“Just because that man left you and your mom doesn’t mean all men will treat you this way.”
I blinked rapidly, grinding my teeth to keep a hold of my emotions.
“It’s just … he’s only here temporarily, and everything is complicated, and I can’t—”
“Yes,” she cut in. “Yes, you can. And you already are.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “I don’t want to get hurt.”
Her tone grew even more gentle. “I know.” Bony fingers gripped my shoulder encouragingly. “But hurting is part of loving. You can’t avoid pain without avoiding joy, too.”
Ihatedthe fact that she was right.
What I hated even more was how it already felt as if my heart had made the choice for me.
Gran gently patted my cheek twice, then returned to rearranging canned goods as if she hadn’t just set off an emotional bomb in my chest.
“Now go live your life, darling. And stop using your poor old grandmother as a human shield.”
“You’re eighty-seven. I don’t think you’d actually be my first choice, as far as human shields go,” I teased.
“And I look sixty at most.”
“I’m so lucky to share your genes,” I deadpanned.
“You certainly are. They used to write poems about me, back in the day, you know?” She peered owlishly over her shoulder. “Now get! Go on and get your man.”
And if that wasn’t the most terrifying thing I’d ever heard, then I didn’t know what was.
Chapter 28
Kai
Ialwaysgotfiredupon game days, whether it was rugby or football, and even more so in the playoffs. The air tasted like sweat, beer, and adrenaline. Kids waved foam fingers, and there were handmade banners painted on bedsheets and hung behind the student section.
We were halfway through warmups when Tane elbowed me in the ribs.
“Oi, mate,” he stage-whispered. “Uh … don’t freak out, but … look at the third row, right side of the tunnel.”
“Why would I—”
My eyes scanned the stands and I froze.
There she was.
Tori.
Standing on the bleachers like she’d been carved straight out of my fantasies and dropped into real life. Wearing black leggings, her hair in one thick braid.
Her jacket was unzipped and I had a clear shot at the front of her shirt. Stitched in maroon across the chest of her white shirt wasWHITAKERand below it the number six.Mynumber.
My heart exploded in my chest and I shook my head in disbelief, a smile stretching my lips. Reece followed my line of vision. “Holy — Sunshine, you bagged that mean chick? You actually did it?”
“It’s not—” I swallowed. “She’s not mean, mate.”
“Sure,” Reece deadpanned. “Looks like she’s ride-or-die feral, though. You’re done for.”
Tane grinned wickedly. “She spelled our name right, at least.”
