Chapter 14

Itexted Duke after I got home last night, but he hasn't texted me back yet, which isn't normal. For the past few weeks, we've been texting constantly when we aren't together, completely infatuated with each other's company and time. After what we did last night on the ice rink… I thought we connected more than ever, but now I'm having doubts. I don't understand how we can go from drinking each other's blood to radio silence.

I don't know. Maybe I'm overthinking it and something came up. He does have a life outside of me, after all, and sometimes I find myself forgetting. The days until the end of the season are ticking down, slowly diminishing. Time has been moving both in slow motion and incredibly fast since the beginning of the season. On one hand, I feel like I've known Duke forever and he's the easiest person to get along with, but on the other, each day hiding in secrecy has felt like an eternity. It's becoming harder and harder to keep this secret from the people I love.

I swore to Duke I wouldn't tell Ashley until the season is over, and I've kept my promise. She's my best friend, so she naturally suspects something is up, but she has respected my boundaries and accepted my answer when I told her I would let her know what is going on when the time is right.

Ace has been so caught up in schoolwork and hockey he hasn't had much time to check in on me. The Knights have done unusually well this season with Ace as the captain and my dad coaching the team, and they've worked their way into the finals.

My phone buzzes in the pocket of my scrubs, and I immediately feel for it. My heart stops beating and I stop breathing as I pull it from the fabric and read the notification on the screen.

I sigh and drop my head slightly as I read it.

Ashley

I'm staying at Jace's tonight. Don't stay up. I'll see you tomorrow.

I should be happy to get a text from my best friend. I mean, she's thinking about me enough to send me a text and let me know what she's doing. She didn't want me staying up late after work, waiting for her to get home. I type out a quick reply, then slide my phone back into my pocket.

I can't help but wonder if I did something wrong or said something I shouldn't have last night before we left the rink. Everything seemed fine, but sometimes Duke gets quiet, lost in thought.

Forcing myself to shrug off the feeling, I grab my car keys and head out the front door. I have a nine-hour shift at the clinic today and I can't let myself be distracted by the thought of Duke all day. I don't take up all of his time, so he shouldn't take up every thought in my mind.

Sliding into my Buick, I shut the door and insert the key into the ignition. The old engine comes to life as I turn the key. Before I back out, I find myself reaching for my phone again, checking to see if I missed a notification in the past thirty seconds.

Nothing.

My phone is as dry as the Sahara Desert.

Sighing, I throw the car in reverse and leave for work. I'm sure I'll hear from him by the end of the day. I'm overthinking it.