"And Sutton." Ashton's eyes land on me. "Who walked in on me and that girl from her chemistry class and just stood there for a full ten seconds before saying 'nice ass' and walking back out."
The whole table is in hysterics now. I'm wiping tears from my eyes, but these are good tears. Happy tears.
"My point is, you're all a bunch of degenerates, and I love you for it. Here's to never growing up too much."
"To never growing up!" we all echo, clinking our bottles together.
Chapter Ten
DECLAN - JUNE
“You look stunning,” I say to Sutton. She steps out of the hotel bathroom and does a little spin.
She’s wearing a black dress with spaghetti straps. Her hair and makeup are done. She’s camera-ready. I’m so proud she’s going to be beside me. I need her.
“How are you doing?”
“Nervous as hell.”
She smiles. “I think in this case nerves are okay.”
“I know we said we would handle it if things don’t go our way, but can we? Will we?”
She puts her hands on my cheeks. “We will.”
“What if they couldn’t pull it off? What if they don’t want me?”
“They do.”
“My dad says he doesn’t know. They’re not telling him anything. That’s not a good sign.”
“They’re keeping their cards close to the vest. It’s okay. No matter what happens tonight, we’re going to be fine. Nothing else matters.”
I want to believe her. I’ve tried not to be too hopeful or too negative. It’s a fine line.
“We should go. Don’t want to be late to the most important night of your hockey career.”
She helps me with my tie, and then my phone rings. We both freeze.
“Could be the car service,” she murmurs.
I nod once. “Probably.”
“Declan?”
“Huh?”
“Answer it.”
I pull it from my pocket. It’s a Massachusetts number.
It’s the call. The call that changes my life. I thank the man and hang up.
I can’t stop smiling.
“What?” Sutton asks. “Tell me!”
“Boston, baby!”
