I focus back on my hair, grabbing another section.
He walks up and whispers, “I can think of so many things.”
“Yeah?” I ask.
He nods, looking at me in the mirror. “You need to come to my games.”
“I will.”
He kisses me. “You can even watch me practice.”
“Okay.”
My hair doesn’t take much longer. Dylan’s on the couch with the candy and strawberries, with two fresh glasses of water. He’s scrolling through Netflix to find something to watch. I sit on the couch next to him, snuggle under his arm when he starts Stranger Things.
“I haven’t seen this.”
“Neither have I.”
“We’ll be each other’s firsts,” I joke.
He pulls me in. “I’ve never told a girl I’ve loved her before.”
“I’ve never told a boy that either.”
He looks down at me and smiles. “I love you.”
I hug him tighter. “I love you too.”
33
Epilogue
Three Months Later.
Dylan
The buzzer sounds, and I skate hard toward the goal. My lungs burn, but I push through it. Coach is screaming something from the bench, but all I hear is the scrape of my blades against ice and my own breathing.
Last home game of the season. We're up by one with three minutes left.
I catch the puck off a pass from Westley and dodge left. The defender comes at me, but I'm faster. I've been faster all season. Sharper. More focused.
My stick connects, and the puck sails past the goalie.
The crowd erupts.
Scott slams into me, nearly knocking me over. "Fuck yeah!"
Westley joins, then Rocky. We're a mess of gear and adrenaline on the ice.
I glance up at the stands as we skate back to center ice. It takes me a second, but then I spot her. Cecily's on her feet with Marina, both of them screaming. She's wearing my jersey, and even from here, I can see her smile.
My chest tightens in the best way.
Three months ago, I thought having her in my life would ruin everything. That I'd lose focus, that my grades would tank, that hockey would suffer.
I was wrong about all of it.
