She sucked in a sharp breath. “But…the list is done. I thought—” Her voice cracked. “Last night, you were just holding me, and I thought that meant you were done. That you were putting me back in the friend box.”
My chest ached at the fear in her voice. At the realization that she’d spent all day thinking I didn’t want her anymore.
When that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Sunshine.” I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. “I didn’t want to have sex last night because I didn’t want you to think that’s all this was. I wanted to just hold you. To show you that I’m here for more than just the physical stuff.”
“I thought I hallucinated what you said on the ice. During the fight. I convinced myself I just heard what I wanted to hear.”
“You heard right. I have been yours since the moment I kissed you in your dorm room.” The words came easier than I expected, flowing out of me like they’d been waiting years to be spoken. “Probably before that, if I’m being honest. Probably since we were kids and you smiled at me like I was worth something even when I was convinced I wasn’t.”
Her breath caught, but I kept going. I needed her to understand. Needed everyone to understand.
“I spent years telling myself I couldn’t do this. That I was my father’s son and that meant I’d end up hurting anyone I let myself love.” My accent was thickening, but I didn’t try to hide it. “But the thing I’ve been best at is loyalty. And there’s no one—no one—I’m more loyal to than you.”
I was vaguely aware of the crowd around us, but I didn’t care who heard this. This moment was for Ava.
“So yes.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead, then her nose, then each of her cheeks. “You’re taken. Completely. Irrevocably.I’m off the market, Sunshine. Have been for months. And I don’t plan on that changing. Not tomorrow. Not next year. Not ever.”
A tear slipped down her cheek, and I caught it with my thumb.
“I love you,” I said, loud enough that everyone nearby could hear. “I’m in love with you. And I don’t care who knows it. I want everyone to know it. I want—” I laughed, the sound light and free. “I want to shout it from the fucking rafters if that’s what it takes to make you believe me.”
“Liam…” Her voice cracked.
“You’re not a secret, Ava. You should’ve never been a secret. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m sorry it took me so long to stop being afraid of that.”
Her lower lip trembled. “I love you too. I’ve been so scared to say it because every time I’ve put my heart on the line before?—”
“I know.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I know. But I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me now.”
She let out a watery laugh. “Promise?”
“Promise.” I pulled her against my chest, wrapping my arms around her like I could shield her from every doubt she’d ever had. “You’re not a secret anymore, Sunshine. Never again. I want to love you out loud for the whole world to see.”
Over her head, I saw Harper, Sam, and Abby watching from a few feet away. Sam was practically bouncing with excitement. Harper had tears in her eyes. Even some of my teammates had filtered out of the locker room and were standing in the doorway, grinning like idiots.
And behind them, hanging back near the wall, was Drew.
He was watching us with an expression I couldn’t quiteread. It wasn’t angry or happy, but looked like something in between—like he was still trying to figure out how he felt about all of this.
But he wasn’t storming over and pulling us apart. He wasn’t demanding I get my hands off his sister.
It was a start.
Ava pulled back and looked up at me. The smile that spread across her face—that smile that had earned her the nickname Sunshine—was worth every second of fear and uncertainty it had taken to get here.
I kissed her again, softer this time, because I could.
Because she was mine.
FORTY-THREE
Liam Farrell was taking me on a real date. An actual, honest-to-God dinner date at the nicest restaurant in Dunridge, where anyone could see us.
Whereeveryonecould see us.
I’d spent an embarrassing amount of time getting ready, and in the end, I’d landed on a fitted black dress that hugged my curves and made me feel sexy and confident.
