Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Twenty minutes later, I’m hustling my ass across campus, hoping to make it to the library by six o’clock. I considered calling or texting Willow a million times throughout the week, but ultimately, it’s better if we have this conversation in person.

The entire time Coach had been yapping, I’d snuck quick peeks at my phone, hoping he’d bottom line his long list of grievances.

No such luck.

He’d gone on for another fifteen damn minutes before finally wrapping up his spiel.

And now I’m late.

At ten minutes past six, I yank open the door and rush through the lobby to the staircase before taking the risers two at a time. The closer I get, the more anxiety crashes through me.

Even though it’s only been a handful of days since we last saw each other, it feels more like weeks. I’m starving for the sight of her. Once I reach the third floor, my gaze coasts over the area before spotting a blonde with her back to me. Her head is bent and her hair is in a messy bun at the top of her head.

I suck in a deep breath, hoping to steady everything that rampages inside me. Sweat springs to my palms as I beeline to the table she’s parked at.

“Hey.” The greeting bursts from my lips before I can stop it.

I spent most of practice thinking about how I wanted this conversation to go. It’s the reason I was such a shitshow on the ice.

And Coach let me know it.

His advice was that I needed to focus on what’s important—my future.

And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Willow has become a bright spot in my life, and I refuse to lose that.

Or her.

The moment she glances up and meets my gaze, a large smile breaks out across her face. “Hi!”

I blink, thrown off guard at finding a stranger. The longer I stare, the more I wonder how I ever thought she was Willow. Upon closer inspection, other than the fact that their hair color is a similar shade and they’re roughly the same size, she looks nothing like my girl.

“Um, sorry,” I mumble, taking a hasty step in retreat. “I thought you were someone else.” I shift and glance around the third floor, hoping to spot her.

Just when I’m about to swing away, she chirps, “Maverick, right?”

My heart picks up tempo. “Umm, yeah.”

“I’m Stacie. Willow asked me to take over your tutoring sessions for the remainder of the semester.” With a tilt of her head, she eyes me up. “I thought she would have mentioned it.”

The tossed-out comment is like a kick to the balls. “No, she didn’t.”

“That’s all right.” Her smile widens as she points to the chair across from her. “Why don’t you take a seat and we can get started?”

“Sorry, I just remembered that I have a thing and need to reschedule.”

Her brows draw together as she frowns. “Are you sure? I probably won’t be able to squeeze you in again for a couple of days.”

“Yeah, I am.”

Before she can come up with another way to detain me, I take off.

Did Willow really think she could send someone else in her place in hopes of avoiding me?

Ha!

That’s not about to happen.