Scoring with the Wrong Twin (Ice Chronicles Hockey #2)

27. Savannah

27

Savannah

The cursor on my laptop blinks at me like it’s mocking my inability to concentrate.

I’ve got half a dozen emails flagged as “urgent,” but I can’t bring myself to open any of them. It’s been two weeks since I left the ranch, two weeks since I fibbed about some nonexistent “client emergency” to Aubrey.

God, I hate lying.

But facing them—facing him —felt impossible. So here I am, in my Chicago condo, with its fancy modern furniture and zero warmth.

I tap out a reply to an email, reread it twice, and then delete the whole thing. My mind refuses to focus because it keeps straying to Blaze. His confident grin, the way his eyes lit up when he teased me… the way he held me like I mattered more than anything. It’s maddening how someone can feel so present and yet be a thousand miles away.

As the air conditioner hums to life, I can’t help but notice how cold my space feels, even in the middle of this Chicago heatwave. My thoughts flick to the Ice Ranch. Even the name 'Ice Ranch' feels warmer than this place. My condo’s spotless, all sleek lines and minimalist décor, but it might as well be a frozen cave. Definitely no Blaze here to thaw it out.

My phone buzzes, the vibration skittering across the coffee table. For a split second, I hope it’s Blaze texting me some cocky line about how I’m “missing out.” But nope—my heart sinks when I see the name. Brody “Bruiser” Langstone. Ugh.

I stare at the screen, the text glaring at me in black and white: I was in your neighborhood and saw you at the store. You looked sad. Remember, I’m here for you. Call me.

A wave of revulsion washes over me. Why is he always lurking? I hate that I haven’t blocked him, but I’d rather know what he’s up to. Flying blind with a guy like Brody is never wise. Still, this message sends a chill through my spine. Was he really watching me? Did he follow me home? The shadows in my condo suddenly feel more threatening, and I catch myself glancing at the locks on my door.

“Enough of this,” I say to myself, slamming my laptop shut and standing so fast my chair almost tips over. There’s only one person I can talk to right now, and unfortunately, it’s not Aubrey. Not after I lied and bailed on her. I punch in my sister Sabrina’s number, ignoring the fact that it’s probably some obscene hour in Ecuador.

She picks up on the third ring, her voice thick with sleep. “Hello?”

“Sabs, it’s me,” I say, forcing a brightness I don’t feel. “Time zone check: how much do you hate me for calling?”

She yawns, but I can practically hear her smiling. “I hate you only slightly, which is a big step up from the usual. And I don’t know if you’ve forgotten where Ecuador is, exactly, but it’s only an hour ahead of Chicago. So, you’re safe for now. What’s up?”

I sink back onto the couch, hugging a pillow to my chest. “I just… needed someone to talk to. It’s been crazy here. Well, more like crazy in my head.”

“You okay, Sav? You sound… off.”

Off is an understatement. I’ve felt like a zombie since I left the ranch.

“I’m not okay,” I admit, biting my lip to keep from spilling tears. “I can’t talk to Aubrey; she’d kill me if she knew I lied. And I’m pretty sure my condo is slowly turning into a crypt.”

Her gentle laugh crackles over the line. “Sounds like you need a change of scenery. Fill me in, sis.”

I let out a slow breath, my gaze flicking to the stack of files on my coffee table.

“I’m in total meltdown mode. Work’s insane, I’m not sleeping, and my brain’s been a hot mess for weeks. But how are you?”

She makes a sympathetic noise. “Well, I miss you. You know that, right? Sometimes I feel like we’re halves of the same whole—like when we’re not together, something’s missing.”

I snort. “Makes people think we’re twins, which we’re obviously not. But yeah, I get it. I miss you too. Big time.”

We chat about her volunteer work—she’s in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, with Doctors Without Borders, helping communities with limited medical resources. She recounts a day filled with hectic patient scheduling, sweaty hours under the sun. It reminds me why we haven’t been calling much; our lives are completely different worlds.

“So,” she says, her tone shifting. “What’s really going on over there? You didn’t just leave the ranch because of work.”

I swallow hard, heart twisting. “No, I... there was this... situation.”

“Uh-oh,” she says, her voice darkening. “Spill.”

So I tell her everything: Delaney’s sudden appearance at the ranch, her claim that she’s carrying Blaze’s baby, and the nauseating fear that I could end up the other woman—the homewrecker I swore I’d never become.

“You remember how Dad left us,” I say, voice quivering a bit. “I watched Mom fall apart for years. I couldn’t stand to be that person to somebody else. Especially not to Blaze.”

Sabrina sighs, a quiet, knowing sound. “Dad’s mistakes aren’t yours, Savannah. But I get it. You don’t want Blaze to choose between you and a kid that might be his. And if he missed out on being a father, you’d blame yourself, right?”

I nod, even though she can’t see me. “Exactly. So I ran. I left. Again. It’s like I’m stuck in this loop of... I don’t know, self-preservation?”

Her silence is empathetic, letting me gather my thoughts. Then she speaks softly, “Sometimes I wonder if we’ve both spent so much time working and trying not to repeat Mom’s mistakes that we forgot to actually live.”

Her words hit home, my chest tightening. “You’re reading my mind. I’ve been so hyper-focused on work—on building this big, shiny career—that I never stopped to think if it’s what I really want. Or if I’m missing something huge.”

“Look,” she says, “I’ll be here for another eight months. Ecuador’s gorgeous, and you can do a lot of your work remotely. Why don’t you come stay with me? Hit reset.”

I hesitate, chewing on my lip. “But what about the festival? And Pinnacle? Aubrey’s depending on me.”

“Girl, Aubrey is superhuman,” Sabrina teases. “She can handle the on-site stuff. You can support her from here. Worst case, you hop on a plane if there’s some dire emergency. But you need a break.”

My lips twitch into a reluctant smile. “You think it’s that easy?”

She laughs, low and genuine. “Well, maybe not easy , but it’s worth a shot. And hey, I could use the company. Locals keep laughing at my Spanish—apparently, I keep mixing up words for fruit and body parts. It’s embarrassing, but at least I’m popular at the markets.”

I can’t help but chuckle, the heaviness lifting for a moment. “You must be so beloved down there.”

“Obviously,” she deadpans. “Come join the fun, sis.”

When our laughter subsides, my gaze drifts to the double-locked door across the condo.

“I’m nervous about Brody,” I admit, voice wavering. “He’s been texting me weird stuff... I’m scared he’ll escalate if he realizes I’m ignoring him.”

Her tone goes firm, protective. “And that’s another reason to come here, at least for a little while. You’re running on fumes, and this Brody creep isn’t helping.”

She’s right, but it’s still terrifying. “I’ll think about it.”

“You better,” Sabrina warns. “Promise me you will?”

I sigh. “Fine. I promise.”

“I love you, sis.”

“I love you, too.”

After we hang up, I drop my phone onto the couch and stare at the ceiling. Everything feels... possible and impossible at the same time. My stomach twists with a thousand questions. But I find myself standing, heading to my bedroom, the slightest glimmer of hope nagging at the back of my mind.

As I change into pajamas, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror—tired eyes, hair that needs a wash, and a restless spirit that’s so done with being stuck. My period’s late, too. Probably just stress, but still. Great. Another thing to freak out about.

Sliding under the covers, I close my eyes. Maybe distance isn’t such a bad idea. Maybe a few months by Sabrina’s side is exactly what I need. I reach for my phone again, shooting off a quick text to her.

You’re right. I’ll come to Ecuador.

It’s impulsive and terrifying, but as I tuck my phone away, I feel the tiniest surge of relief. Maybe this is exactly the change I’ve been waiting for.