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“I love you, bro. You’ve got this.”

Her confidence gives me a little boost, and I pray to anyone who will listen that she’s right.

I really need this to work out, because I’m not sure I can continue like I have for the past week.

It’s been hell.

The interview that I was already dreading was a disaster. They probably thought I’d done no research, when in fact I’d done more than enough, but I was too distracted. My head has been filled with nothing but Cooper and all of my stupid mistakes since the moment I walked out of his house. I haven’t heard anything yet, but I’m not holding out any hope. Not that I want it. Being there and listening to them talk about the role only proved to me what I already knew. I keep lying to myself, saying that I just want a job, that it doesn’t matter if it’s not one I love. But. deep down, I want everything I’ve been convincing myself I can’t have.

To the point that I’ve even sent my resume to the Vipers in the hope of a miracle happening.

The reality is that they probably get hundreds every day, and it won’t even grace the desk—or the inbox—of the person I need it to go to. But at least I’ve tried…right?

My knee bounces nervously throughout the entire journey to the airport, and it doesn’t get any better as I stand in line for security.

I’m a fucking wreck by the time I’ve taken my seat on the plane.

Unlike the last flight, this one isn’t delayed, and before I know it, every seat is full, and the cabin crew are doing their final checks.

Garrett: Do you really think I’m doing the right thing?

As if she’s been waiting for me to message, Sienna begins typing instantly.

Sienna: You won’t know until you get there.

“Fucking hell,” I breathe, earning myself a glare from the little old lady in the seat next to me.

Ignoring her, I pull my AirPods from my pocket and attempt to listen to some hockey podcast episodes that I downloaded earlier.

I don’t get a wink of sleep. Knowing Cooper is in this hotel somewhere is enough to keep my mind from switching off.

My stomach growls, desperate for food. I skipped dinner yesterday and just grabbed some snacks at the airport. I was going to order room service, but I couldn’t stomach it by the time I’d checked in.

And right now, I can’t get out to find anything until I know Cooper and the rest of the team have left for morning skate.

The last thing I want to do is run into him and fuck up his game, so I’ve vowed to stay hidden. I’m not sure what’s going to happen if he sees me at the arena, though.

Maybe I shouldn’t have allowed Calvin to secure my tickets. Maybe I should have gotten them myself and ensured I was sitting in the nosebleeds, where he would never see me.

I rely on my extensive research of hockey and the players’ schedules to predict when they’re going to be moving about today. I could easily get the exact timings, but the fewer people who know about this, the better.

I eventually risk leaving my room just after eleven, in desperate need of food and a huge cup of coffee.

Thankfully, as I get down to the lobby, there isn’t a player in sight, although there are plenty of fans who must have traveled for this game.

I slip out of the hotel unnoticed with the intention of spending the day roaming the city before heading to the arena later to watch the game.

I don’t go in for warmups. It fucking kills me to miss out on it, but the risk of being spotted while the stands are half empty is too great.

Eventually, though, I make my way through the concourse, grab myself a beer, and go and find my seat. I’m too nervous for food.

The Detroit fans are already going wild. They’ve had a great season. The best in quite a few years. It’s looking very likely that they’ll make the playoffs. Getting the W tonight would secure their position. It’s going to be a good game; there’s no doubting that.

I take my seat and look around discreetly.

While I might be here for Cooper, there are also three others I’m interested in. Well, two really. I’d rather the third didn’t exist.

I don’t expect to find them. Something tells me that a man like Wayne Nash would have a box to watch his home team play. It doesn’t stop me from searching for them, though.