Epilogue
The girl sitting in front of me shoots me a glare and plugs her right ear. I keep right on screaming, though, as Rhett walks across the stage with his diploma. He catches my eye and holds it up. I do the same.
We did it!
He comes down the side aisle, and I abandon my seat to meet him at the back of the gymnasium. I leap into his arms, tassels dangling between us. “We graduated!”
“Thank fuck.” He picks me up and twirls. “Ready to party, angel?”
We have an early dinner with our parents. Our fathers have become best buds overnight. They both love their time on the lake, football, and their families. And I think our mothers have planned a vacation together this summer.
“Good thing I don’t plan on getting rid of you anytime soon,” Rhett whispers in my ear. “Because our families would be devastated.”
“Get rid of me?” I rest my hand high up on his thigh, dangerously close to his balls, and squeeze.
“I said I don’t plan on getting rid of you anytime soon.”
“Maybe I plan on getting rid of you.”
“Oh no, you’re stuck with me for at least the next year.”
I smile at the mention of our lease agreement. I still can’t believe it. We found the cutest condo not too far from his family’s rink and it has a lake view that is going to be amazing for recording yoga videos until I get a studio of my own.
I can’t believe this is my life.
“Can we steal Allison for the night?” I ask as we’re hugging our families goodbye. “I promise to return her before you need to leave for the airport in the morning.”
“No drinking,” my father says immediately, like my master plan was to take my fifteen-year-old sister out and get her plastered. Cleaning up puke is not on the agenda tonight.
We head straight to the arena.
“What are we doing here?” Allison asks as I hold open the door for her.
Our friends are waiting in the tunnel.
Allison goes a little starry-eyed when she sees all the guys in their skates with sticks.
“We’re going to play a little hockey,” I tell her and loop my arm through hers. “You’re on my team.”
“Seriously?” Her voice squeaks.
“Seriously.” Mav steps forward and hands her a stick. “Let’s see if we can find you some skates in the equipment closet.”
The rest of us walk out onto the ice. Reagan’s clutching Adam’s hand and Dakota is holding her arms out, yelling at anyone that gets within three feet of her.
“I’ve got this,” she demands. “Just give me a second.”
“I’m going to miss this,” I say, watching our friends as Rhett and I skate together holding hands.
“Me too. It hit me when we stepped out here, I’m never going to play another game of hockey.” He looks up into the empty stands. “I mean, I knew it. It’s been more than a month since our last game, but it finally hit me.”
In the weeks since Rhett’s been back at Valley, there have been times he’s battled his emotions.
Sometimes he’ll take my hand or hug me a little tighter and I know that he’s struggling a little more in those moments.
And I’m just there. Right now, it’s my turn to be the rock, but I know there will be times I’ll need him to be mine too.
When we skate around to the benches, I reach in and grab two hockey sticks.
“You’ll play. You will. You’ve got beer league written all over you.”
He grins and lifts the hem of his T-shirt showing off his six-pack.
“Top tier.” I hand him a stick. “Plus, you’ll need to keep sharp if you’re going to beat me.”
“Yeah?” One brow lifts. “You think you can take me, angel?”
“Oh, I know it. It’s all in the butt.”
His gaze is glued to mine as I turn and stick it out and take a shot. The ding of the puck hitting the post finally makes him look up and he lights up. Admiration burns in his eyes. It really is the best sound in the world. Or maybe it’s the way he’s looking at me like I’m his everything.
He skates in a circle around me. “Been practicing?”
“No, I got lucky.” I fist his T-shirt in my palm to drag him closer. I got really, really lucky the day Rhett collided into me. And every day since.
Thank you for reading Broken Hearts.