Chapter 83

The silence stretched between Emma and Alek on the terrace like a frozen lake—beautiful from a distance, but dangerous to walk on.

“I was going to tell you,” Emma said finally.

“When? After I read about it in the newspaper?”

“I tried to tell you. Multiple times. But we’ve been—”

“Fighting?” Alek’s laugh was bitter. “So you decided to make the biggest career decision of your life without involving me at all?”

Emma wrapped her arms around herself against the October cold. Through the glass doors, she could see the party continuing inside. People celebrating her achievement, taking photos, making toasts.

Out here, her marriage was falling apart.

“It happened fast,” she said. “Palmer called, and they needed an answer quickly, and—”

“And you gave them one. Just like that.” Alek shook his head. “Do you have any idea how humiliating this is for me?”

“Humiliating?”

“Emma, I work in hockey. Everyone in that room knows me. And I just