Chapter 2 Marina

I didn't wait as I rushed out the door.

"Marina, wait!" Eden's voice followed me.

But I didn't stop.

My hand was already on the apartment door. I yanked it open and stumbled into the hallway.

I stood with my back against the wall, staring blindly down the empty hallway, trying to force air into my lungs.

Then I heard the handle turn. I pushed myself away from the wall. This time, I didn't wait.

I took the stairs instead of the elevator, my heart hammered against my ribs. My lungs burned, but I kept moving.

By the time I reached the street, tears were streaming down my face.

I wiped them away furiously.

So stupid.

A man like Eden didn't suddenly wake up one morning and decide the little girl he had known for years was the love of his life.

I walked past the coffee shop.

The city was still alive.

The Aurora Blades had won.

People crowded the sidewalks, laughing, shouting, celebrating.

"Dane! Dane! Dane!"

I lowered my head and kept walking. I still had a story to file.

My phone rang. It's Chloe, my editor. I stared at the screen until the call stopped. I couldn't answer.

I didn't know how long I walked before I found myself back at the arena. Most of the fans had already gone home.

The place felt strangely hollow after the chaos of the championship celebration.

I dropped onto a bench near the edge of the arena and stared at the empty rink.

"That's a dangerous place to sit."

I jumped. I hadn't realized anyone was nearby.

I looked up.

Dane stood a few feet away, his hockey bag hanging from one shoulder. His dark hair was damp, and he wore dark trousers beneath the team jacket.

How could someone be insanely beautiful and still have a girlfriend who is cheating on him? My gender needed to be studied.

Dane studied me carefully, his brow furrowed.

"What happened?"

Of course. He was one of my brother's friends. Protecting me came naturally to him.

"Nothing," I said too quickly.

One corner of his mouth lifted. "That answer was way too fast." He walked around the bench until he squatted directly in front of me. "Who hurt you?"

"No one." My voice cracked.

Dane's eyes dropped to my face. "You're crying."

I quickly wiped my cheeks. "I'm fine."

He didn't believe me. But instead of demanding an explanation, he opened his arms and pulled me against him.

I froze.

Then something inside me gave way. My fingers curled into his jacket. I buried my face against his chest and cried.

His hand moved slowly over my hair.

"Whoever did this," he murmured, "I hope you tell me."

If only he knew. I quickly pulled away before I said something stupid.

Dane looked down at me.

His thumb brushed beneath my eye, catching the tear I hadn't managed to wipe away.

Neither of us moved.

My brother is somehow more comfortable with me being around Eden than Dane.

Dane was different.

You can't really tell his next move. He acted like nothing in the world could hurt him.

I stepped back.

Dane looked away first. He moved to the other end of the bench and sat down.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

Across the arena, the crew rolled a stack of barriers toward the storage entrance.

"Your article." Dane's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I looked at him. "What about it?"

"Chloe isn't going to be happy if the championship story doesn't get filed."

I stared at him. "You remember my deadline?"

"Of course." His mouth twitched. "You complained about it enough."

I let out a small, broken sound. It was barely a smile, but it was real.

Dane looked almost pleased with himself.

We sat in silence, each lost in our own thoughts.

"Dane."

He turned toward me. "I need to tell you something."

He didn't say a word, but my heart started pounding again.

Tell him.

Tell him what you saw.

Tell him about Eden and Blaire.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out, as Blaire's threat flashed through my mind. She had connections.

And what was it even my business if his girlfriend was sleeping with half the men in New York?

I swallowed.

How could I take the happiest night of his career and split it open with one sentence?

"Never mind."

Dane studied me for a long moment.

He didn't push, he only nodded, as my eyes burned again.

I could still hear Eden's voice.

"Blaire is probably looking for me," he said eventually. "I should probably get going."

He rose, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

My stomach dropped. The secret on my tongue suddenly felt unbearably heavy.

Your girlfriend is sleeping with your best friend. The words were right there, but I swallowed them.

This was what I was supposed to do. To keep my mouth shut.

Let him have his perfect night.

"Actually..."

Dane looked back at me. For the first time since I'd known him, the golden captain looked nervous.

"What?"

He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "There's something I want to tell you."

My heart stuttered. Then raced.

Dane glanced toward the arena lights before looking back at me.

"You're probably going to laugh at me."

"Why?"

"I need your opinion on something." He reached into his bag.

"About what?" I managed.

My brows pulled together. Then he opened a small box.

A diamond caught the arena light. My heart slammed against my ribs. For one terrifying second, I thought I had stopped breathing.

Dane looked down at the ring. "I've been thinking about asking Blaire to marry me."

Everything inside me went still. I stared at him in horror.

"I'm thinking about proposing to Blaire."