And I really wanted this job. Like I’d never wanted any other job in my life. I’d had a taste of working for professional hockey, and I wanted more. Was that so bad?

I had to admit, I didn’t want to prematurely end this thing I had going with Axel. Every second of every day, I felt him burrow deeper and deeper into my previously impenetrable heart. Somehow, he’d managed to drill through my tough outer shell and get to my gooey center inside, that part of me that cried at sappy movies and wanted to rescue every homeless kitten on the street. Yeah, that girl. The one no one knew existed, except Axel. He knew. He didn’t have to say it. I could tell.

Roy opened the door and motioned me inside. “You haven’t been waiting long, have you?”

“No. Not at all.” If I’d waited an hour, I’d have told him I hadn’t been there long. I was the epitome of cooperation. I stood and followed him into his small office.

He moved a pile of uniforms from the only available chair besides his. “Have a seat.”

I sat down and clasped my hands in my lap to keep from fidgeting. I willed myself to present a calm demeanor no matter what happened. I’d take whatever happened and make the best of it.

Roy riffled through a few pieces of paper on his messy desk and pulled out a yellow pad with stuff scribbled all over it. Roy didn’t like computers. He preferred paper whenever he could get away with it.

I wasn’t able to read what was on the pad without being really obvious. He looked up from his desk and sighed. I quickly looked away, not wanting to be caught being nosy. My stomach dived to the depths of despair. He was letting me go.

“I’ll get right to the point. You know why you’re here. Your contract with the team ended when the season ended.”

“Yes, I know.” My voice cracked, and I silently cursed my lapse into emotion. Gathering my strength, I pasted a pleasant, unconcerned expression on my face.

He consulted something written on the pad.

“You’ve been a valuable member of our group, Geneva. Always jumping in to help. I never have to remind you to do something. You’re thinking ahead. You get along well with the staff and the players. You seem to truly enjoy the job. Not everyone makes a good equipment person, but you have the right stuff to be one. All in all, I have very little to criticize.”

I nodded but didn’t speak. My heart stopped and my throat clogged up. Tears threatened. I blinked rapidly to stem the flow of tears. I wasn’t a crier. I was an in-control person. I’d fought my way through every disaster in my life, and I’d do it again.

Roy hesitated and scanned his notepad for something. When he found it, he held his finger on it to hold his place. Why was he prolonging this agony? People usually rushed to give good news and hemmed and hawed around bad news. I felt physically sick. My boss met my gaze, and a slow smile spread across his face.