The Heart Chaser by Gina Azzi
Abbi
“Look who’s banished to Boston now,” I mutter under my breath, recalling my best friend Chloe’s words when she moved to the city at the start of last summer. Now, she’s happily in love with her boyfriend, Boston Hawks Captain, Austin Merrick. The man I need to thank for securing me this job as my life in New Jersey disintegrated.
I sigh, staring up at The Meadows, the ice hockey arena that houses the Boston Hawks Hockey franchise. It’s going to be my place of employment as soon as I walk through those doors.
Snow skirts around me as the wind howls, blowing an icy blast straight through to my bones. But I don’t feel the cold. My heart rate thrums in my temples, as nerves skate up my spine.
I just need to walk through those doors and find HR.
A car passes going well above the speed limit, sending a spray of melted snow over my heeled boots. They weren’t the most sensible shoe choice, but they make me taller. More confident. Still, I don’t budge.
Will I see him? On my first day in my new job, will my path cross with Luca Pandatelli’s?
The thought causes bile to rise in my throat even though the likelihood is slim. But now that the thought has floated through my mind, a slew of others follow.
Did he tell his teammates that he fucked the new department head of Youth Outreach? That he worked her over so good, her body didn’t just shatter, but some of her walls came down? That he left her with stars in her eyes when he kissed her goodbye and promised to call?
Except he never did. My chest aches at the reminder of Luca’s rejection.
Will I walk into The Meadows and receive long side glances and under-the-breath quips like I did at my old job?
A blaze of anger rolls thorough me at that reminder. Getting involved with my boss, Phil Rickens, was a massive mistake for many reasons but the way he manipulated me out of a job is the one that hurts the most.
Phil’s a retired NFL player. Every athlete I’ve ever dated, and there have been many, has lied through their teeth. But with the majority, I never expected more than casual fun. Only three managed to make me hope before showing their true colors.
First, my college boyfriend, the baseball player I was going to marry until he knocked up my sorority sister. Then, Phil when he said he was divorced but really meant separated and in marriage counseling. Now, they’re expecting a child. Surprise! And lastly, Luca Pandatelli who kissed me goodbye with intention on his lips and a promise in his voice. I’ll call you. Except he didn’t.
I scratch my cheek and try to steel my shoulders. Gran’s words—dry your eyes, lift your head, and straighten your spine—float through my mind but tears prick the corners of my eyes.
Losing Gran in early November was the final nail in the New Jersey coffin. With no job, no family, and no relationship to keep me in Hoboken, I leapt at the chance to start over in Boston with the Hawks franchise.
Being in Boston means being close to Chloe again but it also means dealing with Luca Pandatelli. I can’t overlook that Luca built me up just as Phil started tearing me down. That for one weekend, he made me feel cherished and whole. That he didn’t run from my oversharing or my tears but engaged in a real, meaningful conversation. His kindness, the empathy in his eyes, and the sincerity in his voice, made his subsequent dismissal downright painful. But I should have known better. Every time I trust a man, I get burned, and Luca is no different.
“You lost or somethin’?” a male voice with a Southern drawl asks and I turn, my breath freezing in my throat when I recognize Declan Yaeger, one of Luca’s teammates.
I stare at him, my mouth opening and closing several times. Does he remember me from that weekend? From drinks at Taps? Does he know?
He frowns, squinting at me like he can’t place my face. “Do I know you?” he asks after a moment.
I release an exhale. I can do this. I’m here for the job, for the fresh start it provides. I know Austin personally placed my resume in front of senior management and the Hawks owner, Scott Reland. I know I’m qualified for my new position, but I probably wouldn’t have secured it so easily, or quickly, without the bit of nepotism that played in my favor. I swore I would start this opportunity the right way. Professional, polite, and focused on the work.
I smile and hold out my hand. “Hey, Declan, right?”
He nods, glancing at me uncertainly.
“I don’t know if you remember me but we met over the summer at Taps.”
“We did?” Panic ripples over his expression.
Damn, does he think we slept together? Is that all men think when they see me? Do I give off vibes of being an easy lay? An obvious target?
I nod, keeping my expression neutral. “Yes, I’m Chloe’s friend, Abbi. I accepted a job here in Youth Outreach. Today’s my first day,” I explain, glancing over my shoulder at the massive, imposing building.
Just walk through the damn doors already!
When I turn back to Yaeger, he’s smiling broadly, relief in his eyes. “Abbi! Yes, of course I remember you. You and Chlo had a bachelorette party that weekend.”
“That’s right.”
“Good to see you again,” Yaeger says easily. “You want me to show you where HR is?”
My heart rate ticks up at the kindness in his tone. He doesn’t know about Luca. If he does, he doesn’t let on and for that I’m grateful. Some of my worry bleeds out and I nod again. “That would be great, if you don’t mind. I don’t want to hold you up.”
