Offside hearts

The newsroom fell silent as every television switched to the same channel. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the captain of the New York Wolves and this year’s championship MVP… Noah Carter!” Thunderous applause erupted through the arena. Noah stepped onto the stage in a tailored black suit instead of his hockey jersey. Taller. Broader. More handsome than the boy Amelia had loved five years ago. The host smiled. “You’ve won every major trophy there is to win. Millions of women want to know one thing… is there someone special in your life?” The audience laughed. Noah smiled politely but didn’t answer immediately. Then he said quietly, “There was.” Amelia’s fingers tightened around her coffee mug. Her coworkers leaned closer to the television. “I grew up in a small town,” Noah continued. “Back then, no one believed I’d make it. Except one girl.” The host grinned. “So she was your first love?” Noah looked down before nodding once. “She was my first everything.” A chorus of “Awws” echoed through the studio audience. Amelia looked away from the screen. She didn’t want to hear this. Not after five years. Not after the way he’d left. “So where is she now?” the host asked. “I don’t know.” His answer was almost a whisper. “I lost the only person who ever loved me before the fame.” Silence. Then the host asked the question everyone wanted answered. “If she’s watching tonight, what would you say to her?” Noah looked directly into the camera. His blue eyes carried a sadness Amelia had never seen before. “I’d tell her I’m sorry.” “I’d tell her I never stopped loving her.” The coffee mug slipped from Amelia’s hand. It shattered across the newsroom floor. Everyone turned toward her. “Amelia!” Mia exclaimed. “You’re from Ashford too, aren’t you?” Amelia forced a laugh despite the ringing in her ears. “Lots of people are.” Before anyone could ask another question, the editor’s office door flew open. “Amelia Hart!” She looked up. “I’ve got your next assignment.” He tossed a thick file onto her desk. Across the front were three words that made her blood run cold. Exclusive Interview: Noah Carter. “You leave tomorrow morning.” Amelia stared at the file. Five years ago, Noah Carter had broken her heart. Tomorrow… She would have to look him in the eyes and pretend she didn’t still remember the last time he said, “Wait for me.” OFFSIDE HEARTS PART TWO He’s Waiting for You Amelia’s POV “No.” The word escaped before my editor could finish. “I’m not covering Noah Carter.” Mr. Carter didn’t blink. “You already are.” He slid a thick file across his desk. My name was printed on the front. So was Noah’s. “You leave tomorrow morning.” “I quit.” The room fell silent. He leaned back in his chair. “You’ve worked here for four years.” “Are you really throwing your career away because of one man?” “You don’t understand.” “No.” His voice softened. “I don’t.” “So explain.” I opened my mouth. Nothing came out. How could I explain that Noah Carter wasn’t just my ex? He was the man who promised to come back… Then disappeared without a single goodbye. The man who made me wait… Until waiting became embarrassing. “I can’t do it.” “You don’t have a choice.” He handed me another document. “The contract is signed.” “What contract?” “The team’s media agreement.” I grabbed the papers. At the bottom… A handwritten note caught my eye. Only Amelia Hart. My heart stopped. “What is this?” “The condition.” “What condition?” Mr. Carter frowned. “Noah refused every reporter we offered.” “He said he’d only allow one journalist to follow the team.” My fingers tightened around the paper. “And that journalist…” He looked straight at me. “…had to be Amelia Hart.” My heartbeat became painfully loud. “No.” “There has to be a mistake.” “There isn’t.” I shook my head. “He hates me.” “So why would he request you?” I couldn’t answer. Because I didn’t know. ************************ Across town… Noah stood alone in the empty arena. His phone buzzed. She’s accepted the assignment. He stared at the message for a long time. Then he smiled. Not the smile the cameras loved. A real one. Quiet. Relieved. Five years… Five years of searching. Five years of regret. He slipped an old photograph back into his wallet. The edges were worn. In it, a young girl laughed while throwing snow at the boy standing beside her. On the back, faded by time, were five handwritten words. Wait for me. I’ll return. Noah closed his wallet. His voice echoed through the empty arena. “I kept my promise.” “But this time…” “…I’m not letting you leave me again.” Offside hearts part 3 Face to Face Amelia’s POV “You’ve been staring at that file for ten minutes.” Emma snatched it from my desk before I could stop her. Her eyes widened. “Noah Carter?” I buried my face in my hands. “Please don’t.” She looked from the file to me. “No way…” “This is the Noah?” “The Noah.” “The one who…” “Yes.” “The one who broke your…” “Emma.” She zipped her lips. “Sorry.” She dropped into the chair beside me. “So… what are you going to do?” “I don’t know.” The truth was… I didn’t know how to stand in front of the man who had broken me and pretend I was over him. My phone buzzed. Unknown Number. I frowned. “Hello?” A calm male voice answered. “Ms. Hart?” “Speaking.” “This is Noah Carter’s assistant.” My grip on the phone tightened. “We’re confirming tomorrow’s media schedule.” “I’ll be there.” “There is one more thing.” “What?” “The captain has requested a private interview.” I blinked. “A… private interview?” “Before the team arrives.” “No cameras.” “No staff.” “Just the two of you.” My heart slammed against my ribs. “That’s impossible.” “I’m afraid it isn’t.” “The captain specifically requested it.” The call ended. I stared at my phone. Emma frowned. “What happened?” I swallowed hard. “He wants to see me.” “Alone.” ⸻ The next morning… The arena was almost empty. The sound of skates echoed across the ice. I tightened my grip on my notebook as I stepped inside. There he was. Standing at center ice. Hands in his pockets. Waiting. As if he’d known the exact second I’d arrive. Slowly… He turned. Our eyes met. Five years disappeared in a heartbeat. He took one step toward me. Then another. Until only a few feet separated us. His blue eyes searched my face. “You cut your hair.” I frowned. “That’s the first thing you say after five years?” A faint smile crossed his lips. “It’s the first thing I noticed.” Silence stretched between us. Then he reached into his jacket. My breath caught. He pulled out something small. Worn. Familiar. A faded photograph. It was us. The picture we took the day before he left town. “I’ve carried this every day,” he said quietly. “I never stopped looking for you, Amelia.” Before I could answer, a woman’s voice rang out across the arena. “Noah!” A stunning blonde hurried toward us. She slipped her arm through his and smiled at me. “You must be the reporter.” Then she looked at Noah and said the words that shattered Amelia’s world all over again. “Honey, aren’t you going to introduce me to your fiancée?”