“I want to go to your game,” I say to Blake.
His eyebrows knit in concern as he studies me. “Are you sure?”
I nod. “Yeah. I don’t want to hide from him anymore.”
He cups my face in his hand and presses a soft kiss to my temple.
“We’ll be there with you the whole time, Briar,” Anna says.
I turn to her and Poppy and offer a small smile. “Thanks, you guys. You’re the best friends I could ask for.” I look at the guys. “All of you are.”
“We’ve got your back, Briar,” Nick says. Leo and Travis nod along.
I turn back to Blake.
“It’s okay if you change your mind,” he says softly.
“I won’t.”
Emotion sparks through me as I gaze up at him. This man who would do anything for me. This man who goes out of his way to make me feel safe and cherished. This man who’s my best friend and more.
And now I want to show him exactly how I feel about him.
A moment later, it comes to me. The perfect way to show Blake how I feel about him.
I can’t wait to show him.
Chapter 47
Blake
When I walk out of my bedroom, I close the door as quietly as I can. Briar is sleeping, and I don’t want to wake her.
I head downstairs, thinking about how she opened up to everyone. How brave she was to talk about what she’s been through.
As much as it hurt to see her cry, it was incredible seeing everyone stand up for her. After all that she’s endured—after all the shit she went through in Chicago, she’s getting the support she deserves from the people around her.
When I make it downstairs, I see Travis, Nick, and Leo all sitting in the living room, quietly sipping beers.
I join them on the couch. Leo hands me a beer.
I tell him thanks and crack it open.
“How’s Briar doing?” he asks.
“She’s pretty exhausted. She’s asleep now,” I say.
We’re all quiet again.
“I’m going to fucking kill her ex.”
They all nod as if they understand me completely.
“I won’t do it during the game,” I say. “I know that’s against the rules.” Fighting isn’t allowed in college hockey.
“It’s okay if you do want to take a swing at him during the game,” Nick says. “Remember when I left the ice in the middle of a game to run into the stands and cold-cock Poppy’s ex when he put his hands on her? I get it. You do whatever you need to do, man.”
“If anyone put their hands on Anna, I’d rip their fucking face off, no matter where it happened, hockey rules be damned,” Travis says.
