Chapter 12

Hannah

T he work week is in full swing as I prepare for the next game and PR moments. Noah's mom got back to me, and after some back and forth I think I've found something really special for him at his first hockey game. Now it's all up to him to stay feeling better. I'm feeling so good about it I don't even mind when Tiffany emails me for my receipts from the trip if I need reimbursement.

As my flight was previously approved I didn't have anything to submit to her, which I cheerily let her know in my reply. I've just sent it when there's a knock on my door, and I look up to see Sam with his mail cart.

"Hey Hannah. I've got a delivery for you."

"Oh?" I try to think if I've ordered anything, but nothing comes to mind.

I get up from my chair and walk to the door where I see a giant gift basket on the cart. It's wrapped up in an iridescent cellophane, but I can see inside it is filled with books and snacks.

"There's a card," Sam tells me, and then hands me a sealed envelope.

Thanking Sam, I take the card and basket from him. As Sam wheels his cart away I notice a few people in the hallway giving me curious looks. I take the basket inside my office and set it on my desk.

When I open the card it's to find a note that says:

Beautiful, take a moment to relax. Your Secret Admirer.

Which is when I remember the hastily hatched plan with my friends. I pull open my phone and text them all a thank you for the books since I don't know which one sent it. Although if I had to guess it would probably be Sofie. My guess is confirmed when she responds saying I'm welcome to swap any book I don't like. And then I get more texts that other gifts are on the way and should arrive this week.

The next day I receive a gift bag with fancy lotions and soaps from the luxury salon spa Lia works for. Tiffany across the hall even stops by.

"Are you certain you don't have any receipts?" she asks. "Once I complete my report, it'll be too late to submit."

"I'm certain." I tell her.

She's never asked if I'm certain that I have everything submitted. So I'm not surprised when her gaze goes straight to the gift bag on the corner of my desk.

"That's a nice gift bag you have there," She tells me. "Who's it from?"

"My secret admirer."

"Who would be?"

"Well it would hardly be a secret if I knew."

She sighs, and leaves my office.

I don't get anything the next day, but the following day there's an invitation to dinner after work with an address and time. When I arrived at a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, it was to find Charlotte with a platter of tacos. We spent the rest of the night laughing over the gossip going around the office. Then we people-watch as we look through the window facing out onto Main Street.

Sam keeps me up to date as he hears everything when he delivers the mail. So far the theories for my secret admirer range from someone at the stadium to someone from my home town. I try to subtly suggest to Sam it's someone I've known for years so people will stop thinking it's someone I could get fired for seeing. Another couple weeks, and a few more white lies and I should be able to see Matt without anyone second guessing.

After that, Maria gives me gourmet chocolate that I have to immediately lock away or I'll eat it all. The first chocolate bar has bits of honeycomb in it. Based on the pictures on the rest of the chocolate bars, I know I won't be able to pick a favorite.

I'm in my office Friday afternoon thinking about if I should invite Lou to trivia night to ease into it with the gossip when Sam arrives at my door with the mail.

My admirer today has gifted me with a classic envelope, with two tickets for the latest superhero movie and snacks. I place the envelope and its contents on my desk. I'll have to thank Beth at our next book club.

"There's one more," Sam tells me, as he holds up a small box.

"Really?"

He shrugs. "At this rate, I might as well dedicate the cart to you."

"It's not that bad is it?" I ask him.

He takes a quick look around the hallway, before leaning in to whisper. "Tiffany is very jealous. Word has it that her boyfriend sent her those roses with a note breaking up with her."

"No!" I gasp.

One of his shoulders lifts as he gives a half-shrug. "The note may or may not have been in one of those plastic stake things sans envelope."

I'm thinking about the tea that Sam has just dropped when Matt pops his head into my office.

I smile up at him. "What brings you to my door?" I ask, my tone light and teasing.

"Just wanted to see if you know if Noah can come to tonight's game. I feel bad that he wasn't able to make it to the Sweethearts game." Then he drops his voice to little more than a whisper. "And I needed to see you."

My heart melts, and his words make me feel all warm inside.

"I've missed you," I whisper back. And then in my normal voice tell him, "Not only is he coming, but I've arranged for him to ride on the Zamboni during the first intermission."

Matt's grin is big. "That's great. He's going to love that."

