That all those years ago—when I thought I was the only one feeling it—he'd felt it too.
And somehow, I know he means it.
He's always loved me.
Always seen me.
The tears come before I can stop them, slipping down hot and shameless.
Zach's right there. He doesn't hesitate—his glove still half-on, his fingers brushing gently at the corner of my eyes, wiping away the mess I've become.
His eyes are shining too, like he's barely holding himself together.
And that's it.
I'm gone. Absolutely gone.
He could've told me the sky was purple and I'd believe him.
He could've asked me to walk onto the ice barefoot and I'd do it.
Because right now, I'm not in a hockey arena.
I'm in high school again, falling for the boy who made me believe in forever.
And somehow, impossibly, he's looking at me like he's still there too.
He keeps singing, voice softening...
"I can hear it in the silence
I can feel it on the way home
I can see it with the lights out
I am in love
True love
I am in love
You're my best friend
My first home
And I—I am in love."
The last note trembles through the speakers before fading completely.
For a moment, the arena holds its breath. It's just us—his forehead resting gently against mine, his breath warm, his gaze so impossibly soft it feels like it's holding me together.
And then—chaos.
The crowd explodes. Screams, cheers, phones in the air, people on their feet.
Sam's shrieking somewhere beside me.
Zach and I both glance around—dozens of faces staring, some in awe, others filming, a few doing slow claps like we just pulled off a Broadway finale.
