Page 33 of Your Biggest Downfall (Ravens Hockey #3)

austin

“After we put out another official announcement, Austin will be able to join the team next month for practice to get ready for the season,” Coach announced as we wrapped up the meeting.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my composure. The room was filled with the same faces as last time, except for Ledger, who was absent.

“Cool,” I said, keeping my voice steady, though a mix of relief and anxiety churned inside. “Thank you all for your help and understanding.” I tried to maintain a professional tone, keeping my emotions in check.

Iris, sitting across the room, kept giving me sympathetic glances, her eyes soft as she took off her glasses and looked at me a few times.

“The meeting is concluded as long as Iris has everything she needs,” the team owner said, breaking the silence.

Iris looked up, meeting his gaze, and nodded. “All set.”

“Perfect. See you out there, Hart,” the owner added with a nod.

“Thanks.” I grabbed my bags, preparing to leave.

I had plans to head down to the PR offices, hoping I might catch a glimpse of Nova. She hadn’t been at this meeting, just like the last one, likely avoiding me after what happened yesterday, but I had to try and talk to her somehow.

As I made my way toward the door, Iris called out from the other side of the table. “Austin, could you please stick around for a moment?”

I paused, nodding at my agent and Coach as they exited the room. My heart skipped a beat, a mix of curiosity and apprehension swirling in my chest.

As the room emptied, I turned back to Iris, her gaze steady on me. The door clicked shut, leaving the two of us.

“What’s up?” I asked.

Iris was looking down at her papers, putting things into a neat pile. “I, uh, this isn’t my place, but I thought you should know...”

My heart sped up, and sweat formed on my palms. “Know what?”

“Nova—”

“Nova?” I asked, feeling a pit in my stomach. Something was wrong.

“She— her mom?—”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Her mom and the cancer, something had to be wrong.

“What’s wrong?” I asked frantically. “Please tell me.”

“Her mom is in the hospital. I don’t know what’s going on, but she left after receiving the news.”

“Thank you.” I gave Iris a nod of appreciation before I bolted out of the door, running down the halls and rushing out of the building.

I needed to get to Nova.

I ran to the car and dialed Jeremy. “What’s up, bro? Welcome back to reality.”

“Thanks. What hospital around us has the best cancer center?”

There was a pause on the other line. “Are you okay?”

“No,” I barked. “I’m not fucking okay. What hospital?”

I gripped the steering wheel as I put the car in drive and ripped out of the parking lot, headed to the highway.

I need a drink. I need a drink. I need a fucking drink.

“My foster dad went to U of C, but Northwestern is also ranked high,” Jeremy said.

Jeremy’s foster-dad had cancer a couple years ago, but from what he’d said, it was pretty bad for a while.

“What’s closest to the rink?” I asked.

“Northwestern. It’s downtown.” He rattled off instructions on how to get there, and I depressed the accelerator, trying to get there as fast as I could. “Are you sick?”

I paused, realizing he thought this was about me. “No. Nova’s there with a... family member.”

“Oh shit,” he added. “I didn’t realize you’d already seen her since you’ve been out. Didn’t you get out yesterday?”

“Yeah.”

“How was it?” Jeremy asked.

“Stupid,” I said truthfully. “I did it for her. I still don’t think I’m an addict.”

“Me neither. We like to party a little and let loose, especially after losing the Cup.”

“Exactly,” I said. Before I knew it, I was pulling up to the hospital. “I gotta go. I’m here.”

“Hey, man,” Jeremy said. “If you don’t find her, I’ll call Luna and see if she knows where she is.”

“Thanks,” I said, appreciating his offer. I realized I needed to do a better job of showing him I cared about our friendship beyond hockey. “Let’s get together soon.”

“For sure. Good luck with Nova. I’ll call Lune now.”

Lune, huh? They were on a nickname basis? I guess a lot had changed—I could’ve sworn they were just hooking up.

As I approached the front desk, my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might break through my chest. I wiped my palms against my pants before leaning forward slightly, trying to appear more confident than I felt.

I tapped my fingers restlessly on the counter as I demanded, “I’m looking for my fiancée and her mother, Cecilia.” I forced myself to hold eye contact with the front desk lady, hoping my anxiousness didn’t show.

As she searched for the information, a bead of sweat trickled down the back of my neck, and my foot tapped involuntarily against the floor.

“Yes, they’re in Wing Three, room fifty-seven.” She looked at the clock and added, “Visiting hours end in twenty minutes, so please be quick.”

“Thank you,” I said.

I grabbed the visitor badge with slightly trembling hands and practically sprinted toward the elevator, my steps quick and uneven as I rushed to find them. I jabbed the elevator button repeatedly, as if doing so would make it arrive faster.

Once I got inside and took the elevator up to the fifth floor, I closed my eyes. Why did I even come here? Nova pushed me away yesterday, but she needed someone to lean on right now. If anything, I needed to be there for her as a friend.

I reached her mom’s room and paused, my hand hovering over the door handle. Should I knock? Maybe I should barge in—or maybe I should leave entirely because this wasn’t my place. I could go get her dinner and meet her at her apartment, but what if she doesn’t go home?

I knocked.

A flood of doubts overwhelmed me. I should turn back. I shouldn’t be here. I should?—

“Come in.”

Her sweet, soft voice filled my ears like a familiar melody, one I’d known forever. I craved her like I needed air.

My hand met the door handle, and out of pure instinct—driven by the need to be closer to her, to make sure she was okay—I pushed the door open.

“It’s me.”