Page 96 of Keeping Score

The rush of the crowd filled TD Garden. I felt that pre-game electricity as the screams and thud of the music surrounded me.

I shook my head and blew out a breath, getting into game mode.

I could get through this. I could get through this because I had to, so really there was no other choice. The team was depending on me and I couldn’t let them down.

Liam skated by, not looking me in the eyes when he dropped the news.

“Just so you know, Maggie’s here,” he said. “And Cassie said she wants to talk to you after the game.”

My heart pounded.

“Cassie wants to talk to me after the game? Or Maggie does?”

“Maggie, obviously.”

“Well, I just had to be clear.”

He muttered something and skated away, getting ready for the start of the game.

But all I could think about was that my beautiful girl was somewhere in the stands, waiting for me at the end of all this.

Had Mr. Waterman been right? Did she just need some time and space to think it out? I saw light at the end of the tunnel.

Everything was going to be okay.

Maggie was here. She was here for me.

With that knowledge tucked securely in my heart, I played the best I’d ever played in my life.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Maggie

How did you apologize to the love of your life after telling them you didn’t want to marry them?

“Psych?”

“Sorry I broke your heart, but I didn’t mean it?”

“No, I really do want to marry you, I just have some inner shit to work through first?”

Somehow, every line I worked through in my head fell flat. I was well aware that it might not even make a difference, anyway. Maybe I already had my shot with Brody and blew it. Maybe that was the only chance at happiness I would get.

Because I knew with a certainty deep in my bones that no one would ever love me the way Brody did. And even if someone could, I wouldn’t want them.

Which left me with one option: trying.

“Just relax,” Cassie said, sitting beside me. “I already told you it’s going to be fine.”

“How do you know?” I asked, desperate for reassurance.

Because even though the idea of laying it all out there, offering up my heart with all its imperfections at Brody’s feet, the fear of it getting trampled on haunted me.

“Because he’s been with us for the last week since it happened and he’s been miserable the entire time.”

“Maybe it’s the effect of being in Liam’s company.” I shrugged sarcastically.

Because Brody sure as hell didn’t look miserable on the ice tonight. No, every time I caught a glimpse of his face on the jumbotron, he looked exuberant. Like nothing could touch him. As if nothing ever happened at all.