Page 100 of A Thousand Broken Pieces

Cael inhaled, then kissed my cheeks, my forehead, and, seeking out my eyes for permission—which was more than given—then kissed my lips. As he did, the pain of his long absence fell away. My Cael waskissingme. He washere.

I kissed him back, sinking against him as he kissed me deeply, honestly and true. And as he kissed me, I sensed a new lightness within this boy who I loved with my very being. His kisses were searching but loving. They were optimistic, not laced in sadness and desperation.

A tear escaped the side of my eye as he pulled me even closer. I was safe in his arms once again. And he was safe in mine.

Cael broke from the kiss. “I love you, Savannah,” he rasped, and I felt that love radiating from his soul.

I placed my hand on his cheek. “I love you too. I missed you so much.”

Cael inched back. He studied my face like it was a Renaissance painting. Then his gaze shone with nerves. “Please will you come tonight?” he said, vulnerability in his voice.

“What’s tonight?” I asked.

“An open scrimmage,” he said and released one of my hands to run his fingers through my hair. My eyes closed at his touch. “I want you there.” He swallowed. “It’s the first event the team is doing outside of closed practice.” He breathed in deeply, then exhaled slowly. I took hold of his hands and squeezed twice. Our secret sign. A smile, so blinding, lit up his face and rivaled the sun.

Lord, he was beautiful.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I said and laid my head against his chest. Cael exhaled, seemingly in relief. The sound of his racing heart brought butterflies to my chest.

I had him back. We were back together.

His hand kept running through my long hair, like he couldn’t bear to not be touching me somehow after all this time apart.

He then cupped my face and kissed my lips. “I can’t believe you’re here, in front of me. It doesn’t feel real,” he said, and I smiled, turning my head and pressing a kiss to his palm.

“It’s real,” I said, threading my arms around his waist. “We’rereal.”

Cael swallowed me in a hug. He towered over me, and I felt so safe in his embrace. I never wanted to break away, wanted to stay this way, always. “Harvard,” he murmured, for me only, recognizing out loud that we’d reached our goal.

“Harvard,” I whispered back, feeling overcome with emotion.

When Cael pulled back, he reluctantly said, “I have to go now, but …”

I didn’t want to let him go. “Cael!” I looked over Cael’s shoulder to see a blond boy calling him over. Cael lifted his hand, a gesture that he was on his way.

“That’s Stephan, my best friend and teammate. We have a team meeting we have to get to.” My heart squeezed in my chest, not that he had to leave so soon but that he had welcomed Stephan back in his life. I was so proud of him I could have burst apart.

Cael backed up, neither of us willing to tear our gazes away from the other until he was too far from sight and I had to turn away. I felt shellshocked; my heart was racing so fast I felt lightheaded.

I was so unbelievably happy.

Cara stepped beside me. “You’re dating Cael Woods?” she said, sounding more than a little starstruck. I forgot she was from around here. And was a hockey fan.

Turning to Cara, my heart feeling so full I could barely breathe, I said, “Do you want to come to an open scrimmage with me tonight? The love of my life will be on the ice.”

The stadium was about half full, which Cara told me was normal for an open scrimmage. I searched the rink for Cael but couldn’t find him. Just then, Isaw him step out of the tunnel and hit the ice. Number eighty-seven stood proudly on his back. My heart was in my throat as I watched him skate around the rink, picking up speed with every new stride.

It was surreal seeing him like this. I knew he played hockey. We had talked about it endlessly when he got out of his therapy program and had been given his spot back on Harvard’s roster for this year. He had even sent me links to some of his old games when I had expressed my desire to see them. But now that I was here, feeling the cold from the ice hit my face was different from what I ever could have imagined.

I saw Cael searching the crowd. I knew when he had seen me, as he slowed right down as he passed me. He met my eyes and I smiled at him. He smiled back. He was so perfect.

A coach blew a whistle and Cael moved into position. I was the first to admit I had no idea what was happening in the scrimmage. I was trying to learn the rules, had spent too many nights this summer trying to read up on them. I’d get there eventually. For now, I just sat in awe watching Cael in his element. Even though I didn’t understand the game, anyone could tell that Cael was a step above the rest—he was faster and more dynamic, and he sank shot after shot into the net, looking as though he could go all night and never tire.

I was breathless as I watched him. None more so when he would laugh, smile, and celebrate with his teammates. He was happy here. And he had done it. He had healed. This boy on the ice was a far cry from the boy who I had last seen in Japan. If it was possible, seeing him like this made me love him even more. Like Aika had told him, he’d had the tenacity to fix himself back together, and he was even more beautiful than ever before.

As the scrimmage came to an end, the awed faces of the fans watching Cael cool down screamed to me just how talented he was and how, if he had never found himself back to this game, it would have been a travesty.

Cael came over to where I was seated. I stood and moved to the boards. “Baby …” I said, shaking my head, unable to put words to my feelings. Cael’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment under my praise. It was so adorable, I wanted to kiss him and never stop.

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