Page 93 of Traded

I don’t want to be part of this conversation anymore. But I can’t leave. I have to deliver him to lunch any minute. “What? Spit it out.”

“Scared,” Austin says evenly, still watching me. “You were scared.”

I inhale sharply, my body locked into stillness. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t comment on my personal life. I’m at work.”

He nods slowly, as if he was expecting it. “Just so you know, fear like that doesn’t go away.”

I shrink back, searching over my shoulder. Mackenzie is standing, shaking Callum Morris’s hand, still talking. I silently will him to hurry up. There’s no sign of Benji and Noah. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do.” Navarro straightens, but his words are gentle. “Look, I don’t know what happened in that elevator. But fear like that? It doesn’t go away once it’s there. It only ever grows.”

My hands are shaking. I curl them inward, hiding them at my sides. “Lunch is in the Exec Suite up on the eighth floor. You can follow the signs. Tell—tell the others.”

I leave him standing there. But his eyes follow me until I’m out of sight, lost in a crowd of people and a state of sonder with shaking hands and an empty heart.

He’s wrong. This—feeling—strange and soft as it is, buried and hidden but stilltherebeneath Liam’s demands and the shell encasing me, it will go eventually.

It will end, and things will go back to some sort of normal.

But what if it doesn’t?

Beelining for the closest bathroom, I drop to my knees and lose the remains of my breakfast.

It has to.

Ithasto.

***

By the time I hunt down Boone and Carter, I’m running on pure adrenaline and the tank is empty. The call sheet shakes in my hand, every line crossed off aside from one.

I’ve smiled and laughed and cajoled players into content, forced Ryker into staying still so a photographer could take new headshots and filmed a half-joking, half-furious guessing game between several Aces and Titans—none of whom, thankfully, were part of my pack or Boone fucking Mercers.

He straightens out on the ice as I approach the boards, looking irritated. He’s swapped his suit for full kit, his scarlet Aces jersey bearing an unfamiliar logo. “We’ve been here for an hour. How much longer is this going to take?”

“Few more shots.” Ness looks equally unimpressed, though whether it’s with Boone or Nate, who stands beside her, Icouldn’t say. “Then we’ll finish with the press conference and you’re done for the day.”

Boone looks like he mutters something distinctly uncomplimentary, but he nods at Ness before crouching back down, his stick braced. Carter does the same, the two of them almost touching as a photographer circles them. “Closer, both of you—I need anger, fury,rage—oh, that’sperfect.”

No acting necessary for this one. Also, Katie would absolutely have an opinion about the tension burning between them. I hoist myself up on the boards to watch, swinging my legs over.

The photographer is beside himself with joy. “Gorgeous.You really look like you hate each other. I love it!”

A videographer circles, ducking out of the way of the photos. His camera zeroes in on the beer between them in place of a puck.

Highlighting male aggression in drink isn’t exactly my idea of an award-winning advertising campaign, but what do I know? I’m just the social media gal.

Bet it was Dick’s idea. I know for a fact that brand is his favorite. He keeps it stocked in the mini fridge in his office.

“Did you know there’s a reported increase in domestic violence during international football matches?” Turning, I take the coffee Lauren holds out. She hands me hers too before lifting herself up to sit beside me and taking it back. “Not sure it’s ever been looked into for hockey.”

“Probably should be.” I take a sip of my coffee. Lauren looks as tired as I feel, her hair hastily tied in a ponytail that’s already coming loose. “Thanks for the coffee.”

“No problem.” She hides a delicate yawn behind her hand. “Long day. Almost done, though. I was thinking about what you said earlier. That’s why I’m here.”

She gestures to Boone and Carter. They’re pushing against each other now, helmet pressed to helmet as they jostle for space. “I can swap if you want. My list finished early.”

“Nah. I’d only be waiting for Carter anyway. And I want to watch the press conference.”