"I'm not going to litigate my past relationship in the media. What I will say is that those allegations are false. Anyone who actually knows me knows that." I pause. Let that land. "But honestly, I'm not interested in talking about the past. I'm focused on my future. My career. My recovery. And building a life with someone who actually matters to me."
The reporter's eyebrows go up. "Are you saying you have a new girlfriend?"
I glance toward the back of the room where Lucy is standing with Emma. She's watching me with wide eyes. Knows what I'm about to do. We talked about this last night. I asked if she was ready for people to know. She said yes.
Time to prove I mean it.
"Yeah. I do."
The room explodes with questions. Everyone shouting at once. Hands in the air. Cameras flashing.
I stand. "That's all I'm saying about my personal life. This event was about raising money for kids who need it. We raised fifty thousand dollars today. That's what matters. Thank you."
I walk out before anyone can follow up. Cade and Alexei are right behind me.
"That was either really brave or really stupid," Alexei says.
"Probably both."
"The internet's going to lose its mind."
"Let it."
I head down the corridor toward the locker rooms but Lucy intercepts me halfway. She's breathless. Eyes bright.
"You just told the entire world about us."
"Should've done it sooner."
"Ryder, the press—"
"I don't care about the press. I care about you." I take her face in my hands. "I'm done hiding. I'm done being scared of what people think or what Connor thinks or what anyone thinks. You're mine and I'm yours and I want everyone to know it."
She blinks up at me. "You sure about this?"
"Never been more sure of anything."
"Okay." She smiles. "Then kiss me."
So I do. Right there in the corridor with reporters probably watching and cameras probably rolling. I kiss her like I've wanted to kiss her since the first moment she smiled at me in her bookshop. Deep and slow and thorough. Her hands fist in my jersey. Mine slide into her hair.
When we finally break apart, she's flushed and breathing hard.
"Wow."
"Yeah."
Footsteps echo down the hallway. I look up and see Connor standing there, Emma at his side. He's watching us with an expression I can't quite read. Not fury. Not approval either. Something in between.
Emma is grinning like she just won the lottery.
Connor walks closer. Stops a few feet away. Looks at me. At Lucy. Back to me.
"You meant what you said. About proving it."
"Every word."
He nods once. "Okay. I'm trusting you, Blackwood. Don't make me regret it."
