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Tobie

It’s the big game.

Never in a million years did I ever believe I would be wearing a hockey jersey, with face paint on my cheeks, and bouncing with anxiety and excitement about a hockey game.

Yet here we are.

In that alternate universe, I’m in love with three hockey players, they’re in love with me, and we’re going to fight for our future like we’ve never fought for anything else.

For the last two weeks, everything has revolved around hockey and getting Caleb fit for the game. I’ve been to every practice. He has been seeing the physio more than we see him, and we’ve all been relaxing a lot, watching movies, going for short walks, and taking it easy.

This game means everything to them, and I will learn to love it like no one ever loved hockey before.

The arena is packed. I refuse to believe there’s an empty chair in the stands. People blow horns, cheer, and wave signs as they wait for the game to begin. Caramel sweet popcorn and savory roasting meat from hotdogs merge with the thousands of people packed in this space.

On the ice, two teams warm up on opposite ends of the rink. The Lamont Wolverines are in navy blue, silver, and pale blue jerseys, and the Wisconsin Eagles are in deep red, orange, and white.

Between chatting with Nessa and her parents on her other side, I’ve been searching for Javier, Caleb, and Reid among the players warming up.

As I scan the packed arena, looking for Hallie, who I briefly saw before we took our seats, my gaze clashes on someone I did not expect.

“You have got to be fucking joking,” I breathe.

“Tobie?” Nessa asks. “What’s wrong?

I leap out of my seat and press my tub of popcorn into Nessa’s hands. “Can you hold this?”

I let go before she’s agreed to take the jumbo size tub I thought would ease my nervous energy.

I hate confrontation. Literally hate it. Will never ever like it.

Except now.

“You have some nerve coming here,” I snap at my ex-boyfriend. “You run Caleb over with your car, and you’re here to watch him play.”

My voice rises with each word as spectators hush up and lean closer.

“Look, can we talk about this later?” Marc darts them a rapid glance. “The game’s about to start.”

I cross my arms. “No, because you’re leaving. Right now.”

He blinks at me like he can’t believe I would ever suggest such a stupid thing.

“You’re leaving,” I repeat.

“But the game?—”

“You nearly killed the team captain. What the fuck is wrong with you that you now want to watch him win?”

“It was an accident,” he hisses, getting to his feet with another rapid glance at our eavesdroppers.

“An accident ?”

He rakes a hand through his blond hair. “I wasn’t thinking, okay. I just… they were using you, and they?—”

“ No , they weren’t . You got pissy because I wasn’t crawling back to you like you thought I would. You knew exactly what you were doing. I bet your proposal was just a way to get back at them, and you’d have turned around and cheated again the second they stopped paying me attention.”

There’s a bubble of silence opening up around us, and it is getting bigger by the second.

When I look down at the ice, the players who were busy warming up are staring at us.

Everyone is watching.

Caleb has pulled his helmet off, and he looks pissed . So does Javier. Theo and Lincoln are holding Reid by each arm, probably to avoid him killing Marc and getting arrested.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Marc says, sitting down.

I stand there for two seconds, frustrated, annoyed, and pissed .

Marc shouldn’t be here. Yes, he loves hockey. This is the biggest game of the year, and he never misses a game and all that crap, but he nearly killed Caleb.

If there were a person who deserves to have their season ticket ripped up, it’s him.

Caleb, Reid, and Javier should be focused on the game, not have to deal with my attempted murdering ex-boyfriend who has a season ticket he doesn’t deserve. They fought for me. I need to fight for them.

But how?

I start looking for an usher or security to throw him out, then I stop.

I don’t need forty-eight hours to figure out the perfect thing to say.

It comes to me like the universe has decided to stop punishing me with the kiss cam and rewarded me with an idea instead.

I pull out my cell phone.

“What are you doing?” Marc asks.

“Calling the cops.”

He leaps to his feet. “What?”

I look at him. “You nearly killed Caleb right outside the arena. I’m sure there will be CCTV footage, so I’m guessing you’re going to jail for a while. How long does someone serve for attempted murder? I can’t remember.”

He stares at me, trembling and white-faced.

“Marc? You’re the one going to law school. Is it ten years or twenty?” I frown thoughtfully. “I mean, are there lawyer conmen, or does going to prison mean you can never?—”

He takes off. He’s out of the arena so fast he nearly falls down the stairs.

I watch him go, then I turn back to the ice.

Everyone is still watching me.

And I just…

I did it.

Caleb grins and gives me a thumbs-up. Javier blows me a kiss, and Reid does a bow that has the arena laughing.

Tobie Myers coming up top in a confrontation?

Who is she?

I return to my seat victorious.