Page 80 of Wild Card 13

Naomi saw my face fall. "Time to go?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"You okay?"

"No." I picked my coffee back up, now only lukewarm. "But, I'll survive."

"I know you will."

"I'll call you tonight."

"You better."

"And Naomi?"

"Yeah?"

"...don't tell anyone."

She barked out a laugh. "I've been keeping your secrets since braces."

That finally earned the smallest smile of the morning. "I love you."

"I know." She smiled back. "I love you too."

The screen went dark. The room became quiet again. I looked at the second coffee cup still sitting untouched on the desk. He hadn’t taken it with him.

I stared at it for one long second before forcing myself to look away.

I showered. Pulled my hair into a low ponytail. Applied just enough makeup to hide the evidence of the morning. Buttoned myself back into the version of Lucy Thomas everyone expected.

Professional.

Composed.

Untouchable.

By the time I wheeled my suitcase toward the hotel room door, there wasn't a single visible sign that anything had changed.

Only I knew better.

Somewhere between leaving New York and landing back in Northbend, I’d have to figure out how to look Ty Burns in the eye again—and somehow pretend nothing had happened when every part of me knew it had.

CHAPTER 10

LUCY

THEN

The Northbend High arena always smelled the same.

Cold air.

Freshly cut ice.

Burnt coffee.

And the unmistakable scent of damp hockey gear that clung to concrete walls no matter how many seasons passed.