

“Fantastic,” she replies. “Not that I’m surprised. I knew it would happen. And your assists were perfect—well done.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Wow. It sounds like someone’s been studying hockey terms.”

She shrugs. “Well, while I was researching the Blue Rock Thrush, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on my hockey knowledge too.”

“Smart move,” I say, dropping my duffle bag on the floor. I don’t waste any time pulling her into my arms, holding her close. She buries her face into my neck, and I inhale deeply, once again committing the scent of her hair to my memory. I don’t want to forget this moment.

“Thanks for being here,” I murmur when we pull apart, our faces still only inches apart.

She leans her head to the side. “Where else would I be? I’m a die-hard Ice Breakers fan now. Just like you predicted when we met.”

“We have the best fans,” I say meaningfully.

“So do you have big plans tonight?” she asks. “Is the team celebrating together?”

I shake my head. “Nope. I think most of the guys are doing their own thing.”

Some of my teammates have made their own meaningful connections lately. Maybe Mac was right—there is som ething in the air here in Maple Falls.

She takes my hands in hers. “Want to go to Shirley May’s?”

I smile. “I’d love to.”

She doesn’t mention the job offer or the move. And that’s okay. Right now, all I want to do is enjoy the rest of this evening with her.