“Sav knows she’s always welcome.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, looking like he wants to kiss me, and wouldn’t be the least bit opposed to having me at Ivy more often.
“I think I’m going to stay with Lacey. At least to finish off the year,” I add, but living with her has been everything I hoped a college roommate would be. And I very much enjoy all the stories of Noah in high school.
As if she heard her name, Lacey sends me a huge smile and two thumbs up from across the room, where she’s sitting with Darren.
“I’m starving, who wants burgers?” Dallas comes and finds me as soon as the auction is over. “Callahan?”
It’s a friendly invite, but there’s an edge to it, like this will one hundred percent be an interrogation.
“That sounds great.” Instead of backing down, Noah takes my hand as we head out. I try to catch his eye, to make sure he’s okay with this, but he smiles and kisses my temple. “I really appreciate you guys showing up tonight. Coach was thrilled we hit all the funding goals.”
“Anything for Banana.” Clay says.
Dallas stops walking when he sees I’m following Noah to his car instead of back to Clay’s. He gives me a look I assume is his way of asking if I’m sure that’s how I want to play this, so I nod, very aware that my Resting Smile Face is showing…and deeply enhanced in Noah’s presence.
“Where to?” Dallas asks with a sigh, eyeing Noah like his choice in food might be a test as well.
“Ideally somewhere fast,” I step in. “Noah coaches his sister’s hockey practice tomorrow morning, and I can’t be out too late if I want to submit my manuscript by the deadline.”
“That’s next week, right?” Clay verifies.
I nod, about to add more, but Noah says, “Your book was amazing. I cried when he tells her what happened to him on the bridge, and it felt like I was on the ice for the championship game. You absolutely nailed it.”
I roll my eyes, but Noah shakes his head, not letting me be dismissive.
“You finished it?” Clay asks excitedly.
“He read it?” Dallas looks confused.
“I needed someone to check my hockey.” I shrug like it’s no big deal, but they know how reluctant I am to share what I write.
“There were a few easy fixes logistics-wise, but overall it was really vivid, and roped me in so I had to read the whole thing. And the sequel. The goalie’s getting a book too, right?”
“Eventually, if this one does well.” I had so much fun peppering in hints about future MMCs, and I love that he noticed. “Lacey promised me Darren’s full cooperation.”
I can’t help my smile, but my brothers aren’t saying anything, so I look over and find both of them looking at Noah like they’ve never seen him before.
“Looks like she really trusts you.”
“D,” I go to reproach him, but then I realize I don’t really care if he makes a big deal of it, because I do. I trust Noah to read my stories and not make fun of me, to be in a room with my pro athlete brothers and not take his eyes off me…to hold my heart in his hands and make me feel like he’ll never let me fall without being there to catch me.
“I really love her,” Noah says, eyes on me.
“I’m seeing that.”
I turn to find both my brothers smiling. I want to roll my eyes at them, but then I also want to cry – happy tears – because three of my favorite people are together, and not once have I felt like I’m watching from the sidelines, forgotten…I feel absolutely surrounded by love.
Epilogue
Win or Lose, Baby
We’re back in Florida, this time at the Amalie Arena for the Frozen Four against Quinnipiac. We’re down two with only three minutes in the game, but Sav is cheering against the glass like we’re about to win the Stanley Cup. The only person louder is Izzie, who can almost reach over the glass from her perch on Clay’s shoulders. I’m surprised she’s not with Dallas, but then I see him talking to Doug, who looks starstruck.
“Callahan, get out there,” Coach Benson tells me, so I hop over the boards with just over two minutes left.
I try to focus on nothing but what’s happening on the ice, but I hear Savannah and can’t help but smile as I intercept a pass from Quinnipiac and skate towards their goal. I pass to Spring, but he doesn’t have a clear shot, so he sends it to Colt, who looks straight at the goalie while shooting it back to me, and I one-time it through his five-hole.
We don’t make another goal, so Quinnipiac wins, and we’re knocked out of the competition, but as much as I want to go home and be alone right now, I want to find Savannah and take her in my arms even more.
