Page 85 of Open Net

Huh. I felt bad I’d been missing out on developments like this. Maybe I should start coming back for practices. It wasn’t like I had to worry about keeping Jackson entertained. I peered around and laughed when I saw he’d been passed down the entire row.

“Hey, isn’t that Olli?” Addison asked.

I turned and nodded. “What’s he doing?”

Coach was talking to him and I wished more than anything I could hear what was being said. After a moment Coach pointed up at me and Olli slowly turned. I waved when he glanced up and his smile grew. He disappeared though before I could figure out what was going on.

The drills continued and I assumed Olli went back to shower or maybe he had a session with Dr. Elliot now.

“Um Emma?” I turned to see Chloe pointing across the arena. Olli had just appeared and was running through sections toward us.

“What is he doing?” I thought out loud.

“Go find out.” Addison nudged me.

I stood and walked through the empty rows until Olli and I met behind the goalie net. “What’s going on?”

His smile could have lit up the entire arena. He pulled me in for an incredibly tight hug then stepped back. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

I nodded and laughed. “You know I got home yesterday.”

“I know, but you’re here. Why are you here?”

“Coach asked me to come.” So, he didn’t know why I was here either?

His laughed. “That sly man.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Who? Coach?”

“He asked me to come talk to him, which you saw.” I nodded. “He told me Dr. Elliot cleared me. She only wanted to meet with me once a month or as needed.”

That was amazing news. I knew Dr. Elliot wouldn’t have done that unless she truly believed Olli was in a better mental space. If she thought he was ready for that.

“That’s great, Olli. I’m so proud of you.”

“Coach also told me Madi said I could start practicing with the team. Off ice, of course.”

I threw my arms around him. “Congratulations.”

He held me to him and kissed my forehead. “Thank you, Emma.”

I leaned back and nodded. “You’ve worked so hard. I’m so proud of you.”

“That means everything.”

I pulled his shirt and lowered him to me. I kissed his lips and felt fire burning within me. We’d made it. We’d pushed through for each other. There was plenty of time when I doubted that was going to happen. He deepened the kiss and pushed one hand around my neck and the other through my hair.

My knees buckled and I fell into him. He supported both of us, never breaking the kiss.

I ran my fingers over his jaw and sighed. My man. He was back.

Cheers erupted and we broke away. The team had stopped practicing and were clapping and hollering from the ice while the pride whooped and yelled out from their section. Apparently, we weren’t in our own little world like I thought.

I didn’t care though. They’d seen us like this before, just not for a long time.

Olli kissed my cheek and I turned to meet his hooded eyes. “Emma?”

“Yeah?” It came out in a whisper.