My Hockey Alpha by Eve Above Story PDF

Chapter 0530

"That's all the time we have," he retorted, not meeting my eyes. "I need to know if I have to quit my job."

"But you're not leaving for months!" I was practically yelling now, my voice steeped in incredulity. "Why do we have to decide this right now?"

"Because I need to be prepared to give the hockey team ample notice. I can't just drop out at the last minute, Nina. It's irresponsible, both to the team and to myself," he argued, his voice steady, almost calculated, as if he had somehow been rehearsing this over the past two hours.

I fell silent for a moment, my mind racing. This wasn't fair. None of it was fair. I looked at him, really looked at him, and what I saw broke my heart-his mouth set in a grim line, a finality in his eyes that I hadn't seen in a long time.

"So that's it then. You've made up your mind, I murmured, my voice tinged with a sadness that took us both by surprise.

He shrugged. "I don't want to do this, Nina. I don't want to force you into making a decision like this. But given the circumstances, I don't feel like we have a choice," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Or

too much, Nina. I can't leave you here alone knowing what might happen," he replied, his

faced danger before you were in the picture. I'm not

frustration finally spilling over. "But the fact remains, I can't be here to protect you when I'm

you to protect me," I shot back, but the words made even me wince, and I knew that wasn't true. "It doesn't matter. I

so thick you could cut it with a knife. I felt trapped, cornered, as if the walls were closing in on me. "You think this is easy for me? You think I want to be the cause of

we have to make hard choices for the

testament to the bitterness I felt. "Fine," I choked out, finally breaking the taut

he asked, his voice tinged with something I couldn't quite place-hope,

then fine. You'll get your answer in

it like that, Nina. Don't make

"Aren't you?"