When our eyes meet again, the tension finally eases into something solid.
Not heat.
Not doubt.
But certainty.
His arm comes around me, solid and sure, pulling me close.
The arena outside this room might as well not exist.
His mouth brushes my temple.
“Come on,” he breathes. “Let’s go home.”
Then, gentler, "Together.”
As we stand up together, I feel lighter than I have in weeks, like I’m not carrying this alone anymore.
“Yeah,” I say. “Together.”
We don’t rush.
We just stand there for another second, wrapped up in each other, before turning toward the door.
And for the first time since this all began, I’m not planning the next step.
I’m taking it with him.
Chapter twenty-four
Epilogue
One Month Later…
“I’m taking you to brunch after the open practice this morning,” he says. “With the guys.”
I blink. “That’s not brunch. That’s a hostage situation.”
“Exactly.” His eyes narrow like he’s pleased with himself.
I shut my laptop with a sigh that’s mostly for show. “You realize you’re dating a woman with a calendar.”
He taps the top of the laptop with one finger. “I’m dating a woman who used to treat feelings like a press release. So yes, I realize.”
The wordsused toland like a small gift.
I pretend not to melt.
“Fine,” I say. “But if Dex starts auditioning for a stand-up special, I’m pretending I don’t know either of you.”
Colby grins. “If Dex isn’t saying something inappropriate, I worry about his health.”
Funny. And somehow, completely true.
I keep thinking about how time doesn’t erase what happened.
It just changes the way it sits inside.
