Page 229 of Iced Up Love: Part Two
“It’s only a couple of days,” I say gently. “I’ll miss you too.”
Zach leans his hip against the table beside me, his hand settling at my shoulder.
“We both will.”
Jackson nods, glancing at his phone again before forcing himself to ignore it.
“I’ll text you,” he says. “Every day.”
“I know you will.”
I reach for his hand again, squeezing it lightly.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” I add. “You need to keep doing this. You need to go.”
He studies me for a moment, then nods slowly.
“If we win this one,” he says, “there’s a chance. Not a big one, but… a chance we could still scrape into playoffs.”
I tilt my head slightly.
“Are you upset about that? If you don’t?”
He shakes his head immediately.
“Not at all,” he says. “This is my first year. I’ve got time. Plenty of time to make it count.”
There’s no hesitation in it. No regret. Just certainty.
I turn to Zach.
“What about you?”
He doesn’t even need a second.
“I think I checked out a long time ago,” he admits quietly. “I’ve had my time. I’m ready for what comes next.”
His hand slides down to mine, threading our fingers together.
“I just want this,” he adds. “Us.”
Something soft settles in my chest. Then I look at Elijah. He’s been quieter. Watching. Holding himself just slightly apart from the rest of us, even sitting here.
“Are you going back?” I ask. “After the suspension?”
He doesn’t hesitate.
“No.”
I blink slightly.
“What does that mean?”
He holds my gaze.
“It means hockey’s done for me.”
There’s no wavering in it. No second guessing.
