“Thank you, Nashville!” I yell one more time before running off stage.
Jasper is waiting for me with open arms, tears in his eyes. All of our friends are waiting behind him, cheering me on.
“That was phenomenal. They loved you.”
He sweeps me off my feet, spinning us around.
“I can’t believe I got to do that.”
“They loved you,” Claire calls out.
“Fucking brilliant,” Bode agrees.
“I have chills, Quinn. Chills,” Chloe says. “You were incredible.”
“Thanks, guys. I’m so glad you were here.”
Over the last few weeks, I’ve gotten to know all of them well. We’ve been spending a lot of time together while the guys have been traveling for games. It’s nice to not feel so alone in the world.
“Do you think you’re ready for this every night?” I ask Jasper.
“Hitting the road with you? I’m ready.”
“Wait, hitting the road? What are you talking about?” Noah asks.
Jasper groans, resting his forehead against mine. “Why does he always hear everything?”
“Because you don’t whisper,” Noah fires back. “What’s going on?”
“Are you ready to tell them?” I ask.
Jasper tucks a lock of hair that escaped my bun behind my ear. “Yeah.”
We turn to face them, and all eyes are on Jasper. Looping my arm through his, I give him a reassuring squeeze.
“I’m retiring,” Jasper says evenly.
He’s had his moments of wavering, but since he finally made the decision, he’s at peace with it.
“You didn’t discuss this with us,” Bode says.
Marcus looks at Jasper and nods, like he knows it’s time.
“I’m old,” he says. “We all know it. I can’t keep putting myself through this. Hockey has been my everything for most of my life, and it’s about time someone else gets that attention.”
“Aww. Jasper, I’m so happy for you.” Harper comes over and gives him a hug. “The team won’t be the same without you.”
“You’re not leaving before the playoffs, right?” Graham asks. “We need you.”
“After the playoffs. No matter what happens, I’m hanging up my skates. I’m hoping we can make a run for it.”
Everyone knocks on wood and I bark out a laugh. I’m not going to tell them to change things now, because the team is looking good. While Jasper heads to the playoffs, I’m heading back to the recording studio. The court released part of the funds I’m owed from Eric, but the rest? It’s going to take more time to sort out.
And I’m okay with it. The buzz for my new album is putting my old songs into the top one hundred again. It’s helping with the cost of the tour this fall.
A smaller one here in the states before hitting Canada in the spring and Europe next summer.
Spending the summer with Jasper abroad? I can’t think of anything better.