"His mom is thrilled, and I've arranged the suite for their family so there's less exposure for him. I don't want to take any unnecessary chances."

"Thank you. I'm sure that means a lot to his family."

We're both silent in our own thoughts for a moment.

"Hey what's that?" Matt asks and points at the box and envelope.

I wave a hand in the air dismissively. "Oh, it's nothing."

He looks taken aback. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, it's just a trinket."

"Oh." He stands up to leave.

The abrupt change in his demeanor throws me off.

"Is everything okay?" I ask him.

He nods. "Yeah fine. Just thinking about tonight's game. I'll see you around Hannah."

His words are fine, but I have this feeling that it's most certainly not fine.

I reach for the box and unseal it. There's no card or note, so I assume it's also from Beth. I open the box, and inside it is a velvet jewelry box that's a bit bigger than my palm. My hands shake as I pry it open and see the most lovely charm bracelet nestled inside. I carefully lift the polished silver bracelet and examine the charms. There's a book that says "English" on it, a flower, a pizza slice, a pair of ice skates, and a dozen more dotting around the chain. Each one has ties to only one person that I know. And I just told him that his gift meant nothing.

I clutch the bracelet and try to put it on myself, but the clasp is tricky, and there's no way I can get it on my own.

My heart sinks as the realization hits me. Matt went out of his way to create something so personal, so meaningful, and I dismissed it to his face. The look on his face when he left...I can identify it clearly now. Hurt and disappointment. I can't believe I just did that to him.

Guilt eats at me. I have to fix this.

T he arena is buzzing as fans arrive excited for tonight's game. There's chatting and laughter in the lines for food and drinks. The smell of popcorn and hot dogs can be found throughout the upper levels of the building. All of it is familiar to me, and tied to a lot of memories.

I try not to think about Matt and the apology I owe him. Which isn't easy as I walk with Noah's family to the suite and hear them talking about how excited they are to see him play. I'm surprised to discover the pizza delivery guy from that night at my apartment is Noah's older brother. He's been working at the pizza place to try and help cover Noah's medical bills. The family has been using every last cent to help Noah, so tonight means a lot to them since they haven't been able to go out as a family in a long time.

I stop by the concierge covering the suite and tell them to make sure the snacks never run out. Inside the suite, Noah is practically bouncing as he picks a leather recliner-style seat next to the glass so he can watch the game better. His family looks equally thrilled as they take it all in. Moments like this, are what make my job worthwhile, and I make a mental note to submit Noah's name to the review board that oversees charitable donations.

After ensuring they're all settled, I let them know I'll be back in time to take Noah to the Zamboni.

The lower floor with the locker room doesn't smell of popcorn, it's cold, and the cement walls are relatively plain unless it's viewable to the public. The tunnel out to the ice is painted in the team's colors. I'm hoping I'll catch a glimpse of Matt so I can make peace with him before he steps out onto the ice.

Instead I find Lou sneaking around the hallway.

"What are you doing out here?" I ask him.

Looking like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar, Lou holds up a little rubber duck in hockey gear.

"Did you steal that from Missy?" I ask him.

"Of course not. I ordered more." He grins, and then leans in to tell me, "A lot more."

"And what plans do you have for all those ducks."

"I've been putting them around the arena."

"And people are supposed to do what with them?" I ask.

He shrugs. "I don't know. I figure it's like those travel ducks people post online about."

"Let me get a picture up on socials. So fans know they exist and that they don't need to storm staff areas."

"Just don't tell people it's me."

I nod in agreement, and Lou pulls out the little yellow guy wearing a blue hockey helmet and jersey. I snap a quick photo and send it off to the marketing team as well as the cleaning staff so they know not to throw them away.

When I look up from my phone Lou's looking at me, with his arms folded across his chest.

"You okay?" he asks me.

"I'm fine."

He lifts a brown, and in a quiet tone that isn't teasing, or casual he asks again. He's not saying it as if he's asking me the weather forecast for tomorrow. No, he's serious and concerned, which slices through all of the layers of 'fine' I've been hiding behind.

Curse his twin intuition or whatever brotherly sense that knows I'm not remotely fine.

"I just need to clear something up with someone."

"Do I need to knock some sense into them?" he asks.

"I'm the one that screwed up Lou."

