Page 178 of From Now On

It’s turned into abeautifulday, actually. Sunny and clear and warm, weather I should be accustomed to after living in Florida for so long. But I’m a west coast girl at heart. I’ve experiencedtoo many overcast days—literally and metaphorically—not to appreciate some sunshine.

I climb out of the car and sidestep a puddle. It drizzled earlier, and the rubber soles of my wedges slip a little on the damp asphalt.

Conor’s there before I’ve even registered the small stumble, wrapping an arm around my waist and steadying me. “You okay?”

“I’m good,” I assure him. “Just clumsy.”

I thought wedges would be safer than heels, but I should have stuck with flats for the occasion.

“Are yousure?” Conor asks urgently. “Because I can bring you back to the hotel so you can rest.”

“I’d rather fall on my face than miss this. I’m just woozy from the shock of seeing your name in letters taller than I am.”

My overprotective husband rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t drop his arm. “Not funny, Hayes.”

“Yes, it was,” I argue.

“Harlow!” Rylan is jogging this way, arms outstretched to give me a hug.

Conor reluctantly drops his hand from my back, and Rylan swallows me in a tight embrace.

“I’m so glad you guys could make it,” I say when we separate.

“Please,” Rylan replies. “We wouldn’t have missed this for the world. Plus…” She tucks a strand of dark hair behind one ear. “Aidan’s family isn’t exactly thewarmest, so I really didn’t mind ending our trip early…”

My eyes widen when the sunlight refracts off the sparkles on her left hand. “No way. You finally put Aidan out of his misery?”

Rylan beams and waggles her fingers for dramatic effect. “It had to end eventually. But he was having fun with it.”

“Oh, yeah, planning a proposal each month was a total blast.” Aidan’s appeared. “Especially when it ends with a rejection and the realization you have to do it all over again.”

Conor doesn’t muffle his chuckle very well. “Hey, man. Congrats.”

“Yeah, you too. Eastern Division champion isn’t too shabby.”

Conor and Aidan exchange one of those half-hug, half-back slap guys do—being careful not to squish Bennett between them.

Aidan glances at the rink again. He hooks a thumb over one shoulder. “Did you approve the dimensions, dude? Because the giant sign kinda gives little dick energy, you know?”

“Of course I didn’t approve the dimensions. I didn’t even know therewouldbe a sign until they sent the invitation. Did the old rink have a sign?”

“Fuck if I remember,” Aidan answers. “If it did, it probably fell off back when dinosaurs roamed the planet. I mean, get a load of this place. Seriously, can you imagine playing here?” He glances at Conor, then laughs. “Never mind. Forgot who I was talking to for a minute.”

Aidan digs his phone out of his pocket, glances at the screen, and then answers. “’Sup, Morgan.” After a pause, he adds, “Yeah, no, we’re here. Just outside, admiring Hart’s billboard.” Another pause. “’Kay. See you soon.” He hangs up, then announces, “Hunter’s inside, wondering where we are.”

I frown. “That’s weird. Eve didn’t—oh.”

When I fish my phone out of my purse I have about two dozen messages from my best friend.

EVE: We’re here!

EVE: OMG the sign is huge

EVE: *photo attachment*

EVE: Really, really huge.

EVE: Okay, we’re heading inside. Hunter’s making fun of me for taking selfies.

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