Chapter 156

EMILIA

Seven Months Later

“Don’t push my lattes—they’re steaming, you fucker!” Tessa snarls at the guy in the red Bullhawks jersey shoving past us, and I have to bite back my smile.

We’re not even inside the arena yet. Just outside Centre Bell and already it feels like we’re standing in the middle of a national emergency. Montreal fans are everywhere—face paint, flags, megaphones, and chants that sound half like French and half like threats.

Julie’s clutching her bullhorn-blue scarf like it’s a life vest. “Okay… this is actually terrifying.”

“That’s because Montreal actually cares about hockey,” Tessa mutters, still burning holes into Red Jersey’s spine. I’m genuinely convinced she’s memorizing his face for later revenge. “Also because you look like Liam’s sister. They can smell it.”

Julie snorts. “Please. They’re booing at everyone wearing blue.”

“No,” Tessa says, pointing dramatically at me, “they booed directly at Emilia’s face. Th