His brows furrow, and he drops his arms to his side. "What's going on Hannah?"

Feeling the weight of it all pressing down on me, I let out a long breath. "I messed up, badly. He got me this beautiful charm bracelet." I hold it up so he can see. "And on accident, I dismissed it as just a trinket. I think I hurt him, and I need to fix it."

Lou takes the bracelet from me, and his expression softens. "If anyone can fix it, it's you. And if he cares enough to put the effort into each of these charms, he'd be a fool not to forgive you."

His words of reassurance are exactly what I needed to hear. I give him a hug, not minding the pads under his jersey. "Thanks, Lou."

He ruffles a hand in my hair. "Now let me go so I can go win this game."

I laugh and watch him leave. Realizing then, that I still have the little duck in my hand. But that's okay I know a little boy that would love to have it.

In the hallway I take a quiet moment for myself, and I spot Matt talking with one of the coaches. His face is hard, and when he looks up and sees me, there's a flicker in his eyes of pain, before it's masked by anger. He turns his back to me, and starts walking to the locker room with his coach.

He's not going to give me a chance to fix this.

My heart squeezes in my chest and I yell out in desperation, "Matt!"

He freezes, and says something to his coach too quiet for me to hear over the noises of the crowd now echoing into the tunnel. I take a deep breath for courage, and then walk over to him so he has to see me. His expression is guarded when he finally looks at me.

"Matt." I say again, "Can we please talk?"

He gives me a single nod, and we walk to a quieter spot.

"I never meant to hurt you." I tell him. "I?—"

"It's fine. You have someone else. You should have been upfront about that. Instead you let me make a fool of myself."

"Matt."

"No." He holds up a hand to silence me. "Just give me some time. Please."

He looks at me with eyes so full of pain and hurt I'm at a loss for words. I was supposed to make this better, and it's only getting worse.

"I just need some time." He says once more. "And maybe some space."

"Then I think you should take this back."

He looks at the bracelet I'm holding out to him, and then at me. "Keep it. I have no use for it anyway."

Logically I know he's talking about the bracelet, but my heart hears that he has no use for me. I drop my hand and my head until I'm staring at our feet. It hurts too much to look at him. I must say something, or maybe he does, but I only notice when he walks away. Then I let the tears fall.

I don't want to be standing here when the team comes out of the locker room. I can't let Lou or Matt see me like this. So I make a quick escape to my office so I'll have a little bit of time to pull myself together before I need to take Noah to the ice.

I'm sitting there in my chair behind my desk, trying to steady my breathing and get rid of the tears before my eyes turn really puffy, when a familiar face pops into the doorway.

"What do you need Tiffany?" I ask.

"Oh you've made my whole night already."

"What do you mean?" I ask, my stomach tightening with unease.

She smirks. "Did you really think no one would find out who was sending you all those gifts?"

I stare at her in confusion, and she continues smirking as Stuart enters my office. His expression is one of regret and disappointment, which turns my unease to dread.

He sighs, and says, "I'm really sorry to do this Hannah."

"Do what?" I ask, the dread is getting worse.

"You've breached your contract. I have to fire you for your inappropriate conduct with a member of the team."

"Inappropriate?" I ask, my voice is pleading as I say. "What are you talking about?"

"You've been dating Matt. I have photographic evidence of your time together and you've left me with no choice."

"But."

"Don't make this any harder than it already is Hannah."

"Can I at least take Noah to the ice?"

"I'm afraid not. Your termination is effective immediately."

I bite my lip to stop it from trembling as I get myself under control.

"Can you make sure he gets this duck?" I hold up the rubber duck from Lou. "He's supposed to ride the Zamboni as well."

"I'll take care of it personally." Stuart says.

"And see if the board can help his family pay for his medical care. They've been through a lot." I add, my voice growing quieter with each word.

He nods, and leaves Tiffany to ensure my departure. She smiles the entire time I clean out my desk, savoring my misery. She even ensures nothing in my purse is company property. The security escort she insists upon for my walk of shame out to my car is a waste of resources, but I leave without a fuss, or letting the tears flow that I know she wants to see.

I listen to the cheers of the arena, and catch sight of the game on a TV by concessions as I'm walking. Matt is in a fight on the ice with Lou. They were right to fire me. I've made things so much worse for everyone. My heart that was already aching, breaks completely.