“He can talk to whoever he wants.”
Tessa tilted her head and gave me a look like she was already ten steps ahead. “You want me to ruff her up? Tell her she can’t talk to your boyfriend?”
I let out a laugh, caught somewhere between amused and horrified. “No, I don’t want you to ruff her up. What is wrong with you today?”
She smirked. “Just checking.”
I shook my head, still laughing. “First of all, that would not be the kind of PR the rescue needs right now. Second, at five-foot-two, I think she’d ruff you up. And third—Colton isn’t my boyfriend.”
Tessa leaned against the desk, arms folded. “Suit yourself. But for the record, only two of those three statements are true.”
I let out a breath and dropped into my chair, the back creaking a little under me. “I like him,” I said finally. “There. I said it.”
Tessa didn’t say anything right away. She just gave me a slow blink and a lift of her brows, like,and…?
I glanced toward the window, the sunlight slanting in just enough to catch the edge of Colton’s footprints still damp on the concrete.
“I want to believe there’s something there. With him. I do.”
Tessa tilted her head, watching me without interrupting.
“But even if he doesn’t get traded to another AHL team… he’s probably going back to the NHL. And he should.”
She leaned one hip against the edge of the counter.
“He loves it,” I continued. “He’s not just chasing the spotlight anymore. You can see it when he’s at practice or talking to the other guys. He loves being part of a team. He loves competing with himself. He belongs out there.”
I rubbed my palms over my jeans. “He’ll be there. I’ll still be here.”
Muffled voices drifted in from outside.
Then Tessa said, quietly but without hesitation, “Maybe you don’t have to be so sure about everything all the time. Maybe, just this once, you see what happens.”
A few minutes later, the side door creaked open. Colton stepped in first, his eyes sweeping the room like he was checking for landmines. He ran a hand through his hair. His other hand hovered near his side, fingers twitching like he wasn't sure whether to shove it into his pocket or let it hang.
Ann followed, calm and easy. Still glowing like a sponsored hydration ad.
"Hey," Colton said, his voice casual but tight around the edges. "Just wanted to introduce you both officially. This is Ann—she’s the team’s mental fitness coach."
Tessa straightened, just slightly. I stood, more out of reflex than anything else.
"I'm Riley," I said, offering a hand. "And this is my second-in-command, Tessa."
Tessa gave a slight nod, arms still crossed but eyes sharp. "Nice to meet you."
Colton scratched the back of his neck. “When Coach told the team to check out the rescue, Ann wanted to see it for herself. I… I told her how the dogs have kind of been a good sounding board for me.”
His eyes flicked to me, then back down. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
I felt my shoulders relax, just a little. “Thanks for coming, Ann. It means a lot that you’d take the time.”
Ann smiled. "It’s great to see all the work you’re doing here—the dogs, the volunteers, the programs. Coach said this place has been important for Colton. I wanted to see it for myself."
“Come by anytime,” I added, finding my footing again. “Seriously. We’re always happy to have visitors who aren’t wielding cameras.”
Ann nodded and headed out, promising to stop by again. As the door clicked shut behind her, Tessa let out an exaggerated sigh.
"You know," she said, stretching dramatically, "I just remembered—I have to reorganize the entire supply closet. Alphabetically. By brand. Very urgent."