“Why can’t you do it now? Why is it impossible to fix?”
“Your mom is tired, Tally. It’s years of me not being there enough, of her being the sole source of emotional support for you and Ties and Fenna. Nothing I do now will take away the harm I’ve already caused. Your mom deserves to be happy, and someone else should have that chance with her. She made her choice and I want to respect that. I don’t want to hurt her anymore, and trying to keep her tied to me would do that.”
I brush away a tear, sad all over that this is where our family is. I don’t want to end up like my parents. What if I give my heart to Flip and he stops taking care of it? How broken would I be?
“I’m sorry, Tally. I know that’s not what you want to hear, and it isn’t what I want to tell you.”
I tip my chin up, fighting to keep more tears from falling. “I’d rather have the ugly truth than a pretty lie.”
I’m grateful for Dred,Hemi, and Rix, who have organized mani-pedis after lunch. It’s a helpful distraction and keeps me out of the panic spiral. Especially since I won’t get to see Flip until after the game this evening.
The Terror win 3-2. Flip, Tristan, and Dallas each score a goal, with Connor, Ash and Quinn as the assists. And no one from the media questions my presence at the game since I’m the coach’s daughter.
Afterward, the girls and I return to the hotel to change into club attire. I’m a bag of nerves. I’ve been in Montreal for hours and I haven’t even had a chance to hug him yet.
“You okay?” Hemi asks as I adjust my dress and check my makeup for the hundredth time.
“Yes. No. I don’t know. This is the first time we’ve all been out dancing since Flip and I started dating. The media are going to freak out.”
“It’s okay if you’re also freaking out. It’s a lot to handle,” Dred says gently.
All three of them have been my personal cheer squad since my arrival in Montreal. I vacillate between excitement and excessive nerves.
“How did you handle the pressure? Howdoyou handle the pressure?”
“We have each other.” Rix motions to the girls. “And we have partners who know it’s a lot to be with them and who take care of us and our needs. Flip will be the same for you. He wouldn’t have flown you out here if he wasn’t ready for this step. He also wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t thinkyouwere ready.”
“It’s getting really real,” I whisper.
“It’s a statement that you’re here,” Dred says. “He’s claiming you as his.”
“People will have feelings about it.”
“Fuck the people!” Hemi waves her hand in the air. “You know what I mean. Even when there’s nothing to say, they have something to say about Flip’s love life. We’ve already made a plan to counterbalance the nonsense.”
“He flew you out here because he doesn’t want to be away from you. He made sure you’re surrounded by your friends and the people who will watch out for you,” Rix adds.
“He’s telling the world he’s yours, Tally.” Dred squeezes my hand.
“And I’m his.”
“That’s right.” Hemi’s phone pings. “They’re three minutes out. It’s go time!”
We shrug into winter coats and head down to the lobby.
My stomach somersaults when I see Flip. Neither of us has any chill as we rush across the foyer. He opens his arms, and I launch myself at him.
His lips find the side of my neck as he lifts me off my feet. “God, I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” I feel grounded for the first time in days. It’s terrifying.
He huffs me, lips traveling along my neck as he sets me down, takes my face in his hands, and kisses me deeply. Eventually he pulls back. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“I’m so glad you’re here,” he mumbles into my skin.
“Me, too. That was a great game.”
