Chapter 98

The moment training ended, I could finally breathe. My muscles were sore, sweat clinging to my skin. I threw my gear into my hockey bag and slung it over my shoulder, heading toward the locker room. As I walked down the hallway, I saw a familiar figure. Garcia. He stood at the far end of the hall, almost like a shadow peeled off the wall and took shape. Our eyes locked. My chest tightened. 'What the hell is he doing here? Did he find out about me?' My mouth went dry. I told myself to keep walking. Just pass him like he wouldn't recognize me. But my feet wouldn't move fast enough. And then, to my horror, he started walking toward me. I gripped the strap of my bag. "Lucien, right?" he said. His voice was exactly the same as it always was—low, smooth, unshakable. It cut through me like cold air. He remembered the name I had blurted out in panic that night. I hadn't thought he would actually remember it. "Uh, yeah," I said. My voice cracked. "Lucien." I tried to smile, but my heart was goi