Page 68 of Falling Back to You

Khia pouted. “We need to match.” And she turned around, Satterfield and 22 emblazoned on the back of her small navy-and-white jersey.

I checked my watch. We were already running late, and I didn’t have time to explain why matching would be a terrible idea—for my heart at least. “Maybe next time, okay?”

Her lip trembled.

Oh no, meltdowns weren’t on the schedule tonight. “If your daddy wins, you and I can decorate cookies tomorrow with the team colours.”

Her eyes brightened. “More sugar cookies?”

“Of course.”

She cheered and scampered to the door. “C’mon, Miss Noelle!”

If only all of life’s problems could be solved with the promise of baked goods.

Once we got to the Caldwell arena, appropriately named the Palace, it was a sea of fans. It was nothing compared to New York streets, but I still had half a mind to bolt the other direction.

I gripped Khia’s hand tightly, scanning the throng of white and navy until a familiar face caught my eye. Juliet.

She moved towards us, confidence radiating off her. Even as a teenager, Juliet possessed more ease than women twice her age. As a lawyer, it had clearly served her well.

“Auntie Jules!” Khia flung herself at the tall woman.

If I hadn’t seen her on Sunday, I would have had no idea she was pregnant since her oversized jersey hid her baby bump. My nursing skills had kicked in the minute I saw her, but in the busyness we didn’t get the chance to talk. I had a hundred questions—how was she feeling? how did she and Myles fall in love?—but all of them turned to ash on my tongue when she met my gaze.

She wasn’t the same Juliet I remembered. Despite our three-year age gap, we’d been close back then. More than once, we’d sat in the stands at the guys’ hockey games, cheering until our throats were hoarse.

Now, instead of laughing over a bucket of popcorn, her expression was guarded. “Noelle.”

“Nice to see you, Jules.”

She winced almost imperceptibly at the nickname. “Cal asked me to see you in. Didn’t want you getting lost in the crowd.”

“Thanks. Are you feeling better?”

“Eh.” She lifted her shoulder in a half shrug. “Just a twenty-four-hour flu. Myles was more worried than I was.” The mention of her husband had her entire expression softening. Love looked good on Juliet.

“Can I see Daddy?” Khia tugged her aunt’s jersey. “I need to tell him to win so I can make cookies!”

Juliet chuckled. “How about I pass on the message?”

Khia sighed dramatically. “M’kay, but tell him it’s important.”

“I’ll do that.”

Khia kept hold of my hand as Juliet steered us around the lines and into the arena.

“Usually I take Khia to the family row with the other wives and girlfriends, but Cal said she wanted a closer seat this time,” Juliet explained, leading us towards the arena seating.

The Chargers were doing warm ups, but Cal skated over to us when we paused to watch them through the clear protective shield surrounding the ice.

My back twinged as I helped Khia stand on the edge so she could see. Cal grinned and blew her a kiss with his gloved hand.

She giggled, blowing a kiss back.

Cal glanced at me, taking in my oversized hoodie and jeans, and I swear a glint of disappointment flashed in his eyes. Or maybe that was an illusion thanks to his helmet.

Or you’re imagining it because it’s what you want to see.