The pain in my leg protests, but I can’t help but smile through the ache. “I thought you wanted to keep it a secret?”
Riley throws her hands up. “While we were talking, they brought up Layla’s video. I tripped all over my words. Your mom picked up on it and wouldn’t drop the topic. I didn’t know what else to say, so I told her everything.” She groans. “My mom is going to freak if she hears I told your parents before I told them. You know how she gets about things like that.”
“I’ll tell your parents about us instead. Your mom won’t mind as much if the news comes from me.”
“Oh, yeah, she loves you.” Riley blows on the top of my soup and that simple act makes my stomach flip over.
I’m reminded once again of her selflessness and consideration for others.
I don’t deserve this woman.
And in that moment, what I need to do becomes crystal clear.
Chapter Sixty-Five
RILEY
“Say that again?” I balk, staring at Nat’s pale face.
My brain must have short-circuited or maybe I heard wrong because there is no way those words came out of his mouth in that particular order.
He wipes the soup dripping from my lips with a napkin and says in a serious tone, “You heard me, Riles. I’m hanging up my skates.”
I plop my spoon back in my dish. “But why? The doctors said your leg is going to be fine after surgery.” A terrifying thought hits me. “Is something else wrong? Are you in pain somewhere else?”
“No.”
I shake my head. “I don’t understand. Why are you doing this?”
“Because I made you a promise,” Nat says simply.
My eyes dart back and forth as I search my mind for this ‘promise’ he’s referring to.
“Is this about what I said before? About going to the doctor or else you and I…” I wiggle my fingers between us.
“No, I knew you were only trying to help me. The problem was me. I wanted to play hockey no matter the cost. Even if the cost was my health.” His eyes slowly slip away. “Even if the cost was you. It was foolish of me.”
“I was the foolish one. I shouldn’t have given you that ultimatum, Nat. I was too reactionary. I could have been calmer or at least heard you out.”
“You were worried. You had every right to feel that way. I was the one who needed a wake-up call.” Nat sets his spoon down. “I haven’t forgotten what you told me the night of April and Chance’s proposal. You said you wanted a man who would sacrifice for you.”
I can’t believe he remembers that.
“I’ll be honest. When I made up my mind to play tonight’s game, I fully believed I’d go to the hospital after and the doctors would tell me I couldn’t play again. Thinking that hockey was out of the picture meant choosing you was not much of a sacrifice. But I want to do it right this time. I want you to know that I choose you. And this gives me the perfect opportunity.”
I stare into his face, in total shock. There’s not a hint of the playfulness Nat is so well known for. He’s dead-serious. He’s about to throw it all away for me.
Moved, I choose my words with care, knowing this heartfelt confession deserves just as weighty a response.
“Nat, that is so sweet, and a huge gesture, but I don’t agree. I don’t want you to sacrifice hockey for me. I love watching you do what you love. As your original psycho fangirl, seeing you happy fills me with so much joy.”
Nat drops his head and laughs.
I grin too. “I don’t want you to give up doing what makes you happy. Really. That’s not what I want.”
“Youmake me happy, Riles. You’re the most important person in the world to me.”
“So are you.” I put my hand on his. “Someone very wise told me you need two pairs of hands to make a relationship work. One pair won’t save it, no matter how hard they try.”
