And then we’re all moving at once—a convergence of hugs and tears and laughter that feels like being caught in the eye of a joyful storm. Brooks is engulfed, passed from one embrace to another, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
I hang back, watching the scene unfold, my own vision blurry. The magnitude of this moment—what it means for Brooks, for us, for our future—washes over me in waves. No more living in fear. No more what-ifs hanging over every plan. No more silent calculations about care and decline and loss.
Just us, and whatever life we choose to build together.
Brooks eventually extracts himself from the group hug and finds his way back to me, his eyes red-rimmed but radiating a peace I’ve never seen before.
“You okay?” I say.
He cups his hand on my cheek. “Perfect. This means I get to love you,” he says softly, as if we’re alone in the room.
A tear slips from my cheek, and he brushes it away. “It does.” I don’t say more because regardless of what happened to Brooks, I’d love him until my last breath. Needing to lighten the moment, I say, “How does it feel? Being officially future-proof?”
He laughs, the sound free. “Like I can finally breathe.” He takes my hands in his. “It’s changed everything, Syd. The way I play, the way I think about tomorrow... everything.”
“I’ve noticed. Coach Barrymore told me you’re playing the best hockey of your career this week. Said it’s like watching someone who’s found their purpose again.”
“That’s exactly it. I’m not playing scared anymore. Not holding back.” He pauses, his eyes searching mine. “And not just on the ice.”
There’s something in his tone, a promise, that makes my pulse quicken. But before I can decipher it, Zoe leans over and whispers, “Poor Boise,” her eyes twinkling. “Are they ready for both Kingston and Holt on the same team?”
“Definitely not.” I laugh. “The local media’s going to lose their minds. Especially when they find out my brother’s dating my best friend.”
Zoe sputters on her drink. “We’re not—I mean—No, never—”
“Save it.” I smirk. “He’s running the battery down on your cleavage reindeer nose.”
She blushes crimson but doesn’t deny it. “I know, right? But don’t worry, he’s not my type.”
“Mm-hmm. That’s what I said.”
Asthe party continues around us, Brooks leans down to murmur in my ear. “Can I steal you away? There’s something I want to show you.”
“Now?” I glance around at our families, deep in celebration mode.
“Trust me.”
Curiosity piqued, I let him lead me through the kitchen and out the back door. The cold air hits like a slap, bracing and sharp, but Brooks is prepared. He hands me my coat and scarf, already retrieved from the front closet, and pulls on his own jacket.
“Where are we going?” I say as we crunch through fresh snow, our breath clouding in the frigid air.
“You’ll see,” is all he says, but there’s an undercurrent of nervous excitement in his voice that’s contagious.
We follow a familiar path—the one leading to our cabin, the place where everything changed for us. Maisie’s ridiculous scheme might have brought us together under false pretenses, but what grew between those walls was more real than anything I’d ever known.
Instead of going inside, he leads me past it, up the path that winds to the lookout point—the one he told me about but we didn’t get to see last time we were here.
When we reach the clearing, I understand why he brought me here. The sun is setting, painting the Idaho mountains in breathtaking shades of gold and deep rose. The snow-covered peaks reflect the light, creating a landscape so beautiful it almost doesn’t look real.
“Oh,” I breathe, momentarily forgetting the cold. “It’s incredible.”
“You’re incredible,” Brooks says, turning to face me, his expression suddenly serious. “Sydney Holt, do you have any idea how much you’ve changed my life?”
My heart races, understanding dawning as Brooks takes both my hands in his. “Brooks—”
“When Meema admitted lying to bring us together, I thought she’d finally lost it,” he continues, his voice thick with emotion. “But it turns out she was right. As always.” He takes a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. “You were exactly what I needed, Syd. You saw through my walls, challenged me, made me laugh when I thought I’d forgotten how.”
“You did the same for me,” I whisper, tears freezing on my cheeks. “You helped me believe in myself again.”
