Page 77 of The Sweet Spot

It takes me a long time to answer her, not because I don’t want to agree, but because I can’t get the damn words out.

When I lose the fight with my composure, and the first damn tear falls, I blow out a deep breath, but I can’t give her what she wants. “You promise me it’s going to be a really long book, Brynn. I don’t want it to be short. I want it to be a sweeping epic.”

Brynlee wipes the tears from my cheeks. “I can’t make you that promise, Deacon. You know I can’t.

“You have to. I want vacations and Christmas mornings. Hockey games and proms. I want Thanksgivings with your whole fucked up family because something tells me they’re pretty epic. I want more kids, Brynn, and I want you to be there the day Kennedy gets married. I want it all, baby, and I want it with you. You have to promise me you’ll be there for all of it, Brynlee. No matter what some stupid test tells us, you have to promise you’ll fight for us. You won’t give up. You won’t hide. You’ll fight.”

“I’m scared I won’t be enough, Deacon,” she admits on a sob.

“You already are, baby. And when you’re tired of the fight, I’ll fight for you.” She buries her face against my chest as tears rack her beautiful body, and I hold her, knowing it’s out of our hands. All that’s left to do is wait.

It may have taken me some time to confirm this scoop, but when it’s this big, a reporter has to triple check her sources. And this one is the biggest of big, giant, juicy scoops we’ve had in a long time. Think triple chocolate fudge sundae with all the toppings big.

Kroydon Hills’ newest, hottest hockey coach, Deacon Kane, did not waste any time marrying into our own royal family. You heard it first here, ladies and gentlemen. Deacon Kane put a ring on Brynlee St. James’s finger. These socialites just can’t keep their hands off some of our favorite hockey pucks. Rumor has it, the first event was an intimate affair, but the Kingston family has left Kroydon Hills to celebrate in a way only the Kingstons can.

Stay tuned for all the dirty deets.

#KroydonKronicles #PuckPack #PuckingWifes

BRYNLEE

“Seriously, we don’t all leave until tomorrow. How do they find this shit out?” Everly bitches as she puts the finishing touches on the train of my dress in her boutique a few days later.

“Don’t get too pissed when you have pins near my ass, please,” I beg as Lindy and Gracie sit with my mom, sipping champagne, though in Gracie’s case, it’s apple juice.

“Do you need any help,” my mom asks Kennedy gently from the other side of the dressing room door.

After a moment, a quiet, “No thanks,” answers back.

This all came together too quickly for Isla to change her travel arrangements, so she left two days ago. And while Kennedy has opened up to me pretty quickly, the rest of the family can be overwhelming on the best of days. And she hasn’t had to deal with all of them yet. Luckily, Deacon said Kennedy’s favorite place in the world is his parents’ inn, so we’re hoping that helps.

She walks out a minute later in a white dress with mint-green trim and a mint-green sash, her dark hair pulled back from her face and a deer-in-the-headlights look in her eyes. “No heels, right? I don’t want to fall on my face in front of a ton of people.”

“Kit Kat... you look beautiful,” I tell her with awe in my voice.

She ignores everyone else in the room, focusing solely on me, which I think helps her, then she stops next to me. “You look like a princess, Brynnie.”

Mom makes a noise that makes us all stop and turn.

“Ignore me,” she insists as she wipes her eyes. “You’ll all understand one day when your babies get married.”

“I’m never getting married,” Kennedy tells me. “Boys are stupid and annoying.”

“Amen, sister,” Kenzie tells her through the FaceTime call the girls have set up so she can be here for this since she can’t get off for the wedding. “We don’t need men, Kennedy.”

“Oh, but they’re so much fun,” Lindy laughs, and my mom shakes her head.

Gracie reaches inside my bag and grabs my vibrating phone. “Your phone is ringing, Brynn.”

I take the phone from her and see my doctor’s name.

“Go get Deacon, Grace. He’s next door at Sweet Temptations. Please go get him.” I look from Mom to Kennedy and fight back my fear. We’ve kept this from her on purpose, not wanting to worry her until we have to.

I answer the call quickly, not wanting it to go to voicemail and watching the confusion fill Kennedy’s eyes. “Hi, Dr. Ambrosano. Can you give me just a minute? I’m standing in the middle of a room being fitted for my wedding gown.”

“Sure, Brynlee. I’m going to put you on hold and jump on this next call. I’ll be back in less than five minutes.”

I take a deep breath. “Thank you.”

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