And for the first time since that puck crossed the line, all that hollow quiet is crowded out by Summer.
The Cup is gone.
Butshe’shere.
And I hope like hell she’s the one I never lose.
FORTY-EIGHT
I wakeup to Miles already awake, lying on his back, staring at the ceiling in that particular way he does when he’s thinking through something.
He doesn’t notice I’m up yet, so I have time to appreciate his profile. Last night he’d kissed me, sweet and slow, and that was enough. He was out before I finished pulling the blanket up. I took his glasses off and lay there, grateful, until Gracie purring at our feet and his steady breaths pulled me under too.
“Hey.” He looks over, and whatever was on his face a second ago clears. He rolls toward me. “How’d you sleep?”
“Better question.” I prop myself up. “How areyou?”
He tucks my hair back. “Ready to stop thinking about it.”
“Okay.” I sit up. “Then let’s go do something.”
His lips curve. “Already ahead of you.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one surprising you? Trying to cheeryouup?” comes out of my mouth approximately an hour later, a red bandana covering my eyes as Miles drives us somewhere he won’t tell me.
“You’re here. That’s all I need.”
I tilt my head in his direction and reach out. He captures my searching hand and places it in his lap. “How’re you feeling?” I ask softly.
“Sore and tired, but otherwise great.”
“You know that’s not what I mean.” I brush my thumb across his palm.
“We’ll get it next year. You’ll run out into the ice, and I’ll spin you around and kiss you in front of the whole arena.” His lips press to my knuckles.
“I like that plan.”
“Me too.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Will you tell me where we’re going now?”
“No can do.” He laughs. “You better get used to surprises, Summer Starling. You’ve got a lifetime of them coming.”
My chest squeezes tight. Alifetime. I turn that over in my mind and find it fits. “Is that right?”
“Mm-hmm.”
I need to see his face. I go to tug at my blindfold, but my hand is captured by his. “Don’t you dare take that off.”
“You can’t say stuff like that and expect me not to wanna see you.”
Another chuckle. “We’re almost there. Hold your horses.”
A breeze blows through the open windows, something floral and earthy in the air.
“We’re not going horseback riding, are we?” I catch my bottom lip between my teeth. “I guess I could maybe?—”
“Don’t worry. No horses. Cash told me you weren’t a fan.”
