Scoring One Night (Blue Ridge Mountain Hockey #4)

Melanie

"T oday is going to suck," I mumbled as the incessant ticking of the clock in the hallway of the Devil's training facility echoed in my ear.

Today was the day I'd have to face Aspen after our breakup. I went over our dinner together at his place on Friday all weekend, and every time I hated myself more and more.

He went to all that trouble of being, well, romantic. And that's what made me realize our friends-with-benefits relationship couldn't go on. Because if he kept it up, I'd fall hard for him.

And every time I started to really like a guy, that's when they'd walk away.

I wouldn't let that happen this time. It was my turn to leave.

I thought ending things with him first would make me feel better, but it didn't. Now I just felt like a jerk.

"Ugh!" I groaned, glancing at the clock again. "Why does time have to move so slow when I'm dreading something?"

It wasn’t just about facing him; it was that I would have to work with him. I had to get him ready for the game tomorrow and make sure he was in top shape for those judges. All while breathing in his scent and gliding my hands over his body. Desperately, I wanted to tell him that I made a mistake and beg his forgiveness, but deep down, I knew it was best I keep my distance.

He had been a hockey player for years, and this was his chance to move forward—to get his shot, to make his dream come true.

I couldn't let my selfish heart take that from him.

To reach the top, there had to be pain. Nothing was ever easy.

"." Mia's voice cut through my thoughts like a slapshot. My boss walked by with her usual stern expression, holding a clipboard close to her chest. "Aspen called in sick today. It seems you get a free day."

"Sick?" I stopped pacing and shifted my focus from the clock to Mia. "Is he okay? Did he say what was wrong?"

Mia arched an eyebrow, her green eyes narrowing as if questioning the sudden concern. "He didn't elaborate, but you know Aspen… he always bounces back. It's probably a good thing he rest right before the game against Baltimore tomorrow. I suggest you observe the other players during PT and watch the practice on the ice today."

"Right." I forced a smile, my stomach sinking. "Thanks for letting me know."

As Mia continued down the hall, I couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn’t here because of me. Aspen rarely got sick, and even if he did, he'd fight tooth and nail to be on the ice.

"!" Daisy appeared around the corner, her face lighting up with surprise when she saw me. "I was just on my way to visit Cillian. What are you doing here, looking all sad and mopey?"

"Hey, Daisy." I sighed. "I'm just... dealing with some stuff."

"Stuff? Come on, spill it. You can't hide things from me," Daisy said, her brows tightening with concern.

I guess since Aspen and I broke up, it was fine to tell Daisy. What could happen now? I doubt my friend would tell anyone if she knew I was unhappy.

"Okay, fine." I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the confession. "Aspen and I... we had a thing… a fling, I guess. But I ended it because of the team's no-fraternizing policy. I couldn't risk my job, you know?"

"Wow, I didn't see that coming," Daisy said, her eyes wide, clearly taken aback. "I'm so sorry. It must have been hard to walk away from someone you care about."

"Harder than you can imagine," I said, feeling a lump form in my throat.

Daisy smirked. "I think I can imagine."

I knew she had flirted with Cillian, and how her brother Jackson didn’t like it. Cillian was like the team grump and Jackson was the opposite, and because of that, they didn’t get along.

"You and Cillian, huh?"

Daisy let out a breath and leaned against the wall. "Oh yeah. We hooked up long before anyone found out. Cillian didn’t want Jackson to find out, and neither did I, really."

"That must have been tough keeping it a secret."

Daisy nodded. "But the worst part was not telling my friends." She gave me a knowing wink.

She knew I was keeping it from her and Lynda. I thought she would hate me when she found out, but I guess she understood better than I thought.

"I'm sorry." I frowned.

"Oh, honey, no." Daisy opened her arms for a friendly embrace.

It felt good to not be so alone. I should have never kept this from my friends.

"I only told Sophia," I said as I pulled back from the hug. "Since she didn’t really know anyone on the team."

"I get why you didn’t tell me, but understand that I'm your friend. If you need someone to talk to, then I am always here. And whatever we talk about is completely between us and us alone."

A tear slid down my cheek. "I feel like the biggest, most selfish jerk that ever lived."

", you're the opposite of that." She smiled. "You're the smartest, strongest, and most selfless person I know. So selfless, you felt your problems were too much of a burden for your friends, so you kept them trapped inside."

I shrugged. "I don't know about that—"

"I do," Daisy said, cutting me off. "And you ended a relationship for someone else's career."

I tilted my head in confusion. "No, I said, for my career. I didn’t want to get fired for it."

Daisy crossed her arms over her chest. "Really? So working for the Devils is your dream job?"

"Not so much the Devils, but—"

"So, if you got fired from the Devils, you'd never be able to work as a physical therapist again?"

I groaned. "Not necessarily, but you don't understand. I'm just starting my career and getting fired would ruin—"

"It wouldn't ruin anything, Mel," Daisy scoffed. "Remember when I walked into my bedroom to find my boss sleeping with my ex-boyfriend? Who, until that moment, had been my current boyfriend."

"I remember." I cringed, remembering Andrew. He was such a loser.

"My boss was the only veterinarian within a thirty-mile radius, and I didn’t own a car. I had to work for her. Until I realized I deserved better, and those animals deserved better. So, I started my own veterinarian business."

I was so proud of her for doing that.

"Thanks for the pep talk, but what does that have to do with me?"

"," Daisy began softly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You're an amazing physical therapist, and I know how dedicated you are to your career. But sometimes we need to take risks. Life's too short to let fear dictate our decisions."

I considered Daisy's words, my heart racing as the weight of my friend's words pressed down on me.

"You think I should... start my own physical therapy business?" I almost couldn't get the words out.

", I know it's easier said than done, but don't be so hard on yourself," Daisy said, her tone gentle and understanding.

The thought terrified me, but as I looked around the facility, I wondered, was this really my dream? Sure, it was an amazing opportunity, but the reason I got into it was to help people with disabilities.

Was it time to take a risk?

"I think I would need more experience to do something like that."

"I thought the same thing, Mel, but you have your degree. The Devils wouldn't have hired you if you didn’t know what you were doing."

Suddenly, Aspen's smile popped into my head. He was the only one I had ever told about my disability, and he never once judged me or shamed me.

"Thanks, Daisy," I said, my voice wavering. "I think I know what I need to do."

As I watched Daisy head off to see Cillian, I took a deep breath and realized I couldn't bear to see Aspen hurt. His career with the team meant everything to him, and I couldn't be the reason it was jeopardized. If that meant I needed to quit, then so be it.