Page 254 of Don't Fall for the Goalie
I find him sitting on the back porch steps in sweatpants and a hoodie, silent and still, despite the freezing air. His elbows rest on his knees while his head hangs slightly.
The sight hits me right in the chest.
Because weeks ago? He would’ve hidden this from me.
Now? He let me find him.
Quietly, I step outside.
The cold bites through my pajamas.
Daltyn looks up the second he hears me.
For one horrible second, something guarded flickers across his face before it softens.
“Bad night?” I askquietly.
His jaw flexes once. “Yeah.”
And God. That single word matters more than he realizes.
Because before? He would’ve saidI’m fine.
Before? He would’ve suffered alone.
Now, he lets me see it.
I sit beside him without hesitation.
Our shoulders touch.
Leaves fall softly around us.
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs after a while.
I frown. “For what?”
“For waking you up.”
Emotion lodges in my chest.
This man.
“You never have to apologize for hurting.”
His eyes close briefly.
Then slowly… his hand reaches for mine, seeking comfort.
And honestly? That might be one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen.
By the thirdweek of the season, the internet is fully obsessed with us.
Well, mostly with him.
I shake my head, a smile on my face, when I see the headline:
Hockey Goalie in Love.