“Not at all.” He tips his curly head toward the front doors. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to whoever we pass so you’ll start off on the right foot.”
I smile, my teeth flashing from my overwhelming relief. That’s right. I’m starting off on the right foot. I fall into step beside Yaeger as we cross the street.
He tugs the door open and holds it for me as I slip inside, the warmth of indoors hitting me straight on. I unwind my scarf from around my neck and glance around the sterile hallway.
“Offices are this way.” Yaeger points toward a stairwell.
I follow him up the stairs.
“When did you move to the city?” he asks.
“Friday,” I say. “The past few weeks have been a whirlwind.”
“Yeah, management is eager to kick off the Youth Outreach program with the start of the new year. The team is pretty pumped about it too. There’s something special about connecting with kids, remembering how it felt to skate on the ice for the first time. Score a goal.” He shoots me a crooked smile and I grin back as he holds the stairwell door open.
“I bet. I love working with kids. At my last job, I was in charge of the football programs so it’s exciting to try out a new sport.”
“Cool. Well, if you need any help with anything, don’t be afraid to reach out. Any of the guys would be willing to jump in and support any new initiatives.”
“Thanks,” I say, meaning it. This is what I hoped for when I accepted this position. After things went south with Phil and me, no one wanted to work my events. It didn’t matter that the downright hostile brush-off hurt the kids. My reputation was so damaged—home-wrecker—that not even a worthy cause could encourage my colleagues to do the right thing.
“I need a few days,” a voice bellows from the open door to a conference room. But it’s the sound of it that pulls me up short. Luca’s voice hits me straight in the chest as memories of that weekend flood my mind. The pain in his tone, the rawness of it, scrapes at me and renders me immobile.
A deep sigh. “I know, Panda. I’m trying to work with you.”
“You okay?” Yaeger asks, his hand finding the small of my back.
I shoot him a weak smile and shake my head. “Yeah, sorry.”
“Coach—” Luca starts again.
A female cuts him off, “Panda, your new endorsement contr—”
“Fuck my contract,” Luca’s voice rings through the hallway as I fall back in step with Yaeger.
Yaeger shoots me an apologetic look. “We’ve all got a bit of an ego,” he jokes.
I force a shaky chuckle just as Luca comes barreling out of the open door, nearly colliding with me.
“Shit,” he swears, his arm wrapping around my lower back to keep me upright as I teeter on my heeled boots from the impact.
Yaeger quickly steps behind me, his hand wrapping around my upper arm to steady me.
“Sorry,” Luca breathes out. “I didn’t see—” His eyes slam into mine and he freezes. The frustration in his deep, baby blues turns to ice. “Abbi?”
I shuffle back half a step, my body pressing more firmly into Yaeger’s. He doesn’t release his hold on my arm and in this moment, I’m grateful for that too. Seems like Declan Yaeger is going to be my first real Hawks friend, not counting Austin.
“Pandatelli,” I say, relieved my voice doesn’t shake the way my knees are.
Luca narrows his eyes, taking in his teammate’s hand on my arm.
Yaeger gives me a little squeeze before dropping my arm. He points to a set of double doors. “HR is just through those doors, on the left. I need to take this.” He slips his buzzing phone from his back pocket and shakes it at me apologetically. Before he answers, he asks, “You good?”
I hold my breath in my lungs for an extra beat before releasing it, reminding myself to breathe. “I’m good. Thanks, Declan.”
“‘Kay. See ya around, Abbi.” Yaeger lopes off, raising his phone to his ear.
Luca continues to watch me, his gaze glacial. His jawline, deliciously shadowed in scruff, is hard enough to break glass. His lips are a firm line, as severely unrelenting as my new life outlook.
“What are you doing here?” Luca demands.
I roll my lips together. Professional, polite, detached. This is my new mantra when it comes to men I have history with. “I accepted a job,” I say, professionally.
“Here?” he asks, incredulous.
I nod.
He narrows his eyes. “Why?”
I narrow my eyes back. Why? What kind of a question is that? “Because it’s a good opportunity for my career.”
Luca scoffs, pinching the inside corners of his eyes as if seeing me somehow ruined the equilibrium of his morning. I can’t imagine how since he clearly never gave me a second thought. “Your career, huh?”
My uncertainty gives way to a current of anger that feels a lot safer than vulnerability. But I don’t let it show, because, polite. “Correct. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I move to sidestep him, keeping my spine straight and my chin held high.
But his arm darts out and he wraps his hand around my forearm, his eyes flashing with too many emotions to decipher. “Abbi, I…” he falters, frowning as he stares at me.
Detached. “See you around, Pandatelli.”
I shake off his touch and push through the double doors.