Page 130 of The Right Move

Stevie doesn’t elaborate or tell me how wrong I am, which is another sign that if my best friend can’t get through to me, no one can.

“So,” she shifts the subject. “Should we talk about last night?”

Stevie’s twin brain is synced with mine as I look out of the corner of my eye, finding my mirrored expression on her face, knowing smirk and all.

“What do you want to talk about?” I ask, feigning innocence.

She laughs. “You’re so full of shit. It’s obvious you asked me to drive you home instead of Harold so we can talk about this, so start talking, Superstar.”

Fuck, sometimes it’s scary how well we know each other.

“I might have a little thing for your best friend.”

“Ha!” she bursts out a laugh. “Good God, Ry. Want to try that again?”

I roll my eyes. “I might possibly be a little bit smitten by the blonde living in my house.”

Stevie laughs to herself. “You were holding her hand while finding out the biggest news of your career. If you said you were completely in love with her, I’d believe you more.”

“I told her about Marissa.”

Thank God we’re at a stoplight because my sister’s head snaps around to me, eyes entirely leaving the road. “You did?”

“Last night. It’s kind of what you walked in on.”

“Ryan.” Her eyes soften. “That’s a really big deal.”

I don’t expand on the rest—what the years after looked like. I love Stevie more than anyone else in the entire world, but even she wasn’t privileged to the dark days. Indy is the first person to know, and I want to get home so we can talk about the rest. She needs to know how much I want her to stay. How much I need her to stay.

“I want her, Vee. I don’t know where she’s at or what she’s even capable of feeling after everything she’s been through, but I’ll take whatever she can offer.” I look over to her as she continues driving, concentrating on the road. “Would you be okay with that?”

I can see a faint tilt of her lips. “You don’t need my permission to be together.”

“Well, I still want it. This is your best friend, and we both know it’s my fault that other friendships haven’t worked out for you.”

“Look, you could be talking about anyone, and I’d just be stoked to hear you’re opening yourself up again, but with Indy?” She peeks over at me. “There’s no one I trust more to protect you as much as you’ll protect her.”

I offer her a faint smile. “Thanks, Vee.”

“But you should lock it down. Have you seen that woman?” My sister teases. “The entire hockey team is in love with her.”

“Okay. Okay. I don’t need the reminder.”

“I’m just saying. Get a move on it, buddy. You already live together, and I want another sister-in-law.”

“Dear God,” I huff out a laugh. “I’m never telling you anything. You have no chill.”

Stevie parks in front of my building. “You don’t need to tell me anything.” She taps the side of her head. “Twin brain. I know it all already.”

I can hear Indy speaking before I’ve even stepped into the apartment. My house is chaos the second I open the door, folding chairs stacked against the wall, two long foldable tables in the middle of our living room. The couch is pushed to the wall. Empty cardboard boxes litter the ground.

There’s a phone propped up on the kitchen island as Indy speaks into it. She must not hear me because she doesn’t turn around, though, her mom catches my attention through the phone screen.

“Hi, Ryan!” She waves.

Indy turns around to find me inside the doorway.

“Hey, Abigale. What are you two doing?”

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