New Year’s Eve and back in Denver.
Sitting on the bench in the locker room, Asher stared at his phone. Other than her brief visit to the hospital, no contact from Emma in almost two weeks. Only two weeks, but it felt like a lifetime. He couldn’t remember a time when they’d gone this long without talking. She’d always been the one constant in his fast-moving world, the one thing he could grab hold of when the stress of the whirlwind pace got too much. She’d been his best friend. His only real friend. The person he depended on and trusted even more than his family…yet she’d been so much more than that. And he’d been completely blind to it.
He’d thought getting back to his rigorous training schedule and the anticipation of the thousandth game would have helped to take his mind off of her, but countless hours on the ice, pushing himself to his limits, hadn’t erased images of her scrolling through his mind. No amount of game strategy talk or hints about a big contract renewal had helped put things back into perspective.
The problem was, he knew what mattered most now.
And it didn’t come with a big payday, fan adoration, or hitting every professional goal he set for himself.
“You nervous?” Anderson, a young rookie forward, asked, pulling his own jersey over his head.
“Nah.” He knew his teammate meant about the thousandth game and once again facing off against his brother on ice that was more home than away for him.
But it was true. None of that bothered his nerves. What did was whether or not Emma would be there. He’d received a thank-you text from Jess, saying that they would be there tonight…but he hadn’t had the balls to ask if they included Emma.
He needed her there.
“Well, suit up, man, and try to steer clear of your brother,” his teammate said with a grin.
“Yeah,” Asher said, reaching for his skates. “I’ll certainly try.”
* * *
Holding a bottle of Champagne, which she had no intentions of sharing, Emma knocked on Jane’s front door. The lights were dimmed and she could hear holiday music coming from inside, mixed with the sounds of chatting and laughter.
Why was she here?
She certainly wasn’t in any mood for a party. The idea of ringing in the New Year among co-workers and people she barely knew was slightly depressing.
She was there because she was desperately trying to avoid being somewhere else.
All day she’d gone back and forth on whether to go to the game with her family, to be there for Ash, but she’d successfully convinced herself that going wasn’t the right thing to do.
Meaning, she was full of shit and capable of lying even to herself.
Ten years of friendship…years of love should have been enough to patch the hole in her heart long enough to make it to his big game, but the pain was still just a little too much.
She wasn’t interested in getting hurt anymore. Despite his claim to be in love with her, she knew the truth: he was terrified of losing her. That wasn’t real love. And she needed to remain true to herself and move on…and away from the hold he’d always had on her.
Going to the game would have been a mistake.
She knocked again, and Jane answered with a welcoming smile. “Hi! So glad you were able to make it. Come in,” she said, moving back to allow Emma to enter.
“Thanks again for inviting me.” Otherwise, she’d probably be sitting in the Denver arena parking lot right now, continuing to do battle with herself.
“Make yourself comfortable…there are people mingling everywhere,” she said, reaching for Emma’s coat.
Emma unzipped it, then shook her head. “You know, I’m a little chilled. I’ll leave it on for now.” Easier to make a quiet exit later if necessary.
The smell of baked goods coming from the kitchen made her stomach growl. She knew she wouldn’t be able to eat a bite, but the laughing, jovial crowd in the living room looked like more than she could handle tonight, so she headed straight for the kitchen. If she didn’t get this liquid into a wine glass soon, she was popping the cork and drinking straight from the bottle.
She knew one thing, she’d never make it to the count of midnight sober. Not when she’d be missing her usual New Year’s Eve Skype “kiss” with Ash.
“Hey, Dr. Masey,” she said with as much enthusiasm she could muster as she entered the small kitchen. He was leaning against the island chatting to several doctors from the medical clinic. “Happy New…”
“What are you doing here?” he interrupted, turning from his conversation.
“I was invited.” She reached for a glass and set it on the counter.
“But Asher’s game is tonight.”
She sighed. She knew that! All day she’d unsuccessfully tried to forget. Her nephews had been practically bouncing off the walls at the idea of going to a game, and even Jess had tried to talk her into going.
“Put everything aside for one night. For him,” she’d said.
Who knew she’d be wishing for her anti-Asher sister to come back? Since the fire, her sister was pro-Asher, and it was coming a little too late.
“I’m sure he’ll do great,” she mumbled, peeling the foil from the rim of the bottle and tossing it into the trash.
She unscrewed the metal cage and gripped the cork tight as she yanked.
It didn’t budge.
She pulled harder, wincing as she expected the cork to come flying out, shooting Champagne everywhere.
It still refused to move.
Oh come on! She handed the bottle to Dr. Masey. “Can you open this? Quickly.”
“I’m not opening this,” he said. “You can’t be serious, Em. You’re going to miss this important event in his—”
She held up a hand. “Stop.” She didn’t need anyone else telling her that she was wrong not to go. Besides, the game started in ten minutes. It was too late anyway. “Please just open my Champagne so I can get sloppily drunk and kiss some random stranger at midnight.”
One of the other doctors winked at her, and she immediately regretted saying the words out loud. She certainly didn’t mean them. At least not the kissing a stranger part.
Dr. Masey reluctantly popped the cork and poured half a glass. But he held it back out of reach when she reached for it. “You should be there for him tonight. This is a big deal,” he said.
Emma stared at the glass of Champagne that was supposed to be her savior that evening, and doubt over her decision returned. Even if they’d been fighting, Asher would never have missed a big moment in her career…in her life. They’d been best friends for so long.
Did it matter that seeing him would break her heart even more?
Could her heart possibly break any more?
Damn! She glanced at the clock on Jane’s kitchen wall. “The game starts in six minutes. I’ll never make it to Denver in time anyway.” What was she saying? What happened to her resolve? “And I don’t even have a ticket.” She’d refused to take one from Jess in case she changed her mind.
Think about the fact that he hurt you. Think about the fact that he could hurt you again…
“You have to at least show up,” Dr. Masey said.
Emma bit her lip. “And what? Just wait outside the players’ gate at the arena until he appears and yell at him to get his attention like the other puck bunnies?” Her mouth went dry. She wouldn’t have to. She knew he always booked the same suite in the Fairmont Plaza hotel, and he always left a room key at the front desk for her, since she’d always beaten him back to the hotel, as he’d needed to shower and change and often had post-game interviews.
Would he leave a key this time? If he did it would mean he still had hope for them.
Suddenly her faint spark of lingering hope needed to find out. “Okay. I’m going to Denver,” she said, feeling her stomach flutter. She thought she might actually throw up. Grabbing the Champagne bottle, she struggled to stick the cork back in, then stole one from the top of a wine bottle and jammed it in.
Suddenly she did feel like sharing. With the man she was in love with.
Dr. Masey smiled as she exited the kitchen. “Have a happy New Year, Emma,” he called after her.
With any luck…