Page 126 of Making the Save

I opened the box and found a #43 jersey with Wyatt’s name on the back. It wasn’t a new jersey. The edges along the collar and the sleeves were soft like it had been washed.

No, this jersey…could it have been worn? In an actual game? I lifted it to my nose to see if I could smell him, but it smelled like laundry soap. It didn’t matter. I knew, deep in my bones, it had been his, so I immediately put it on over the clothes I was wearing. The bottom of it hit the tops of my knees.

I was surrounded by Wyatt and instantly felt better.

Also inside the box was an envelope. Wrapped around two VIP passes, there was a note.

Dear Syd,

When one chapter ends, a new one can begin. Again. I’ll understand if the answer is no, but please know I’ve been sad too. You were right, I did try to control things. But this time, I’m leaving it in your hands.

Would you like to go on a date with me to see one of the Peaks games? This is just preseason, but there will be food and drinks in the family suite. Dad will be there. I know I said and did some really stupid shit. So if the answer is no, I won’t bother you anymore. But I really hope you’ll come.

Bring Bea.

Wyatt (the asshole)

I laughedand clutched the letter to my chest. A date. A new chapter.

“Am I nuts to be considering this?” I asked my dog. “I barely survived the first chapter with Wyatt.”

Predator rolled over and licked his crotch some more.

“Guess I’m going to have to go to Colorado to find out.” I dug my phone out of my back pocket and hit Beatrice’s contact name. She picked up almost immediately.

“He’s contacted you,” she said right away.

Beatrice had been with me through every phase of this drama, so of course I’d told her about Wyatt coming to see me in NY. She’d made no bones about the fact that she was firmly on Team Wyatt. Even when her being on Team Wyatt felt like a betrayal.

I read her the note.

“Hmm,” she said in classic Beatrice style.

“What doyouthink it means? Predator has his own thoughts.” I looked sideways at my dog, who panted up at me.

“I think the two of you should stop wondering what the other means and just say the truth out loud and to each other. Sydney, no great love has been won without risk.”

“Holy shit,” I said. “Did you just come up with that line? I’m stealing it for a song.”

“Only if I get song writing credit. I’ll make the arrangements and send you the details.”

Two Days Later

Colorado

The arena wasloud and sold out for a preseason game. Beatrice and I made our way through the throngs of attendees filing inside to get to their seats, everyone clearly excited for the upcoming season. I saw a lot of Locke jerseys and it made me happy for Wyatt that he had fans who loved him.

I obviously hadn’t followed hockey before meeting Wyatt, but I imagined I should now. If I was going to date a hockey player, I was probably going to have to get to know the whole team, their positions and everything.

I wore my Peaks ball cap and Wyatt’s jersey with a pair of torn tights and high-heeled booties. As a hockey girlfriend, I thought I looked the look. And bonus – no one looked twice at me.

A month after coming clean about our fake wedding, combined with a couple weeks of lying low and working on the new album, meant that I was yesterday’s news. The P&P’s had moved on to hotter topics.

Turned out Ellie Wheeler was cheating on John Bernard with another up and coming actor. And Axil had officially come out of the closet and was dating a cute drummer in a heavy metal band. Everyone was super excited for him.

“To the right,” Beatrice said, pointing me in the direction of the suite.

We stepped inside and I was surprised to find guests already in attendance. One I recognized immediately.